Published: September 13, 2008 11:19 pm      

OGNIBENE: Get set for bow season now

We aren’t too far from the bow-hunting season and it would be a good idea to check things out now to be ready on opening morning.

The season opens for bow hunters Oct. 18 and indications point to what could be a successful season for most hunters. It will be a success only if they do before opening day what needs to be done.

It’s hard to believe that many hunters, both bow and gun, still use home-made ladders consisting of a few boards nailed into a tree to get onto a platform they call a stand. The boards nailed in last season are not to be trusted this year due to the tree’s growth. Screw-in tree steps are inexpensive and a lot safer than a nailed-in board, but a ladder stand is best. Sending an arrow toward a deer calls for an unrestricted path and a small twig or leaves can send the arrow in a different direction than aimed.

If the hunter has his tree stand established and has decided on which direction a deer might be coming from, then a shooting lane should be made. That means twigs, branches or leaves that might interfere with the arrow’s flight have to be removed. Bowstrings don’t last forever and it’s not pleasant when one snaps at full draw so have yours checked by an expert and replace if recommended.

Now is the time to do a little practicing to not only sharpen your shooting eye, but to also limber muscles that might have gone a little flabby. The advice given by most professional trainers is to start out slowly and gradually increase the number of pulls and length of your draw. If you haven’t done any shooting since last season you will be surprised by how difficult it will be to pull at full draw until you limber up those unused muscles.

It would be wise to change positions and distances while target practicing unless you have a guarantee a deer is going to do exactly what you want it to do. If this will be your first year hunting with a bow it would be a good idea to talk with someone who has “been there, done that” to keep your mistakes at a minimum. Be more than careful while carrying Broadhead hunting arrows, they are sharp and unforgiving. Sporting goods stores and catalogs are filled with the whistles and bells you can outfit a bow with, but not all are necessary.

- Fall salmon fishing has gotten off to a slow start but should pick up soon. Chinook and coho are beginning to head into all the creeks along Lake Ontario and around here the two top streams are the lower Niagara River and 18-Mile Creek. The other creeks on the lake, 10-Mile, Four-Mile, Keg and Johnson’s will all give you some great salmon and trout fishing. Brown trout, along with rainbows, will chase salmon to gobble their eggs when they spawn out. The more rain we have, the better as it will keep the creeks filed with water giving the fish a better chance of going far inland.

An exciting spot to take a youngster would be Keg Creek on Route 18, east of Olcott three miles. There is a large pool alongside the road where some huge salmon have been taken. During the fall run usually a large number of brown and rainbow trout are also taken from the pool. There is a riffle at the downstream end of the pool and the kids will be fascinated to watch salmon wiggle over wet rocks into deeper water.

The most popular stream, the lower Niagara, has many spots to try. Park at Artpark, walk down the steps and head upstream to a large culvert that descends from the top of the escarpment. It has always been a productive spot and there is no reason why it shouldn’t still be. Devil’s Hole is where most fishermen head for or the fishing platform at the base of the Robert Moses Power Plant.

If you fish the platform you can drive your car down, unload your buddies and tackle and someone has to drive the car back up to the parking lot. If you fish in Devil’s Hole be aware the water rises quickly once the intake gates on the upper Niagara are closed and more water is allowed to flow over the Falls, filling the river. Don’t be stupid and try wading out to gain an advantage, unless you have a death wish. Boaters will be fishing close to shore and their lines and shore fishermen’s are going to tangle. Be patient. Cussing out the other fellow isn’t going to solve a thing.

On Saturday, a one-day Walleye Classic will be held and you can sign up either at A-1 Bait, Grauer Road, or at www.outdoorsniagara.com, where you can get all the details. The classic will be held at the same time as Fish Odyssey.

- Reserve Sept. 27 and 28 of this month for the Wildlife Festival to be held at the Niagara Power Project’s Power Vista. There is no charge and parking is free. Hours both days will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There will be plenty of wildlife, such as Golden Eagles, capuchin monkey, owls, hawks, pheasants, white deer and more. The youngsters in the family will be fascinate by Mike Randall, well-known weatherman from WKBW-TV Ch. 7, who won’t be talking about weather, but will show his talents as a magician, puppeteer and story teller.

The Niagara River Anglers will once again feature their fishing pond loaded with trout youngsters can try for with furnished rods and bait. It will take most of the day to take in all the sights and exhibits and you can get something to eat along with soft drinks while there. This is a premier event and it’s something you or your children shouldn’t miss.

- The “record” Coho salmon many outdoor writers reported on last week turned out to be incorrect. One of the fish was eventually identified as a Chinook, the other, a, whoops, Coho-Chinook hybrid. That means a world record Coho is still swimming in Lake Ontario.

Joe Ognibene, a Grand Island resident, is a local sportsman who has covered the outdoor scene since 1957.