National Hunting and Fishing Day set for Sept. 27
The celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day is Sept. 27. First established by President Nixon in 1972, it honors the hunting and fishing communities with a focus on conservation.
One of the main goals of NHF Day is to recruit new hunters and anglers by encouraging participation and increasing public awareness of the connection between hunting, angling and conservation. Through self-imposed fees and excise taxes, sportsmen and women have raised more than $57 billion for conservation.
On the local front, there are two huge NHF Day events that help to convey the message to the masses. The Erie County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs will take up residence at the Elma Conservation Club, 600 Creek Road in Elma from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. There will be outdoor-related booths to visit and learn from, including demonstrations by Ducks Unlimited, Erie County Trappers, the WNY Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Lake Erie Chapter of Fly Fishers International. Many attendees will safely learn about the handling of a bow, crossbow, rifle, shotgun and air pistol through certified instructors. Everything is free to attend.
In Niagara County, the 40th anniversary of the New York Power Authority’s Wildlife Festival is slated for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the family festivities is free. It will be held at the Power Vista located at 5777 Lewiston Road, Lewiston. Many of the same exhibitors are back giving shows, including Nickel City Reptiles; several wildlife rehabilitation groups including Hawk Creek Wildlife Center, Skyhunters, AWARE and Wild Kritters; dog agility and training by the Lewiston Police K-9 unit; and the New York State Conservation Tent, including booths from the DEC and New York State Parks with plenty of hands-on activities. The primate sanctuary is back, as is the Niagara River Anglers Association’s fishing pond and archery by Middleport Rod and Gun Club. The event is co-sponsored by the Niagara County Federation of Conservation Clubs.
In honor of NHF Day, Sept. 27 is a free fishing day in the state. No license is required to fish in New York. However, you must abide by the regulations for the body of water you intend to fish. Visit dec.ny.gov for details.
Western Zone youth waterfowl hunt Sept. 27-28
The Western Zone youth waterfowl hunt is slated for Sept. 27-28 in the Western Zone. It is an opportunity to educate 12- to 15-year-old hunters on the finer art of waterfowl hunting as it relates to ducks and geese. As with all youth hunts in the state, a licensed mentor must accompany the junior hunter and it’s a great way to teach hunting and firearms safety while in the field.
Both the adult and junior hunters must have a hunting license, as well as a Harvest Information Program registration number. The adult must also have a federal duck stamp. During the youth waterfowl hunt, the mentor supervising the junior hunter may not carry a firearm, crossbow or longbow. The adult may not harvest an animal. However, any other hunters in the party not supervising the young hunter may carry a firearm, crossbow or longbow when other seasons are open. To learn more about the general waterfowl hunting regulations, visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28503.html. Make sure you abide by the regulations for the early hunting weekend.
To take advantage of the Beaver Island waterfowl blinds for the Sept. 27-28 youth hunt weekend, call-in will take place on Sept. 22 at 773-3271. For the regular duck season that opens Oct. 11, all blinds will be in-person draws. Call the number above for details during regular business hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Check the website for further details under the hunting tab at https://parks.ny.gov/parks/56/hunting.aspx.
Low water delays fly-fishing section opening
Unusually lower water conditions in the Salmon River have forced the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation to delay the opening of the lower fly-fishing section until Oct. 31. This popular section of the river attracts thousands of anglers every year. The lower section normally would open Sept. 15. There also will be a modification of water releases. These actions are needed to ensure a successful egg collection at the Salmon River Fish Hatchery.
This summer, below-average rainfall led to low and declining water levels in the Salmon River Reservoir. The Executive Committee of the Salmon River Flow Management Team, comprised of natural resource agencies and Brookfield Renewable hydroelectric facility that regulates reservoir water levels, canceled scheduled whitewater releases and delayed the annual increase in baseflow to conserve reservoir water and maintain suitable flows throughout the salmon spawning run.
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