In this week's episode of We Love Outdoors with Rich Davenport, your humble host discusses another casualty of covid covid covid, as the NYSDEC has announced the cancellation of BOW in the Snow in Allegany State Park this year, which was slated for Feb 4-6, 2022.
And alarm bells are now sounding over the potential for a ban on wood burning in New York, specifically upstate, as the Climate Action Council's desire is reducing wood burning by 40% across all of upstate NY, citing fictitious studies and grandiose claims of benefits that will never materialize. They believe their own delusions, folks. Some of the claims are reminiscent of Obamacare lies over saving $2500/ yr! Darned near similar $$ too!
And in other news, starting Feb 1, 2022, people may no longer use the shooting range at Tonawanda WMU, as DEC has moved to permanently close use of the berms/ mounds that were placed there years ago specifically for target shooting. This comes on the heels of adopting the recently proposed rules of use for WMAs/ MUAs and UAs in NY.
The ice is finally nice across most of NY's inland lakes, and the Chautauqua Ice Derby is now in full swing. The Clam Trap Attack finished up last weekend, congratulations to the winners. You can visit fish donkey and search for Clam Trap Attack 2022 to get all the results.
While the ice around NY is good, that snow storm on MLK,Jr day did cover most waters with a good amount of snow. Although much is settling down, pressure cracks could present an issue, so use that spud bar until the ice is healed up and thickened up.
Concerns are rising over the timing of the season opening day changes proposed by DEC in their latest round of regulatory activity. Some believe a delay in effective date to next year would suffice, and I have heard other work arounds are being considered. Make sure you submit comments before the Feb 6 deadline!
Around the Great Lakes region, the Great Lakes Sportfishing Council advises Michigan anglers that creel limits for the spring steelhead season, March 15-May 15, has been reduced from 3 fish per day to 1, as populations have shown a steady decline over the past year. The Black Lake Lake Sturgeon Ice season is set, with a 6 fish harvested per season set to prevent overfishing. Anglers must sign up by Feb 5 to participate in this 4 day season (Feb 6-Feb 9), and the hours to fish each day is 8AM - 2PM only.
Mercury is a terrible problems in many waterways, but good news is that it seems this contamination abates quicker than thought, as a 15 year study has shown levels of mercury in waters, sediment and plankton abate quickly once the source of pollution is curtailed. Better news for the younger fish, as the rapid decline helps keep exposure up the food change low. Older fish that are contaminated will remain so, sadly.
The NYSCC has release action alerts to the membership. They call for the members to support A1299/ S7747, which will give full inclusion to crossbow while tying its use to archery. NYSCC calls on members to oppose A5728/ S5058, which is the revisit of the lead ammo ban on state lands and in the NYC drinking water areas, which is huge as that encompasses the Catskills, the Delaware River watershed and Cohocton Rservoir, and A7785/ S6510, which is the predicted county opt out law for late ML season in southern zone. Get busy, folks.
Finally, your humble host brings you a blast from the past, as the renewable energy scam and claims of the planet in crisis have been part of the Democrat Communist lexicon for a long time. What is different is the people's connection to history. Same crises and claims were made on the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970. The more things change, the more they stay the same!
