NYSOWA's 50th Fall Conference in Warren County: A good time had by all! - Fall 2017
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www.nysowa.org
www.nysowa.org
Fall 2017
NYSOWA’s 50th Fall Conference in
Warren County: A good time had by all!
NYSOWA Officers & Board of Directors
PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENTS Northern NY Southeastern NY
MIKE JOYNER Western & Central NY DAN LADD CHARLES A.
5239 Town Line Road. DAVID FIGURA PO Box 302 WITEK III
McGraw, NY 13101 4080 O’Neill Lane Fort Ann, NY 12827 1075 Tooker Ave.
Skaneateles, NY West Babylon, NY 11704
13151
TREASURER BOARD OF TOM SCHLICHTER
LEON ARCHER DIRECTORS P.O. Box 462
726 Maple Ave. Southold, NY 11971
Fulton, NY 13069 ALLEN BENAS
P.O. Box 69 SUPPORTING MEMBER
RECORDING 535 Merrick St. LIAISON
SECRETARY Clayton, NY 13624 ROBIN SHARPLESS
GLENN SAPIR DEBORAH BROSEN
21 Shamrock Dr. P.O. Box 86 ----------
Putnam Valley, NY 10579 Kinderhook, NY 12106
NEWSLETTER
MEMBERSHIP WILL ELLIOTT
MANAGING
SECRETARY 9777 Bernd Rd.
JOHN GEREAU Pavilion, NY 14525 EDITORS
5880 State Rt. 9N BILL HILTS, JR.
Westport, NY 12993 CHRIS KENYON billhiltsjr@gmail.com
13028 Kyle Road DAN LADD
PAST PRESIDENT Woldcott, NY 14599 buck@adkhunter.com
WAYNE BREWER
71 State St. MIKE LYNCH WEB SITE
Seneca Falls, NY PO Box 766, SUE BOOKHOUT
13148 Saranac Lake, NY 12983 sbookhout@gmail.com
NYSOWA Calendar of Events
& Important Dates
In This Issue
2018 Spring Safari
Dates TBA
Memberhsip News 3-7, 16
Oswego County
President’s Report 8
2018 Fall Conference
Dates TBA Vice President Reports 9-15
Tentatively Long Island
50th Conference/Anniversary 17-21
Next Issue of New York Outdoors,
the official NYSOWA Newsletter Supporting Member News 22-28
Winter 2018
Deadline: Jan. 20, 2018 Meeting Minutes 29-32
Email Newsletter submissions to Dan Ladd by
above deadline at buck@adkhunter.com Membership Applications 33-34
Membership News
Glenn Sapir Receives NYSOWA Pass It On Award
At its Annual Conference and 50th Anniversary held in Lake George,
NY the New York State Outdoor Writers Association (NYSOWA)
honored Glenn Sapir of Putnam Valley, NY with the annual Pass It On
Award.
Initiated by Bass Pro Shops, this annual award honors the person
who has done the most to “pass on” our outdoor heritage. This award
is given to Active Members of NYSOWA. Sapir was honored with a
plaque at the Annual Conference and his name will be recorded in the
Annual Directory along with previous winners.
Both Bass Pro Shops and NYSOWA have recognized the fact that it
is vital to pass on our outdoor heritage, including understanding the
role of conservation and an interest in our outdoor sports. This can be
done in a number of ways such as creating awareness through writing,
helping organizations that promote these activities, or directly being
involved in mentoring and educating.
Glenn Sapir has been an outdoor writer and editor for over 40 years.
During that time he has devoted his energy and writing to passing
on the love of the outdoors and the skills necessary to find success.
His writings and his editorial direction with Field & Stream, Outdoor
Glenn Sapir and Leo Maloney Life, and Sports Afield stressed the how and where for outdoorsmen to
enjoy the outdoors and achieve success. His writings also stressed the
enjoyment in the outdoors, beyond any game or fish harvested.
His education and “passing it on” did not stop with writing. He shared
his passion and knowledge of turkey hunting in seminars, columns, and books including Turkey Secrets of the Pros.
Throughout his career he shared his experience and advice and been involved in mentoring other outdoor writers. He
has continually put the sport and interest of others above his own pleasure by volunteering to guide other hunters.
Glenn has always had a particular interest in recruiting youth into the outdoor sports and providing them with the
knowledge to enjoy the outdoors. His stories provided how and why, but even more importantly they told of stories
of special youth adventures as well as stressing the importance of follow up activities to build on that interest and
success.
Despite winning numerous awards and holding leadership positions in many organizations, Glenn Sapir has been
proudest of his involvement with youth or disadvantaged individuals. He has instilled a love of the outdoors in his
children and fostered outdoor bonding in his family with his brothers and their children in many outdoor-centered
activities and gatherings.
For many years he recruited inner city children to attend Camp DeBruce under the sponsorship of the Rod & Gun
Editors Association of Metropolitan New York. He was also active in planning and leading a fishing outing every
year for the FDR Veterans Administration Hospital in Westchester County and took an active role in helping the
veterans enjoy their outdoor experience.
Glenn Sapir has been a leader in planning and leading fishing outings at Harriman State Park for severely mentally
handicapped individuals. He has taken a hands-on role in working at this activity and the follow-up celebrations.
Sapir has also been involved in helping supervise fishing outings at Eldred Trout Preserve for children who lost a
parent on 9-11.
All of these efforts have earned Glenn Sapir numerous awards, including membership in the NYS Outdoorsmen
Hall of Fame. Throughout his whole career Glenn Sapir has been concerned with passing on the love of the outdoor
heritage as well as ethical and professional behavior.
New York State Outdoor Writers Association
honors Gary N. Lee
The NYSOWA M. Paul Keesler New York Outdoor
Citizen Award is presented to an individual or
organization that effectively has raised the public’s
awareness of outdoor recreational opportunities and
conservation issues in New York State. The award
recipient, Gary Lee of Inlet, NY, was officially
announced at the annual conference of the New
York State Outdoor Writers Association (NYSOWA)
in Lake George.
The award was created to honor worthy individuals
and organizations, at the same time perpetuating
the name of one of NYSOWA’s dearest members.
The late M. Paul Keesler spent nearly five decades
promoting and conserving the outdoor wonders and
recreational opportunities within New York State
Gary Lee has spent a lifetime enlightening people
on the opportunities of the natural world and
outdoor recreation. He has also well known as a
Gary Lee and Leo Maloney
champion of maintaining access for key areas of
the Adirondacks and protecting wildlife such as the
loon. As a NYS Forest Ranger, an outdoor writer, a volunteer, and an advocate he has become widely known and
respected throughout much of upstate New York, especially the Adirondack region.
During his tenure as a Forest Ranger in charge of the Moose River Plains Wild Forest he went out of his way
to make the area accessible and let people know of the potential recreation from fishing, hiking, camping, and
hunting to the opportunities to see rare flowers or birds.
Gary Lee has become a widely known and respected writer who has publicized the wealth of recreation
opportunities throughout the Adirondacks. He currently writes for the Adirondack Outdoors magazine on a
regular basis. Just one example of how widely known and popular his articles are is a story that he wrote on
ice fishing for splake in Adirondack Outdoors that caused several anglers to drive 75 miles to try the fishing at
Limekiln Lake.
He has written an authoritative book on Adirondack birding and several times a year he volunteers and guides
people on birding hikes. He also does similar hikes and tours for birds, wild flowers, etc. on behalf of the Old
Forge Library or View Art Center.
Gary writes a weekly column for The Weekly Adirondack that covers everything from wild orchids to moose. He
has continually made his readers aware of the serious issues such as invasive species, climate change, threats to
wildlife, or efforts by some groups to restrict access to areas of the Adirondacks.
He also frequently conducts seminars or gives presentations on all of these issues, especially education about
loons. He is a regular volunteer all summer for the Adirondack Center For Loon Conservation. These duties
include building nesting platforms, monitoring nest results, educating people to not disturb the loons nesting or
the young chicks, banding birds, and countless rescues of loons caught in discarded fishing line.
Gary has never been afraid to speak out on important issues.
He has led the efforts to prevent the environmental extremists from restricting access to many areas of the
Adirondacks. His presence as public hearings, writing in his media outlets, and his extensive network of contacts
have helped make people aware of these threats and as a result several important victories have been won. The
Moose River Plains remains a wild forest with unique network of dirt roads for access instead of the restricted
Wilderness area that the environmental extremist organizations lobbied for.
Gary Lee’s dedication, vision, and tireless effort epitomize the spirit of Paul Keesler.
Bill Hilts, Jr. Receives Hans Paller Award
The Hans Paller Award, named in honor of New York State Outdoor Writers’ Association’s founding father, is NY-
SOWA’s highest honor and is only given out rarely and carefully to someone who has devoted a lifetime of service to
NYSOWA. In its 50-year history it has only been given out five times.
In October 2017 on the 50th anniversary, NYSOWA honored Bill Hilts, Jr. with the Hans Paller Award. Hilts has spent
a lifetime devoted to the good of NYSOWA. For 36 years he has served NYSOWA in almost every capacity possible.
He has served as Director, Vice President, President, conference chair five times, and conference site chair for many
years.
For many years Hilts has been the Newsletter editor and still advises and proofreads it for the current editor. Whenever
there was a need for a conference, a committee, or just some task, he would step forward. In all his years that he has
been involved he would quietly offer his support and advice to the organization without fanfare or concern for credit. In
most cases he would serve as the mainstay to see that the problem was solved and the job was done right.
The average span of active volunteerism in most organizations is about five years, or less. By contrast Bill Hilts has
been very active as a hard-working and successful volunteer for 36 years. He has also been a great role model, a “people-
person” who got others to work as well, achieved many significant improvements, and has played a major role in making
NYSOWA the great organization that it is today.
In recognition of his outstanding service, NYSOWA is proud to present Bill Hilts, Jr. with this highest honor that NY-
SOWA can bestow.
Mike Joyner, Bill Hilts Jr., and Leo Maloney
New York State Outdoor Writers Association Announces
Writing, Photography Awards
Lake George, N.Y.—The New York State Outdoor Writers Association presented the winners of its annual writing and
photography recognition program with carved duck decoy first-place awards and second- and third-place cash awards
at the annual banquet of the organization sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation at the Dunham’s Bay
Resort on Saturday, Oct. 14.
The organization of more than 80 professional communicators and several dozen supporting members from the outdoor
and travel industry gathered at the resort Oct. 11-15 for its 50th annual conference. The Excellence in Craft writing
competition and Janice M. Keesler Memorial Photo Contest, both co-sponsored by Ducks Unlimited, Redding Reloading
Equipment and Sportsman Channel, were judged by highly regarded professionals from outside the organization.
“Nationally prominent professionals, some of the most respected, prolific and competent writers, editors and photogra-
phers in the field of outdoor communications, served as judges” said Mike Joyner, president of NYSOWA.
First-place winners in the writing competition for articles published in 2016 were: Wayne Brewer, Seneca Falls, N.Y., for
Fall Brown Trout on the Finger Lakes in Lake Ontario Outdoors’ Fall Issue , in the Magazine Feature category; Chris
Paparo, Calverton, N.Y., for Exploring the Swamp Backwaters in On The Water’s July issue, in the Magazine Column
category; Paula Piatt, Sayre, Pa., for Turkey Trapping and Tagging in New York Outdoor News, April 15, for Newspaper
Feature; Steve Piatt, Sayre, Pa., for Missing (in) Kansas in New York Outdoor News, May 13, for Newspaper Column;
and Charles Witek III, West Babylon, N.Y., for Winter Flounder: The Bill Has Come Due, on the Marine Fish Conserva-
tion Network, March 21, for Online Publications. Peter Fiduccia, South New Berlin, N.Y., took first place in the inaugu-
ral TV/Radio/Video/Audio awards for Moose & Caribou Hunting at Arluk Tilt in Newfoundland, Canada, with appeared
on Woods N’ Water TV.
Angelo Peluso, Port Jefferson, took top photo honors in the Outdoor Scenic and People categories. Other first-place
winners for photography were Susan Kiesel, Sauquoit, in the Hunting & Fishing category, Bill Hilts, Jr., Lockport, in the
Action category and Christopher Kenyon, Wolcott, in the Wildlife category.
A complete list of first- to third-place finishers in both the writing- and photo-award programs follows.
Excellence in Craft Writing Awards
Magazine Feature: First place, Wayne Brewer, Fall Brown Trout on the Finger Lakes , Lake Ontario Outdoors, Fall;
second place (three-way tie), J. Michael Kelly, New York’s Glorious Green Drakes, New York Game & Fish,
June; Chris Paparo, The Long Island Shark Collaboration , On The Water, July; Wayne Brewer Jigging Lake Trout in
the Winter, Lake Ontario Outdoors, Winter.
Magazine Column: First place, Chris Paparo, Naturalist’s Logbook: Exploring the Swampy Backwaters, On The Water,
July; second place, Angelo Peluso, Fishing Planner: This November Could Be Different…, On the Water, Nov /Dec;
third place, Angelo Peluso, Fishing Planner: Carp and Stripers, On the Water, April.
Newspaper Feature: First place, Paula Piatt, Turkey Trapping and Tagging, New York Outdoor News, April 15; second
place, Steve Piatt, New York Outdoor News: Person of the Year, New York Outdoor News, April 29; third place, Angelo
Peluso, Alone but Not Lonely, New York Outdoor News, March 4.
Newspaper Column: First place, Steve Piatt, Out There: Missing (in) Kansas , New York Outdoor News, May 13; second
place, Steve Piatt, Out There: Going Somewhere, New York Outdoor News, Sept. 16; Leon Archer, The Sportsman’s
World: Ryan the Crab Whisperer, The Valley News, Aug. 27
Online Publication: First place, Charles Witek III, Winter Flounder: The Bill Has Come Due, Marine Fish Conservation
Network, March 21; second place, David Figura, Cornell Expert: Archers Are Cheap, Effective Way to Lower Deer
Numbers, Syracuse.com, Jan. 21; third place, Chris Paparo, Tracking Movements of Local Canada Goose Populations,
The Northforker, July 12.
TV/Radio/Video/Audio: First place, Peter Fiduccia, Moose & Caribou Hunting at Arluk Tilt in Newfoundland, Canada,
Woods N’ Water TV, Fall 2015; Peter Fiduccia, Update on Planting, Woods N’ Water TV, Fall 2014; third place, Bill
Hilts, Jr., Outdoor Beat with Dan Colville, Outdoor Beat, LCTV Cable, Nov. 30.
Janice M. Keesler Memorial Photo Awards
Hunting & Fishing: First place, Susan Kiesel; second place, Glenn Sapir; third place, Richard Redman.
Outdoor Scenic: First place, Angelo Peluso; second place, Chris Paparo; third place, Bill Hilts, Jr.
Action: First place, Bill Hilts, Jr.; second place, Susan Kiesel; third place, Leo Maloney.
Wildlife: First place, Christopher Kenyon; second place, Susan Kiesel; third place, Christopher Paparo.
People: First and second places, Angelo Peluso; third place, Leo Maloney.
The 2017 American Crossbow Federation’s Bill Hilts Sr. Award was presented
by Bill himself to NYSOWA member Ed Noonan at the 50th Fall Conference.
Ironically, it was Bill Sr. who sponsored Ed when he joined NYSOWA in 1989.
President’s Report
By Mike Joyner
NYSOWA’s 50th in the books
For those of you who spent the weekend with us at our the outdoor beat
50th Anniversary in Lake George we thank you for sharing reporter, the
the weekend with us. So many thank you’s are in order for book author,
the 50th committees and our conference chairs Dan Ladd the weekly
and Ed Noonan. Our hosts, sponsors and contributors were or monthly
outstanding in helping us put on a grand event. I encourage columnists,
all of you to make it a point to visit them again, and to include outdoor
them in your stories as your deem appropriate. photographers,
It is inspiring to share the weekend with those that have and professional
been there from the very beginning and to see generations of videographers
above and beyond volunteerism amongst our ranks. To have and radio
Bill Hilts Sr. with us while his son Bill Hilts, Jr. who we all professional s. It has certainly changed in both monetary
know just as well was on hand to receive the Hans Paller business models and technologies employed. From the
Award! It was truly something special. Our featured speaker days of vacuum tubes, hand writing, typewriters. To the
Jim Zumbo was ever present over the course of our event, rapidly changing digital age where what would have been
and it was an absolute pleasure to get to know him. A big required in large buildings 50 years ago to compute even the
thank you for the long trip and spending the weekend with our most mundane tasks now fits nicely in your hand for a few
group. hundred dollars. It is not a wonder that our envy of Captain
It is overwhelming to capture all the activities that took Kirk, Spock, and Bones use of tricorders, communicators
place but to sum it up as an impression: I surmised that are now realized as common every day technology that our
Lee, my wife, would have loved attending and would have children ‘must have’ and easily master. It is professed that the
especially enjoyed the Lake George area that it took place in. incredible changes from tubes to solid state tech will pale in
Unfortunately work commitments made the trip impractical. comparison to the rapid changes expected in the digital age
Having experienced it myself, my opinion of ‘surmised’ and integration of data. I’ll assert, not so much in the turkey
is now absolute and we will revisit the same activities and woods, or while trolling for walleyes…
location next fall for our 18th anniversary. If I may advise Technology has impacted our professions as it has our
any of you as to a destination, Lake George would be a first personal lives and how we communicate and convey our
choice. wonderment of the great outdoors. It is our task going forward
Given my opinion of our recent anniversary celebration it to identify, master how we thrive, value add our services, and
comes along with the observation that we have so many grand prosper in these changing business models and the societal
and breathtaking areas in the great empire state to enjoy. It ways that we use to communicate.
is for this singular observation that I truly love being a New With our 50th in the books, and as we chart a path on to the
Yorker. next 50 years I leave you with this thought:
A substantial event at our 50th was a reach out from our
Despite the many changes of writer’s tools and technology,
folks at the NYSDEC. There is a renewed effort to open up
our wonderment of the outdoors is not something that is
communications with our membership and to work hand in
captured as an algorithm or as a string of AI programming
hand with us as the state is focusing more intently on tourism,
code. Our ability to convey the experience to land a lunker
more importantly to our group, outdoor recreational tourism.
bass the very first time, the taste and smells of a shore lunch,
This of course is not new to us as it is our passions and we
to bask in the sun rise in the turkey woods with a gobbler
live within one of the greatest states to hunt, fish, hike, and
pursue all the great outdoor activities the state has to offer. thundering in the towering maples, the savory aroma of back
The communications staff at the headquarters in Albany straps and eggs breakfast over the wood stove in deer camp,
have been encouraged to get their hunter safety course and or the overpowering disabling sensation of buck fever as
to engage directly with the outdoor community. We welcome a mature eight point steps into your shooting lane, is what
the renewed efforts and hope to have a more open and direct makes us all relevant, and inspiring to all that partake in our
dialog with them. time honored sports and passions. It is my heartfelt conviction
In observing our 50th, it encompasses a great deal of that is why we all do what we do, and to the enjoyment of our
change to the industry itself, professional outdoor writers, readers and fans.
VP Northern Region
by Dan Ladd
Deer season arrives on heels of
50th fall conference
First, just let me say a big “Thank You” to anyone who The
played any role, large or small, in the 50th Fall Conference Monday
held in October in Warren County. The event was a lot of after the
work for all of us, myself included, and it would have not conference
been possible without so many within and outside of the found me
organization. attempting
I’m so glad everyone enjoyed themselves during their stay set up an
in Warren County. It was my goal to showcase not only the ambush in
Lake George region, but the segment of the Adirondacks that the woods,
we have in our back yard as well as some of the resources hoping to catch a glimpse of the buck on his way to
the area naturally offers. the food plot. After an uneventful, but relaxing sit, I
Most of all, it was just a great time to be able to see everyone ventured back home, passing nearby the trail-cam in the
even if I was only able to spend a little time with some of food plot on my way out.
you. I appreciate all of those who came and the efforts The next morning Ed Noonan and I spent the morning
you have put forth since in your writing and photography in the woods near by home before sitting down to handle
endeavors. Our local tourism folks appreciate it as well. some post-conference activities. We had found a fresh
buck scrape that morning so I decided to pull the SD card
Deer Season from the trail camera.
Of course, deer season in the Northern Zone opened up What I got a photo of was surely a surprise. Apparently,
during the conference. I took some time off after the event when I was coming out of the woods the six-pointer was
to enjoy the muzzleloading season, which is actually my in the food plot. The photo the camera captured of the
favorite of the hunting seasons. I was after a few bucks spooked buck proved this. Had I sat in the blind that
I’d been getting trail camera photos of, including one six- evening that I have set up overlooking the food plot, I
pointer that was visiting a food plot on my property just may have put some venison in the freezer early on. But,
minutes after legal shooting hours. that’s hunting, as we like to say.
I spooked this buck on the way out of my stand.
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposed hut-to-hut initiative
actually included Boreas Ponds, where an old log cabin
currently being used as a hunting cabin is expected to
remain. Environmental groups, meanwhile, fear that new
structures could be built here.
I personally don’t support a full Wilderness classification,
which would close the nearly seven-mile Gulf Brook Road
and require a hike of that distance to get to the picturesque
ponds. I’ve felt all along that a less restrictive Wild Forest
classification, or at least enough of it to get folks close
enough to the water to launch a canoe or kayak, should be
implemented. I also favor a snowmobile trail system in here
as that could be realized possibly by using existing roads to
help connect North Hudson and Newcomb.
My opinions were further reinforced on a summer hike into
the ponds this past August. Under the interim management
A little early season luck in the Adirondacks plan there is drivable access about half-way to the ponds,
leaving a roughly a three-mile hike to get to them.
The rest of muzzleloading season, and October for that This was on a mild-weather Sunday early in the month
matter, was uncharacteristically warm. I was hunting in and what anyone would consider to be a quality hiking day.
shirtsleeves at times and watching for ticks on my exposed It was a nice, leg-stretching hike to the ponds and back but
skin as much as I was watching for deer. unfortunately there are restrictions on where you can go.
With an early November trip to Maine planned I decided When we signed in at the trail head around 8:30 that
that if a buck presented an opportunity in the early part of morning there were only two other vehicles there. On our
the Northern Zone big game season, which opened on Oct. way out we encountered just a handful of hikers and a
21, I’d pull the trigger. few others pedaling their mountain bikes. Just eight cars,
Sure enough, just a few days before our Maine trip got including ours, were in the parking lot that afternoon.
underway, we were making some deer drives in Northern Conversely, the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks,
Warren County. I was on a watch at the far end of the drive which is very close to Boreas Ponds, was overcrowded.
when the woods basically exploded with deer. I saw two small This has been highly publicized. If you’ve driven anywhere
bucks that morning, which I passed, but when buck with a near Lake Placid during the hiking season you can see this
seemingly larger rack bolted off the back of the evergreen for yourself; cars lined up in each direction from the trail
hill I was watching, the short-barreled Winchester Model heads and reports coming in from hikers saying the trails
94 .30-30 came to my shoulder. One of my shots connected were more like highways where groups march in single file
and the buck went down at a distance I later counted at over in both directions.
70 paces. This is by far the longest shot I’ve ever made in I keep hearing those who support a Wilderness classification
the Adirondacks, where most of our shots are taken inside for Boreas Ponds say it will attract a different type of usage,
of 50 yards. but solid usage none the less. One that will provide tax dollars
The buck was a decent five-pointer that weighed and other benefits like Lake Placid and Keene Valley enjoy
127-pounds. Later that day we got another five-pointer on a courtesy of the High Peaks popularity. I have to question if
small mountain right behind the camp we hunt out of. It was that would be the case.
a great day of Adirondack hunting for sure and, other than There area also suggestions to offer a form of classification
a week of intense hunting in the thick swamps of Northern which keeps the road open as far as it currently is as sort
Maine, I’ve been taking a more leisurely approach to deer of a compromise. Both of these ideas are put forth on the
hunting since. premises that further camping and hiking opportunities
around Boreas Ponds will bring those less-impactive users,
Boreas Ponds Debate Stirs Again and a lot of them, and even take pressure off the High
It’s been a year now since the Adirondack Park Agency Peaks.
undertook the task of holding public meetings and soliciting Not too far away from Boreas Ponds sits the Essex Chain
public comments regarding the classification of the Boreas Complex, which does have partial Wild Forest classification
Ponds tract in North Hudson, among others. Classification that allows motorized access into the tract’s interior. Still,
has been highly debated. most users need to hike a few miles to a lake-front campsite
Lately there’s been a surge among those seeking the more where they can’t have a fire. They can also carry or cart
restricted Wilderness classification to bend the ear of the a boat a quarter-mile, paddle across one (Deer) pond, then
APA, who’s monthly meeting is next week. Demonstrations carry another half-mile before they get to the heart of the
outside their offices in Ray Brook are planned. The complex of the Essex Chain Lakes.
meeting agenda did not include discussion of Boreas Ponds This is fun, and adventurous (I’ve done it) but it’s not for
classification. everybody and I have to ask if a similar compromise for
During last year’s meetings the APA said classification Boreas Ponds, including banning campfires, would result in
would be made around March of this year. That obviously the same type of limited usage. I’m betting that it would.
hasn’t happened. There’s a reason there were only eight cars at Boreas Pondson a perfect summer day and why the Essex Chain is getting times now and she marvels at my photos. But with a bad
little usage. It’s because people can’t quite get there. How knee there’s no way I’m going to convince her to drag a boat
many will go into Boreas Ponds if they have to walk seven three miles each way (much less seven). I know so many
miles, or even three? other people that because of age or injury are in her same
I’m not saying that having the same amount of traffic as situation.
the High Peaks is what’s needed for any of these tracts.
If the Governor and the APA want people to use the Boreas
What I am saying is that hikers visiting the High Peaks are
apparently not very interested in places like Boreas Ponds Ponds tract, they’ll provide enough motorized access to
or the Essex Chain. Those who are interested want, and make it happen. If not, then it will be a very peaceful and
perhaps need, closer access to the water on both tracts. quiet place for a relatively few people to enjoy when they
I’d love to take my wife into Boreas Ponds, and even the actually take the opportunity to do so instead of crossing
Essex Chain for that matter. I’ve been to these places a few mountains off a list.
This band of NYSOWA members took the woods for opening day of the Northern Zone
Muzzleloading, which coincided with the 50th Fall ConferenceVP Southeastern Region
by Charles Witek III
Saltwater Fishing Season Winds Down
The big striped bass have left Montauk, leaving quite a abundance
few smaller, school fish behind. Nobody knows how long has declined
they’ll stick around, but it’s possible that this season, for markedly over
the first time in years, Montauk will have bass well into the past de-
November and possibly even into December. But now it’s cade, and ex-
the South Shore’s turn, with some quality fish and quite a cept for some
few schoolies available along the barrier beaches. Some early-season
bluefish, mostly under ten pounds, are mixed in with the action off western Long Island and a decent summer at
bass. Montauk, fishing was relatively slow. Even the usually
On the bottom, we should see black sea bass and a few dependable bluefish were hard to find along most of the
cod and ling on the wrecks and hard bottom through the coast for most of the season.
end of the year, while a slow pick of blackfish is likely to The combination of iffy weather and mediocre fish-
continue until the season ends in December. ing apparently sapped anglers’ enthusiasm. During the
Hardcore anglers will keep chasing the fish when the first eight months of 2017, New York’s salt water anglers
weather allows, but it’s hunting season on Long Island made about 1.586 million trips—about the same number
now. Archers have already taken some very nice bucks, of trips that they usually make in July and August alone.
while plenty of smaller bucks and does are filling freezers And in July and August of this year, those anglers only
and keeping the meat cutters busy. Small game season is made 0.628 million trips; since the National Marine Fish-
in full swing, while waterfowlers are watching the weath- eries Service began tracking angler effort in 1981, that
er, hoping that it gets cold enough farther north to push was the lowest figure ever recorded for New York State.
ducks down to the coast, something that doesn’t happen The previous low was 0.929 million trips taken in July/
every year. August 1985, a figure 50% higher than the 2017 estimate.
It’s also the start of regulation season, when fishery If the last four months of 2017 follow the same pattern
managers look at the health of fish stocks and the size of as the first eight, New York anglers are on target to make
the past season’s harvest, and begin to put together the about 2,000,000 fishing trips in 2017, about half of the
regulations that we’ll have to follow in 2018. Some of the number taken in a typical year. Should that in fact be the
information that’s coming to light suggests that the 2018 case, the number of trips taken in all of 2017 would also
regulatory process will be complex and, perhaps, contro- be the lowest number ever recorded.
versial. The number of fish caught is also well below normal, at
least through last August.
NY anglers made fewer trips, New Yorkers landed about 695,000 fluke during the
caught fewer fish in 2018 first eight months of 2016; in 2017, they landed less than
Along most of the New York coast, 2017 was a difficult 190,000. Between March and August of 2016, New York
fishing year.
anglers also landed about 525,00 black sea bass, 211,000
The weather never settled into the typical summer pat-
striped bass and 528,000 bluefish. For the same period
tern of hazy, calm mornings, clear skies and a southwest
this year, they landed just 116,000 sea bass, 49,000 strip-
breeze during the afternoon. Instead, northwest, north and
ers and 215,000 blues.
northeast winds were unusually prevalent and the season
If the effort and catch estimates are right, they suggest
was wetter than normal. The north winds pushed warm
surface waters offshore; as a result, cooler, more fertile a real drop in the availability of many of New York’s
bottom waters welled up to the surface and triggered a most important saltwater sport fish, and a resultant drop
phytoplankton bloom that turned most of Long Island’s in angling activities. While New York didn’t overfish
offshore waters green and pushed tuna and even most of any of their annual allocations, and thus shouldn’t see
the mahi beyond the range of most private boats. regulations grow any more restrictive—regulations for
At the same time, the worst brown tide ever recorded in summer flounder and black sea bass are even likely to be
Great South Bay sharply degraded inshore fishing there. relaxed—the apparent lack of fish reflected in the num-
In addition to that, there just weren’t many fish around. bers is troubling. If it wasn’t merely due to the adverse
Fluke—summer flounder—populations were down after weather—something that might well be the case—it
six years of below-average spawns; black sea bass were could mean that a number of important fish stocks are
very abundant, but legal-sized fish were relatively scarce. having problems. We should know for certain by the end
While the striped bass population is not quite overfished, of 2018.Party boat poaching incidents outrage anglers boat, the Viking Starship. In that boarding, 23 anglers were
On August 31, law enforcement officers from the Depart- ticketed for undersized black sea bass and over-the-limit
ment of Environmental Conservation were making routine black sea bass and porgies. Coolers holding about 1,800
checks of vessels returning to port in Montauk, on the East fish again went unclaimed.
End of Long Island. When they approached the party boat According to Newsday, the primary Long Island news-
Fin Chaser, berthed at Star Island Marina, black sea bass paper, a spokesman for the Viking Fleet denied that 1,800
began flying over the side. The officers’ instructions to illegal fish were found abandoned on the boat, and claimed
cease dumping fish were ignored by a number of the boat’s that “Those numbers are wrong. That is false informa-
passengers. tion.”
When the officers boarded the boat, they began inspect- However, DEC spokesman Benning DeLaMater de-
ing the coolers that still held fish. The first cooler that they nied that there was any mistake and offered photos of the
opened held 96 black sea bass. The bag limit at the time abandoned coolers, while the size and composition of the
was three. boarding team strongly suggests that it expected to find
In the end, seven anglers were ticketed for undersized
illegal activity on board.
or over the limit black sea bass, one was charged with the
The fact that two party boats engaged in such egregious
misdemeanor of illegally dumping fish after being told to
poaching in just a short time caught the attention of the
stop and the captain of the boat was cited for filling out an
incomplete vessel trip report. Hundreds of black sea bass, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which
which could not be connected with any particular angler, expressed concern that the lack of a law holding vessel
were fished out of the harbor, and 17 coolers, holding over captains legally responsible for their patrons’ illegal acts
1,000 additional sea bass (legally, they should only have tempts unscrupulous operators to encourage customers to
held 51), were abandoned on the boat by passengers seeing violate the law, knowing that they will not be in legal jeop-
to evade penalties for overharvest. ardy unless they actively violate harvest regulations.
News of the bust, which received wide coverage in local At ASMFC’s October meeting, both the Summer Floun-
papers, shocked and outraged most of the angling com- der, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board and the
munity. However, it proved to be only a prelude to what Law Enforcement Committee discussed the problem.
appears to be a more extensive violation that occurred just The matter has been referred to the Black Sea Bass
a few weeks later, when a law enforcement team composed Working Group for additional development; hopefully,
of seven DEC officers and a National Marine Fisheries some potential approaches to the problem will be presented
Service enforcement agent boarded another Montauk party to the Management Board in the not-too-distant future.
Tom Schlichter made the trip from Long Island and caught some bass on Glen
Lake at the 50th Fall Conference.VP Western/Central Region
by David Figura
memorable Lake Ontario fall salmon run
Despite high water levels on Lake Ontario that continued Southern
into the fall, this year’s fall spawning run of Chinook and Zone bow
Coho salmon on Lake Ontario tributaries was memorable season starts
(“epic,” according to some accounts), particularly on slow
the Salmon River. A particularly dry, hot stretch in late The season in
September, early October resulted in low water flows the Southern
and/or high water temperatures on many of the lake’s Zone was
tributaries – keeping many of the fish staging out in the characterized early on by an usually dry and warm late
lake for a bit. Not in the Salmon River. Thanks in part to September and early October -- conditions that generally
mandatory, cooler water releases at the reservoir upstream, don’t result in successful deer hunting. In many places,
the chinooks and Cohos didn’t waste much time. leaves remained on trees and shrubs longer than usual,
In fact, this year’s run in the Salmon River was making visibility a problem.
characterized by more are larger Cohos than in recent Charles Alsheimer, of Bath, N.Y. in Steuben County,
years. The Cohos, unlike previous years, also made their a nationally known deer hunter, wildlife photographer
and author, said there was just “too much heat” this fall
presence known this fall in the Lower Niagara. In the week
in October, The early signs of the rut (scrapes and rubs)
preceding and after Columbus Day weekend, increased
appeared in the Southern Tier and Central New York,
precipitation and colder air temperatures across Upstate
he said, but deer movement and activity was generally
New York resulting in unleashing appreciable salmon runs occurring mostly at night when it was cooler.
in other Ontario tributaries. Currently, the salmon run has Alsheimer, said he’s been involved in a 20-year study
pretty much ended, with steelhead and brown trout moving with Wayne LaRoche, commissioner of Wildlife in
into the tributaries for the next phase of what promises to Pennsylvania, analyzing the effects of such things as
be a good season. temperature on deer from the beginning of October to
the end of the year. Looking at the data year in and out,
Toxic blue green algae scare he said, “when air temperature is 45 degrees or warmer
Blue green algae appeared on a number of Central and (during the day), it shuts deer activity down in New York
Western NY lakes this fall – most notably, Skaneateles State.”
and Owasco lakes. The soupy, bluish-green color has The latest reports, though, indicate that the deer hunting
since disappeared because of the cold weather, but the scene is definitely heating up as the temperatures drop
microcystins it produced will still be in the water (at low across the region.
levels) for bit. In the cases of Owasco and Skaneateles,
huge blooms developed because of a sort of perfect storm. Hydrilla in Cayuga Lake
Factors included run-off from farms, fertilizer on lawns The discovery earlier this year of hydrilla, a highly
in the watersheds; an ungodly amount of rain in early invasive aquatic weed, near the northern end of Cayuga
July and a stretch of extremely hot and still days in late Lake has local officials worried. The weed spreads easily,
September, early October. Algae blooms are nothing new producing choking green mats across wide expanses.
on many waterways in Upstate New York. Hydrilla is capable of filling up and choking waterways
However, the fact that a certain percentage of the blooms 30 feet deep. In mid-August 2011, the invasive was found
produce microcystins, which can make humans sick and infesting 166 acres in the Cayuga Inlet, which drains
in some cases kill pets (particularly dogs that swim in it to Cayuga Lake’s southern end. Along with chemical
and lick their fur afterward) has officials concerned. In treatments in 2011 and 2012, the Hydrilla Task Force
the case of Skaneateles Lake, it’s the source of drinking of the Cayuga Lake Watershed developed a long-term
water for the city of Syracuse and a number of surrounding eradication and monitoring plan.
communities. The city has used the lake’s water for Things seemed under control until this past April when it
decades without filtering it. was discovered 27 acres of the eastern part of the lake near
Aurora in Cayuga County was infested with the weed.
That may change. Owasco Lake, the water source for
The federal Environmental Protection Agency this fall
the city of Auburn and several surrounding communities,
awarded $900,000 for an initiative to fight invasive species
already has an expensive filtering system in place to
that threaten waterways. More than half of that amount
handle blue green algae microcystins. It appears the city will go toward eradicating hydrilla in Cayuga Lake,
of Syracuse may be forced to give serious consideration to according to U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer. The money will
putting in a similar system. Stay tuned.go toward creating a multi-year strategy to combat hydrilla steps to preserve the herd, currently estimated at more
in Cayuga Lake, along with helping to pay for herbicide than 80 animals, by setting up food plots and getting rid
treatments in the Finger Lake. of coyotes that prey on young deer – along with fixing the
fence that surrounds the former depot and keeps the white
White deer tours deer herd inside.
Guided “white deer bus tours” of the former Seneca
Army Depot in Romulus were scheduled to begin Nov. A great rookie season
16. The world’s largest herd of white, white-tailed deer New York State’s only angler competing on the 2017
form the centerpiece of the tours, which will also feature Bassmaster Elite Series missed being the tour’s Rookie
military artifacts from decades (of the depot being) a major of the Year by one measly point. Nevertheless, Jamie
weapons storage facility. Reportedly, nuclear weapons Hartman, of Newport in Herkimer County, still had
were stored there. The tours will begin and end at a new a story-book season. He finished 13th in the Toyota
$300,000 visitor’s center. Bassmaster Angler of the Year points standings, in which
The 25-passenger tour buses will leave the $300,000 John he earned $23,000.
and Josephine Ingle Welcome Center on Route 96A, about That cash award, added to his total earnings at the end of
10 miles south of Geneva, NY, and travel through the the nine-tournament, 2017 Elite Series tour was $123,000,
heart of the storage area which features 519 earth-covered said JamieDay Matthews, communications coordinator for
bunkers, more than 100 miles of roads, and remnants of B.A.S.S. On top of that, Hartman qualified for the 2018
the farms that preceded the Depot. GEICO Bassmaster Classic, which is being held March 16-
Seneca White Deer Inc. worked closely with Deer Haven 18 on Lake Hartwell, S.C. The winner of that tournament,
Park LLC, headed by Fayette businessman Earl Martin, considered the World Series of professional bass fishing,
to build the welcome center and to get the tours going. typically receives $300,000.
Martin, who purchased 7,200 acres of the former depot Finally, as a result of his overall performance during this
in 2016 for $900,000, made protecting and preserving the year’s tour, Hartman will be invited back to participate in
white deer herd a key part of business plan. He has taken the 2018 tour.
A Crossbow Buck
By Wayne Brewer
As some of you may know I fell and
injured my right shoulder in July ripping
two tendons away from my shoulder and
tearing a third. I went to the Cleveland
Clinic and met with one of the top shoulder
surgeons in the Country. After examining
x-rays and an MRI of my shoulder he
told me that he would not operate and my
shoulder could not be fixed.
He said that he would tell a pro-football
player with my injury the same. He
ordered physical therapy to help reduce
the pain and build up what muscle I had
left. He told me to take up fishing for the
next few months and that I could not shoot
a firearm, bow and crossbow. He did not
want me to “cock” a crossbow.
I checked with a major advertiser about
one of their crossbows that uses a crank to
cock it. After explaining my injury, I was
told that cranking the crossbow would be
too difficult and they did not recommend me uses this crossbow. Not wanting to sit out an entire deer season at my age,
I remembered a Horton crossbow Joel Lucks gave me before he moved to Tennessee. It was one of the older crossbows
Horton used decades ago to promote their use in New York. I bought some bolts for it, attached Muzzy game blades and
shot it a few times with my sister’s son-in-law and it shot right on at 20 and 30 yards. By the way, he had to cock it for
me.
On opening day, November 4th, my son cocked the crossbow for me before I got to my blind and I was fortunate
enough to bag the buck. He did not run 100 feet and dropped. I also filled one of my party permits that morning also. It is
tough to keep us old guys out of the field.Membership News
DEC Announces Summer Camp Registrations Open January 24, 2018
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced that online
registration for the agency's 2018 Summer Camps program will open Wednesday, January 24, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. Ap-
plications should be submitted through the online registration program available through a link from the Summer Camps
website. Parents and guardians are encouraged to register early since some of the weeks fill up quickly.
Commissioner Seggos said, "DEC's Summer Camps program is a great way to introduce kids to the outdoors and ev-
erything it offers. Our camps provide opportunities for kids to experience camping, canoeing and hiking while learning
about environmental stewardship. It's adventure and an education that is preparing our next generation of conservation-
ists."
Now in its 71st year, the Summer Camps program offers week-long adventures in conservation education for children
ages 11-17. DEC operates four residential camps for children: Camp Colby in Saranac Lake (Franklin County); Camp
DeBruce in Livingston Manor (Sullivan County); Camp Rushford in Caneadea (Allegany County), and Pack Forest in
Warrensburg (Warren County).
New this year, camps Colby and DeBruce will offer two weeks of programing for children aged 14-17 as "returnee
weeks" and offer programming for ages 11-13 the rest of the summer. Camp Pack Forest will continue to host children
aged 14-17 for six weeks and ages 11-13 for two weeks. Camp Rushford will continue to offer two weeks of program-
ming for children aged 14-17 and five weeks of programming for ages 11-13. The complete schedule of camp weeks and
ages is available on the Summer Camps website.
Campers will have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of outdoor adventures and are encouraged to try new
things. Activities may include fishing, bird watching, fly-tying, archery, canoeing, hiking, camping, orienteering, and
hunter safety education. One hunter education program for either gun, bow, or trapping is offered at each camp each
week. Class size is limited for hunter education programs and campers must sign up for it during registration and com-
plete the homework in advance.
Along with adventure experiences, DEC campers engage in fun, hands-on activities, and outdoor exploration focused
on field, forest, stream, and pond ecological principles. Campers might collect insects in a field, use nets in a stream, in-
vestigate soil composition, measure tree sizes, or practice taking field notes, and writing in journals. Trips to nearby state
lands might include kettle bogs, state parks, fish hatcheries, or nature museums.
Also new this year, Camp Pack Forest will offer "Outdoor Adventure Week 2.0" during Week 5 (July 22-27). DEC
encourages teens ages 14 to 17 who love being outdoors to sign up for this redesign of the Outdoor Adventure Week that
will help deepen their enjoyment and widen their horizons while exploring environmental careers at Camp Pack Forest.
During this week, campers will develop hands-on outdoor skills that go above and beyond the traditional camp week.
Alongside canoeing, fishing, and games campers will engage in forestry, citizen science, conservation science, and more.
Guest DEC, higher education, and natural resource professionals will provide opportunities to consider career paths.
All four camps will operate for seven one-week sessions (Sunday to Friday) beginning June 24, 2018; Pack Forest oper-
ates for eight weeks. Drop-off time is 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, and the closing ceremony and pick-up time is Friday at 4:30
p.m. One week of camp remains $350 per child for the 2018 year, and includes meals, trips, and a camp t-shirt.
In addition to inviting parents to register their children to participate in the DEC environmental education Summer
Camps program, sporting clubs, civic groups, and environmental organizations are encouraged to sponsor one or more
children for a week at camp. Groups that deposit funds to sponsor six (6) paid campers in one transaction will receive a
scholarship to send a seventh child to camp for free. The seventh camper will use a sponsorship code generated by the
Albany Camps administrative. Information about becoming a sponsor and managing sponsor accounts is available on
DEC's website.
For more information please visit the DEC's website at http://www.dec.ny.gov
Don’t Forget
The Bob McNitt Memorial Scholarship Fund sponsors youths to attend DEC
Summer Camps. Please promote this in your writingsMemories of the 50th Fall Conference
Remembering the NYSOWA Photo Awards
By Bill Hilts
You should have received a copy of the NYSOWA Awards Newspaper that was mailed out after the
historic 50th Anniversary Conference in Lake George. In addition to recognizing the winners, there were
also some old photos of past EIC Awards winners and brief write ups of how the current “Donalds” were
started up involving the NY Power Authority and decoy carver Bill Suitor. However, there was nothing
in there on the photo awards. We had hoped to at least include a photo and some recognition to those
awards, but it did not make it. Please accept our apologies.
The photo awards program was started up by the late Janice Keesler, something that was near and
dear to her heart. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 30 years since she left us, much too early. While the
program was continued after she passed, it wasn’t until her daughter Bridget got involved 10 years ago
that the photo contest was taken to an entirely new level. Photography is an important tool as media
communicators and it was about time the craft received its just due. After all, as the saying goes, a picture
is worth a thousand words!
At the fall conference, Bridget announced that she will be stepping down as chairman of the photo
awards and she was honored for her service. Thank you for stepping up and serving NYSOWA the past
decade. The very capable Deb Brosen has already volunteered to continue with the photo awards moving
forward. Thanks Deb!
Photos, clockwise from top left: Janice Keesler fishing; tieing flies
with a friend; and, Bridge Keesler being honored by NYSOWA
President Mike Joyner at the 50th Fall Conference/DAY 1 - Enjoying the Gore Mountain Region Although the Fall Conference began on Wednesday, Oct. 11 with the arrival of many members, things really picked up on Thursday, Oct. 12. The day was spent in the Gore Mountain Region of Northern Warren County, which is a prime Adirondack setting. While the Board of Directors held their meeting at the cozy Tannery Pond Community Center the non-board members, guests and all spouses enjoyed a tour on the extremely popular rail bikes at Revolution Rail. Lunch was held at Garnet Hill Lodge, a mountain bike and cross-country ski center overlooking the picturesque Thirteenth Lake. Then it was off to the Gore Mountain Ski Resort for a scenic gondola ride. What a day! Thursday evening found us back at the Dunhams’ Bay Lodge on the east shore of Lake George in Queensbury with the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB hosted the evening’s Meet n’ Greet. Several staff members of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation were on hand and answered some tough questions. We hope this gets the ball rolling for regular meetings with DEC and NYSOWA.
DAY 2 - Pleasure, Business, and more Pleasure
Great weather for the conference continued Friday
morning when anglers ventured out on Glen Lake and
Lake George to sample the Warren County fishing waters.
A few members took their crossbows and turkey shotguns
out too, but the action was on the water where Glen Lake
provided the panfish and bass while Lake George supplied
some fine lake trout. While the members were out in the
woods and on the water, several spouses enjoyed a paint-
and-sip wine glass painting seminar with our own Deb
Brosen of Feather Art Studio.
Friday’s Supporting Member Breakout was held at the
Docksider Restaurant, right on Glen Lake, and was
sponsored by Wayne County Tourism. Then it was back to
the Dunhams Bay Lodge for craft improvement seminars,
including an excellent presentation by Dave Wick of the
Lake George Park Commission.
The game dinner presented by the SUNY Adirondack
Culinary Arts students will be talked about for years to
come. Wild pig, striped bass and venison were all on the
menu. The evening was wrapped up by an open-mic story-
telling session recalling memories of people, places and
events of the past.DAYs 3 & 4 - All Good Things... The fun continued on Saturday morning for members This banquet was like none-other in that it featured our and spouses alike. While the members hit the deer woods, VIP guest Jim Zumbo, who was presented with an honorary grouse coveys and local waters, the spouses went apple membership. Along with the awards presentations, we also picking over in Washington County. heard from Tom Caraccioli of the Sportsman Channel. You can’t visit Lake George without a cruise on the Queen Sunday morning’s breakfast featured talks from John of American Lakes, which ice anglers call “The King.” Lenox of Wight-Ox Enterprises and Jamie Brown from So, a lunch cruise on the Lac Du Saint Sacrement was a the Lake George Land Conservancy. perfect final event to set the tone for Saturday’s awards banquet. Then it was time to say goodbye, sadly.
Special Thanks to the following conference supporters
NYSOWA Supporting Members
National Shooting Sports Foundation
Wayne County Tourism
Merritt Estate Winery
Quaker Boy Game Calls
Ernst Conservation Seeds
Boat Owners Assoc. of the United States
Iron Skillet Seasonings
Navionics
Otis Technology
Chautauqua County Visitor’s Bureau, Inc.
Easton View Outfitters
Ducks Unlimited
The Sportsman Channel
Donations
Henry Repeating Arms
Mossberg & Sons
Daisy Outdoor Products
Marianne Kolodziej
ThermaCell
Jim Economos - Stone River Gear
Guides
Rod Bender Charter - Capt. JJ
E&R Sport Fishing Charters - Capt. Rob Brileya
Capt. Walt Lockhart - Lake George
Mark Pepin - Duck Hunting
Jamie Oropallo - Duck Hunting
Bob Henke*
Bryant Abbuhl*
Alex Martin*
*NYSOWA Member
Hosts / Programs
Dunham's Bay Resort
Gore Mountain Region Chamber of Commerce
Gore Mountain Ski Resort
Town of Johnsburg
Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce and CVB
Warren County Tourism Department
The Docksider Restaurant
SUNY Adirondack Culinary Arts Department
The Lake George Park Commission (Dave Wick)
Town of Queensbury
The Village of Lake George
Lake George Land Conservancy
Wight-Ox Outdoors
Jim ZumboYou can also read
