East Aurora Advertiser

Column: Rod, Gun and Game: Boats, Birds, Bears and Youth Summer Camp Planning 


It’s that time of year when Mother Nature has recreational boat owners looking to move their watercraft from winter storage to a state of readiness for hitting the water. So after a long rest for many boats due to the past two years of pandemic-related life, how do you know your boat is ready for a safe summer boating season and in compliance with new U.S. Coast Guard regulations? Yep, new regulations are waiting for us this year. Recent changes to rules include engine cut-off switches and new 12-year expiration dates on fire extinguishers, for starters. Here is some good news: a free vessel safety check can help ensure your vessel is safe and in compliance. Yes, free. A no-cost, no-penalty vessel safety check from the local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadron can help bring peace of mind to your restful nighttime. to identify safety inspection locations to get a safety check, go to www.cgaux.org/vsc. Appointments can be made for a vessel examiner to come to your boat, or you can learn where scheduled inspections are taking place around Western New York. 

Upon successful completion, your boat is awarded a U.S. Coast Guard/Auxiliary/U.S. Power Squadrons decal for the windshield that informs law enforcement and safety agencies that your boat fully complies with federal and state boating laws during a safety check for this year. The program is sponsored by the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water.

I’m not sure our boat is coming out from under wraps anytime soon. Last Sunday, the surprise snowfall at our home in the East Aurora hills off Center Street near the Colden line caught us unprepared. As my wife and I headed out to Palm Sunday church services, I needed the help of a soft car brush to clear snow from the SUV, where about two inches of the white stuff said, “Hello and good morning.” For the few days preceding this unexpected snowfall, the rain had swollen our local trout streams. Trying to be positive, I thought the chill should help the streams clear and be more fishable, though with chillier water. The cold temperature will reduce the metabolism of fish species, as all fish are cold-blooded by nature. The water temperature controls their needs to feed and be active. Some locally stocked brown and rainbow trout should be safe until the warm weather returns soon. 

Of course, we cannot control the weather. As each new season blooms with flowers in spring – right around the corner, it is with each new fishing season I remember what I said I would change “for next season.” Just then is when I realize that I forgot to make that change. Short memory. Like wearing my knee-high camo color hunting boots when fishing a Lake Erie trib full of hungry silver-colored steelhead. Remember this: Always bring your waders with you when fishing in spring. Geez, that cold water on my socks inside my boots was a clear memory jogger. Outdoor experiences can be like that. 

The steelhead bite was on for Zack Vitez in Cattaraugus Creek last weekend.

You know what they say; it’s an old saying. Smart people learn from everything and everyone, ordinary people learn from their experiences and stupid people already have the answers. So good to know I’m sort of ordinary. So who decided the new Buffalo Bill’s stadium should be built without a dome – again? It’s like saying that it’s ok to fish a spring trout stream without the proper boots. Dah!

Switching lanes, how about the championship archery shooting performance of 10-year-old Easton Rupp?! Using his trusty Hoyt Archery bow and arrows, this East Aurora youngster shot a perfect 300 score in the Cub Freestyle Class for archers under 12 in the 42nd Annual national Field Archery Association in Kentucky. Rupp is officially the NFAA Indoor NATIONAL CHAMPION and the USA Archery Junior Olympic Champion. The exciting thing is that, in his age class, he still has two years to match his record again. Easton and his brother Arlen train at West Falls Conservation Society in the Junior Olympic Archery Development program. Kids from five years old to 17 years of age can join this West Falls training and learning program every Tuesday night, beginning at 6 p.m. The clubhouse is located at 55 Bridge Street in nearby West Falls, NY. There is a $5 fee per shooter to cover the cost of targets, etc. Hats off to the program trainers at West Falls Conservation.  

One more lane change. If you live on the outskirts of local villages, the DEC reminds us that springtime is the right time for emerging black bears to target bird feeders and garbage cans for a ready food source. As bears come out of hibernation, they begin to roam and are hungry. Black bears are plant eaters, but easy-to-get food sources can become a repeat target for spring bears. Elevate bird feeders to keep them out of range for bears to reach or remove them and secure garbage cans, storing them in a safe location. We hear stories every spring. Nuff said. 

Lastly, for kids aged 11 to 17, the start of the 2022 DEC Summer Camp Season registration was postponed from March 6 to April 10. One-week long summer camp programs will be conducted for seven weeks this summer at nearby Camp Rushford and Camp Pack Forest. Learn more about the program at www.dec.ny.gov/education/29.html. Youth campers will explore New York’s diverse habitats and have the chance to learn basic ecological concepts and how human activities affect the environment. Campers solve challenges, explore environmental concepts, learn outdoor skills and spend the week immersed in nature. The West Falls Conservation Society offers a nearly free sponsor program to cover $300 of each youth camper’s $350 registration fee. They have seven sponsor openings. Drop me a note at nugdor@yahoo.com if you are interested in signing up a youngster, I’m the chairman of the program for West Falls.

Happy Easter, everyone!

This is one of several local bald eagles that are awaiting spring in WNY. Photo by Jim Monteleone

Outdoors Calendar:

Apr. 18: Adult Learn-To-Shoot Archery, West Falls Conservation, 55 Bridge St., $5 fee, open to the public, call Bryan Zeller at 716-826-4621 for info.

Apr. 19: Youth Archery Program (JOAD), West Falls Conservation Society, 55 Bridge St., register on-site, 6 p.m., $5 fee, Contact Pat Nash at 716-481-0539 for info.

Apr. 23-24: NYS Spring youth turkey hunt weekend, for licensed 12-15-year-old hunters with a licensed mentor. Visit www.dec.ny.gov for info.

Apr. 30: Southtowns Walleye Harry A. Smith Annual Installation and Awards Dinner, 5895 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg, 5:30 p.m., live music, $35 ticket, call 716-639-9180 for info. 

May 1: NYS spring turkey season opening day, ends May 31. 

NOTE: Submit Calendar items to nugdor@yahoo.com at least 2-weeks in advance. 

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Share life with others, make new friends in the outdoors, lead by example. Send comments to nugdor@yahoo.com.

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