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NCCC annual rabbit hunt winners announced

OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek Winning team members of the 2017 Con Club Rabbit hunting contest were, in the front row, from left to right: Rob Gloff, Jamie Ruiz, Ryan Ruiz and Nick Sheffield. In the back are: Don Merckel, Steve Galardo, Dan Korzenski, Jack Forbes, Hunter Halberg and Ryan Halberg.

Recently there has been a lot of chatter in regard to the New York State Pistol Permit holder re-certification.

Pistol permit holders who acquired their permit(s) prior to 2013 are now required by law to re-certify by Jan. 31, 2018. The re-certification requirement is part of the body of gun controls contained in the S.A.F.E. Act, which Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law on Jan. 16, 2013.

Re-certification will be conducted by the New York State Police, and an announcement from the State Police stated this will become an easy process that can be completed online or by mail. Many pistol permit owners have already received a notice in the mail. If you own a pistol and have not received a notice yet, you can contact your local New York State Police department for information in regard to this process. Bottom line, however, is that re-certification is the law.

Today is a free fishing day in New York State. With temperatures hanging above the freezing mark, ice fishing is not recommended. You may want to check out your local streams, which might be fishable if the runoff from the snow melt is not too severe. If the water is too high, or dirty, check again during the week. Trout should be on the move and getting ready to spawn. Watch for the channels to open up on Chautauqua Lake, too.

Saturday was a great day to be outdoors, but the lack of snow cover made for some challenging rabbit hunting during the annual Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club rabbit contest. Close to two dozen hunters signed up to try their skill and 10 rabbits were brought in for the weigh-in. Winners were determined by heaviest weight.

First place went to Jack Forbes, who weighed-in a rabbit at 3.09 pounds. Second place went to Nick Sheffield with a 2.82-pound entry and the final spot went to Forbes, as well, with a 2.72-pound entry. All the contestants were treated to some fine eating, with homemade venison, rabbit stew specialties and pizza. A nice surprise was when a gentleman arrived at the Con Club with a gift certificate donated by Rocco’s Restaurant in Fredonia, which will be used to generate funds for the Take-a-Kid Fishing event, which will be held on the first Saturday of June.

Look for the official announcement for the annual kids essay contest sponsored by the Chautauqua County Sports Fishery Advisory Board. Here is hoping Joann Ehrhardt will be back on her feet soon to help check out all those entries we expect this year.

Calendar:

There will be a pistol permit course at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Clubon Sunday, Feb. 19, from 5:30-10:30 p.m. There is a $75 fee to take this course. Contact Gary Dudek at 366-3397 for information.

The friends of the NRA will host their annual banquet/fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 25 at the American Legion Samuel Derby Post 556 located at 9 Meadow Lane, Frewsburg, N.Y. 14738. Reservation should be made by Friday, Feb. 17. For information, contact Jennifer Schmitt at jschmitt452@yahoo.com or call 487-2487.

His Way Archers, located at 34 Ohio St., Jamestown, has started its youth archery program. The program runs the second and fourth Saturday mornings of the month. They will have archery instruction for youths ages 6 to 18, starting at 10 a.m. and ending at noon. Equipment will be provided for those that need it. The cost is $5 per child. The range will be open to the public on these days starting at 12:30 p.m. For more information, call 484-7046 or 485-3598.

The Northern Chautauqua Ducks Unlimited Chapter of Ducks Unlimited announced its annual banquet/live auction will take place on March 11 at the Fredonia Beaver Club, located at 64 Prospect St., Fredonia. The group moved its program to the Beaver Club location last year, and had a filled-to-capacity turnout. This year, the event will be limited to 120 seats ONLY! You can make reservations by calling 969-5166 or email BEANMACHINETWO@gmail.com. You can also call 785-4165 (Ron), 785-3741 (Will), or 679-8454 (Stacy). For more information on DU, or to buy tickets online, visit NY.ducks.org.

There will be gun shows coming up at the following areas:

Harborcreek, Pennsylvania, at the Harbor Creek Fire Dept. Social Hall, located at 7275 Buffalo Road, US Route 20 (located between North East Pa., and Harborcreek). Dates are March 18 and 19from 9 a.m. until 4p.m. and 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., respectively.

Ashtabula County Sportsmen’s Gun Show at Saybrook Banquet Centre located at 3116 North Bend Road (off Route 20) Ashtabula, Ohio, 44004. Dates are Saturday, April 22, and Sunday, April 23, from 9 a.m. until 4.m. and 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., respectively. For more information on any of the shows, contact Larry Spicer at 792-9972, visit LRgunshows@gmail.com, or write to Larry Spicer at P.O. Box 294, North East, Pa. 16428.

If your club or organization is holding a hunter safety training/trapping course or a turkey shoot or other outdoors event and would like to see it posted in the calendar, send information to the OBSERVER, 10 East Second St., Dunkirk, N.Y. 14048 or call the Sports Dept. at 366-3000 ext. 5 after 6 p.m.

Note: If you have a big-game fishing or trapping success story you would like to share, call 366-1772, or 467-2079 and leave a name, phone number and a time you can be reached. You can also call 366-3000 after 5 p.m. at ext. 5.

Gene Pauszek is an OBSERVER outdoors columnist. Send comments to sports@observertoday.com

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