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Turkey hunting provides its challenges

Sportsman’s Journal

Submitted Photo 14 year old Nick Verleni tagged a 20 pound turkey while hunting with Allen and Andrew Forbes on May 5.

Finding turkeys has been difficult, but not impossible for hunters willing to put the time and effort in. Since the season opened the first of May, and including the youth hunt, hunters have noticed a reduced number of birds. The state has issued reports to this effect and commented that the inclement weather during the nest season has been a major culprit to the lack of, or diminished, poult production. Predators also play a role in the demise of an abundant turkey population too. But nonetheless, veteran hunters do get their bird(s). Two veteran turkey hunters teamed up with a novice on May 5 and helped him bag his bird. Andrew and Allen Forbes literally took 14 year old novice hunter Nick Verleni under their wing and helped him tag a nice gobbler. The trio headed deep into the woods before daylight and were set up in a ground blind. The Forbes duo positioned their realistic Avalon full strut and hen decoys around the blind and in less than an hour managed to sweet-talk two jakes into the decoy spread with a mouth call. Verleni got first dibs on the pair of birds and managed to drop a nice one by accurately firing his shotgun for the very first time at his quarry. The bird weighed twenty pounds and sported a 4-inch beard. The youngster was initiated and is likely hooked for life. Both of the Forbes hunters tagged gobblers later in the week in the same area, and decided to pass up taking a second bird, due to the reduced number of turkeys available.

I hope hunters will continue to urge their legislators to lower the legal hunting age for youngster from 14 years of age down to 12. As the youths get introduced to other past times they are lured away from the pleasures that the outdoors can provide for a lifetime. In a recent edition of the New York Outdoors News, there was an article that stated that the average age of hunters is over 50 years of age. Without new blood coming into the ranks, our hunting and fishing programs may fall by the wayside. New York State has a multitude of natural resources, including a world class fishery in Lake Erie, a whitetailed deer population that generates multi-millions of dollars annually and fresh water in abundance. These treasures need to be utilized, and protected for generations, and the sportsman has been the steward of natural resources for generations. We need the younger generation to get on board, now!

Calendar: If you enjoy taking a ride around the Dunkirk City Pier, year round, or fishing from the pier be sure to attend the public viewing of the “Concepts “proposed for improvements/enhancements to that area. The “concepts” will be on display at the Dunkirk High School cafeteria on Thursday 5/24/2018 at 6 p.m.. This meeting will be open to the public. Boaters and fishermen are suggested to attend.

The Southtowns Walleye Association will be having a monthly meeting Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at their club located at 5895 Southwestern Boulevard, Hamburg. Speakers at the meeting will include Okuma Fishing, and Eye-Fish. The meetings are open to the public and there is a kitchen and bar available.

Bear Lake R&G will host a rimfire shoot on May 27 For information contact Tom Kessler at 680-0209.

There will be a safe Boating Course held on May 19 at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club starting at 7:30 a.m.

The Eastern Lake Erie Charter Boat Association will hold their monthly meeting on Friday May 18, starting at 7p.m. The meetings are open to the public and are held at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club. The Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club will present their annual Take-A-Kid Fishing event on Saturday, June 2, from 8 a.m. until noon. There is a $10 fee for this event. First time attendees will receive their own rod & reel outfit which they keep. Veterans to this event will receive a grab bag of tackle. All youths will receive a T-shirt. The days activities start with fishing from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. Then activities and food at the “Con Club.” ALL youths must be accompanied by a parent or adult. Mandatory registration is available at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club. Questions? Call 366-1772 and leave a phone number, when necessary.

Cassadaga Lakes Association will host their 25th annual Lew Meade Memorial Youth Fishing tournament on Saturday, June 23 on Cassadaga Lake. This event is open to the public for age groups 7 years old and under, 8-10, 11-13 and 14-16 years old. Fishing will be from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. Trophies will be presented in each age group and for boys and girls. In addition, first place winners will receive their own kayak. For more information call Steve Wickmark at 595-2900.

The Children of the Stream Youth Fly Fishing Program will be starting its 18th year of providing weekly free fly tying and fly fishing classes to both youths and adults in our area. * Note that Classes will SWITCH from Wednesday evenings from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. to Tuesday evenings at the Costello Community Room (P84) in the new addition to the Rockefeller Arts Center at SUNY Fredonia. You do not need any prior experience to attend these classes, and the course is geared towards ages 10 and older. For more information contact Alberto Rey at 410-7003 or alberto@albertorey.com.

The Great Lakes Experience Festival in Dunkirk will return this year on June 9 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. The event will once again be held in Memorial Park. More details at a later date.

If your club or organization is holding a hunter safety training/trapping course or a turkey shoot or any other outdoors event, and would like to see it posted in the calendar, send information to the OBSERVER, 10 East Second Street, Dunkirk, NY 14048, or call the sports department 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, ext. 5, after 6 p.m. or email Sports@observertoday.com.

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