Ann Tofil.

The weather has warmed up a bit, but there continues to be no shortage of wind. Earlier in the week, there were a number of nice deer taken, including two nice bucks taken by a husband and wife duo.

Jim Tofil and his bride have been hunting on their property since the season started. Both of them had seen deer from their stands on opening day, and several times during the week, but nothing they cared to fill a tag on.

Tuesday, Nov. 20 was magic.

Around 2:30 p.m., Ann Tofil spied a nice buck coming into her firing lane, while aloft in her stand. She managed to seal the deal with her rifle. The buck was dragged out, field dressed and put away, so her husband Jim figured he would try her stand, too.

Sure enough, along came another nice buck around 4:30 p.m., and Jim bagged him. Ann’s deer weighed 133 pounds and was a 7-point, while her husband’s deer weighed 138 pounds and had 8 points.

Since Tuesday, the stands have gone silent. Tofil also commented that later in the week, two other nice bucks were taken on his neighbors property, a 6-point buck taken by Dave Wisniewski, and an 8-point taken by Mike (Harvey) Tofil. Gary Dudek also tagged a nice heavy doe early in the season. Congratulations.

There is still a lot of time and opportunity to fill a deer tag. Later during the season, many hunters will opt to fill a doe tag, even though every one of us would love to put the cross hairs on a mature big rack buck. Some advice from one old timer says it all, “I don’t know anyone who makes horn soup!”Good luck and hunt safe!

Calendar: There will be a pistol course at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club on Sunday, Nov. 25 from 2:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. There is a mandatory $80 fee for taking this class. To register or for more information call Gary at 366- 3397.

Conservation Club members are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to the club on Tuesdays during hunting season for the Hunters Helping the Hungry program. All canned food items will be donated to charity during the Christmas holidays. Thanks!

The Lakeshore Longbeards, our local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, will be having their next meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at Liberty Vineyards Winery, located on Route 20 in Sheridan. The agenda will include the introduction of the new Regional Director Brain Gottfried, as well as a look at what will be available for the 2019 membership drive/fundraiser. The banquet date has been set for Saturday, Jan. 19. The meetings are always open to the public. Tickets are on sale, by contacting Rich Lazarczyk, Gary Dudek, Gary Burmaster, Bob Turk, Leroy Franklin, or Scott Dibble. A ticket would make a great Christmas gift for the turkey hunter(s) on your gift list.

On Saturday, Dec. 29, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., the Erie County Trappers Association, will be conducting a free trappers seminar at the Collins Conservation Club located at 2633 Conger Road, Collins, N.Y. The show will have lots of activities pertaining to how to handle your pelts, furs, and similar activities. There will also be other activities like raffles, games for the kids, fur hats and trapping supplies for sale, and the kitchen will be open. This is a free event. For more information contact Patti at 337-2556.

Free Monday night fly tying instruction has resumed on Monday nights at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club, located at Mullet Street in Dunkirk. Classes are for all levels of fly tying, but especially for beginners. No equipment is necessary. All participants get to keep their productions. Classes are from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The classes are open to the public. Sometimes they even have homemade cookies!

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.

On Dec. 8 and 9, a gun show at Harbor Creek Fire Dept. Social Hall, located at 7275 Buffalo Road, US Route 20 located between North East, PA and Harbor Creek, PA. For details or information, contact Larry Spicer at 716-792-9972 or go to LRgunshows@gmail.com.

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.