Submitted Photo Pictured above is Steve Purol with a turkey he nabbed on Opening Day.

The Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club has come out of hibernation. Today, the club will start their outdoor activities. A 3-D Archery shoot will take place with registration from 7 a.m. until noon. In addition, the Northeast-New York State Archery Shooters Association Federation (ASA) is holding a NYS championship qualifier. This is one of 14 qualifying events that will take place before the championship that will be held in July, near Syracuse. The ASA will be providing the Bear Lake Club with 30 targets and equipment for the event.

An event of this magnitude could attract shooters from out-of-state, including Pennsylvania, Ohio and even Canada. You can expect the Bear Lake Club regulars and some Buffalo archers to make this a highly competitive event. The kitchen will be open for business and the public is invited to check out the event. The regular monthly meeting will take place later in the day at 4 p.m. and the raffle tickets need to be turned in at this time.

Turkey season opened May 1 and the state-wide opener for walleye, northern pike, pickerel and tiger muskellunge opened on May 4. Prior to the construction work on the City of Dunkirk Pier, some anglers were hooking up with a few northern pike. All last week, there were reports of perch fishermen on Chautauqua Lake and Lake Erie also hooking up with walleye in pursuit of perch.

On Friday night, I took a ride around the Dunkirk boat launch and spied only a handful of boats. There is one set of docks ready at the Dunkirk launch, for your information. This cold, damp weather is not ideal for turkey hunting, ball games or mowing the lawn. It can have an ill effect on perch fishing too. I checked with a couple of friends who were going turkey hunting in the morning and capping off the afternoon with a perch pursuit. They passed on a couple jakes, were interrupted by another hunter on an approaching gobbler and struck out on the perch out of the “Cat.” Today is supposed to be better. Good luck!

Calendar: Monday night was the last fly tying instruction class of the season held at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club, in Dunkirk. The tyers will be back in action on Saturday, June 1 for the Take-A-Kid Fishing day event.

Walleye season is now open state-wide. NYS fishing regulations used to have a lunker bass season that opened up on the first Saturday in May. That regulation has now changed and opens on Lake Erie and its tributaries on Dec. 1 until the third Saturday in June, and allows anglers to harvest one 20-inch minimum bass per day. (See page 46 of Rules and Regulations.)

Today is the Chautauqua Lake Walleye OPEN Tournament, Chautauqua Bassmasters at Long Point Park. Contact Mike Russo at (716) 640-6915 for details.

There will be a Safe Boating Course offered by the NYS Sheriff Department held on Saturday, May 18 at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Attendees are advised to bring a lunch.

On May 11, Bison City Tackle Swap-flea Market from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Contact Willie Sieber at 626-0660 for details.

The Eastern Lake Erie Charter Boat Association will be meeting on Friday, May 17, at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club at 7 p.m. Agenda will include drug testing requirements, conservation issues, NYS non-resident Great Lakes charter boat decals, set-up standard first aid and CPR classes for those in need. VIP Day and WNY Heroes Day June 28.

May 18 is The Southtowns Walleye Association Perch Tournament from 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. Must be a member. Call 649-8202 for details.

May 19 is the Crappie Team OPEN at Chautauqua Lake. Contact Mike Russo at 640-6915 for info.

From May 10-19, Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Spring Trout and Salmon Derby. Info call 1-888-REEL-2-IN. or www.loc.org.

The next State of Lake Erie meeting will be on Wednesday, May 22 at Woodlawn State Park. The event will start at 6:30 and conclude at 9 p.m. Open to the public. Guest speakers to be announced. This event is open to the public.

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.