Jim Shut is shown with a nice 9-point buck taken Wednesday morning in the Town of Pomfret with a crossbow. Submitted Photo.

Deer hunters will probably appreciate the snow cover and colder temperatures more than fishermen. The non-stop wind has put a halt to offshore fishing on Lake Erie for perch and walleye and Chautauqua Lake has also seen a slow down of boat traffic. Rick Miller in Irving reports that there has not been a lot of fishing effort around the Irving area lately.

The weekend saw a lot of trout fishing in Cattaraugus Creek, but the wind and cold has put a halt to most fishing. Skip Bianco at Hogan’s Hut/Stow reports that Chautauqua Lake has seen cold temperatures and lots of wind also lately. Musky anglers troll the protected bay areas in the South end of the lake before the musky season ends at the end of the month. Not a lot of activity in the channels lately either.

Just a reminder that firearms season for big game (deer and bear) opens Saturday. Dress for the weather, and always be sure of your target and beyond. Older hunters who have put on a few extra pounds should take it easy trekking in and out of the woods especially if they tag a deer. Easy does it and call for assistance from your buddies if needs be. If you have a story or photo you would like to share, give us a call!

Jim Shut thought he would do a little pre-season scouting for the weekend. He was walking up a dirt road in Pomfret at 7 a.m. on Wednesday when he spied a deer walking along a cut corn field. Shut froze and noticed the deer was a buck and the deer was walking towards him. It continued to come closer, when Shut realized that a doe was walking on the other side of a road bank, just out of Jim’s sight. Then another doe followed. The does started to veer off, attracting the buck so Shut produced a doe bleat call, which stopped the buck in it’s tracks and made it turn away from the hunter. The crossbow sight pin settled on the deers shoulder and the bolt tipped with a Havok fixed blade broad head traveled 30 yards with deadly accuracy. The buck headed out into the cut corn field about 100 yards, did a somersault and piled up. The buck had 9 points and weighed in at 150 pounds. Congratulations!

Calendar: The Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club will once again be hosting a Hunters helping the Hungry Program. Members of the “Con Club” are asked to bring non-perishable food items to the club on Tuesdays during the hunting season. All food and monetary donations will then be turned over to our local charities for distribution to the needy prior to Christmas. Help make someone’s holiday a little happier.

The Lakeshore Longbeards, our local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will be meeting at Liberty Vineyards located on Route 20 in Sheridan. The meeting will be on Monday Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. Agenda will include the upcoming membership fundraiser/banquet, and hunting stories. Open to the public.

The Western New York Safari Club Will host their 25th annual Game dinner on Friday Dec. 13 at Michael’s Banquet Facility located at 4885 Southwestern Boulevard, Hamburg. The doors open at 5 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. There is a $45 donation. For information call Terry at 472-2380.

Duck Season in our area (Western Zone) is a split season, re-opening Nov. 30 until Jan. 5. Canada Goose season for our area, which is considered the South, is from Oct. 26 to Jan. 13, with a daily bag limit of five geese per day.

Upcoming gun shows include: Nov. 16-17 Hickory Post VFW 5550 East State Street US Route 62, East of PA. 18 – West of Mercer on 62, Hermitage PA, 16148; and Dec. 14-15 at the Harbor Creek Fire Dept Social Hall located at 7275 Buffalo Road – US Route 20 (located between North East, PA and Harborcreek, PA. All three shows are from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. Adults are $5 and children under the age of 12 are free. For more information contact Larry Spicer at (716) 792-9972 or go to LRgunshows@gmail.com or website LRsportingevents.com.

Children of the Stream will present weekly free fly-tying classes every Tuesday from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. in the Costello Room in the Rockefeller Art Center at the State University of New York Fredonia, starting Aug. 27. Children ages 12 and up, including adults are welcome and encouraged to attend. All tools and material will be provided for free.

On Jan. 4, 2020, the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club will be sponsoring free fly tying classes for youths and adults. Theses courses will be absolutely FREE. All materials and equipment will be provided. These FREE classes will continue for the next three Saturdays at the Lakewood Club from 9 a.m. until noon. Free pizzas and beverages will also be provided. Instruction will be provided by the mentors from Kids On the Fly. You are invited.

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