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Success in the woods

Submitted Photo Jim Shutt Jr. with a nice 10-point buck taken on Sunday, Nov. 22.

For some of us, winter time weather is in transition. The upper elevations that normally see snow are doing just that, seeing their fair share of the white stuff. Meanwhile, closer to the lake shore, there has not been a significant amount of snow to speak of.

Strong winds continue to shut down most of the offshore fishing, but on the plus side, Canadaway, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua creeks all report having steelhead action. One local fisherman reported that Canadaway Creek was wide open on Wednesday. Rick Miller in Irving reports that the “Catt” started to calm down on Thursday. Gerri Beiger at Bill’s Hooks on Lake Shore Drive commented that customers have been reporting lots of yellow perch action off the docks at the Buffalo Small Boat Harbor. Captain Larry Jones commented that the strong winds and precipitation have shut down most of the fish action at Chautauqua Lake. Deer hunters are taking advantage of the snow-white back drop to fill doe tags and stock up the freezer with venison.

Back on opening day of shotgun season, I talked with Corey Cody at 10 Point deer processing. Corey shot a nice 8-point buck that morning about 9 a.m. He was hunting from a tree stand in the West Town of Dunkirk . Using a frozen deer urine, doe-in-heat lure he noticed a nice buck headed in his direction around 9 a.m. He let the buck come to 25 yards from his stand before harvesting it with his muzzleloader. Cody has taken a handful of deer , but this one will be a wall hanger done by Nick Renswick. While talking with Cody, Kevin Glasier of Sheridan stopped by with a nice doe that was taken also on opening day. Glasier commented he had been seeing lots of doe in his area and tagged the largest of a group that had come by.

Jim Shutt Jr. is having a great season, with 10-points being the magic number. Jim was hunting from a ground blind over a food plot in Forestville on the second day of firearms season. A drizzle was coming down and a group of does came through. About 15 minutes later a nice buck came out about 60 yards away and started to quarter away from the hunter. Putting the cross hairs on the boiler maker with his Savage 270 rifle, the deer dropped quickly. Being able to pull up on his deer with an ATV was also a perk. Jimmy plans on having this buck mounted along with his other 10-point buck he had taken during bow season earlier this year. Congratulations. If anyone else has a story of a first deer, or trophy, or group photo, send it to me at 366-1772, or 785-3659. Be safe!

CALENDAR

Submitted Photo Corey Cody with a nice 162-pound, 8-point buck taken on Opening Day.

¯ Note that the City of Dunkirk docks have been pulled at the Chadwick Bay boat launch.

¯ Duck season’s split season re-opened Nov. 28 and will run through Jan. 3.

¯ Gun shows: Harborcreek, Pennsylvania, Dec. 12-13 at the Harborcreek Fire Dept. Social Hall, 7275 Buffalo Road-US Route 20. Saturday, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

¯ Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania, Jan. 23-24 2021. Located at 11861 Sportsman Road (off Route 18) Conneaut Lake. Saturday 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. For information, contact Larry Spicer at 716-792-9972 or go to LRgunshows@gmail.com. Tables are available.

If you have a story or a photo you would like to share call 366-1772, or 785-3659 or 366-3000, ext. 3 after 6 p.m. Leave a name and number and a time you can be reached.

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