2019 NYS SUMMER CLASSIC FISHING TOURNAMENT

This summer anglers will have a chance to compete for over $40,000 in cash and prizes, including the Batavia Downs $10,000 Cash Grand Prize that will be given to one of the 12 first place finishers in this summer's events!! We have split the Summer Classic into two events:

The Main Event: Salmon / Lake Trout / Walleye / Rock Bass / Crappie / Yellow Perch / Panfish (placements based on weight, fish brought in to weigh-in locations)

The Catch & Release Event: Small Mouth Bass / Large Mouth Bass / Catfish / Carp / Northern Pike (placements based on length, use FishDonkey App)

To help start off with large guaranteed payouts, we have put $2,500 cash into the Main Event and $500 into the C&R Event on top of the general payout as follows:
Main Event (RED Flier):
$500 Cash Award - 1st Place Salmon
$400 Cash Award - 2nd Place Salmon
$300 Cash Award - 3rd Place Salmon
$100 Cash Award - 1st Place Walleye
$100 Cash Award - 1st Place Crappie
$100 Cash Award - 1st Place Yellow Perch
$100 Cash Award - Largest Salmon Every Week

C&R Event (GREEN Flier):
$250 Cash Award - 1st Place Small Mouth Bass
$250 Cash Award - 1st Place Large Mouth Bass

PLUS:
$200 Cash Award - Largest Fish caught on a Koyote Ugly Product
$250 Cash Award - Largest Salmon caught by a LOTSA Member
$200 Cash Award - Overall Largest Brown Trout
$200 Cash Award - Overall Largest Bowfin/Dogfish
$200 Cash Award - Overall Largest Sheepshead/Drum

Tournament fliers/posters will be hitting the weigh-in locations all across the state later this week and early next week (see attached). The NYS Fall Classic Sportsman Show and Summer Classic Awards Ceremony will be held at the Batavia Downs Casino on Sept. 21st. We will once again have a ton of products to offload to those who attend via raffles, door prizes, and other giveaways (those who attend the banquet dinner) plus FREE play to give out for the casino! Follow the event on Facebook for all the updates, giveaways, and up to date tourney information:
https://www.facebook.com/NYSSummerClassic/

You can also find the leader boards, prize winners, weigh-in map, payout increments, registration information, and much more on the Summer Classic website at:
www.NYSsummerclassic.com

The events are only $25/angler to enter, and anglers can enter both events to maximize their chance at securing a 1st place in one of the divisions and a shot at the $10,000 Grand Prize. Anglers can register for the Main Event onlineoff of the website or at most weigh-in locations, while those entering the C&R Event must register through the FishDonkey App online:
https://tourney.fishdonkey.com/#/tournament/568/details

Have a location you'd like us to get on board as a weigh-in station? Send us their contact information and we'll see if we can get them to join our network! We would like to wish you the best of luck this summer and thank you for supporting the Classic Tournaments! Please continue to spread word of the events so we can continue to attract more and larger sponsors for future events!

Good luck this season and tight lines!

Tim Thomas
NYS Classic Fishing Tournaments
Director
(585) 330-0494
www.NYSsummerclassic.com
www.NYSwinterclassic.com
www.FKSportfishing.com

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NYSOWA 2017 AWARDS

MY WONDERFUL SURPRISE

THIS AWARD, "THE AMERICAN CROSSBOW FEDERATION'S BILL HILT''S SR. AWARD WAS PRESENTED TO: EDWARD M. NOONAN BY THE AMERICAN CROSSBOW FEDERATION. IT IS THE AMERICAN CROSSBOW FEDERATION'S "BILL HILTS, SR. AWARD PRESENTED TO 

EDWARD M. NOONAN

THIS AWARD IS PRESENTED FOR OUTSTANDING DEDICATION AND SERVICE IN PROMOTING A UNIQUE HUNTING OPPORTUNITY

2017

I WAS QUITE HONORED WHEN I WAS PRESENTED THIS AWARD BY BILL HILTS SR. HIMSELF WHO SPONSORED ME FOR NYSOWA MEMBERSHIP IN 1989

THANK YOU BILL

NEW YORK STATE OUTDOOR WRITERS AWARDS 2017

NEW YORK STATE OUTDOOR WRITERS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES

WRITING, PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS

Lake George, N.Y.—The New York State Outdoor Writers Association presented the winners of its annual writing and photography recognition program with carved duck decoy first-place awards and second- and third-place cash awards at the annual banquet of the organization sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation at the Dunham’s Bay Resort on Saturday, Oct. 14.

The organization of more than 80 professional communicators and several dozen supporting members from the outdoor and travel industry gathered at the resort Oct. 11-15 for its 50^th annual conference.  The Excellence in Craft writing competition and Janice M. Keesler Memorial Photo Contest, both co-sponsored by Ducks Unlimited, Redding Reloading Equipment and Sportsman Channel, were judged by highly regarded professionals from outside the organization.

“Nationally prominent professionals, some of the most respected, prolific and competent writers, editors and photographers in the field of outdoor communications, served as judges” said Mike Joyner, president of NYSOWA.

First-place winners in the writing competition for articles published in 2016 were: Wayne Brewer, Seneca Falls, N.Y., for Fall Brown Trout on the Finger Lakes  in Lake Ontario Outdoors’ Fall Issue , in the Magazine Feature category; Chris Paparo, Calverton, N.Y., for Exploring the Swamp Backwaters in On The Water’s July issue, in the Magazine Column category; Paula Piatt, Sayre, Pa., for Turkey Trapping and Tagging in New York Outdoor News, April 15, for Newspaper Feature; Steve Piatt, Sayre, Pa., for Missing (in) Kansas in New York Outdoor News, May 13, for Newspaper Column; and Charles Witek III, West Babylon, N.Y., for Winter Flounder: The Bill Has Come Due, on the Marine Fish Conservation Network, March 21, for Online Publications. Peter Fiduccia, South New Berlin, N.Y., took first place in the inaugural TV/Radio/Video/Audio awards for Moose & Caribou Hunting at Arluk Tilt in Newfoundland, Canada, with appeared on Woods N’ Water TV.

Angelo Peluso, Port Jefferson, took top photo honors in the Outdoor Scenic and People categories. Other first-place winners for photography were Susan Kiesel, Sauquoit, in the Hunting & Fishing category, Bill Hilts, Jr., Lockport, in the Action category and Christopher Kenyon, Wolcott, in the Wildlife category.

A complete list of first- to third-place finishers in both the writing- and photo-award programs follows.

Excellence in Craft Writing Awards

Magazine Feature: First place, Wayne Brewer, Fall Brown Trout on the Finger Lakes , Lake Ontario Outdoors, Fall; second place (three-way tie), J. Michael Kelly, New York’s Glorious Green Drakes,                New York Game & Fish, June;  Chris Paparo, The Long Island Shark Collaboration , On The Water, July;  Wayne Brewer   Jigging Lake Trout in the Winter, Lake Ontario Outdoors, Winter.

(MORE)

Magazine Column: First place, Chris Paparo, Naturalist’s Logbook: Exploring the Swampy Backwaters, On The Water, July; second place, Angelo Peluso, Fishing Planner: This November Could Be Different…, On the Water, Nov /Dec; third place,  Angelo Peluso, Fishing Planner: Carp and Stripers, On the Water,  April.

Newspaper Feature: First place, Paula Piatt, Turkey Trapping and Tagging, New York Outdoor News, April 15; second place, Steve Piatt, New York Outdoor News: Person of the Year, New York Outdoor News, April 29; third place, Angelo Peluso, Alone but Not Lonely, New York Outdoor News, March 4.

Newspaper Column: First place, Steve Piatt, Out There: Missing (in) Kansas , New York Outdoor News, May 13; second place, Steve Piatt, Out There: Going Somewhere, New York Outdoor News, Sept. 16;  Leon Archer, The Sportsman’s World: Ryan the Crab Whisperer, The Valley News, Aug. 27

                                         

Online Publication: First place, Charles Witek III, Winter Flounder: The Bill Has Come Due, Marine Fish Conservation Network, March 21; second place, David Figura, Cornell Expert: Archers Are Cheap,   Effective Way to Lower Deer Numbers, Syracuse.com, Jan. 21; third place, Chris Paparo, Tracking Movements of Local Canada Goose Populations, The Northforker, July 12.

                                              

TV/Radio/Video/Audio: First place, Peter Fiduccia,  Moose & Caribou  Hunting at Arluk Tilt in Newfoundland, Canada,  Woods N’ Water TV, Fall 2015; Peter Fiduccia, Update on Planting, Woods N’ Water TV, Fall 2014; third place, Bill Hilts, Jr., Outdoor Beat with Dan Colville, Outdoor Beat, LCTV Cable, Nov. 30.

Janice M. Keesler Memorial Photo Awards

Hunting & Fishing: First place, Susan Kiesel; second place, Glenn Sapir; third place, Richard Redman.

Outdoor Scenic: First place, Angelo Peluso; second place, Chris Paparo; third place, Bill Hilts, Jr.

Action: First place, Bill Hilts, Jr.; second place, Susan Kiesel; third place, Leo Maloney.

Wildlife: First place, Christopher Kenyon; second place, Susan Kiesel; third place, Christopher Paparo.

People: First and second places, Angelo Peluso; third place, Leo Maloney.

WHAT'S NEW

WHAT'S NEW 

BEAR & SON CUTLERY - THE BEAR EDGE

DEFINITELY A HUNTER’S CHOICE

Bear Edge is taking your hunting game to the next level with the Double Gut folding hunting knife. This model sports 2 locking blades, a drop point skinner and a thin gutting blade. They fold out on either side of the knife and lock up with stainless steel liner locks. The aluminum and steel frame handle has a Mossy Oak camo coating that provides a tacky grip and a classic hunting look. A tip-down pocket clip is included for your carrying comfort. Get one knife that can do it all with the Bear Edge Double Gut.

 https://www.bladehq.com/item--Bear-Edge-Double-Gut-Liner-Lock--68073

2017 LAKE GEORGE FALL FISHING CONTEST

17 YEAR OLD QUEENSBURY SENIOIR WINNER OF THE ADULT LARGEMOUTH BASS  WITH A 5.50  CATCH IS CONGRATULATED BY PJ CLARK, ALSO OF QUEENSBURY WHO FISHISHED SECOND WITH A 5.23 POUND LARGEMOUTH .

HERE ARE THE REMAINER OF WINNERS: 

ADULT SMALLMOUTH

Brian Squires 5.75lbs 23.00″ LG

Scott Erwin 4.73lbs 20.00″ B

Bernie Lindo 4.33lbs 19.75″ B

William Freeman 3.76lbs 19.50″ B

ADULT LARGEMOUTH

Colin Fraser 5.55lbs 19.50″ LG

PJ Clark 5.23lbs 19.00″ B

Joel Clark 4.71lbs 19.50″ B

Corey DiLorenzo 4.70lbs 18.75″ LG

ADULT LAKE TROUT

Ed Palmer 13.32lbs 32.00″ B

Greg Trombley 8.78lbs 29.00″ H

Vitali Stesik 7.79lbs 27.875″ B

Ramon Pruisscher 7.70lbs 27.25″ B

ADULT LANDLOCKED SALMON

No fish entered

JUNIOR SMALLMOUTH (only one prize per entrant *)

Enzo Rehm 3.52lbs 16.25″ LG

Sarah Musto 3.30lbs 16.00″ LG

*Cainan Hutchings 2.60lbs 17.50″ LG

Mykah Fisher 2.27lbs 17.25″ LG

*Cainan Hutchings 2.24lbs 16.25″ LG

*Rhianna Erwin 1.67lbs 16.25″ B

Becca Pape 1.40lbs 15.00″ LG

JUNIOR LARGEMOUTH (only one prize per entrant *)

Rhianna Erwin 3.33lbs 16.25″ B

Cainan Hutchings 3.07lbs 17.00″ LG

Carter Guyette 2.75lbs 17.50″ LG

Dylan Krepil 2.73lbs 15.50″ LG

*Carter Guyette 2.40lbs 16.50″ LG

*Cainan Hutchings 1.96lbs 17.50″ LG

Madison Sondemeyer 1.90lbs 16.0″

JUNIOR LAKE TROUT

Matthew Diana 6.59LBS 28.25″ B

Dylan Palmer 5.06 lbs 24.50″ B

 WOUNDED WARRIOR GETS HIS BUCK

GO TO EDDIE'S WED SITE AT  -  http://www.helpeddieryan.com 

Now when I entered the preserve that morning I didn’t know it was going to be a TWO EDDIES DAY. This same afternoon Wounded Warrior Eddie Ryan and his dad Chris (Lake George) arrived to see if Eddie could get a big buck; and Dave asked me to help. Having been with him several years ago when he shot an 800 pound elk I knew this kid could shoot.

Around 5 pm we set up a ground blind on the edge of the woods overlooking a large field where both Eddie and his dad. Dave and I had just left the gate and were walking back to the ranch when we spotted a big red stag and behind it was a big whitetail buck. Patiently Eddie waited at when the buck turned broadside his .308 barked; but Dave and I were not sure he had hit it. But we were sure when we saw Chris pushing Eddie’s wheel chair across the field with his thumb up and hollering “GOT ‘EM.”

The shot was about 100 yards and the bullets were perfectly placed for a quick ending. When we got there 3 grown men with tears in their eyes hugged and shook Eddie’s hand. WOW – what a deer that carried 25 points on its head. Back at the ranch Dave scored the rack of Eddie’s buck at 196 7/8 points which will definitely make the Safari Club and Boone and Crockett record books.

Now for those of you that were in the military Eddie Ryan said something to his dad that I haven’t heard in many years that was very amusing. When dad and Eddie were headed into the blind Chris said to his son “I will get your gun.” Eddie smiled and said – “MY RIFLE.”

THIS LITTLE PIGGY - 500+ POUNDS

50 years ago (1967) Bill Hilts Sr. and Hans Paller created the NEW YORK STATE OUTDOOR WRITERS ASSN.(NYSOWA) and this year 2017 plans were made for 
a 50th anniversary conference we decided to hold it where it all began -LAKE GEORGE.
As one of a number of members chosen to plan and initiate the 4 day conference Dan Ladd and I and a number of other had various things to do. One of mine was to take care of the what was needed for the Game Dinner. I was to get the making for the dinner. Our choices were Striper fish and venison. The stripper was supply by ED Skorupski and supporting member Dave Vanderzee of Easton View Outfitters the venison. I volunteer to do the deer hunting for a doe hunted in his preserve. 

On the first day of my hunt I saw plenty of deer but the doe must have known I was coming and did not show. What did show was several hogs and Dave gave me the OK to take one of them. Late that afternoon a saw the rear end of one heading through the brush and decided to follow/track it. At about 4 pm the caretaker of the preserve called and said he was leaving. If I stayed and did shoot a boar I would not be able to get it out of the woods on my own. So I decided to call it a day and head up into the wooded hills. I don't think I went 5 yards when I heard a grunt behind me and when I turned there was a BIG pig. SHE WAS HUGE. I did scope her but knew I would never get her down and onto my truck; so i turned and headed out - and so did she. I yelled, waved my hat and even threw a stone at her but she kept coming. fortunately she did not run but she stayed right behind me. 

That evening I called Dave and told him about my encounter and he said she PROBABLY would not hurt me; but I did not like that word "probably." And on the next day before sun up I  was back to find Miss Piggy. Put as I entered the preserve one of the worker said "watch the elk; they have begun their rut. When I got inside I saw several of them and they watched every move I made. I decided to go around them by going along the edge of the swamp and out of their sight. It worked and when there was hill between us I was able to go out into the field. It was time for me to look for miss piggy. I didn't have to wait long because she stepped out of the tall grass and started not running but walking  right for me. And it was then that my Ruger American .308 made sure that there would be plenty of pork for the game dinner. Her estimated weight was "at least 550 pounds."

GAMO SWARM MAXXIM AIR GUN

GAMO DOES IT AGAIN

When I read about the new GAMO SWARM MAXXIM .177 and .22 caliber break barrel pellet air rifle that allow the shooter to no longer have to hand load each pellet after every shot I was very interested. Now I have tested many of the GAMO air guns but this one really excited me.  This one allows you load 10 pellets into a circular clip and click it into the barrel. When you shoot all you have to do is cock the barrel and the pellet is already there ready for firing. Also on this clip it displays the numbers one through ten that tells you how many shots were taken/left.

As an avid small game hunter I was quite impressed with not only the 10 shot clip but some of the other added features. These include a Whisper noise reduction system, shock wave absorber recoil pad, a newly added gas piston that requires only 30 pounds to cock and a 2 stage trigger action for more accuracy. Also included is a special 3-9x40mm airgun scope.  As for speed which is also important, especially for those of us that want to hunt (small game) with an airgun – this one is very fast. The  SWARM’s  speed (feet per second) using the lead-free light ammo the .177 caliber leaves the barrel at 1300 feet per second  and 975 feet per second for the .22 caliber. Several minutes after reading about the Swarm I was placing my order for the .22 caliber model.

Just a few days later it was delivered, on opening day of the NYS small game season, and I immediately scoped it and headed for my friend’s house that had a range behind his house. It took just 3 shots to sight in and on the fourth shot my friend aimed at and shattered one of the push-pins holding the target. A quick thank you and I headed for the squirrel woods.

NYS AIR GUN REGULATIONS

The rules are very simple. NYSDEC‘s definition of an air gun is “A firearm that uses spring or compressed air (not gunpowder) to propel a single projectile that is .17 caliber or larger and produces a muzzle velocity of at least 600 feet per second.  Don’t forget you will also need a current NYS hunting license.  For full hunting regulations go to http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/15huntguide.pdf

THE HUNT

It did not take long when a squirrel appeared making its way towards me. It was a 15 yard shot and I was right on target. And before I could get up to retrieve the squirrel another two others were coming. Now normally I would have to open the barrel, take out a pellet from the container and put it into the chamber. But with the rotary style magazine I was ready when one came into range. And 20 minutes later I added another; and it all happened in less than an hour. I am very impressed with the SWARM MSXXIUM both in its accuracy and especially the quickness of chambering another pellet. If you have or know of a young shooter/hunter this airgun is a good choice.

NOTE: I also have taken a wood chuck and will shortly be trying for the fixing of a rabbit stew.

YOU ARE GOING TO LIKE THIS GUN

www.gamousa