What with all that’s going on in recent weeks – oil gushing into the Gulf, attempts to pass another worthless NYS gun control law, no state budget, rain-induced lawn grass and weed growth, etc., etc.– some of us may not be taking the time to exhale and enjoy what good weather we normally get now to partake in some of our plentiful local outdoor recreation.
Since the month of June normally offers us some of the best weather conditions we’ll see prior to the heat and humidity of July and August, let’s not waste too much of it. Regardless of your interests there’s far more available to do right around here than you might imagine. All it takes is a bit of investigating and planning to enlighten yourself to the what-and-where.
Although fishing ranks right up there with many, just about any sporting activity involving water has a host of fans. If you have a canoe or kayak, or a friend that does, consider a leisurely trip down one of our scenic rivers – the Chenango, Unadilla, Upper Susquehanna, or Tioughnioga. Pack a lunch and some beverages and take a short lunch break along the way. Oh, and you might want to take along a camera (in a waterproof bag of course) because you never know what sights you may encounter, be they wildlife or scenery. If you fish, toss in that gear and catch a few fish along the way and take a few “grab-and-grin” shots of your catches.
Speaking of cameras, how about a photo session while wandering the trails on our abundant state forest lands, of which we have thousands of acres. Whitetail deer does are now being accompanied by their newborn fawns and many other wildlife species are also accompanied by their young-of-the-year, offering a chance for memorable photos. Scenics, such a the early morning sun filtering its rays down through towering evergreen trees can make a calendar-type shot, especially if there’s a bit of fog. A shot of a small cascading stream or waterfall is another. After a rain, spotted newts can usually found wandering the forest floor under the denser evergreen stands.
Pond and lake shorelines as well as any stumps or logs above the water line are a great place to view an assortment of amphibians, such frogs and painted turtles that use them as sunning areas. Some of the small and medium size ponds on state lands are also nesting and rearing locations for assorted waterfowl, especially wood ducks, mallards and Canada geese. Beaver ponds too, and you might get a glimpse or photo of a beaver, muskrat, great blue or little green heron, or a kingfisher, although the latter is more common along our rivers.
With so many state forests in our area – there’s more than 80,000 acres of them – there’s no worry about posted signs or trespassing. Most have snowmobile or cross-country skiing trails that are easy to walk and follow, plus there’s our share of the Finger Lakes Trail system. And if you’re not exactly the “adventurous type,” Rogers Environmental Conservation Education Center in Sherburne offers a very “civilized” chance to view and photograph all sorts of wildlife and assorted flora.
Camping is historically a popular summertime activity, and although the State has cut back or curtailed several campsite areas due to the budget deficit, there’s plenty remaining open for campers, especially low-impact wilderness level tent camping on state forest lands. Go to the DEC web site at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7820.html or http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7792.html for a full listing and/or schedules. Keep in mind that camping for more than three nights or in a group of ten or more requires a permit from a DEC regional forest ranger.

Downstate Dems put microstamping bill back on Senate agenda
Despite lacking sufficient votes to pass S.6005, better known as the microstamping bill, during last week’s NYS Senate vote, New York City Mayor Bloomberg and his supporting Democrats in the Senate have vowed to pressure the senators that voted against the bill’s passage to change their vote on this go-around. If passed, the law would require every semi-auto pistol sold in the state to have a tiny identifiable code engraved on its firing pin that would imprint the code on the empty shell casing when fired. Touted as a crime prevention measure, opponents say this would do next to nothing to solving or stopping handgun-related crimes since the technology has proven to be faulty and easily defeated by those with criminal intent.
A recent independent, peer-reviewed, study published in the professional scholarly journal for forensic firearms examiners proved that the technology of microstamping is unreliable and does not function as the patent holder claims. It can be easily defeated in mere seconds using common household tools or criminals could simply switch the engraved firing pin for readily available unmarked spare parts, thereby circumventing the technology.
What it would do is drive up the manufacturing price of pistols so no manufacture would be willing to do business in the state. Remington, maker of the classic 1911 pistol used for decades by civilians, the military and many law enforcement officers, has already said it would move its Illion-based operation to another state if the bill became law. Another negative is the code would only indicate who the initial owner/purchaser of the pistol was and not the actual user in a crime if the gun had been stolen. Obviously, anyone with a criminal background could not legally purchase or obtain any handgun or the mandatory permit to own one in the first place. The law would not apply to law enforcement pistols.