Free fishing days June 26-27 in New York

New York designates the last weekend of June as "Free Fishing Weekend," which means that everyone, regardless of age or residence, can fish without a license on June 26-27.

In addition there are 26 other free fishing events around the state. Besides free fishing, the events provide people an opportunity to learn about fish identification, fishing equipment and techniques, fisheries management, angling ethics and aquatic ecology in their communities.

The closest local events are the May 15 Fishing Heritage Day at the South Otselic Hatchery (two sessions; for information call 315-653-7470 and the May 26-28 Cobleskill-Richmondville High School Clinic (for information call 518-234-3565).

For a listing of events and contact information, visit the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/27123.html. You should keep checking the list, as new events may also be added.
New deer group

If you are one of those folks who want the New York deer herd managed differently, there's a new organization that wants to be your voice in Albany.

The New York State Whitetail Management Coalition Inc. is forming a statewide group advocating sound deer management and has begun accepting applications for membership.

The Coalition was established as a not-for-profit entity last year to act as a collective voice for deer hunters across New York who have an interest in sound, science-based deer management. The organization seeks to move deer hunting "into an era based upon science instead of traditions dating back to a time when there were few deer in the Empire State."

The organization notes that four out of five male deer taken each year by hunters in New York are immature and contends they are well short of their normal adult size.

"It is the hope of NYSWMC's founders to collaborate and cooperate with state officials to seek better management strategies so that these issues may be addressed in a proactive manner for the betterment of the deer herd, the environment, and the annual pastime of deer hunting that well over a half million New York hunters enjoy each fall," the organization said in a release this week.

Membership is free, but donations (tax deductible) are appreciated. For information, email info@nyswmc.com, or phone 646-216-9312. The organization's Web site is www.NYSWMC.com.
Trout stocked

The state stocked the East Branch of Owego Creek with 2-year-old brown trout at four locations Wednesday. More than 800 fish went into the creek at locations in Berkshire, Richford, Newark Valley and Owego.

The same trucks from the Bath Hatchery dumped more than 3,000 yearling browns into Enfield Creek, one of its tributaries and Virgil Creek in Dryden.