Fairs, shows fill calendar for outdoors enthusiasts
Notebook
County fairs and a Cattaraugus County sportsmen’s show give visitors a variety of outdoors experiences.
From displays, to chatting with outdoors- specific experts to some hands-on activities, these county and group gatherings can be informative for sportsmen and women.
A notebook entry last week for the Erie County Fair had New York State Conservation Council President Harold Palmer visiting the fair. Palmer’s visit will be sometime between Aug. 5, the set-up date prior to the official opening on Aug. 6, and Aug. 10.
The activities will run from Aug. 6 to 17. The Conservation Building this year will offer kids the chance to win quality fishing rods and reels at the Erie County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs booth.
The Niagara County Fair dates, taken from a Web site, were incorrect. The Niagara fair begins Wednesday and continues to Aug. 3 at the Cornell Cooperative complex on Lake Avenue (Route 78) north of Lockport.
The Cattaraugus County fair dates given last week were correct — July 28-Aug.
3. However, a Cattaraugus County Sportsmen’s Show is slated for a week later on the same fairgrounds in Little Valley. For show hours, feature presentations and show times, check with John Milks (557-2523) or Andy Smith (492-0432).
Young hunters get go-ahead
A few younger hunters will be afield when big game season opens this fall.
Governor David A. Paterson last week signed into law that special “junior hunter” mentoring bill, allowing 14 and 15- year-olds to hunt big game with a firearm accompanied by a supervising, experienced adult hunter.
State Sen. Dale M. Volker, R-Depew, and Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte, D-Lewiston, sponsored the legislation.
The bill also creates a young trapper mentoring program that permits youngsters to accompany and assist a licensed trapper who must be at least 18 with at least three years of trapping experience.
Bow info
Last week’s column on things to consider when buying a hunting bow generated techie responses to some of the info. Two brand-name models were attributed to another company, but the big flap came from technical types concerned with a bow’s speed, measured in feet per second (fps).
Joe Famigletti at Joe’s Archery Shop in Lancaster pointed out that the PSE X-Force, cited as the fastest bow at 348 fps, has been bested by a Martin bow that attains 350 fps.
Dealers also cited a commercially sold Canadian bow made in Manitoba has been chronographed, measured electronically, at 354 fps.
The theme of that column remains: brand names, accessory features, and test results all should be factors to consider. But when it comes to selecting a bow, individual shooters should check out as many models as possible and opt for the one that feels right in hand.
