Some of the highlights of the Sportsman Outdoors yearly columns I reported on in 2019 include...

JANUARY -- It was announced that the Sportsmen's Federation statewide coyote contest coming up in February has 168 hunters registered at this time.

• It was announced that the Federation will hold the Ted Boniface Youth Ice Fishing Derby on the last Saturday of the month on private Crystal lake owned by the Ten Mile River Boy Scouts.

• The Sullivan County Conservation Club will hold their annual “King of the Ice” fishing contest in February on White Lake.

• It was stated that it is an excellent time to start feeding wildlife. When it comes to “life or death” we here in Sullivan County will feed wildlife to help prevent starvation.

FEBRUARY -- The Ted Boniface Youth Ice Fishing Derby was held on Crystal Lake. Sixty children with their supervising adults participated, even with the cold 10 above temperature. Everyone throughout the day was treated to free hot dogs, hot chocolate, cookies, chips, candy and juices. Chairman of the event Carl Lindsley announced the winners and handed out trophies and prizes. All children received a knit cap and a bag of prizes.

• The Sportsmen's Federation held their 12th annual statewide coyote contest and 652 hunters participated and 76 coyotes were taken. 50.60 pounds was the winning coyote weight.

• PA's final bear harvest for 2018 was reported. A total of 3,153 bear were taken.

MARCH -- Dr. Frank Bastian, a professor of veterinary science at Louisiana State University is working to develop a vaccine that will prevent deer from getting CWD. He is also working to develop a test-meter for hunters in the field to test their deer take to see if their deer are infected. The doctor is asking for funding so he can continue his research to develop the vaccine and test-meter.

• Pennsylvania hunters are angry and sounding out about the PA Game Commission decision to kill thousands of deer in areas where they think Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is present. The hunters are asking the Game Commission to come up with a “cure, not a cull” to save the deer herd.

APRIL -- The NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) is encouraging anglers to take advantage of the world-class trout fishing on their reservoirs and streams. New York's trout season runs from April 1 to October 15.

• Linda Rosenthal, a NYC Assemblywoman has re-introduced a bill to close all state owned or operated pheasant-rearing facilities. She said, “The pheasant farms provide no conservational purpose and it causes suffering and death to pheasants. The pen-raised birds are unnaturally easy targets for hunters, making this hunting activity ethically troublesome. If not shot the birds will die from exposure to severe weather conditions, predators or starvation.”

• I reported sad news, Dale Goodstal of Swan Lake has passed away. Dale was a dedicated sportsman and a great supporter of our Sportsmen's Federation.

MAY -- A New York State survey of hunters has shown an overwhelming support for expanding the crossbow use within the entire archery hunting season. This expanded crossbow season will have to pass the NY Senate and Assembly to make the change.

• NY Governor Andrew Cuomo has launched a campaign against the National Rifle Assoc. (NRA). Cuomo said, “It's time to put the NRA out of business. We're forcing the NRA into financial jeopardy and we won't stop until we shut them down.”

JUNE -- The spring turkey hunting season came to a close and the DEC stated that when the final take figures come in, they expect them to be below last year's turkey take of 19,074.

JULY -- It was reported that neighboring Pennsylvania where drilling for natural gas for the past 12-years has taken place, is having a booming economy. The natural gas industry has paid impact fee taxes of $1.7 billion since 2012 to host counties and municipalities and that amount does not include lease contracts to farmers and property owners.

• Dr. James Knoll of Texas, known as “Dr. Deer” was invited to come to Pennsylvania to talk about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). One of his comments stated that he is not in agreement with the PA Game Commission's claim regarding the effectiveness of mass culling of deer. He said it hasn't worked in other states and he doesn't believe it will work in Pa.

AUGUST -- Jack Danchak, president of the Sullivan County Sportsmen's Federation invited the following important people to the Federation's monthly meeting: NY Senator Jen Metzger, Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, County Judge Frank LaBuda, County District Attorney Jim Farrell, Sheriff Mike Schiff, Undersheriff Eric Chaboty and Chairman of the Sullivan County Legislature Luis Alvarez. The topic of discussion was about the future of feeding deer and other wildlife in Sullivan County. Assemblywoman Gunther said she would be presenting Bill-3106, that is an act to establish a moratorium on the prohibition of feeding whitetail deer in Sullivan County. Senator Metzger said she would support this bill in the Senate.

SEPTEMBER -- Kay Danchak Memorial Youth Day was held at the Grahamsville Fairgrounds. Over 100 people attended including 64 children with their supervising adults. All enjoyed touring the many exhibitors and trying to catch a trout in the trout pool. All were treated to free hot dogs, chips, sodas and ice cream. Every child went home with a Youth Day cap and t-shirt and a tote bag of goodies.

OCTOBER -- Sportsmen's Federation held their annual Sweepstakes and Dinner Banquet at the Rockland House in Roscoe. President Danchak was Master of Ceremonies and addressed a full house of guests. Sweepstake raffle prizes were drawn including the first place prize of a $6,500 ATV and Linda Loughrey of Jefffersonville was announced as the Federation's “2019 Sportswoman of the Year.”

NOVEMBER -- It was announced that the NY firearms deer season in the Southern Zone will open on Saturday, November 16 and end on Friday, December 6.

• Federation's Fish Chairman Harold Buley reported that the Federation's fall fish stocking has been completed.

DECEMBER -- Pennsylvania bear hunters have set a new Pennsylvania bear harvest record. Although bear take numbers are still coming in, the numbers that have come in certify that a new record bear harvest has been taken. The total so far is 4,577 and this number of bears surpassed the 2011 previous record take of 4,350.

• The Sportsmen's Federation held their annual election of officers and trustees for 2020. Jack Danchak was elected to his 30th consecutive year as President, John VanEtten-Vice President, Linda Loughrey-Treasurer/Secretary and Harold Buley-Trustee for 3-years.

jack danchak is the President of the Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs of Sullivan County.