Families Enjoy Canoeing, Fishing and Archery While Learning About Onondaga Lake Cleanup During Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day

More than 6,000 people participated in outdoor sports including fishing, archery, canoeing, turkey calling, and skeet shooting during the 2016 Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook, Sept. 24-25. The event, which showcases habitat and wildlife conservation activities, is held annually by the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and is one of New York State’s largest celebrations of National Hunting and Fishing Day.

Attendees learned about the progress of restoring Onondaga Lake’s habitat. To date, more than 70 acres of wetlands have been created or enhanced. More than 170 species of fish, birds, and other wildlife have already returned to restored habitat near the lake.

Local wildlife artists, woodsmen, authors, sportsmen, and Boy Scouts presented a number of outdoor activities including: canoeing, skeet shooting, waterfowl and turkey calling, archery, retriever dog demonstrations, crossbow, fly fishing, fly tying, muzzle loading, and trout fishing.

 “The Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, with strong support from Honeywell, is proud to present Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook,” said Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs President David Simmons. “The event highlights the ongoing contributions made by volunteers from local sporting clubs and other conservation organizations. As Honeywell’s work progresses, so do the populations of native species, which are becoming locally abundant again.”

Other weekend events included guest appearances by conservation officers, forest rangers, and Eddie Eagle, the mascot for the National Rifle Association of America’s children’s gun safety program.