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Published: October 24, 2009 10:10 pm

HILTS: New PFD law still raising concerns, confusion

Local anglers, especially members of the charter fishing fraternity, are still raising questions or scratching their heads on how the new Personal Flotation Device navigation law is going to work. For those of you that have not seen the actual wording, this is how it is in the current law, taking effect on Nov. 1:

“No owner or operator of a pleasure vessel less than 21 feet, including rowboats, canoes, and kayaks shall permit its operation, between November first and May first, unless each person on board such vessel is wearing a securely fastened United States Coast Guard approved wearable personal flotation device of an appropriate size when such vessel is underway.”

Some of the confusion stems from the wording of “pleasure vessel” and whether or not it applies to commercial vessels that are registered that way in the state. There’s also a question of whether or not charter captains, that are Federally licensed through the U.S. Coast Guard, are exempt when running a fishing trip. In contacting the local Coast Guard station, Capt. Bruce Blakelock of Lewiston was told my Chief Robert Snow that his interpretation of the law indicated that commercial vessels would be exempt — if they were registered that way. A call to the chief was attempted but he wasn’t in so I spoke with Boarding Officer Heidi Vokes who works out of the Youngstown Station. She was extremely helpful and went the extra mile to get a clarification out of the Albany offices of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. They confirmed that if a licensed charter boat captain was operating a paying trip, they would not be required to comply with the new PFD law. The same applied to drift boats on the Salmon River. Guides operating for customers were exempt from the new law.

There was also a question of what the term “underway” meant. Underway, as defined in the Navigation Law, means that the vessel is not at anchor or made fast to the shore or aground. This means that a drifting boat is considered underway so, if you are a pleasure craft, you must wear a PFD from Nov. 1 to May 1.

Another question that has come up relates to the type of PFD. Does an inflatable life vest fit the bill for the new state law? If you are wearing it in accordance with the label, it does. Those vests are certainly much more comfortable when it comes to drift fishing places like the Niagara River. Remember that it does have to fit and that can get a bit tricky when the weather starts to turn a bit colder.

There you have it, the most update explanation that we’ve received from the Coast Guard and from Albany on the new Navigation Law. If you’re a recreational boater, you must wear a PFD at all times from Nov. 1 to May 1. Charter captains are exempt if they are operating a trip; they must comply by the law if they are just out fun fishing with friends or family.

Early success stories for archers

Zachary Miller of Niagara Falls was one proud youngster last weekend. The 16 year old was hunting in Canadea in Allegany County when he had a massive 10-point buck walk below his tree stand. Bill Joseph of Nature’s Way Taxidermy rough scored the rack at around 150 inches and weighing in at 180 pounds. It was his first deer with a bow, shot last Sunday.

Opening day action for Jason Dunkelberger of Gasport was pretty amazing, too. On his first day of archery hunting ever, the 24 year old arrowed a dandy eight-pointer that tipped the scales at 175 pounds. The deer was 20 yards away from his tree stand. As he waited after the shot, Jason video taped three other bucks at just 12 yards away while hunting his dad’s Royalton farm. His did is Dale Dunkelberger of Lockport, Region 9 Delegate to the state’s Conservation Fund Advisory Board.

North Forest to hold Halloween shoot; A call for ladies

North Forest Rod and Gun Club, located off Old Niagara Road in Lockport, is trying to scare shooters into competing in their annual Sporting Clays Halloween Shoot on Oct. 31. Registration is from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., with the first group of shooters to head out at 10 a.m. If you pre-register by Oct. 25, the cost is $25 per person. If you sign up after that, the cost is $28 per person, including the day of the shoot. A “Bats out of Hell” flurry shoot for two-person teams is $10. Other special drawings are also available. For more information, contact Colleen Gaskill at 716-439-1464.

New hunting blind dedicated to Daniels

The name John Daniels of Niagara Falls has long been associated with waterfowl hunting in and around the Niagara Frontier. It was only appropriate when the Department of Environmental Conservation, in partnership with the Oakawanda Wildlife Foundation, dedicated a newly constructed universal access hunting blind and waterfowl observation deck in memory of Daniels. The blind, located within the 35-acre Spicer Creek Wildlife Management Area along East River Road in the Town of Grand Island — adjacent to Whitehaven Cemetary — is perfect for physically challenged outdoorspeople. For more information on the blind or to participate in the lottery process used in the blind drawings for waterfowl season now underway, call 716-773-3271. What a great way to preserve the memory of a man who was both an avid conservationist and sportsman, with a huge focus on waterfowl.

More blinds for Waterfowl

Last week’s column failed to mention that Fort Niagara, Joseph Davis, Wilson-Tuscarora and Golden Hill State parks also have lottery drawings for waterfowl blinds. Drawings take place at the Fort Niagara maintenance building from 6-7 p.m. on Oct. 29; Nov. 5, 12, 19 and 24; Dec. 3, 22 and 29; Jan. 5. For more information call the park at 716-745-7273. To participate in the drawings, you must be present and show a valid hunting license, HIP number, a signed federal duck stamp and proof of completion of a waterfowl ID course.

Bill Hilts Jr. is a past president of the New York State Outdoor Writers Association.