Last week I had the pleasure of attending the New York State Outdoor Writers Association's Annual Safari, this year held in St. Lawrence County. The hub for the gathering was Basswood Lodge and Hunting Preserve near Rensselaer Falls. I've been friends with the Forsythe family, who own and run the operation, for many years. So the four-day visit was special in two ways: I was able to network with my fellow outdoor media members, while spending time with my friends, the Forsythe's.

Basswood is one of the finest lodges in the entire East, and offers a variety of hunting adventures, from wild turkey to preserve pheasant, to both native and exotic big game, and also what is considered the finest waterfowl hunting in the Atlantic Flyway. The operation encompasses a total of 2,300 acres, 1,300 owned and 1,000 leased. Within this is 360 acres of the best waterfowl wetlands in the East, home to massive numbers of various duck species as well as Canada geese. Of course, due to the high quality habitat, both wet and dry, the area brims with all sorts of wildlife, both game and non-game species.