Tony C. Zappia       Focus on the Outdoors

Today, I publish my last column in the Watertown Daily Times. I have been contemplating this departure for a number of weeks as I want to spend more time working on magazine writing and freelance outdoor photography.

It has been a few months shy of my 19th year writing for the Times and throughout these years I have had the pleasure of photographing a sitting president fishing in the Florida Keys; interviewing governors of our state; interviewing professional sports figures and outdoorsmen like Wade Boggs; and talking to high-profile outdoors sports personalities like Jim Shockey, Gary Roach, Al Linder, Bill Jordan, Chuck Adams, and Kevin VanDamm, just to name a few.

While those experiences were certainly memorable, I will hold even closer to my heart hundreds of interviews and articles featuring north country outdoors men, women and children, each with captivating tales and experiences that painted a color portrait of our traditional Northern New York heritage.

This column has led me to many corners of North America and the world.

I have had the pleasure of hunting white-tailed deer and moose and freshwater fishing in Finland. I have fished in Sweden; hunted monster — and I mean monster — whitetails, mule deer and black bear throughout many Canadian provinces; bowhunted elk in Montana; hunted swan along the eastern seaboard; ice fished in Minnesota; freshwater fished in many states; and hunted deer and small game across the south.

But, I still get the most pleasure in the outdoors, here at home, along the game-rich St. Lawrence Valley and Lake Ontario, sharing a blind or boat with my retrievers and friends.

SUCCESSES AND FAILURES

Throughout my nearly 19 years I have made a number of mistakes. My early years writing concentrated on "where-to" and "how-to" articles. While educational columns like "How to sharpen a knife" have their place, and "where-to" articles that feature certain fishing and hunting destinations were popular, they did nothing to address real sporting issues that affected our region.

Not until my later years did I challenge the DEC, politicians, and organizations when I felt our sporting community was getting the short straw. At times when I found myself being too forceful, my editors rightfully tempered my response.

Other times I was guilty of being selfish by simply communicating to readers my enjoyable outdoor pursuits like waterfowling, deer hunting, walleye fishing and sporting dogs.

Even following my previous column, written a few weeks ago, I was informed that I did not properly identify the source of some of the column's content. I wrote a review on a dog product from a press release on their Web site.

Again, when my professionalism skipped a beat, my editors quickly stepped in to correct the wrong and snap me back to attention.

One of my proudest moments occurred last spring when the Times hosted a special spring wild turkey and boar hunt for a Fort Drum active duty soldier. Our paper's commitment to this project went above and beyond my wildest expectations. Just as noteworthy were the local businesses that contributed to this outdoors event.

Looking back, one of my most embarrassing moments took place many years ago while on Bill Saiff's boat as he was taping a Rod & Reel show featuring visiting anglers from Sweden. That day we headed out of Henderson Harbor in somewhat heavy waters. Before the first downrigger weight hit the water I was bent over the gunwales offering my breakfast to the sea gods. Saiff was kind enough not to videotape me at that time, but he did work me into the footage as I lay curled up in the fetal position in his lower berth. I believe if the color on your TV screen was properly adjusted, you would have made out my greenish-color face.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS

I want to express my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to publisher John B. Johnson, Jr. and sports editor Greg Gay. Throughout the years John remained steadfast in his support of my outdoors column and somehow Greg kept his calm despite my sketchy journalism skills and occasional rants. But, most important, I want to thank each and every reader of my columns. Whether you agreed or disagreed with my viewpoints I appreciated both negative and positive feedback. My intent of this column was to engage readers by means of education, information and, at times, entertainment. I hope I succeeded.

Finally, I wish you all the best in your outdoors adventures, and I hope to see you on the water or in the field.

Be safe.