This coming Saturday is the opening day of the New York State Northern Zone regular firearms deer hunting season, at six weeks, the longest in the Northeast.

Unlike the Southern Zone season, the northern dates are set by the state legislature and not the Department of Environmental Conservation. The state also mandates the bucks-only requirement.

In the recent past, there have been letters to the Press-Republican regarding the bass tournaments on Lake Champlain, most hosted by Plattsburgh; some comments have been pro, the others con. Here are some key points to consider:

First off, no matter how much anecdotal information on the impact on the bass is put forth, until there is a scientific study, we have no way of knowing if the tournaments have hurt the bass or have little impact on that fishery. Such a study would at least give some credence for or against the sponsoring organization's claims and those who oppose the events. I have heard Vermont Fish and Wildlife is collecting data, to some extent, on the bass in Lake Champlain. If available, I hope to have some of those findings this spring.

Also, if Plattsburgh turned down the FLW and B.A.S.S., I am convinced these organizations would take their tournaments elsewhere on the lake. They have found us and will not go away. I spoke with a writer for the Burlington Free Press recently, and he said Burlington would love to play host if Plattsburgh pulled out, so the number of tournaments would not decrease, nor would bass pros disappear from the New York shoreline. There is little doubt there are a lot of smaller tournaments that, like the big ones, have discovered the great bass fishing on Lake Champlain, and are determined to come, no matter where they are housed. It's a matter of who gets the money the competitors spend, and which city maintains some control over what happens.

Last Sunday, I ran an Outdoors Brief about hunters' and anglers' perceptions on where their license-fee money is spent. I got a couple of e-mails from readers who wanted more information about those revenues in New York. I hope to have an expanded article on that subject out soon.

Finally, this is the second straight week the Outdoors page is in black and white, and, if this trend continues, I will begin phasing out the Wildlife Photo Gallery. There is no point having you send in beautiful color photos, expecting to see them in color in the paper, if they are to be printed in black and white.