From across the state, and parts beyond, they will descend on Auburn. Some will bring their weapons, and some will bring their signs.

Organizers and opponents of Cayuga County Crows Unlimited 3rd Annual Crow Shoot are preparing for this weekend's festivities, which get under way Friday night with early registration and a bit of partying at J&B Bar and Grill on Orchard Street. The hunt begins Saturday morning and will conclude with weigh-ins and award ceremonies Sunday.

"It should be exciting," said event co-founder Tommy Lennox.

Lennox and fellow founders Jon VanNest and Lance Gummerson were putting finishing touches on final preparations Thursday afternoon. They bought boxes of T-shirts and hats emblazoned with the CCCU logo, organized a chicken-and-ribs barbecue, and have pre-registered about 18 teams.

"We're ahead of what we had at this time last year," VanNest said. "We also put a new motor in the crowmobile."

J&B Bar co-owner Bruce Adams, who purchased the bar from Gummerson in October with his son, Bruce, said his week has been "very hectic" trying to map out enough room for more than 200 hunters and spectators.

Rita Sarnicola, a member of Citizens Respectful of Wildlife, opposes the hunt and has organized a protest in front of Auburn Memorial City Hall Sunday. She has also been in contact with animal rights organizations from across the state, including the Rochester-based Animal Rights Advocates of Upstate New York, which has planned a protest in front of J&B on Saturday.

Sarnicola is upset that the hunt has become synonymous with Auburn.

"This is a senseless loss of wildlife," she said. "You don't kill for fun. What kind of message are we sending to our children, and what does this say about Auburn? It disgraces our city."

Supporters of CROW and other animal rights groups asked the Humane Society of the United States to help stop the contest. In a letter sent to the Department of Environmental Conservation Feb. 3, crow supporters contended the hunters were baiting the crows. The DEC denied the request.

Lennox said hunters don't use illegal bait, but place Styrofoam intestines and fast food bags in fields to entice the crows.

DEC spokeswoman Diane Carlton said her organization has found no evidence that hunters use illegal methods to attract crows, although she could not confirm if the bags were against the law.

"If it's anything, it would be considered littering," she said.

The DEC and federal Fish and Wildlife Services will have officers monitoring the contest in the rural hunting areas surrounding Auburn.

"They will be enforcing state and federal guidelines concerning hunting crows," said DEC spokeswoman Maureen Wren. "We encourage anyone who sees any illegal actions taking place to call the DEC. Conversely, you cannot disturb or harass the hunters. That is also punishable by law."

In 2003, 32 teams of four killed 348 crows, and last year, 52 teams of four killed 1,067. Lennox said he's anticipating more hunters this year, including some from Kansas, Missouri, Texas and Washington. The Crow Dogs of Stanley (Ontario County), who have won the contest for the last two years, have broken up to make it more of a competition. They have each formed a team of their own.

VanNest said he's heard concerns from area hunters that the U.S. Department of Agriculture hazing techniques over the last month have moved many of the crows out of their traditional feeding spots.

"One guy complained to me that, where there used to be 5,000 crows," VanNest said, "now there's only about 100. So it should be an interesting competition."

Staff writer Benning W. De La Mater can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or ben.delamater@lee.net