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RAY BROOK, NY – The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are holding a joint public comment period to solicit comments for the Sharp Bridge Public Campground and Day Use Area Draft Unit Management Plan (UMP). The public is invited to submit input on the draft plan, which will guide future management of the facility over the next five years and its conformance to the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan. Comments will be accepted until December 19, 2022.

The campground is located on NYS Route 9, 15 miles north of Schroon Lake in the town of North Hudson, Essex County. The Campground and Day-Use Area was originally opened in 1920. It borders the western shore of Schroon River and offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities. Amenities include fireplaces, charcoal grills, hot showers, flush toilets, a picnic area, and pavilion. The 45,619-acre Hammond Pond Wild Forest surrounds the campground.

Management goals for this unit include administering recreation programs to ensure protection of the natural resources in accordance with Environmental Conservation Law and the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan, providing recreational opportunities for the enjoyment of visitors, and enhancing economic benefits to local communities.

The Draft UMP proposes the following management activities:

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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation reminded outdoor enthusiasts that many furbearer trapping seasons begin Tuesday, Oct. 25. Approximately 10,000 New Yorkers participate in this trapping tradition, going afield for more than a dozen species of furbearing animals and often partnering with DEC biologists to provide valuable scientific information.

“Trapping is an important component of New York’s outdoor heritage,” Commissioner Seggos said. “Our furbearer populations are abundant, and furbearer hunting and trapping provide many benefits, including reducing property damage from nuisance wildlife and providing a sustainable source of food, fur, and income to harvesters and others in the industry.”

Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Seasons

With 16 species of furbearers living in New York, furbearer hunting and trapping opportunities are abundant. Coyote hunting season began Oct. 1 across much of the state and hunting seasons for other furbearers such as bobcat, raccoon, and fox begin Oct. 25. Season dates and zone boundaries for all furbearers can be found on DEC’s website and in the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Continue reading →

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos reminded hunters that September marks the beginning of several hunting seasons in New York State. Hunting seasons for squirrel and Canada goose begin Sept. 1 in upstate New York, and the early bear and antlerless deer seasons begin Sept. 10 in select wildlife management units (WMUs).

Sept. 1: Canada Goose Hunting Seasons Open

The September Canada goose season occurs in all goose hunting zones except the Western Long Island zone. All upstate areas are open from Sept. 1 through 25. Canada goose seasons in the Central and Eastern Long Island zones begin on Sept. 6 and run through Sept. 30. In the Western Long Island zone, the season opens Oct. 8. The September season includes liberal bag limits (eight to 15 birds per day depending on zone), extended shooting hours, and other special regulations to maximize hunter success. Additional details on waterfowl hunting regulations, season dates, hunting area boundaries, and bag limits can be found on DEC’s website.

The September goose hunting season is designed to help reduce or stabilize resident Canada goose populations. Resident Canada geese are those that breed in the U.S. and southern Canada, unlike migratory populations that breed in northern Canada. Typically, resident geese are the birds commonly associated with nuisance situations in urban and rural areas. Over the past 25 years, New York’s resident Canada goose population has grown from an estimated 80,000 birds in 1995 to more than 340,000.

As the population has grown, season lengths and bag limits were relaxed and hunters have successfully stabilized the population. The September season is an important opportunity for hunters, as regular Canada goose seasons have been restricted to 30 days and bag limits reduced to one bird in most areas to protect the more vulnerable migratory geese. Resident geese look the same as migratory geese, making it difficult for the public to distinguish between the two populations. For more information on the differences between migratory and resident geese and how these birds are managed, read the article “Canada Geese in New York–Residents or Visitors?” in the August 2019 issue of DEC’s Conservationist magazine.

Harvest Information Program (HIP) Registration

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