The latest from ADKHunter…

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Catching Up: Greetings Adirondack hunters. ‘Hard to believe we’re already approaching the half-way point of the spring turkey season, and it has been an interesting one for sure. We’ve got a few photos rolling in but would love to see more. Most importantly, we’d like to know how the toms are treating you.

I took opening day off and spent half the morning working an old tom that just wouldn’t come in range. I also got some hunting in the first weekend, but that big storm caused some issues as well. Then on Monday, May 7, after spending the morning running around some mountains (and checking out deer sign), I dropped down into a swampy area and wound up calling in three jakes around 11:15 am. Always open to fresh turkey breasts on the grill, I lowered the boom on one and am now sitting on my second tag. Good luck out there and enjoy the cooler weather, for now. 
-Dan’l

Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page.facebook1Read on for more info and last season’s hunting reports… Continue reading →

High Peaks, Vanderwhacker Mt. UMP Updates

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The High Peaks Wilderness Complex and the Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest Draft Unit Management Plan Amendments have been released for public review, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today.

Two public meetings will be held on May 23, 2018, as follows:

  • 10:00 a.m. at DEC Headquarters, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY
  • 6:00 p.m. at Newcomb Central School, 5535 State Route 28N, Newcomb, NY

The High Peaks Complex Draft UMP Amendment proposes management actions for recreational opportunities on the recently classified lands in the southern and eastern portion of the High Peaks. Additionally, this Draft UMP Amendment proposes changes to the recreational infrastructure along State Route 73 to address safety and overuse issues currently experienced in these areas. The proposed management actions include:

Recently Classified Lands, including Boreas Ponds Continue reading →

Vermont’s Summer Free Fishing Day is Saturday, June 9

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MONTPELIER, Vt. –Vermont’s annual, statewide Summer Free Fishing Day is Saturday, June 9 this year, and it will be highlighted by a free family fishing festival in Grand Isle as well as opening day of the state’s regular bass fishing season.

“Vermont’s Free Fishing Day gives resident and nonresident anglers the opportunity to go fishing without a license for the day in Vermont lakes and streams,” said Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter.  “Fishing is an activity that can be shared with friends and family or easily taught to newcomers while enjoying quality time together.”  

Free Fishing Day in Vermont also will be celebrated at the “Grand Isle Family Fishing Festival,” to be held at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station at 14 Bell Hill Road in Grand Isle.  The festival will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Designed for young anglers and families, this exciting event offers basic fishing instruction and the chance for kids to catch big trout in a hatchery pond.  No prior fishing experience is needed, and Vermont Fish & Wildlife will be supplying fishing rods, reels and bait for use by participants.

The festival will also highlight the newly updated Ed Weed Fish Culture Station visitor center, so fishing festival participants will be able to see the new educational exhibits and learn how to identify Lake Champlain fish species in the exhibit aquariums.

Vermont’s regular bass season also opens on June 9, marking the start of some of the hottest bass fishing action in the northeast.  The season opens each year on the second Saturday in June and extends through the last day of November. 

Fish & Wildlife also has teamed up with Vermont State Parks to offer the ‘Reel Fun Fishing’ program to be scheduled by park interpreters on Free Fishing Day and during the summer at some state parks.  The program provides loaner tackle kits and fishing clinics free of charge to anyone interested in fishing at a Vermont State Park.  Fishing licenses are required for anyone 15 or older except on Free Fishing Day.  Information on Reel Fun Fishing can be found at https://vtstateparks.com/fishing.html.

To learn more about fishing in Vermont or to purchase a fishing license, visit www.vtfishandwildlife.com.

Parking for Lake Flower Boat Launch in Saranac Lake

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Parking for vehicles with boat trailers using the Lake Flower Boat Launch will be available in the parking lot across the road from the boat launch, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. The alternate parking lot will be available starting May 14, through the 2018 boating season. 

The off-site parking lot is located at the former Nonna Fina’s restaurant. A limited number of parking spots have been designated for vehicles with boat trailers. Only vehicles with boat trailers will be allowed to use the parking lot. Vehicles must travel through the parking lot in one direction and park in designate parking spots. Parking will be available from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and overnight parking is prohibited.

Paddlers and others with car top boats are encouraged to use the nearby DEC Ampersand Bay Hand Launch on Lower Saranac Lake or DEC Lake Colby Hand Launch.

After launching a boat, boaters should tie off their boat at the bulkhead to the left of the launch ramp and then drive across River Street (State Route 86) to the parking lot. When driving from the parking lot to the boat launch, drivers should utilize the middle turning lane. Continue reading →

DEC: 2017’s White-tailed deer harvest numbers are in

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Hunters in New York State enjoyed another successful year, harvesting an estimated 203,427 deer during the 2017-18 hunting seasons Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today. 

The 2017 estimated deer take included 95,623 antlerless deer and 107,804 antlered bucks, an estimated five percent fewer deer than the previous year. Statewide, this represents a 10-percent decline in antlerless harvest and a buck harvest nearly identical to 2016. Hunters in the Northern Zone took 25,351 deer, including 18,074 adult bucks. In the Southern Zone, hunters took 178,076 deer, including 89,730 adult bucks.

The decline in antlerless harvest occurred despite DEC issuing more antlerless permits last season. DEC wildlife biologists have noted two important and encouraging items that emerged from the 2017 deer harvest. First, with 53.3 percent of the adult buck harvest averaging 2.5 years or older, hunters took an estimated 57,494 older bucks, setting a record in total number and greatest percentage of older bucks in the harvest.            

Second, the portion of successful hunters who reported their harvest as required by state law increased from 44 percent in recent years to 50 percent in 2017. Along with our Take It · Tag It · Report It campaign, DEC has made the process of harvest reporting substantially easier for hunters, providing phone, internet, and mobile app options. Harvest reports are critically important for accurate monitoring of deer harvests, and DEC encourages hunters to continue to contribute to the management process by complying with the reporting requirements.

DEC’s 2017 Deer Harvest Summary report (PDF) provides a suite of tables, charts, and maps detailing the deer harvest around the state.  Past harvest summaries are available at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/42232.html. Continue reading →

DEC ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF NATIONAL ARCHERY IN STATE SCHOOLS TOURNAMENT

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***Note: Students from Schroon Lake, NY are trying to raise funds
to travel to the NASP Eastern Nationals. Details here.*** 
https://www.gofundme.com/schroon-lake-central-schoolarchery

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the results from the 10th annual New York National Archery in the Schools (NASP) state tournament, hosted by DEC on March 9, at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica, NY.  The event included 485 students from 25 school districts and is the third NASP state tournament where all of the participating archers were together on the same day.

The first-place team in the high school division was St. Joseph by the Sea High School in Richmond County. The first-place team in the middle school division was Hinsdale Middle/High School in Cattaraugus County. The first-place team in the elementary division was Schroon Lake Central School in Essex County. Trophies were also awarded in each of the three divisions for first, second, and third places.

Individuals that placed in the top 10 in their division, and teams that placed first in each of the three divisions, qualify to compete and represent New York State at the national NASP tournament held in Louisville, Kentucky, May 10 – 12.  Continue reading →

NY Brush Burning Ban in Effect March 16-May14

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Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today reminds residents that with spring approaching and conditions for wildfires heightened, residential brush burning is prohibited March 16 through May 14 across New York State.

Even though much of the state is currently blanketed in snow, warming temperatures can quickly cause wildfire conditions to arise.

DEC will post a Fire Danger Map rating forecast daily for the 2018 fire season on its website and on the NY Fishing, Hunting & Wildlife App available on DEC’s website. Currently, fire conditions in most of the state are low risk.

Open burning of debris is the largest single cause of spring wildfires in New York State. When temperatures are warmer and the past fall’s debris and leaves dry out, wildfires can start and spread easily and be further fueled by winds and a lack of green vegetation.

New York first enacted strict restrictions on open burning in 2009 to help prevent wildfires and reduce air pollution. The regulations allow residential brush fires in towns with fewer than 20,000 residents during most of the year, but prohibit such burning in spring when most wildfires occur.

In the eight-year period since the ban was established, the average number of spring fires per year decreased by 36.7 percent, from 2,649 in 2009, to 1,677 in 2016.

Campfires using charcoal or untreated wood are allowed, but people should never leave such fires unattended and must extinguish them. Burning garbage or leaves is prohibited year-round.

Some towns, primarily in and around the Adirondack and Catskill parks, are designated “fire towns.” Open burning is prohibited year-round in these municipalities unless an individual or group has a written permit from DEC. To find out whether a municipality is designated a “fire town” or to obtain a permit, contact the appropriate DEC regional office. A list of regional offices is available on DEC’s website.

Violators of the state’s open burning regulation are subject to both criminal and civil enforcement actions, with a minimum fine of $500 for a first offense. To report environmental law violations call 1-800-TIPP DEC (1-800-847-7332), or report online on DEC’s website.

$28-million for NY in Pittman-Robertson, Dingell-Johnson funds

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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Interior announced $28,682,525 in funding to New York to support critical state conservation and outdoor recreation projects. The announcement is part of $1.1 billion in annual national funding going to state wildlife agencies from revenues generated by the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration (PRDJ) acts. To date, more than $20.2 billion in funds, which are authorized by Congress, have been distributed to U.S. states and territories.

New York apportionments include $7,820,180 in Sport Fish Restoration funds and $20,862,345 in Wildlife Restoration funds. State-by-state listings of the final Fiscal Year 2018 apportionments of Wildlife Restoration Program fund can be found here and the Sport Fish Restoration Program fund here. Continue reading →