The latest from ADKHunter…

ADKHunter.com Posted on by

Winter, finally: It’s taken some time, but it looks like winter is about to kick in. After a warm-spell, we’ve got some cold weather on each end of a weekend storm for Jan. 18-19. This should be good news for ice anglers and snow lovers, and even some small game hunters who like the snow (including beagles). Keep an eye on our events post (below) and the sidebar regarding upcoming events, of which there are plenty. Meanwhile, we hope you are enjoying the winter, which hasn’t been too hard on the deer thus far. 

Also:
•2019-20 Summary of Hunting Seasons
•ADKHunter’s Facebook page.
•Buck’s Blog in NY Outdoor News

 

Continue to previous 2019 reports…

Continue reading →

2020 Events

ADKHunter.com Posted on by

Here’s a list of upcoming events, with links, if we have them

Ice Fishing Derbies

 

Sports Shows

 

Banquets

  • March 7 – QDMA  – Upper Hudson Valley Chapter Banquet
  • March 14 – Pheasants Forever – Capital Region Chapter Banquet
  • March 21 – Wells Sportsman’s Dinner
  • March 27 – Ducks Unlmited – Lower Adirondack Chapter Banquet
  • March 27 – Friends of the NRA – Patrick Henry Chapter Banquet
  • March 28 – NWTF – Saratoga Strutters Banquet
  • April 4 – Ruffed Grouse Society – Mohawk Valley Chapter Sportsmen’s Night Out
  • April 18 – NYS 4H Shooting Sports Banquet 

 

Gun Shows

• NYSACA
• NEACA

 

DEC Turns 50

ADKHunter.com Posted on by

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos  announced that DEC will host a year-long celebration of its upcoming 50th anniversary in 2020. DEC was established in 1970 on the first-ever Earth Day. To support the celebration of DEC’s anniversary, the agency is releasing a commemorative logo that will be used on the DEC website, in printed materials, and other promotions throughout 2020.

Starting in January, DEC will highlight its history of environmental victories on the agency website, via email, social media channels using the #DEC50 hashtag, and in the Conservationist Magazine and Conservationist for Kids. In addition, beginning in January and continuing throughout the year, DEC will host special anniversary events and announce staff-led service projects across the state.

As part of the anniversary celebration, DEC is also launching a new Geocaching Challenge. DEC will designate 50 properties across the state where geocaching canisters will be hidden with information inside on how to receive a prize.

DEC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife will incorporate the DEC 50 logo in the yearly Habitat Access Pin to commemorate the anniversary. The new Habitat Access Pin will be available at license issuing agents statewide beginning in August.

For the latest updates on #DEC50 and DEC’s year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary, visit DEC’s website.

DEC: Ski and Snowshoes required in ADK Backcountry

ADKHunter.com Posted on by

Recent snow and cold weather have created good conditions for winter outdoor recreation in the Adirondack backcountry, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)  announced today. Visitors should be prepared with proper clothing and equipment for snow, ice, and cold to ensure a safe and enjoyable winter experience.

Snow depths currently range from four to six inches across the central and northwestern portions of the Adirondacks. Eight to 12 inches of snow can be found across the southern and northeastern portions of the Adirondacks. In the High Peaks, snow depths range from 24-36 inches above 3,000 feet, requiring the use of snowshoes. Ice is present on exposed outlooks and summits above tree line. The National Weather Service NERFC Snow Page provides detailed maps depicting current snow depths and forecasts.

DEC recommends visitors to the backcountry carry snowshoes and use them when snow depths warrant. Snowshoes or skis ease travel on snow and prevent “post holing,” which can cause sudden falls resulting in injuries and create hazardous trail conditions for other users. Ice crampons and traction devices should be carried on all hikes for use on icy portions of the trail including summits and other exposed areas. Continue reading →

Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor Unit Management Plan (UMP) Amendment comment period extended to Jan. 8, 2020

ADKHunter.com Posted on by

The New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Transportation (DOT) announced the release of a draft Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor Unit Management Plan (UMP) Amendment/Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) that includes unique outdoor recreational opportunities for people of various abilities and a unique means of travel to support tourism in the Adirondacks. DEC and DOT solicited public input on a draft scoping document earlier this year to help develop the draft UMP amendment and SEIS, which will help determine the future use of the Remsen to Lake Placid Travel Corridor. 

The public comment period has been extended until Jan. 8, 2020. 

DEC and DOT recently issued a Final Scope for the proposed Draft UMP Amendment/SEIS after obtaining public comment regarding the future of the corridor. The Draft UMP Amendment/SEIS includes Draft River Area Management Plans for the Main Branch Saranac River, Main Branch Raquette River, Middle Branch Moose River, and North Branch Moose River.

Upon final approval of the Draft UMP Amendment/SEIS, New York State can transfer jurisdiction of the segment of the travel corridor between Tupper Lake and Lake Placid from DOT to DEC and develop a multi-use recreational trail in the DEC-managed segment. The new preferred alternative in the Draft UMP Amendment/SEIS proposes:

  • Transfer jurisdiction of the segment of the Travel Corridor between Tupper Lake and Lake Placid from DOT to DEC;
  • Development of a multi-use recreational trail in the segment to be managed by DEC; and
  • Rehabilitation of the railway between Big Moose and Tupper Lake, which will continue to be managed by DOT.

DEC and DOT are holding three public meetings to outline the proposals in the Draft UMP Amendment/SEIS and receive public comment. The meetings are scheduled as follows:

  • Tupper Lake: Dec. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Tupper Lake Middle-High School, 131 Chaney Ave, Tupper Lake, NY 12986
  • Lake Placid: Dec. 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lake Placid Conference Center, 2608 Main St., Lake Placid, NY 12946
  • Old Forge: Dec. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the View Arts Center, 3256 Rt 28, Old Forge, NY 13420

The Draft UMP Amendment/SEIS can be viewed and downloaded from the DEC website.

The deadline for comments is close of business Jan. 8, 2020. Comments may be provided at any of the public meetings; mailed to John Schmid, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY, 12233-4254; or e-mailed to adirondackpark@dec.ny.gov

Families Encouraged to Register Early for Camps

ADKHunter.com Posted on by

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) 2020 Summer Camps program will open Sunday, January 26, 2020, at 1 p.m. Applications should be submitted through the online registration program available through a link from the Summer Camps webpage. Parents and guardians are encouraged to register early since some of the weeks fill up quickly.

Now in its 73rd year, the DEC Summer Camps program offers week-long adventures in conservation education for children ages 11-17. DEC operates four residential camps for children: Camp Colby in Saranac Lake (Franklin County); Camp DeBruce in Livingston Manor (Sullivan County); Camp Rushford in Caneadea (Allegany County); and Pack Forest in Warrensburg (Warren County).

In response to parent feedback, DEC revised the schedule to better accommodate families. This year, 14- to 17-year-old campers will have more sessions available earlier in the summer, as children in this age range often have schedule conflicts later in the summer. In addition, DEC updated camp offerings to address the high demand for programming for 11- to 13-year-olds.

Camps Colby and DeBruce will offer one week of programing for children ages 14-17. Camp DeBruce will offer six weeks for ages 11-13. Camp Colby will offer four weeks for ages 11-13. Camp Pack Forest will continue to host children aged 14-17 for six weeks and ages 11-13 for two weeks. Camp Rushford will continue to offer two weeks of programming for children aged 14-17 and five weeks of programming for ages 11-13. The complete schedule of camp weeks and ages is available on the Summer Camps webpage.

Campers will have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of outdoor adventures and are encouraged to try new things. Activities may include fishing, bird watching, fly-tying, archery, canoeing, hiking, camping, orienteering, and hunter safety education.

One hunter education program for either gun, bow, or trapping is offered at each camp each week. Class size is limited for hunter education programs and campers must sign up during registration and complete the homework in advance.

Along with adventure experiences, DEC campers engage in fun, hands-on activities and outdoor exploration focused on field, forest, stream, and pond ecological principles. Campers might collect insects in a field, use nets in a stream, investigate soil composition, measure tree sizes, or practice taking field notes and writing in journals. Trips to nearby state lands might include kettle bogs, state parks, fish hatcheries, or nature museums.

Camp Pack Forest will offer “Outdoor Adventure Week” during Week 6 (August 2-7). DEC encourages teens aged 14 to 17 who love being outdoors to sign up for this popular program. During this week, campers will develop hands-on outdoor skills that go above and beyond the traditional camp week. In addition to typical camp activities, campers may be engaged in team- and trust-building activities, forestry, citizen science, conservation science, and more. Guest DEC and natural resource professionals will introduce campers to a variety of career options.

All four camps offer five one-week sessions (Sunday to Friday) beginning Jun. 28, 2020; DeBruce and Rushford are open for seven weeks and Pack Forest operates for eight weeks. Drop-off time is 3 p.m. on Sunday, and the closing ceremony and pick-up time is Friday at 4:30 p.m. One week of camp remains $350 per child for 2020, and includes meals, trips, and a camp t-shirt.

In addition to inviting parents and guardians to register children to participate in the DEC environmental education Summer Camps program, sporting clubs, civic groups, and environmental organizations are encouraged to sponsor one or more children for a week at camp. Groups that deposit funds to sponsor six paid campers in one transaction will receive a scholarship to send a seventh child to camp for free. The seventh camper will use a sponsorship code generated by the Albany Camps administration. Information about becoming a sponsor and managing sponsor accounts is available at on DEC’s website.

For more information, please visit the DEC website, call 518-402-8014, visit “NYS DEC Summer Camps” on Facebook, or write to DEC Camps, 3rd Floor, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-5256.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/press.html

Continue reading →

New Regs pertaining to CWD

ADKHunter.com Posted on by

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced that DEC is adopting regulatory changes that will further protect New York’s wild deer and moose from Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). 
DEC is working collaboratively with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (DAM) and the agricultural community to prevent CWD from gaining a foothold in New York.

The regulations’ most significant change is that hunters are now prohibited from returning to New York State with whole carcasses of deer, elk, moose, or caribou harvested outside of New York. Only the deboned meat, cleaned skull cap, antlers with no flesh adhering, raw or processed cape or hide, cleaned teeth or lower jaw, and finished taxidermy products of CWD-susceptible animals may be brought into New York.

Hunting should not risk losing their prized deer or elk because they failed to follow New York law.DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers will be monitoring roadways and entry points along state borders and whole carcasses that are imported into New York illegallywill be confiscated and destroyed.

Transportation of carcasses through New York is still legal, provided that no parts are disposed of or remain in New York, but hunters should verify importation rules in their destination state or province. 

Other adopted changes include:

  • Increasing the ease with which DEC’s Environmental Conservation Police Officers can enforce DAM regulations to ensure compliance by owners of captive cervids (animals in the deer family); and
  • Clarifying disposal requirements for taxidermists that process CWD-susceptible animals.

These regulations took effect on November 13, 2019. Continue reading →

Posted in DEC

DEC announces WomenHuntFishNY winners

ADKHunter.com Posted on by

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced

Rachael Bush (Orwell Creek)
Photo: NYSDEC

the winners of the angling segment of the WomenHuntFishNY photo contest, held this summer. After sifting through almost 4,000 photo entries, DEC staff chose 14 winners and runners-up.

“The response we received to the WomenHuntFishNY fishing photo contest was astounding, which made choosing the winner that much more difficult,” Commissioner Seggos said. “These images cast light on the Empire State’s fantastic fishing opportunities and the excitement enjoyed by those who pursue the sport. Our hope is that this contest encourages even more women and girls to try their luck and cast a line.”

Winners and runners-up were chosen in each of the following categories:

  • Freshwater Fishing (Inland) winner: Crystal Shore (Oneida Lake); runner-up: Michelle Muir
  • Freshwater Fishing (Great Lakes) winner: Rachael Bush (Orwell Creek); runner-up: Dana Paciello (Lake Ontario)
  • Saltwater fishing winner: Angela Bryanne De Jesus (East River); runner-up: Samantha Moses (Cold Spring Harbor)
  • Ice Fishing winner: Courtney Bly (Silver Lake); runner-up: Jennifer Pelletier (Lake George)
  • Youth Fishing winner: Lydia Houck (Lake George); runner-up: L. Murphy
  • Multi-Generational winner: Stacy Hollenbeck (Sandy Creek); runner-up: Christielee Bower
  • Action Shot winner: Brianna Cook (West Canada Creek); runner-up: Sarah Eilers (Lincoln Pond)

 

Winning entries will be featured in DEC’s print and electronic publications, including DEC’s website and The Conservationist magazine, to help spread the word about the great fishing in the Empire State, and to inspire future generations of women anglers. Only photos taken in New York State were considered for the contest.

Although the contest has ended, all anglers, hunters, and trappers are encouraged to share their photos with DEC at any time of year. All submissions will become property of DEC to be used in promotion and outreach efforts. Please send photos to: wildlife@dec.ny.gov.

According to a 2015 report by the New York State Comptroller’s Office of Budget and Policy Analysis, spending on hunting- and fishing-related activities totaled more than $5 billion in New York in 2011. Approximately 170,000 women purchase fishing licenses in New York State each year, and more than 50,000 women are registered in the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry. According to a 2011 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey of fishing, hunting, and wildlife-associated recreation, women make up approximately 25 percent of New York anglers.

To see the winners and more photos entered in the contest visit DEC’s Flickr photo album. (All photos courtesy of DEC)

 

DEC Launches New ‘DECinfo Locator’

ADKHunter.com Posted on by

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the launch of  DECinfo Locator, an interactive map that provides access to DEC documents and public data about New York’s environment and outdoor recreation resources. This first-of-its-kind DEC mapping application generates results specific to locations across the state, including water and air permits, enforcement actions, recreational assets, environmental education facilities, and sites in the State Superfund and Brownfield Cleanup programs.

To access the mapping application, visit the DECinfo Locator web page. Learn more about its features from the DECinfo Locator Tutorial on YouTube.

With more than 50 interactive data layers, DECinfo Locator lets users see and download permits, former industrial site cleanup plans, water quality reports, and more based on where they live, work, or play. Selecting a map feature can bring up links to database records for petroleum bulk storage facilities, oil wells, or permitted mines. Users can also view potential environmental justice areas and Climate Smart Communities or find out what local wastewater facilities are doing to reduce their impact on New York’s waterbodies. Several information layers can be active at the same time, allowing users to see the many ways DEC is working to protect and enhance the state’s environment and recreational opportunities.

The map’s Near Me feature lets users narrow data results by creating an interactive list of data points within an area of up to 10 miles from a selected point. In addition to environmental quality information, users can explore new places for recreation such as hiking, cross-country skiing, or mountain biking, or look up the rules for a nearby Wildlife Management Area. The public can also download Unit Management Plans for state forests, access a web page with details about allowed uses on a nearby Conservation Easement or find a DEC campground and see photos of individual campsites (where available).

Users can activate the Public Fishing Rights layer to see available locations and nearby boat launches, then overlay information about the water quality of lakes, rivers, and streams to access DEC data for specific locations. Additional features and data will be added to the DECinfo Locator in the future.