The latest from ADKHunter…

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Summer Heat: Another Independence Day has passed and the hottest part of summer lies ahead. When you consider DEC’s moderate fire danger warnings and the lack of steady rain, you have wonder how the deer are holding up. Summer is not easy on whitetails and a lack of water could be an issue from now on into the fall. The good news is that there appears to be a decent mast crop in the works. Apples are coming on and there are also reports of acorns developing on oak trees. And, plenty bucks in velvet are being spotted out there. So, let us know how you scouting is going. 

Meanwhile, New York Outdoor News is surely keeping me busy. Gathering, editing and publishing news items from the outdoor world is interesting beyond my imagination and in the professional world there’s been little time for anything else.

But I have managed to spend some time outdoors. Turkey season was fantastic and there’s been some fishing going on during the weekends as well. Like everyone else, we’re just trying to get through this COVID-19 stuff and since I don’t like wearing a face mask, I spend as little time as possible out and about so this is really the only time I venture out. It kind of makes me wish it was deer season. Plus, the fresh air isn’t so bad either.

As for the status of ADKHunter, we’re keeping things going for now and plan to going forward. Some things may change as we try to streamline a few tasks as fall approaches, but we’ll talk more about that later. Meanwhile enjoy the summer, stay safe and get outside. The mountains are waiting.

-Dan’l 

ADKHunter’s Facebook page  •  Buck’s Blog in NY Outdoor News

DEC launching new version of DECALS

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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the launch of the State’s new system for the sale of fishing, hunting, and trapping licenses. The new DEC Automated Licensing System (DECALS)includes user-friendly information to help users locate vendors, receive instant copies of a license, enter and view harvest information, and more. 

As the system’s new features are updated, additional functionality launching on DECALS will include: 

  • Events calendar with upcoming season dates, youth hunts, free fishing days and clinics, and more;
  • Full integration with DEC’s Hunter Education Program enabling users to more easily register for courses and automatically update certifications; and
  • Auto-renewal options for all annual licenses.

 

Users can access DECALS by phone and online. New York State’s 1,100 license issuing agents are expected to be up and running on the new DECALS system soon, so contact local agents before heading out to purchase licenses in person. Call DEC’s customer service hotline (866-933-2257) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or go to the DECALS website and buy licenses online.

Please note that previous DECALS logins will not work in the new system. To access current accounts, click on the ‘Sign Up’ link on the new DECALS website and use date of birth and DEC customer ID number or a driver’s license number to locate existing files and create a new login. Please call DEC’s customer service line at 866-933-2257 with any questions.

The new system is developed and supported by Kalkomey, a company that specializes in outdoor recreation and education web applications. Kalkomey currently provides hunter education classes for 46 states, including New York, as well as in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. DEC recently announced the success of Kalkomey’s online hunter and bowhunter safety courses for New York State, which allow new hunters to take classes online during the State’s response to COVID-19. Nearly 28,000 men, women, and children have taken the course to date, which was extended through Aug. 31, 2020.

Students who successfully complete the online courses and pass the final exam will receive their hunter education certificate or bowhunter education certificate. The courses are available to individuals 11 and older, but only those 12 or older may purchase a hunting license. Students can complete the courses from a computer, tablet, or smart phone at any time. Visit DEC’s Hunter Education Program page to learn more or to sign up.

To take and receive a hunter education certificate or bowhunter education certificate through the online course, participants must be New York State residents. The cost of the hunter education course is $19.95 and the cost for the bowhunter education course is $30. Both courses can be accessed at DEC’s website. The online courses will be available through Aug. 31, 2020.

DEC RELEASES INTERIM REPORT FROM HIGH PEAKS STRATEGIC PLANNING ADVISORY GROUP

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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today released the High Peaks Strategic Planning Advisory Group’s (HPAG) Immediate Action Recommendations Report, DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today. The report includes proposed actions that DEC and its State and local partners could undertake, pending available funding and continued partnership, to promote sustainable use of the Adirondacks High Peaks and protect this resource.  

HPAG determined early in the process of developing recommendations for managing increased use in High Peaks region of the Adirondacks that it was necessary to develop recommendations for immediate actions for DEC and its State and local partners to undertake this summer. This became of greater importance with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The HPAG’s Interim Report is available at DEC’s website.  

Interim Report recommendations include the following: 

  1. Parking Enforcement
  2. Human Waste Management at Trailheads
  3. Education and Messaging
  4. Shuttle and Electric Powered-Shuttles (e-shuttles)
  5. Leave No Trace Measures
  6. Trail Assessments, Maintenance, and Funding
  7. Data Collection and Visitor Information
  8. Limits on Use

 

DEC and its State and local partners are already acting on many of the recommendations to improve public safety and sustainably manage use of some of the High Peaks’ busiest trailheads during the summer months. Proposed actions include:

  1. Establishing an independent visitor information group to provide relevant data and analysis to the State and stakeholders;
  2. Strictly enforcing parking regulations with an increased presence of New York State Police and DEC Forest Rangers and Environmental Conservation Police Officers on State Route 73 and other roads;
  3. Educating hikers on social distancing and the use of face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Forest Rangers, Assistant Forest Rangers, and Trailhead Stewards are taking the lead on these efforts;
  4. Reducing the parking capacity at AMR lots at Roaring Brook Falls to 28 vehicles and the Rooster Comb Parking Lot by 50 percent;
  5. Advising motorists about limited trailhead parking and closures using electronic variable messaging boards and additional signage on I-87 and Route 73, social media, and additional outreach; 
  6. Working with area municipalities to coordinate human waste management; and
  7. Using social media and other platforms to educate hikers about the seven principles of Leave No Trace (LNT) while hiking.

The interim report and summaries of HPAG meetings are available on the DEC High Peaks Strategic Planning Advisory Group webpage.

The public is encouraged to assist in this effort by submitting comments to Info.R5@dec.ny.gov.

Moose News – Summer 2000

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DEC Seeking Reports of Moose Sightings

(6/12) DEC is asking the public to report moose sightings as part of ongoing efforts to monitor moose distribution in New York. Most of New York’s moose live in the Adirondacks, but we also have moose in portions of eastern New York along the border with Vermont and Massachusetts. Occasionally, moose are seen in southeastern New York and the Catskills — these are generally single animals that have dispersed from other areas in New York, Connecticut or Massachusetts. In 2019, the public reported 447 moose observations to DEC.

Moose are the largest land mammal in the state. Bulls weigh from 600 to 1,200 pounds and stand up to six feet tall at the shoulder. Cows weigh anywhere from 500 to 800 pounds. Moose are primarily browsers, feeding on the leaves, twigs and buds of hardwood and softwood trees and shrubs. An adult moose eats 40 to 60 pounds of browse every day. Favored plant species include willows, birches, maples, balsam fir, viburnums, aspen, and mountain ash. In the summer, when most moose sightings occur, moose feed heavily on aquatic plants in ponds and wetlands, wading into the water and reaching beneath the surface for plants.

Many moose sightings also occur along roadways. Drive cautiously at dusk and dawn as moose can be hard to spot due to their dark color. If you see a moose, do not block traffic and remember to respect wildlife by keeping quiet and viewing from a distance.

Please report your moose observations using DEC’s online form, and share your moose encounters with us by emailing photos to wildlife@dec.ny.gov.

DEC ANNOUNCES FALCONRY, WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR, AND LEASHED TRACKING DOG EXAMINATIONS

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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)  announced that exams for individuals seeking a license to practice falconry, become a wildlife rehabilitator, or use leashed tracking dogs to find wounded or injured big game animals are scheduled for Aug. 7 and Aug. 14, depending on location. The deadline to register is July 24.This year, following Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s NY Forward guidelines and in order to maintain safe social distancing, DEC will be offering the exam from 10 a.m. to noon and again from 2 p.m. to 4.pm. on Aug. 14, at most DEC Regional Offices across the state.

Due to the anticipated number of exam registrants, DEC Region 1 (Long Island) is holding the exams from 10 a.m. to noon on Aug. 7 and Aug. 14. DEC Region 3 (New Paltz) is offering the exams on Aug. 7 and Aug. 14 at 10 a.m. to noon, and 2 to 4 p.m. both days. A list of DEC Regional Offices can be found on the DEC website. Those interested in taking any of these free exams must register by the June 24 deadline. Exam registration forms can be found at DEC’s website.

Apprentice Falconry License

Falconry has a rich history and tradition throughout the world and requires a significant commitment of time and effort. Apprentices are limited to possessing one bird, either an American kestrel or a red-tailed hawk. A falconry study guide and examination manual are available at no cost from DEC. The cost of a five-year falconry license is $40.

To qualify for the Apprentice Falconry license, applicants must:

  • score 80 percent or higher on the written exam;
  • be at least 14 years of age;
  • possess a valid New York State hunting license; and
  • maintain DEC-approved facilities for housing falconry raptors.

 

Wildlife Rehabilitator License 

Wildlife rehabilitators provide for the care of injured, sick and orphaned wild animals for the purpose of returning rehabilitated animals to the wild. Prospective applicants are encouraged to gain experience by serving as an assistant to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. A wildlife rehabilitator study guide and examination manual are available at no cost from DEC. There is no cost for the license, which is good for five years.

To qualify for the Wildlife Rehabilitator License, applicants must:

  • score 80 percent or higher on the written exam;
  • be at least 16 years of age; and
  • be interviewed by DEC regional wildlife staff.

 

Leashed Tracking Dog Handler

Leashed tracking dog handlers use their dogs to track and recover dead, wounded or injured big game. Leashed tracking dog handlers provide a valuable service by aiding hunters in locating wounded big game that otherwise may go unrecovered. A leashed tracking dog study guide is available at no cost from DEC. There is a $50 license fee for the five-year license and a $25 non-refundable application fee.

To qualify for a Leashed Tracking Dog Handler License, applicants must:

  • score 80 percent or higher on the written exam; and
  • possess a valid New York State hunting license.

 

To apply for any of these exams, visit the NYSDEC Special Licenses Unit website and fill out an exam registration form. You can mail, fax or email the completed form to: NYS DEC Special Licenses Unit, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY, 12233-4752; Phone: 518-402-8985; Fax: 518-402-8925; Email: SpecialLicenses@dec.ny.gov.