The latest from ADKHunter…

Posted on by July 17, 2017

Mid-Summer: Since we like to follow the meteorological calendar that says June, July and August are the summer months, then we are officially past the point of mid-summer. I’ve been traveling around the Adirondacks quite a bit as of late and have seen my share of deer and other wildlife. This includes a couple of good looking bucks, coyote pups and best of all, an adult bull moose on a recent kayak/fishing trip to Cedar River Flow. The one thing I have seen very little of is turkeys and I’m a little concerned they had a tough nesting season this past spring.

I can also report on the mast crop situation. Acorns seem to be abundant on the oaks so far and apples are doing very well. We got a report from the central Adirondacks regarding a very positive beechnut crop, for which we’re long overdue. We’ll keep our ears open for more on that. Meanwhile, enjoy the summer and hopefully you’re getting outside for some camping, fishing, hiking, scouting or trail camera chasing.

Meanwhile, here’s a couple of late arrivals from the 2016 deer season

2016: John Hammill of the Weller Mountain Club with his 185-pound 8-pointer

Daniel St. Andrews, age 15, of Glens Falls with his first buck taken during the 2016 youth deer hunting weekend.

PS: Don’t forget our Facebook page 

2017 Spring Turkey Season

Continue reading →

Youth Hunter Education Challenge

Posted on by July 17, 2017

Johnsburg’s Jr. Outdoor Club will be hosting their first annual Y.H.E.C. at the Johnsburg Fish and Game Club on Saturday, August 19, 2017.  Please register by Aug. 1, 2017

Y.H.E.C stands for Youth Hunter Education Challenge. There are 8 events in which youth will compete in a 1 day competition. The events are:  rifle, shotgun, muzzleloading, archery, wildlife identification, hunter responsibility, hunter safety and orienteering.

Y.H.E.C was started in 1985 by the NRA to further our youth’s knowledge on hunting and outdoor skills, and  it is considered one of the most comprehensive programs of its type in North America. More than 1.2 million youth, from 33 states and Canadian provinces, have participated in the program since it began in 1985.

Please email Erika Patton epatton516@outlook.com, or visit yhec.nra.org for additional information.

2017-2018 federal duck stamps on sale now

Posted on by July 17, 2017

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – June 27, 2017 – The new 2017-2018 federal duck stamp is on sale now. The stamps, which cost $25, are valid from July 1 through June 30, 2018. Purchased by millions of waterfowl hunters, wildlife enthusiasts and collectors every year, duck stamps help raise money to purchase and protect wetlands for ducks, geese and other wildlife species.

“Duck stamps are one of the traditional ways hunters and others invest in wetland and waterfowl conservation,” said DU CEO Dale Hall. “We encourage everyone, whether they hunt waterfowl or not, to buy one or more duck stamps to help conserve our precious wetland resources. The federal duck stamp is a powerful tool for conservation in the United States. Every year the program raises more than $25 million used to purchase wetlands in the National Wildlife Refuge System. These habitats benefit waterfowl and countless other species of wildlife. It’s an incredibly successful program and one we should be very proud of.” Continue reading →

DEC REVISING PERMIT REQUIREMENT FOR BOBCAT HUNTING AND TRAPPING

Posted on by July 17, 2017

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that the agency is adopting a regulatory proposal to revise the special permit requirement for bobcat hunting and trapping. Upon completion of the Bobcat Management Plan in 2012, regulations were adopted to establish a hunting and trapping season in select Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) in central and western New York, referred to as the “Harvest Expansion Area” (HEA).

In areas open to bobcat hunting and trapping, individuals are required to have a license and to have the animal “pelt sealed” (i.e., have a plastic tag affixed by DEC staff) after harvest. However, to hunt or trap bobcats in the HEA, licensed hunters and trappers were also required to obtain a free “special permit” from their regional wildlife office.

This requirement allowed biologists to collect information on participation, harvest, harvest pressure (e.g., number of days afield, number of traps set) through a diary or “log,” and to collect biological samples. This robust data set allows biologists to assess the status of the bobcat population and evaluate harvest. After three seasons of data collection, sufficient information on harvest pressure and take has been collected and the special permit is no longer needed. Hunters and trappers who pursue bobcats in the HEA are still required to have a hunting or trapping license and to have the animal pelt sealed.

Bobcat hunting and trapping regulations can be viewed on DEC’s website (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/45559.html and http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/355.html) and the Notice of Adoption for the revised regulation can be viewed in the New York State Register (https://www.dos.ny.gov/info/register/2017.html). 

 

DEC SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED LANDS IN SALMON RIVER CORRIDOR

Posted on by July 17, 2017

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced  two public meetings to accept input on the management of state lands in the Salmon River corridor.  Meetings will be held on Tuesday, August 1, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., and Thursday, August 3, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., at the Pulaski High School Auditorium. ‎The high school is located at 4624 Salina Street, Pulaski, New York. Continue reading →

3rd Annual King George Fishing Tournament on Lake George

Posted on by July 17, 2017

Lake George’s third annual King George Fishing Derby kicks off on September 16 with new dates and new features designed to attract more anglers to the “Queen of America’s lakes”.

The annual derby was previously held during the lake’s busy summer season and the new dates are meant to alleviate problems with recreational boaters and better fishing, especially for bass.

This year’s Derby includes a new prize category for landlocked salmon, along with large and smallmouth bass and lake trout in the Senior Division. There will be no salmon category in the Junior Division that is under 16 years of age.

Registration for the 2017 Derby will be at the American Legion Post on Route 9L and includes free refreshments. Entry fee is $50.00 for adults and $30 for juniors. All entrants receive a free t-shirt and admission to the awards ceremony.

Fishing begins at 6am-6pm on Saturday and 6am-2pm Sunday, Sept. 17. Registration is 4pm-8pm Friday. Boats may launch at any site with weigh stations available at the Hague boat dock, Roger’s Memorial in Bolton Landing and the Village’s public docks in Lake George.

Over $15,000 in prize money goes to the winners with juniors receiving a variety of merchandise prizes.

Entries are available online at www.kinggeorgefishingderby.com and a local fish & bait shops.

DEC Releases Draft Saranac Lakes Wild Forest UMP

Posted on by June 8, 2017

The draft Saranac Lakes Wild Forest Unit Management Plan (UMP) for 76,000 acres of Forest Preserve lands in the Adirondacks has been released for public review and comment, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced.

Saranac Lakes Wild Forest (SLWF) is comprised of 76,000 acres of Forest Preserve lands and 19,600 acres of lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds in the towns of Santa Clara, Brighton, Tupper Lake, Harrietstown, and Franklin in Franklin County and the towns of St. Armand and North Elba in Essex County. Three of the largest population centers in the Adirondack Park – the villages of Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, and Lake Placid – are located within the general boundaries of the unit.

DEC has scheduled two availability sessions and two public meetings to provide information on the management actions proposed in the draft UMP. During the availability sessions, the public will have the opportunity to review maps, fact sheets, and other documents, ask DEC staff questions, and provide comments. DEC staff will also be available to answer questions during the first 30 minutes of the public meetings, after which DEC will share a presentation on the draft UMP and the public will have the opportunity to comment.

Availability Sessions and Public Meetings

  • Saranac Lake Availability Session: 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on July 12, Harrietstown Town Hall auditorium, 39 Main Street, Saranac Lake, NY
  • Saranac Lake Public Meeting: 6:00 p.m. on July 12, Saranac Lake High School auditorium, 79 Canaras Avenue, Saranac Lake, NY
  • Tupper Lake Availability Session: 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on July 13, Goff-Nelson Memorial Library, downstairs community room, 41 Lake Street, Tupper Lake, NY
  • Tupper Lake Public Meeting: 6:30 p.m. on July 13, Flammer Theater, the Wild Center, Tupper Lake, NY

Public comments will be accepted until close of business on August 11, 2017. Written comments may be mailed to Forester Steve Guglielmi, NYSDEC Region 5, P.O. Box 296, Ray Brook, NY 12977 or sent by e-mail to: r5.ump@dec.ny.gov. Continue reading →

DEC RELEASES DRAFT RECREATION MANAGEMENT PLAN TO IMPROVE ACCESS ON

Posted on by June 9, 2017

The draft Cedarlands Conservation Easement Recreation Management Plan (RMP) was released today for public review and comment, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Bob Stegemann announced

The 4,865-acre Cedarlands CEL (www.dec.ny.gov/lands/108144.html) is located in the town of Long Lake, Hamilton County in the central Adirondacks. The conservation easement divides the property into four areas, each of which has different restrictions. The conservation easement provides for some public recreation rights on the 3,309-acre McRorie Lake Area for 10 months (between August 24 and June 23), and year-round on the 592-acre Mud Pond Area. The 674-acre Long Lake Area and the 289-acre Base Camp Area are not available for public use.

A public meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. on June 22, at the town of Long Lake Town Hall, 1204 Main Street, Long Lake, NY. The meeting will provide the public with an opportunity to learn more on the proposed management actions in the draft RMP and to comment on the proposals. The meeting facility is wheelchair accessible. Please provide any requests for specific accommodations to 518-897-1361 at least one week in advance.

Written comments may be sent to Steve Guglielmi, Forester, NYSDEC, P.O. Box 296, Ray Brook, NY 12977, or e-mailed to r5ump@dec.ny.gov until Friday, July 14. Continue reading →

DEC Releases Proposals to Amend Three State Land Unit Management Plans (UMPs)

Posted on by June 5, 2017

Agencies Accepting Comments until June 16, 2017

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released Draft Amendments for the Blue Mountain Wild Forest Unit Management Plan (UMP) and the Siamese Ponds Wilderness and Jessup River Wild Forest UMPs. DEC and the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) are reviewing the two Draft Amendments concurrently and holding a combined, joint public comment period on the proposals in the Draft Amendments.

            The amendments propose projects that will provide safe access to communications facilities, protect important wildlife habitat, and improve the outdoor recreation experience within all three units. These amendments also propose new trails that connect the Forest Preserve to local communities, as recommended by three regional trail plans recently completed by DEC and its partners:

 

The Draft Amendment to the Blue Mountain Wild Forest UMP proposes to: Continue reading →

Posted in DEC

DEC Announces 2017-2018 Waterfowl Season Dates

Posted on by June 5, 2017

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today released information about the upcoming waterfowl hunting seasons, including season dates and updated regulations. 

“New York takes great pride in using the best available science and input from hunters to establish the state’s annual waterfowl management seasons to provide hunting opportunities across the state from September to April,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “I applaud the work of this team of volunteers and DEC biologists to establish these seasons in order to maximize opportunities for hunters and grow this economically important recreation.”

Task force members are charged with developing optimal seasons by balancing the competing interests of hunters pursuing New York’s diverse waterfowl species. Season dates and regulations can be viewed in full on DEC’s website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28175.html. Waterfowl hunting zone descriptions and boundaries are available at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28496.html.

Youth Hunting Opportunities:

Duck hunting seasons begin with designated “youth waterfowl hunts” across the state. These hunts allow youth hunters to spend time afield with experienced adult hunters and gain necessary knowledge and skills to become safe and responsible members of the hunting community. Junior hunters (12 to 15 years of age) accompanied by a licensed adult hunter with up-to-date Harvest Information Program registration and a duck stamp may participate.  During the youth hunt, the adult hunter may not possess a firearm or shoot any birds unless the respective regular season is open. The daily bag limit for ducks and brant (goose) during youth hunts is the same as during the regular season, with the exception that three geese per day may be taken in all zones. The youth hunts are held on weekends in each zone of the state, as follows:

·         Southeastern Zone – Sept. 16-17

·         Northeastern Zone – Sept. 23-24

·         Lake Champlain Zone – Sept. 23-24

·         Western Zone – Oct. 14-15

·         Long Island Zone – Nov. 11-12


Duck Season Overview:

 Duck Season opening dates for each zone:

·         Northeastern Zone – Oct. 7

·         Southeastern Zone – Oct. 7

·         Lake Champlain Zone – Oct. 11

·         Western Zone – Oct. 28

·         Long Island Zone – Nov. 23

 
A complete list of season dates can be found on DEC’s website (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28888.html). Continue reading →