The latest from ADKHunter…

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Winter’s Hiatus: There’s a lot of deer hunters out there who would trade the weather we’ve had in the past three weeks – you know, since deer season closed – for what we got in November. It’s been downright pleasant, although not good for skiing, snowmobiling or ice fishing. The western part of the North Country is hanging in there, but elsewhere things have been more fall-like. It sure is giving the deer a break. After enduring what looked like the early onset of winter, whitetails are now feeding heavily on grass, ferns and anything they can find where there’s bare ground. This may turn out to be a blessing in a year where there was hardly any mast crops.

With the New Year comes a fresh start and here’s wishing everyone a prosperous and safe 2019. Perhaps you a small game hunt is in the works and soon enough we’ll be talking about turkeys as spring approaches. Meanwhile, keep the photos coming from this past deer season in the Adirondacks. We’ll be checking in from time to time throughout the winter. 

-Dan’l

Also:
•ADKHunter’s Facebook page.
•Buck’s Blog in NY Outdoor News
•DEC’s Summary of 2018-19 Hunting Seasons

Read on for previous 2018 hunting reports… Continue reading →

Vermont Public Meetings on Chronic Wasting Disease

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The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and local fish and game clubs are sponsoring public informational meetings on Chronic Wasting Disease which the department says poses a serious threat to Vermont’s deer herd. Chronic Wasting Disease infects white-tailed deer, moose and other members of the deer family and has been spreading across the United States and, more recently, has been documented in Quebec.

The meetings start at 6:30 p.m. and are scheduled as follows:
January 24, Newport – North Country Career Center, 209 Veterans Ave, Newport, VT  05855
Hosted by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Conservation Group with light refreshments provided free.

January 31, Barre – Barre Fish and Game Club, Gun Club Rd, Barre, VT 05641
Hosted by the Barre Fish and Game Club with light refreshments provided free.

Wildlife veterinarian Dr. Walter Cottrell will speak about the disease, how it is spread, its effects on deer populations, and efforts needed to keep the disease from entering Vermont.  Dr. Cottrell will describe how the disease has impacted deer, elk and moose in North America, as well his first-hand experiences with the disease when he was a wildlife veterinarian for the Pennsylvania Game Commission.  www.vtfishandwildlife.com

Early numbers show increase in NY Whitetail harvest

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New York State white-tailed deer hunters have been reporting more success in 2018 than last year through the end of the regular big game season, the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today.

Through Dec. 16, hunters reported taking approximately 14 percent more deer in the Northern Zone and 11 percent more deer in the Southern Zone, compared to the same period in 2017. Reports from the Southern Zone and Northern Zone are up more than 26 percent and 33 percent from 2016 numbers, respectively, indicating an increase in harvest over the past three hunting seasons.

A final tally of the seasons’ deer and bear harvests will be released early next year.

Through the final weekend of the Southern Zone late bow and muzzleloader season, hunters reported 94,515 deer in 2018, compared to 85,288 and 75,073 through the same period in 2017 and 2016, respectively. Similarly, in the Northern Zone, hunters have reported 14,458 deer in 2018, compared to 12,687 in 2017, and 10,894 in 2016.

Change in bear harvest varies by region this year. Hunters have reported taking 670 bears in the Southern Zone, compared to 884 at this point last year and 863 in 2016. In contrast, harvest reports increased in the Northern Zone, with 396 bears reported in 2018, compared to 302 bears at this point in 2017 and 464 bears in 2016.

Most of the state’s big game hunting seasons have ended. For hunters seeking additional deer harvest opportunities, the bowhunting season continues in Westchester County until December 31. Also, the special firearms season in Suffolk County runs January 6-31, 2019, and the Deer Management Focus Area in central Tompkins County runs January 12 to January 31, 2019.

Deer hunting indirectly contributes $1.5 billion to New York’s economy on an annual basis, according to a 2012 report by Southwick Associates prepared for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. In the 2016-17 license year, hunters spent $22 million on deer hunting licenses alone.

DEC reminds hunters to Take It · Tag It · Report It, as required by state law. 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. 

For more information on these and other important hunting safety tips, please visit DEC’s website.

DEC Summer Camp Registration begins Jan. 23

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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today that online registration for DEC’s 2019 Summer Camps program will open Wednesday, January 23, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. Applications should be submitted through the online registration program available through the Summer Camps website. Parents and guardians are encouraged to register early since some of the weeks fill up quickly.

Now in its 72nd year, the 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).

Introduced in 2017, camps Colby and DeBruce are offering two weeks of programing for children aged 14-17, and five weeks of programming 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 website.

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 for it 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 once again offer “Outdoor Adventure Week 2.0” during Week 5 (July 21-26). DEC encourages teens aged 14 to 17 who love being outdoors to sign up for this popular program that will help deepen their enjoyment and widen their horizons while exploring environmental careers at Camp Pack Forest. During this week, campers will develop hands-on outdoor skills that go above and beyond the traditional camp week. Alongside canoeing, fishing, and games, campers will engage in forestry, citizen science, conservation science, and more. Guest DEC, higher education, and natural resource professionals will provide opportunities for campers to consider career paths.

All four camps will operate for seven one-week sessions (Sunday to Friday) beginning June 30, 2019; Pack Forest operates for eight weeks. Drop-off time is 3:00 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 the 2019 year, and includes meals, trips, and a camp t-shirt.

In addition to inviting parents to register their 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 (6) 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 on DEC’s website.  

For more information, visit DEC’s 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.

Safety First When Ice Fishing

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        The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today encouraged anglers to put safety first when ice fishing. Four inches of solid ice is usually safe for anglers accessing ice on foot. However, ice thickness can vary on waterbodies and even within the same waterbody. Anglers should be particularly wary of areas of moving water and around boat docks and houses where bubblers may be installed to reduce ice buildup. The presence of snowmobile tracks or footprints on the ice should not be taken as evidence of safe ice conditions. DEC strongly encourages individuals to check ice conditions and avoid situations that appear to present even a remote risk. Testing the thickness of ice can easily be done with an auger or ice spud at various spots.

        Ice fishing continues to increase in popularity in New York State. Unlike the open water season, when an angler usually needs a boat to access good fishing locations, no boat is required to access these locations once a water is covered with safe ice. It’s also a great sport for families, as they can mix in skating, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, or other activities during an ice fishing trip.

 Beginning ice anglers are encouraged to download the Ice Fishing Chapter (PDF, 3.7MB) of DEC’s new I FISH NY Beginners’ Guide to Freshwater Fishing for information on how to get started ice fishing. Additional information, including a list of waters open to ice fishing, can found on the DEC ice fishing web page and the Public Lakes and Ponds map.

           The use of fish for bait is popular when ice fishing and bait fish may be used in most, but not all waters, open to ice fishing. Visit the DEC website for a list of special regulations by county to find out where bait fish can and cannot be used, and for other regulations that apply to baitfish on DEC’s website.

            Anglers are reminded to take these important steps when using baitfish while ice fishing: Continue reading →

NYS Outdoor Hall of Fame accepting nominations for 2019 inductees

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Nominations are now being accepted for individuals to be considered for induction into the New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame in.  The deadline for submission is February 1, 2019

To be considered for induction, the individual must have made significant contribution to conservation or preserving the heritage of outdoor sports. The person or group that feels this contribution is significant must complete the nomination form and submit it along with the supporting documentation of the contributions.

Induction into the York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame is one of the highest honors an individual can earn.  It shows that an individual has given back more than they have taken and that they have made a significant difference to conservation or preserving the heritage of outdoor sports. Those selected for induction will be honored at the annual banquet in April and have their plaque on display at the Museum in Vails Mills.

The nomination form can be found at the NYSOHOF website http://nysohof.org/nominate/ Continue reading →

Support the Venison Donation Coalition!

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www.venisondonation.org

With hunting season fast approaching, the Venison Donation Coalition wants to remind hunters of how easy it is to give back. Since its inception in 1999, the Venison Donation Coalition has coordinated the processing and distribution of over 1 million pounds of venison to Food Banks across New York State. . Coordinator Greg Fuerst explains “The Venison Donation program has grown from one county the first year to cover the entire state and has provided more than 4 million servings of venison to hungry New Yorkers through food pantries, soup kitchens, and other food programs. We are grateful for our partnerships with the New York Farm Bureau, the Food Bank Association of NYS, NYSDEC, and processors across the state. But we couldn’t do it without the support of the sportsmen and women who donate their field dressed deer.”

Natasha Thompson, Chair of the Food Bank Association of NYS states, “The Venison Donation Coalition has been a tremendous partner in our efforts to build and sustain hunger free communities across the state. Venison is a local, organic, and sustainable source of healthy protein that our recipients enjoy.” The Venison Donation Coalition relies heavily on state grants and individual donations through the D.E.C.A.L.S. program at any license issuing agent. If every person who purchases a hunting license would donate $1 per year to the Venison Donation Coalition, it would insure the continuance of the program. As you are aware, grants can be cut or eliminated any time.

In addition to the D.E.C.A.L.S. program, donations can be made through the Venison Donation Coalition’s website at www.venisondonation.org or sent by mail to their office at Venison Donation Coalition, Inc., 3 Pulteney Square, Bath, NY 14810.

The Venison Donation Coalition, Inc. is a non-profit organization that coordinates and funds the efforts of venison processing to feed the hungry throughout New York State. For more information, please call 1-866-862-3337.

Adirondack Conservation Council new officers

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The ACC (Adirondack Conservation Council) announces that Steve LaMere has become the new president replacing, Bill Crain.

LaMere is the founder and President of Adirondack Ecologists, a lake management consultancy in operation since 1988.  He is a Board-certified Environmental Scientist in Surface Water Resources and the first Certified Lake Manager in New York State.  Steve also spent 25 years as the Director for the Essex County Fish Hatchery in Crown Point where he was honored in 2014 as the Professional Conservationist of the Year by the NYS Conservation Council for his innovative efforts in developing and managing the Trophy Trout program.

Steve’s roots are in the Adirondacks, having grown up in Tupper Lake where he developed a deep love for the area at the knee of his Grand Mother Nellie Staves, herself a legend in Adirondack conservation efforts and the only female president of the ACC.

The ACC is comprised of clubs, individuals and families Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Saratoga, Schenectady, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Washington counties.

Our members are volunteers that are concerned for our environment, the preservation and wise use of our natural resources, the protection of clean waters with viable fisheries, preserving wildlife habitat, increased access to and recreational use of our forest preserve, the protection of sportsmen’s rights, and the betterment of the local economy.

We work closely with the NYS DEC, support hunter safety, trapping, and archery training classes, encourage and support youth outdoor activities like fishing derbies and environmental education camps, attend and participate in meetings, and track legislation that impacts our activities.

LaMere’s initial goals are to increase the ACC’s presence via social media, increase membership and focus on the development of youth programs.

In addition to LaMere’s selection, Ed Skorupski, NYSOWA and BKWA (Batten Kill Watershed Alliance) was elected Secretary. Jim Monroe and Kevin Hart continue to serve as VP and Treasurer respectively.

 

New York’s CWD Plan

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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos and New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner (Ag & Markets) Richard Ball announced that the state has finalized the New York State Interagency Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Risk Minimization Plan. The plan proposes regulatory changes and new actions to minimize the risk of CWD entering or spreading in New York State.

The plan is designed to protect both wild white-tailed deer and moose herds in New York, as well as captive cervids including deer and elk held at enclosed facilities.

The plan alls for increased public participation in the state’s efforts, and DEC and Ag & Markets are urging hunters and citizens to:

  • Report sick or abnormally behaving deer;
  • Do not feed wild deer;
  • Dispose of carcasses properly at approved landfills;
  • Report violators;
  • Use alternatives to urine-based lures or use synthetic forms of deer urine.

 

The final plan is available on the DEC website (http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7191.html).

Continue reading →