The latest from ADKHunter…

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Ides of March:  The Spring Equinox of March 20 is nearly upon us, and mid-March remains significant in the sporting world. Seasons for cottontail rabbit and snowshoe (varying) hare wrap up on March 17, (Erin go Braugh),  leaving only coyote season left for the hunter. In the fishing world, ice shanties must be off the ice by Friday, March 15, which is also the day that fishing seasons for walleye, northern pike, pickerel and muskellunge species close until May 4. 

For whitetails, this remains a crucial time of year. The deer that are yarded-up for the winter (not the ones at your backyard bird feeder) are hurting throughout much of the Adirondack region. An early spring would certainly be beneficial, especially for fawns and even bucks who entered the winter worn down from the rut. The question is if it will happen? Each of the past two winters we have gotten cumulative snowstorms and/or cold weather that basically prolonged winter well into April. For the sake of the deer herd, lets hope that’s not the case this year.

-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 2018 hunting season reports… Continue reading →

Archery In Schools on the rise in NY

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More than 600 students from 32 schools across New York competed in the 11th annual National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) tournament at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse on Friday, March 15. The program encourages youth to participate in outdoor activities and specifically the sport of archery, with the New York’s competition winners moving on to a national tournament this spring.

The event hosted 47 teams of students in one of three divisions: High School, grades 9-12; Middle School, grades 6-8; and Elementary School, grades 4-5. Awards are given out in each of the three divisions for first through 10th places. Individuals who place in the Top 10 in their division, and teams that place first in each of the three divisions, qualify to compete and represent New York State at the NASP tournament held in Louisville, Kentucky, in May.

More than four million students at 8,500 schools in 47 states and five countries have participated in NASP. Since New York implemented the Archery in Schools program in 2008, more than 400 schools and 40,000 students have participated. Last year’s state competition drew 485 students from 25 school districts across New York, and a brief video of last year’s tournament can be viewed on DEC’s YouTube page.

The NASP initiative is a great way to introduce young people to archery and serves as a potential conduit to becoming interested in hunting and the outdoors. Educators report that NASP inspires students of all athletic abilities to greater academic achievement. DEC has facilitated the statewide program since its inception, helping schools to start and run their programs, training instructors and staff on teaching methods, and facilitating the collection of equipment for start-up programs.

For more information on how schools can become involved, visit DEC’s website. 

Here’s a list of the results: https://nasptournaments.org/TournamentDetail.aspx?tid=4364

A list of participating schools by county:

Warren:  JOHNSBURG CENTRAL SCHOOL

Fulton:  MAYFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Essex:  SCHROON LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL

Franklin:  TUPPER LAKE MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL

Lewis:  GLENFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Lewis:  HARRISVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL

Lewis:  PORT LEYDEN ELEMENTARY

Lewis:  SOUTH LEWIS CENTRAL SCHOOL

Herkimer:  LITTLE FALLS CITY SCHOOL

Herkimer:  MOHAWK VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Continue reading →

New York Hunters Took 1,295 Black Bears During 2018 Hunting Seasons

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     New York State bear hunters took 1,295 black bears during the 2018 hunting seasons, state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced.  A complete summary of the 2018 bear harvest with results and maps by county, town, and WMU is available on DEC’s website.

     In total, hunters took an estimated 491 bears in the Northern Zone, about 25 percent more than 2017 and within the historical average range. Northern Zone hunters took about 45 percent fewer bears during the Northern Zone regular season in 2018 than in 2017. Bear take during the early season was particularly strong, however, with a nearly three-fold increase over 2017 and a 50-percent increase over the five-year average. 

       Hunters took an estimated 804 black bears in New York’s Southern Zone in 2018, approximately 20 percent fewer than 2017 and the recent five-year average. With reduced natural forage for bears this past fall and deep snows in mid-November prior to the regular firearms season, many bears went into dens a few weeks earlier than normal. As a result, although bear take through the early season and bow season was comparable to 2017, take during the regular season declined by more than 40 percent from 2017.

           Comparably, 

 
2018 Total
2017 Total
Recent
5-year Average (2013-2017)
Northern Zone
491
383
476
Southern Zone
804
1,037
1,056
Statewide
1,295
1,420
1,532

Notable Numbers

  • One bear harvested per 3.2 square miles. By DEC Wildlife Management Unit (WMU), the greatest bear harvest density occurred in WMU 3C which mainly covers Ulster County and includes portions of Sullivan and Greene counties. The town of Kingston in Ulster County (WMU 3C) yielded one bear for every 1.5 square miles;
  • 80: the greatest number of bears reported taken on any one day. It happened on November 17 – the opening day of the regular firearms season in the Southern Zone;
  • 585 pounds: the heaviest dressed weight bear reported to DEC in 2018, taken in the town of Shandaken, Ulster County. A 550-pound dressed weight bear was reported taken in Marbletown, Ulster County, and six bears were reported with dressed weights between 400-500 pounds. Scaled weights of dressed bears were submitted for 23 percent of bears taken in 2018.
  • Six: the number of tagged bears reported in the 2018 harvest. These included one bear originally tagged in Pennsylvania and two from New Jersey. The remainder were originally tagged in New York for a variety of reasons, including research, nuisance response, relocated urban bears, or released rehabilitated bears.
  • 767: the number of hunter-killed bears from which DEC collected teeth for age analysis in 2018. Hunters who reported their harvest and submitted a tooth for age analysis will receive a 2018 Black Bear Management Cooperator Patch. Results of the age analysis is expected to be available by September 2019.
  • Nine percent: the proportion of bears taken by non-resident hunters. Successful non-resident bear hunters hailed from 19 states, the farthest being Washington.

             DEC’s harvest estimates rely on successful hunters reporting their harvest. For more information on game harvest reporting, visit DEC’s website.

           

Crown Point State Historic Site UMP coming up

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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) today announced the agencies will prepare a unit management plan (UMP) for both the Crown Point State Historic Site and the Crown Point Campground and Day Use Area. The UMP will address the future management of both properties, which encompass 440-acres along the shores of Lake Champlain in the Town of Crown Point, Essex County. 

A public meeting to start the planning process will be held on Thursday, March 28, at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of the Crown Point State Historic Site Museum, 21 Grandview Drive, Crown Point, NY. The meeting facility is wheelchair accessible. Please provide any requests for specific accommodations to 518-897-1248 at least one week in advance. DEC and State Parks will provide information about the facilities and the planning process. The state agencies are seeking public input on the future management of these public lands. Continue reading →

NYS Burn Ban in effect March 16 – May 14

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Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos reminds residents that with spring approaching conditions for wildfires will become heightened and 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 posts daily a fire danger rating map and forecast during fire season on its website and on the NY Fishing, Hunting & Wildlife App available on DEC’s website. Currently, wildfire conditions in the state are low risk. Continue reading →

Hungry? Check out these sportsmen’s dinners & banquets

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The banquet season is upon us. Please lend your support to these events and the organizations that sponsor them. 
More details can be found on our EVENTS page

March 16 – Venison Dinner for Wildlife Sports Museum, Johnstown, NY

March 16 – NWTF – Saratoga Strutters – Greenwhich, NY

March 23 –  NWTF – Lake Champlain Turkey Talkers – Altona, NY

March 23 – Adirondack Sportsman’s Dinner, Schroon Lake, NY

March 25 –  NWTF – Borderline Longbeards – Masena, NY

March 29 – Ducks Unlimited – Southern Adirondack Chapter Banquet, Queensbury, NY

March 30 – Hunter’s Breakfast – Big Bucks on Small Tracts w/Scott Bestul – Stephentown, NY

March 30 – Ruffed Grouse Society – Mohawk Valley Chapter inaugaral banquet, Scotia, NY

April 12 –  NWTF – Mohawk River – Herkimer, NYApril 13 –  NWTF – Northern NY – Alex Bay, NY
(NTWF Full Schedule: http://www.nwtf.org/events)

April 13 – NYS 4-H Shooting Sports Banquet, Lake George: http://www.nys4hshootingsports.org

May 10 – Patrick Henry Chapter Friends of the NRA Banquet – Lake George, NY

 

Frontier Town Campground ready to book reservations

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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that reservations for the new Frontier Town Campground, Equestrian and Day Use Area in the Adirondacks are now open. Reservations can be made for this coming summer season – June 28 through Columbus Day weekend – and interested campers are encouraged to book campsites early since demand is expected to be high for the State’s newest campground.  

The Department of Environmental Conservation-managed campground at the site of the former Frontier Town theme park was designed in collaboration with the Office of General Services and C.T. Male Associates. It includes 91 campsites to accommodate a range of camping and visitor experiences, including: 

  • An equestrian camping area with 33 sites modeled after the camping areas at DEC’s Otter Creek Horse Trail facility. The area includes electrical hookups and a pavilion; 
  • A recreational vehicle (RV) and trailer camping area with space for 13 sites with electrical hookups, fireplaces, and conveniently located water spigots. The RV area also includes a playground;
  • A tent camping area with a total of 45 tent sites, including three group camping sites; three walk-in camping sites; four sites with electric vehicle charging stations; two shower buildings; a playground; and two pavilions;
  • A seasonal day-use area along the shoreline of the Schroon River will be available to campers and visitors to enjoy a pavilion, two playgrounds, two electric vehicle charging stations, and a comfort station.
  • Within the Frontier Town Campground, Equestrian and Day Use Area, a network of pedestrian trails will take visitors to four viewpoints: two along the Schroon River and two overlooking an oxbow wetland.


The campground, a signature project of Governor Cuomo’s Adventure NY Initiative, was designed to provide accessibility to people of all ages and abilities and includes many Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant features. The facility’s universal design enables everyone, including seniors and families with small children, to access all amenities consistent with the Governor’s 2018 Executive Order to make New York the first age-friendly state in the country. All campsites, showers, and restrooms are accessible. All campsites are fully accessible including accessibly-designed picnic tables and fireplaces. In addition, the campground features two ADA-compliant horse mounting ramps.

To make a reservation and start planning your Adirondack adventure, visit the reservations website. EST. Depending on construction timelines, additional dates may be released at a later time. For additional campground details, visit DEC’s website. 

Duck Hunting Dates for 2019 Announced

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           The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the results of a two-year scientific study to determine optimal duck hunting seasons for the coming years. DEC selected the duck season dates by implementing a process that maximizes duck hunter inclusion, is rooted in scientific data, and balances factors in duck abundance and specific zones of the state. Bag limits will be announced in April. 

           These waterfowl hunting seasons are the results of a two-year collaboration between DEC’s Bureau of Wildlife and Cornell University. DEC asked a group of waterfowl hunters, known as the Waterfowl Task Force, to identify options for optimal duck season dates in each waterfowl zone. DEC and Cornell University’s Center for Conservation Social Sciences then surveyed approximately one-third of the duck hunters in New York State (roughly 6,000 hunters). Finally, biologists incorporated the most recent zone-specific duck abundance and migration data. 

           In all waterfowl zones, hunters felt the most important consideration was the opportunity to pursue mallards and black ducks, followed closely by the opportunity to pursue any duck or a diversity of species. Duck hunters like to see a variety of duck species when they hunt. DEC paired this information with new, zone-specific data on duck abundance and migration. Through this process, DEC identified season dates that best fit the values of duck hunters in each zone.

           Barring changes to season length, duck seasons in New York will be open for the following dates in 2019-2020:

  • Northeastern Zone – Beginning on the first Saturday in October, running for 23 days, ending on a Sunday, and a second split beginning the first Saturday following the closure of the 1st split, running 37 days, and ending on a Sunday (e.g., Oct. 5, 2019 – Oct. 27, 2019 and Nov. 2, 2019 – Dec. 8, 2019). Northeastern Zone Structured Decision-Making Analysis and Results

Continue reading →

Examinations coming up for wildlife rehabilitator, leashed dog tracking

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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that examinations are scheduled for Friday, April 12, 2019, for individuals seeking a license to practice the sport of falconry, become a volunteer wildlife rehabilitator, or use leashed tracking dogs to find wounded or injured big game animals.

The exams will run from 10 a.m. to noon at most DEC Regional Offices across the state. A list of DEC Regional Offices can be found on DEC’s website. The deadline for registering to take any of these free exams is Friday, March 22, 2019.  Exam registration forms can be found on DEC’s website.

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 helping hunters locate wounded big game that otherwise may go unrecovered. A leashed tracking dog study guide is available at no cost from DEC’s website. 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.

Continue reading →

DEC’s Winter Moose Surveys

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PHOTO: NYSDEC

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the completion of an aerial Adirondack moose survey that takes place each year as part of a collaborative study of the health of New York’s moose population.  A total of 83 groups of one or more moose were observed during the survey’s 175 sightings, with all appearing healthy.

After an absence of 120 years, moose recolonized New York in the 1980s. Since that time, biologists have been routinely monitoring moose in the state, informing the public about moose, and responding to situations where moose come into conflict with people. 

DEC wildlife staff conducted the helicopter flights in January over seven days and approximately 42 hours of flight time. The survey divides the Adirondack park into grids and records every moose or group of moose seen. The survey crew then flies over to the sighting location, takes a GPS point, determines the number of animals, the age and sex of each animal, and notes general habitat characteristics for each moose sighted.  Continue reading →