Bearly Speaking: Just when it was beginning to feel like fall, it’s warming up again. And, just in time for the Adirondack region black bear opener on Sept. 14. The nights are cool however, but still any shots will have to be followed-up on quickly. If you go, let us know how things look in the woods and be sure to send us a photo.

Grouse season in the Northern Zone opens Sept. 20, as always. This used to be a holiday of sorts but we just don’t have the grouse we used to. If you do, you are lucky. Of course, the Sept. 27 archery opener is approaching and so is National Hunting and Fishing Day, on Sept. 28. There are some NHFD events and youth small game/waterfowl hunts taking place in the North Country (see below) Hopefully you can participate, or help someone else do so as well.  

Printed Licenses: Sporting licenses go on sale officially Aug. 5, and with it comes another change. DEC is no longer printing hunting licenses on the waterproof, tear-poof paper. Hunters will now have to print their own licenses and tags. While you can carry electronic proof via the HuntFishNY app, you still need to have a physical, printed copy of your deer, bear and turkey tags and apply them (and protect them) as you normally would in the field and during transport. You can either print them at home or have a license issuing agent do it for you. Those of us with lifetime licenses will be receiving them in the mail this year, but will be asked to accept them via email in 2025. 

For now, here are some resources:

• Hunting Regs Guide PDF (Details of the change are on Page 4)

• New Sporting License FAQ

• YouTube video explaining the change

Also, DEC announced a regulatory proposal that would enable License Issuing Agents and Officers (LIAs) to charge a nominal printing fee to recover costs associated with printing and mailing paper sporting licenses and other items sold through DEC’s Automated Licensing System (DECALS). The proposal does not include any additional fees if the license buyer prints a license themselves. Public comment on this is welcome through Aug. 12. Click here to read the Press Release. 

–Dan’l