Last Shot Pt. 2:  It’s been a frustrating week for smokepole hunters, after day’s of rain we’re now greeted with cold temperatures and very crusty, noisy conditions. Perfect for drive hunting, though, especially if you can get some hunters together. Finding deer is the key. We’re seeing lots of tracks following the mid-week storms, just not the deer that made them. We’ve got a feeling if we find one, we’ll find a bunch. We’ll get caught up on some photos after the weekend. Good luck, stay warm!

-Dan’l 

Adirondack Backcountry Conditions (from DEC)

High Peaks

• Weekly Lake Colden Snow Report: As of Thursday, 12/12, snow depths were recorded to be 46cm (18in) at the stake.

• Boreas Pond Tract: Gulf Brook Road, access to Boreas Ponds, is closed and gated for the season.

• High Peaks Wilderness: Meadows Lane (access to South Meadows) has been closed for the winter. Please plan accordingly for access to the South Meadow, Klondike, and other trails. If parking in the lot at the junction with Meadows Lane and Adirondack Loj Rd, please DO NOT block the gap between the barriers.

Northern

• Santa Clara Conservation Easement Tract: All public access roads on this easement are closed. The roads will reopen after they have dried out in the spring.

• Saranac Lakes Wild Forest: The seasonal use roads are closed. The roads will reopen after they have dried out in the spring. The roads closed are Connery Pond Road, Little Clear/Little Green Road, and Saint Germain Pond Road. Users can use the parking lot at the end of Station Road to access the Adirondack Rail Trail.

• Saint Regis Canoe Area: The gate to access Saint Germain Pond is closed for the winter season.

Northeastern

• Wilmington Wild Forest: The Cooper Kiln Pond lean-to has been dismantled in preparation for new lean-to construction. This page will be updated when a new lean-to is in place there.

Western

• William C. Whitney Wilderness & Round Lake Wilderness: Lake Lila Road is closed. It will reopen after the road has dried out in the spring.

West Central

• Blue Mountain Wild Forest: Township 19 Conservation Easement – O’Neil Flow Road is closed for the winter season.

• Blue Ridge Wilderness and Wakely Mountain Primitive Area: Cedar River Road is closed for the winter season. There is no motor vehicle access to Cedar River Flow/ Wakely Dam area. This includes the Wakely Mountain Fire Tower trail.

• Moose River Plains Complex: The Moose River Plains entrance gates are open for snowmobile season. Passenger vehicle access is restricted.

• West Canada Lakes Wilderness: Perkins Clearance Road, Old Military Road, and Jessup River Road are closed for the winter.Mason Lake, Pillsbury Lake Trailhead, and Spruce Lake Trailhead are no longer accessible via motor vehicle.

East Central

• Jessup River Wild Forest: Perkins Clearance Road, Old Military Road, and Jessup River Road are closed for the winter. Mason Lake, Pillsbury Lake Trailhead, and Spruce Lake Trailhead are no longer accessible via motor vehicle.

• Perkins Clearing/Speculator Tree Farm Conservation Easement Tracts:Perkins Clearance Road, Mud Lake Road, Old Military Road, Jessup River Road, and all roads within Speculator Tree Farm including Elm Lake Road are now closed for the winter. Mason Lake, Pillsbury Lake Trailhead, and Spruce Lake Trailhead are no longer accessible via motor vehicle.

Southern

• Ferris Lake Wild Forest: Powley Road which provides access to Ferris Lake Wild Forest is closed for the season.

• Lake Desolation Conservation Easement: The road to Archer Vly is closed to motor vehicles for the snowmobile season. Please park across the road entrance.

• Silver Lake Wilderness: West River Road, which provides access to the Whitehouse Trailhead of the Northville Placid Trail, is closed for the season.

 

Check out the latest NY Outdoor News Great Northeast Podcast, Ep. 58 with Peter Fiduccia, the Deer Doctor, talking about calling Whitetails. Episode 59 is coming soon with legendary ADK Buck Tracker Jim Massett, stay tuned. 

Dan was a recent guest on the Adirondack Hunt Podcast, presented by Big Woods Bucks. Give it a listen/view here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81pFkXTrMHk 

Send photos to: [email protected] (please include name, hometown, size of deer and county of kill). 

–Dan’l 

More reports…

Last Shot Pt. 1: Seven weekends sure goes by quick, but here we are at the end of another rifle season. As it should be, there’s some snow on the ground; perhaps a little too much to the north and especially the west. Deer may be actually migrating to their winter yarding areas in some places. Fortunately, the forecast has warmed up a bit from what was previously predicted, so a good hunting weekend could be on tap. Also, reports continue to come in of bucks on the move, often traveling along which would contribute to the theory that they’re still looking to breed. Staying in areas with some does around should continue to be a good strategy, especially seeing an eye on classic buck travel routes. It’s always nice to get one late, and for some another week of black powder hunting looms, a favorite of this writer. -Dan’l 

(11/28) A Wet Thanksgiving: Greetings hunters, and a happy belated Thanksgiving. It sure was a damp one but for those who like the snow, it had to be productive if you were hunting in it, or at least for trackers. Speaking of snow, there’s plenty more of the lake-effect stuff on the way for the western and interior Adirondacks. It could be too much of a good thing, and with the cold weather that’s coming next week it could trigger deer to migrate to winter feeding areas. Yes, just like that, things change. That said, late season hunting can be intense for those who keep at it, and it seems like there were some bucks still on the move. Enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend.

(11/21) Turning the corner: It’s hard to believe we’re nearly a month into the Northern Zone rifle season, but that’s the case and for some in the Adirondacks it’s really starting to feel like deer season. Thanks to the much-needed rain/snowstorm ahead of the weekend, a good portion of the region has some snow. Some areas have more than others. Good news for hunters heading into the weekend. To track snow depths, click here: https://www.weather.gov/nerfc/snow_depth_im

Reports and this hunter’s observations indicate the past 7 to 10 days seem to have plenty of doe sightings by hunters, including isolated fawns. Yet trail cams indicate bucks were on the move. It’s a good bet that some serious breeding is going on right now, so hunt the doe groups and you’ll likely find bucks, especially if you know of some doe bedding areas. 

Next week is the famous Thanksgiving hunt. We’ll try to chime in before then. Good luck this weekend!

(11/14) Southbound: Things have cooled down a bit, but it’s only temporary as a weekend warm-up appears to be looming. The Iron Sight Gang score another good Adirondack buck over the weekend (see photos) and we’re hearing of a few real beauties being taken around the region, which is good. There was also an up-tick in buck sign – both rubs and scrapes – from the previous weekend. Nearly every buck we’re hearing about being taken is with a doe group, but hunters are also reporting seeing lots of does with no bucks around. 

This weekend, the Southern Zone opens, which usually means a some pressure is taken off in the Adirondacks. Being the fourth of seven weekends, it also the peak part of the season. Things will go by fast after we turn the corner this weekend, so get out there if you can. Mid-November comes but once a year. 

(11/7) Still Warm, but…: Greetings Hunters, mid-November and what many consider peak hunting is approaching fast, yet it’s only the third weekend of the season that is coming up, which is simply because that’s the way the calendar falls this year. So, there’s plenty of hunting ahead.

Some photos (below), and reports, are coming in as hunters in the past 7-to-10 days have been seeing quite a few bucks on their feet. Buck sign, like rubs and scrapes, is sporadic: hot in one area, cool in another. Basically, the idea now is to pay attention to doe groups because that’s where the boys will be. Doe feeding and bedding areas should garner your attention and if you haven’t found them, keep looking. Although it’s cooling off, it’s still quite warm for this time of year with slightly above average temps continuing.  Good luck! 

(10/31) A Good (but warm) Start: Sometimes things just go your way, which is what happened to this hunter on opening day of the Northern Zone rifle season, in Warren County. While making a drive, I happened upon a fine 8-point buck. Two uphill shots later, my tag was filled just three hours into the season. The best thing about this buck is that it was taken with my dad’s old Winchester M94 .44-magnum, a gun I’ve been trying to get a good Adirondack buck with for a few years. Mission accomplished.

Opening week was a warm one, but that is about to change, at least briefly. Saturday through Monday all look to be good hunting days with falling temps and a rising barometer. This is always a good time of year to kill a buck. Many hunters are reporting seeing bucks following, and in some cases even chasing, does. Seems a bit early, but if it’s happening the best thing to do is join the party if you can. 

(10/25) Northern Zone Opener: Another year, and another warm week of early muzzleloading greeted many of us in the Adirondacks, and man is it dry, and it looks like it’s going to stay that way for a while. Still, cool-down is in the forecast and anytime the temperature changes (or the barometric pressure, especially on the high side), that’s a good time to be in the woods. For buck hunters, those days appear right now to be Sunday and Monday. I didn’t hunt much during this week, and NY Outdoor News kept me busy, but the weekend, albeit warm, did produce a small buck for the Iron Sight Gang. We also found a fair amount of buck sign in the form of  a few rubs and in places, several scrapes. So, bucks are getting antsy. Acorns were plentiful in the area, but not from every tree. Still, that was good news too. Now if we can only get a cool-down. Best of luck to all this weekend,.

 

(10/17) Early Smokepole: Here comes the Northern Zone muzzleloading season, starting Saturday, Oct. 19 and the weekend and early part of the week ahead are looking quite warm. The mornings, however, have been seasonal as some hunters have been out with their crossbows (the season opened Oct. 16) and experiencing frosts. This hunter has been out each morning, passing on the warm afternoons and did find one good rub, but no scrapes yet. There’s some acorns too, although my findings have been hit-and-miss, but at least there are some. A number of hunters are finding them in bunches. 

So, good luck this weekend and if you don’t have any luck, be ready for the cold front coming later in the week. That should get some deer moving. 

(9/26) It’s Deer Season: Friday’s archery opener found this hunter in a tree stand, but not for long. Once the sun topped over the trees and hit the small clearing I was perched in, I was soon within the company of mosquitos. I’ve never been a warm-weather hunter and that’s the weather pattern we’ll be dealing with at least through the middle of this first week. Tuesday, Oct. 1 marks the Southern Zone opener as well the Northern Zone fall turkey season. It’s also the start of several small game seasons, including pheasant and other small game. Waterfowl seasons are coming soon. You can keep track of the seasons here. 

Meanwhile, we’re curious of any sign your finding, especially food sources like acorns and beechnuts. There area some nuts out there, but it seems like the supply varies by elevation. Good luck in the bow stand!