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Fall Family Fishing Festival
Hempstead, Nassau County
Enjoy a family-oriented fishing festival on October 17 from 10 AM to 4 PM at Hempstead Lake State Park. No fishing license is required for this event, hosted by NYSDEC and NYS Parks.
Festival activities include fly-fishing instruction and casting practice with loaner rods, free bait and fish-cleaning services. Children can cast for pumpkins, then decorate their catch with the supplies provided.
More than 1,000 fish are stocked for this event. The festival also features exhibits from local fishing clubs, face painting and a magic show. Admission is $6 for everyone over the age of 12.
Discover Great Hunting at Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area
Lysander, Onondaga County
Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area (WMA) offers excellent hunting for deer, waterfowl, turkey and pheasant just a short drive north of Syracuse. Several roads lead to parking areas next to Three Rivers' many fields, ponds and marshes. A trail provides access for people of all abilities to a hunting blind on Greene Pond. A launch for small rowboats, canoes or kayaks is also available for hunting waterfowl from the water in the fall. Bow hunters can stalk white-tailed deer until the start of regular firearms season in November. Mentor a young hunter during special youth hunt weekends in October. See Three Rivers WMA and Opportunities for Junior Hunters for more information.
Biking the Central Adirondacks
Nearly 20 miles of roads in the Essex Chain Lakes Complex in the central Adirondacks are now open to bicyclists. Cycling is an activity people of all ages and abilities can enjoy, along with the beauty and fresh air of the Adirondacks. And these new routes will further enhance the Adirondack experience for outdoor enthusiasts. The Essex Chain is a great destination for paddling, hiking, fishing and hunting as well. These lands and waters, protected as forever wild, are globally unique and ecologically rich.
Please note that at the intersection with Chain Lakes Road North, Goodnow Flow Road becomes private soon after the DEC sign that says Essex Chain Lakes and Hudson River Access. Turn left at this sign onto Chain Lakes Road North. In addition, biking is prohibited beyond (the iron) Polaris Bridge into Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest.
Watchable Wildlife: Fort Totten Park
Queens, NYC
A pristine stretch surrounding a preserved Civil War fortress, Fort Totten Park in New York City offers recreation, relaxation and a glimpse into New York's past. It also offers opportunities to view wildlife. Urban park rangers who lead tours of the fortress discuss the resident wildlife, such as killdeer, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, hawks and warblers.
Bird enthusiasts congregate to watch migrating waterfowl rest before their long journey south, while others are particularly drawn to the peregrine falcons here. Peregrines are about the size of crows, with females larger than males, and they can live as long as 20 years. These raptors are capable of reaching speeds of 200 mph as they plunge from tremendous heights in pursuit of prey, primarily other birds.
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