|
Deer Season Excitement Begins
Thousands of hunters eagerly anticipate the opening of whitetail deer season each year. New York State offers some of the finest deer hunting in the Northeast. Our wide variety of field and woodland habitats yields a bountiful harvest of whitetails annually.
If you're new to deer hunting, visit our Hunting webpage for license and hunter education information. You'll also find links to pages with deer hunting zone maps and where you can use various types of firearms. Have a safe, successful and enjoyable time afield!
Want Older Bucks in NY? It's Your Choice!
Every year, tens of thousands of New York hunters enjoy the opportunity to bring home a handsome 2.5-year old or older buck, while approximately half of the antlered bucks taken in the state annually are 1.5-years old (yearlings). New York hunters can increase the likelihood of harvesting a 2.5-year old or older buck by simply choosing to pass up shots at young bucks.
Shore Fishing for Oneida Lake Walleyes
Fall can be a great time of year for shore anglers to target walleye on Oneida Lake. As the water begins to cool, large schools of gizzard shad move into the shallow areas near shore, and walleye follow this abundant food source there. Anglers either stand on shore or don chest waders to go out in the water. The best fishing usually occurs about an hour before and an hour after sunset.
Learn how to fish for walleye.
Watchable Wildlife: Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society Sanctuary
Oneonta, Delaware County
The Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society Sanctuary overlooking Oneonta is the site of the Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch, one of New York State's premier fall hawk watches. It is particularly noted for late-season flights of red-tailed hawks and golden eagles. Franklin Mountain provides a panoramic view of the Susquehanna River valley and the surrounding hills.
Visitors can search for other wildlife from lookouts, interpretive trails and a wetland boardwalk. In addition to bird-watching, hiking is popular on trails that travel through a variety of habitats on the 100-acre property.
If you would like to receive alerts for anticipated good days to view raptor migrations, register for Hawkcast. Alerts are sent about once a week during fall. When the wind blows from the north (especially after rain and a cold front), hawk and eagle sightings are generally successful.
Hike of the Month: Grafton State Park
Rensselaer County
Grafton Lakes State Park, on the forested plateau between the Taconic and Hudson valleys, includes six ponds, 25 miles of trails and nearly 2,500 acres. The Long Pond Trail is mostly level but challenging because of the rocky terrain. The Chet Bell Trail meanders past streams and rock formations through a mixed forest. A little beyond a half-mile, a westward turn puts hikers on the Fire Tower Trail, which leads down a rocky slope to Long Pond Road.
A third, more ambitious hike follows the Spruce Bog Trail. This hike ranges from moderate to challenging because of distance (approximately 6.5 miles), minor elevation changes and rocks and roots along the way. It also has many diverse ecosystems and offers good scenery. Note that Grafton Lakes State Park is consistently cooler than the surrounding area and receives snow earlier in the fall.
Read more in "Home Sweet Home on the Rensselaer Plateau" from the October 2011 Conservationist: http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/1011hikerensselaerplat.pdf
Goose Hunters Intoxicated and Hunting after Hours
ECOs on patrol noticed a vehicle with waterfowl stickers parked off the side of the road. They could hear hunters calling geese in a nearby wetland and saw shotgun shells on the front seat of the vehicle. At 7:28 p.m., past legal hunting hours, a flock of geese flew over the ECOs and toward the hunters. Moments later, the ECOs heard eight shots and saw two geese fall from the sky. When the hunters returned, the officers discovered that both hunters' licenses had expired. In addition, one hunter failed field sobriety tests and was charged with hunting while impaired by alcohol. Both hunters were charged with hunting without a hunting license, shooting during closed hours, and hunting waterfowl with a shotgun capable of holding more than three rounds.
DEC's Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife App
Looking for an outdoor adventure close to home this spring? Download DEC's Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife App. Using the app's advanced GPS features, you will be able to identify and locate New York State's many hunting, fishing and wildlife watching sites.
Upcoming DEC Events
Trapping Seasons
-
Beaver, Northern Zone, November 1st
-
River Otter, Northern Zone, November 1st
-
Beaver, Upstate Eastern, East Central, November 10th
-
River Otter, Upstate Eastern, November 10th
-
Beaver, Western and Central, November 25th
Education Center Events
Conservationist Magazine
We heard from a number of readers who really enjoyed the trail cam article and autumn photos in our October issue. Many shared photos they had taken. People also enjoyed reading about the recently restored Stillwater fire tower, visiting the Seneca Art & Culture Center at Ganondagan, and going in the field with a hunter and his dogs.
There's all this and much more in the Conservationist. Don't miss the next issue! Subscribe online or call 1-800-678-6399.
|
