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Try Tioughnioga WMA for Deer Hunting
Madison County
Tioughnioga Wildlife Management Area (WMA) offers more than 3,700 wooded acres for big-game deer hunting. The rolling Appalachian Highland topography at Tioughnioga WMA provides many hills where hunters can watch for browsing white-tails.
Southern Zone crossbow deer season begins November 4 and regular firearms deer season begins November 18. See DEC’s Tioughnioga WMA page for more information about the location. Consult our Deer and Bear Hunting pages for a wealth of important information about big-game hunting in New York State. As always, enjoy a safe and successful time afield.
Hike of the Month: Otter Creek Trails
Lewis County
The Otter Creek Trails in the Otter Creek Forest offer 65 miles of trails along sandy roads and forest paths, past lakes and streams. While the primary activity here is horseback riding, hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling are allowed on the property. Make sure to yield to horseback riders.
The trails wind their way along spirea flats and wooded areas, accessing picturesque Adirondack ponds and following or crossing Otter, Little Otter, Beaver Meadow, Chase, Burnt and Crooked creeks and the Independence River.
The entire area is populated with wildlife, and since the trail passes through a variety of habitats you may see deer, bear, coyote, fox, grouse, wild turkey, snowshoe hare and a wide variety of bird life.
Watchable Wildlife: Paul Smiths Visitors Interpretive Center
The Paul Smith’s College Visitors Interpretive Center has 25 miles of trails, including 6 miles of interpretive trails, that showcase the natural beauty of the Adirondack Mountains and provide unparalleled opportunities to view, hear, photograph, and enjoy nature. The trails weave through woodland and marshland, by ponds, brooks, and bogs.
Paul Smiths VIC is one of the few places in the state to observe boreal (extreme northern) songbirds, including the boreal chickadee, black-backed woodpecker and the gray jay. You may also see beavers, red foxes, white-tailed deer or an occasional moose. The trail system provides opportunities for birdwatching, backcountry hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
Spicer Creek WMA – Great for Waterfowl Hunting, Trapping and Fishing
Located on the eastern shore of Grand Island, the 34-acre Spicer Creek WMA is renowned for its waterfowl hunting, as well as other recreational activities. Hunters can bag many different kinds of waterfowl here, including ducks, mergansers, snow geese and Canada geese. Trappers can harvest beaver, mink, muskrat and raccoon beginning on November 25. Anglers can fish the Niagara River for trout and salmon.
There are several accessible amenities, including a hunting blind/observation deck, fishing platform and trail to the river. The hunting blinds are included in the waterfowl lottery and permit program coordinated by Beaver Island State Park (leaves DEC website). A free permit is required to hunt at these blinds. The lottery drawings for blinds are held at the state park every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during waterfowl hunting season. For more information, call the state park office at 716-773-3271.
Nature Notes
At 1.2 billion acres, the North American Boreal is the largest intact forest left on Earth. A boreal forest contains mostly conifers like pine and spruce.
Upcoming DEC Events
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What Galls You, 11/04 at 2:00 PM, Five Rivers EEC
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Woods Walk: Nature Guide’s Choice, 11/18 at 11:00 AM, Reinstein Woods EEC
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Watchable Wildlife: Wild Turkeys, 11/25 at 10:00 AM, Five Rivers EEC
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Family Nature Quest: Turkeys, 11/25 at 2:30 PM, Reinstein Woods EEC
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Hunting Seasons – Big Game Southern Zone:
- Crossbow – November 4
- Regular – November 18
Conservationist Magazine
Can you tell what this is? To find out, check out page 22 of the October Conservationist magazine. In this issue, learn about New York’s nine species of woodpeckers, and celebrate the 70th anniversary of DEC youth camps. Also marvel at the colors of autumn as seen through the lens of photographer Wayne Jones, and read about deer hunting on Long Island and the challenges of managing the area’s escalating deer population. In addition, find out about the benefits of using non-lead ammo for hunting, and discover the rewards of being a hunter education instructor.
There's all this and much more in the October Conservationist. Don't miss it! Subscribe online or call 1-800-678-6399.
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