Environmental News and Events for Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Tioga and Tompkins Counties (Region 7)

In this issue:

• Join DEC on Sept. 23 for the Salmon River Fish Hatchery Open House
• Come Visit the Brand-New Bridges of Chateaugay State Forest in Oswego County!
• Forest Rangers in Review
• New Opportunity for Big Game Hunters to Use Rifles in Onondaga County this Hunting Season
• Download the HuntFishNY Mobile App Today!
• Get Hooked on The Fishing Line!
• Fall for the 2023 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge
• Next Step Firearms and Trapping Courses
• Lake Ontario Fishing Boat Survey 2023 Report Now Available
• $3 Million in Grants Available for Invasive Species Projects
• Deadline extended: Environmental Bond Act Survey

Join DEC on Sept. 23 for the Salmon River Fish Hatchery Open House 

DEC will host the 24th annual Salmon River Fish Hatchery Open House on Saturday, September 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Outdoor enthusiasts of all ages, abilities, and interests are encouraged to check out a rare behind-the-scenes opportunity to see how the hatchery operates. The family-friendly event is free and will take place rain or shine.

A few of the day’s opportunities include:

• Guided facility tours from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Learn how to cast a fishing rod – for children
• Experience new and improved views of migrating salmon from the recently redesigned fish observation deck
• View New York fish in the hatchery’s aquaria and learn about rare and threatened fish species in the state
• Visit with conservation organizations, fishing and hunting clubs, and outdoor recreation groups, who will be available with activities and information

The Salmon River Fish Hatchery is located at 2133 County Route 22, Altmar, Oswego County.

For more information, read the full press release available on DEC's website.

Photos: Salmon River Fish Hatchery

Come Visit the Brand-New Bridges of Chateaugay State Forest in Oswego County!

DEC and members of the Student Conservation Association (SCA) Natural Resource Internship Steward Program recently completed three bridge replacements along the forest's nearly five miles of shared hiking and cross-country skiing trails. The new bridges provide safe crossing over Orwell Creek and help to protect water quality.

The project was a coordinated effort between DEC's Region 7 Operations and Lands and Forests staff and the SCA. SCA stewards work directly with DEC staff in numerous locations around the state to help conserve our natural resources.

Access a GeoPDF map and more information about Chateaugay State Forest. Also, learn more about the SCA.

Photos: DEC and members of the Student Conservation Association at Chateaugay State Forest working on bridge replacements

Forest Rangers in Review

City of Syracuse
Onondaga County
Public Outreach: Forest Rangers were part of the festivities at the 13-day, Great New York State Fair. At the Fair, Rangers discussed their role helping the public through search and rescues, fire prevention, and law enforcement. More information on the State Fair is available at their website.

Forest Rangers Chappell and Lunt with DEC Commissioner Seggos

Forest Ranger vehicles at the State Fair

For additional Environmental Conservation Police on Patrol and Forest Rangers in Review stories, visit the press release page on DEC's website.

New Opportunity for Big Game Hunters to Use Rifles in Onondaga County this Hunting Season

At the end of July, Governor Hochul signed a bill into law allowing big game hunters to use rifles in Onondaga County. The change will take effect this coming hunting season and DEC is working to make hunters aware. DEC’s Rifle, Shotgun, and Bow Areas webpage and online Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide (PDF) (see page 24) have been updated to reflect this change. Use of rifles for big game hunting remains restricted in Erie, Niagara, Monroe, Dutchess, Putnam, and Rockland Counties. Suffolk, Westchester, and portions of Albany and Monroe Counties remain bow only.

DEC’s deer population objective for Wildlife Management Unit 7J (the unit that covers the southern portion of Onondaga County) is to decrease the deer population to be in better balance with available habitat and public preference for deer population size. Several communities in Onondaga County also have active deer management programs meant to reduce deer impacts. Rifles are more efficient than other hunting implements for achieving these objectives.

No increases in hunting related safety incidents have been documented by DEC as county-level restrictions on use of rifles for big game hunting have been lifted. The 2021 and 2022 hunting seasons were the safest ever recorded (PDF) by DEC. Still, even one hunting related safety incident is too many and DEC encourages all hunters to remain vigilant by practicing the 4 rules of firearm safety:

1. treat every firearm as if it is loaded;
2. always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction;
3. keep your finger off the trigger, and outside the trigger guard, until you are ready to shoot; and
4. always be sure of your target and what is in front of and behind it.

Download the HuntFishNY Mobile App Today!

HuntFishNY is the official New York State Department of Environmental Conservation mobile app that provides our sportsmen/women a simple way to display their licenses and privileges and view important hunting and fishing related information; the ease of reporting your game harvests immediately; and links to useful information like season date summaries, fishing information, a DEC contact list, and much more.

HuntFishNY features include:

• Instant, Mobile Access to Your Sporting Licenses, Privileges and Permits
• Quick And Easy Submission of Game Harvest Reports
• Links To Current Year Hunting & Trapping and Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guides
• Sunrise/Sunset Information and Season Date Summaries
• Fishing Information, Including the New Tackle Box Feature!
• DEC Contact list, and much more!

Attention iOS users: A recent change in app developer ownership created an issue in the HuntFishNY mobile app for iOS users that was causing the app to crash upon launch. An update to the app was released on 8/21/23 that resolved the issue.

iOS users who had previously installed HuntFishNY on their phones will need to update the app to the most recent version.

For those users who have automatic updates turned on, the app should update on its own. For users who have automatic updates turned off, you will need to go into the App Store and tap on the Update button to manually update the app. 

If you are experiencing issues logging into the app, and for all other technical issues, please call the DECALS call center at 866-933-2257 or email DEC staff at FW.Information@dec.ny.gov.

The app is available through the Apple App Store or Google Play!  For information on HuntFishNY, please visit our website.

Get Hooked on The Fishing Line

Whether you’re an avid angler, just getting into fishing, or want to stay in the loop with DEC Fisheries, The Fishing Line newsletter has something for you!

Get the latest updates on fisheries management and how it ties into fishing, meet the staff making it happen, learn about recent fisheries surveys, and more. Sign up and get hooked today!

Fall For the 2023 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge

With cooler temps and changing colors, fall is a great time to take the 2023 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge! To enter, visit all six Catskill Fire Towers within the 2023 calendar year and submit an online or paper (PDF) hike log, along with a favorite photo from your adventure. All participants will receive a challenge patch, as well as a chance to win various outdoor prizes. Repeat finishers who have completed a past Catskill Fire Tower Challenge will also be awarded a commemorative mug.

For a bonus entry, submit a photo practicing Leave No Trace™ while out on your hikes. Make sure to plan ahead and prepare for your journey by learning more about the challenge and hikes, and deciding on the best time for you, your family, friends, or hiking companions to hit the trails!

Photo by Joseph Smyczynski

Next Step Courses 

Firearm Courses
Have you already received your hunter education certificate but don’t quite feel ready to go hunting on your own? Want to strengthen your firearms skills, techniques, and safety? Then a Next Step Shotgun or Rifle Course is what you need. Next Step courses are only four hours long and you will get lots of hands-on experience in handling and shooting firearms. There are several Next Step firearms courses already scheduled for this fall. If you don’t see one near you, check back often as courses are always being added.

Trapping Courses
Are you a new trapper who wants to learn more about traps and techniques from an experienced and skilled trapper? Do you want more experience setting and packing traps? Then a Next Step Land Trapping or Water Trapping course is what you need. There are a few Next Step trapping courses already on the schedule for this fall. If you don’t see one offered in your area, check back as courses are always being added.

All Next Step courses are free. You will need your trapper education certificate number, and registration is required Outdoor Recreation Event Registration (register-ed.com)

If you are interested in a Next Step course but don’t see a course topic you are interested in or you don’t see one in your area, email us at hunter@dec.ny.govand let us know.

$3 Million in Grants Available for Invasive Species Projects

$3 million is now available in the third round of the New York State Invasive Species Grant Program. This grant program, supported by the State Environmental Protection Fund, is designed to advance projects that target aquatic and terrestrial invasive species across the state. There are six funding categories that address: invasive species spread prevention; early detection and rapid response; research; management planning; and education and outreach.

A webinar for this Grant Program will be held on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Submit applications by November 1, 2023. Visit DEC's Invasive Species Grant Program webpage for more information.

Share Your Ideas: Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act

This spring and summer, the public and potential funding applicants had the opportunity to learn more about the Bond Act at a series of educational listening sessions.

Missed out on attending a session? Check out the virtual session recordings.

Share your ideas for how the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act could help your community and environment. Complete a short survey to collect project ideas and other feedback. This survey will provide stakeholders and members of the public a place to share these ideas.

We need your input to help the New York State team select projects and deliver funds while also ensuring a transparent and collaborative process that benefits all New Yorkers.

The deadline for ideas and comments has been extended to September 30.