New York Mixed Bag: March 15 marks closing of certain fishing seasons

Albany — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation reminds anglers that fishing seasons for walleye, northern pike, tiger muskellunge and pickerel all close statewide on March 15. They reopen on May 1. March 15 is also the date when ice shanties must be removed from all New York waters.

National Archery in Schools Program State Tournament March 14 in Syracuse

Syracuse, N.Y. — New York’s annual National Archery in Schools Program tournament is scheduled for March 14 at the NYS Fairgrounds, in Syracuse. Students from across the state compete in the live tournament in three divisions: High School, grades 9-12; Middle School, grades 6-8; and Elementary School, grades 4-5.

Each top male and female receive a trophy, a Genesis bow with a bow case, a Morrell target, and other prizes. Awards are also given out in each of the three divisions for first through fifth place. Trophies and prizes are given out to first through third place teams in each of the three divisions.

Students that place in the top 10 in each of the three divisions, by gender, qualify to compete and represent New York at the National NASP Tournament held in Louisville, Ky., in May.

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Cornell study finds contaminants common in northeast waterfowl

Preliminary report shows New York’s 2024 hunting seasons second safest on record

Hudson River Special Management Area In Warren County Sees Improvements

Luzerne, N.Y. — DEC recently partnered with the Town of Luzerne to repair facilities and improve access in the Hudson River Special Management Area within the Lake George Wild Forest, in Warren County.

The HRSMA, located along the Hudson River between the towns of Lake Luzerne and Warrensburg, is a popular destination for activities such as hunting, fishing, swimming, tubing, camping, and picnicking. The area also contains numerous accessible facilities. Over time, vandalism, overuse, and limited maintenance had impaired the facilities in the HRSMA.

DEC partnered with the Town of Luzerne to repair damage and bring accessible facilities back into compliance. The town of resurfaced parking areas and access roads, improved and better defined their boundaries, and added signs to help visitors navigate the area. They also placed boulders to protect the HRSMA’s natural resources and facilities from illegal motor vehicle access.

At Scofield Flats and Pike’s Beach, the town rehabilitated accessible tent sites including gravel tent pads, gravel routes, fire rings, outhouses, and picnic tables. Kiosks were installed at Scofield Flats, the Thomas Road intersection parking area, and the townl- Line parking area, and educational information will be added in the future to help visitors learn about these sites.

Through this partnership with DEC, the Town of Luzerne performed much needed maintenance that will provide a safe and clean recreational experience for the public, benefit local communities, and protect the natural resources of the HRSMA. This project is part of DEC’s ongoing efforts to make state lands more welcoming and safe for visitors and reduce harmful impacts to our wild places.

Northern Forest Canoe Trail Celebrating 25th Anniversary In 2025

Waitsfield, Vt.— The Northern Forest Canoe Trail will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025. The milestone will be marked with dozens of community events throughout the Northeast, including several in New York.

Established in 2020, the NFCT is a mapped inland water trail tracing 740 miles of Indigenous and historic travel routes across New York, Vermont, Québec, New Hampshire and Maine. It begins in New York in Old Forge, and ends in Fort Kent, Maine, traversing 23 rivers and streams, 59 lakes and ponds, 45 communities and towns, and more than 65 portages. Much of the New York portion is traversed in the Adirondack Canoe Classic, also known as the “90-miler” which the NFCT now hosts.

The NFCT will perform stewardship work in all four states in 2025. In New York, the roving crew will tackle projects along the Brown’s Tract Carry, in Inlet, the Lower Locks Carry, in Saranac Lake, and on Lake Champlain’s Valcour Island. This is in addition to a number of paddling symposiums and races, including the 90-miler.

Learn more at: www.northernforestcanoetrail.org.