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Dan Ladd

Good season expected for New York bear hunters with opener looming

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, National Hunting, National News, New York, News /

Some big game seasons begin quite early in New York. Among them is the early black bear hunting season that runs from Sept. 6-21 in a limited number of southeastern New York Wildlife Management Units. These are located in Regions 3 and 4, near the Pennsylvania and New Jersey state lines, in New York’s Southern Zone. 
New York’s sporting license year begins Sept. 1, and although a Canada goose season opens on that date, along with the small game season for gray squirrel, big game species remain at the forefront for hunters as well as the focus for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Good season expected for New York bear hunters with opener looming Read More »

Limekiln Lake: Targeting splake in an Adirondack campground pond

Lake Profile, Lake Profile, New York /

Campground lakes can be tricky in the Adirondacks, or anywhere for that matter. They certainly see their fair share of fishing pressure. But when the main species in a lake proves a little more challenging, then the fishery often becomes a destination all its own.
That could be the case with Limekiln Lake, a body of water that is mostly in Hamilton County, with the Herkimer County line running through its western end. And that main fish species is splake – the lake trout/brook trout hybrid that challenges anglers.

Limekiln Lake: Targeting splake in an Adirondack campground pond Read More »

Dan Ladd: California ruling on ammunition background checks raises eyebrows in New York

1 Comment / Discussions, Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, National Hunting, New York, Opinion /

On July 25, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that California’s requirement for background checks on ammunition purchases  – in place since 2019 – violates the Second Amendment. Basically, the ruling stated that in order to utilize a firearm under Second Amendment rights, one must also be able to access ammunition to use in a firearm.
It didn’t take long for New York gun owners to take note of the ruling, as we are all too familiar with our own ammunition background checks that were implemented in 2023.

Dan Ladd: California ruling on ammunition background checks raises eyebrows in New York Read More »

Plenty of antlerless opportunities available for New York deer hunters as licenses go on sale

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, National Hunting, National News, New York, News /

Sporting licenses go on sale Aug. 4, and hunters can apply for Deer Management Permits, used to take antlerless deer across much of New York.
And for the most part, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation white-tailed deer biologists are hoping hunters will rise to the occasion, not only in applying for antlerless deer permits in some parts of the state, but making efforts to fill them once the hunting seasons arrive.

Plenty of antlerless opportunities available for New York deer hunters as licenses go on sale Read More »

Dan Ladd: What exactly defines ‘putting the time in’ for a hunter?

1 Comment / Discussions, Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, National Hunting, New York, Opinion /

One of the ongoing themes surrounding the crossbow debate many of us have been following these past two decades (and then some) is in relation to the amount of time it takes one to become proficient with a vertical bow, compared to shooting a crossbow out of the box. This, some believe, warrants exclusivity to hunters who use vertical bows rather than a crossbow.
Acquiring a certain level of proficiency with a vertical bow obviously requires one to “put the time in,” there’s no disputing that. The question I raise is why practicing with a bow is the only hunting skill that should, or could, warrant exclusivity within a season?

Dan Ladd: What exactly defines ‘putting the time in’ for a hunter? Read More »

N.Y. bass waters drop in national rankings, remain leaders in the Northeast

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, National Fishing, National News, New York, News /

After placing at the very top among bass fisheries in 2024, the St. Lawrence River dropped to No. 4 in Bassmaster Magazine’s annual Top 100 Bass Lake rankings. Lake Erie, meanwhile, fell two slots from seventh to ninth.
The two popular New York bass fisheries, however, remain ranked one-and-two respectively in the Bassmaster’s Northeast rankings.

N.Y. bass waters drop in national rankings, remain leaders in the Northeast Read More »

Dan Ladd: New York’s potential crossbow changes raise questions

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, National Hunting, New York, Opinion /

Assuming Gov. Kathy Hochul eventually signs New York’s crossbow bill into law, there’s a few questions that remain to be answered.
First, is the timing of the potential signage, which is hoped and expected to happen in time for expanded crossbow use during the upcoming archery seasons. However, with hunting licenses set to go on sale in early August, and the annual hunting and trapping regulations guide already sent to the printer, any changes will not be reflected there.

Dan Ladd: New York’s potential crossbow changes raise questions Read More »

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