An ode to worm fishing: A nod to angling simplicity
Yes, there are other baits and other fishing methods. But a simple hook and a worm has always gotten the job done, and always will.
Dan Ladd
Of mud and maple sap: rites of spring
For the year-round outdoorsman, there are two times of the year that can be the toughest to get through: the holiday season, and the first few weeks of spring. At year’s end, once deer season is over, it’s often hurry up and wait for the snow to fall and/or the ice to thicken so we can move on to the…
Use caution on late ice – fishing can be productive, but hard-water conditions can be iffy
As the March sun gets higher in the sky and the days get longer, ice anglers anywhere there’s still ice will be trying to get that one last outing in. But they should approach these outings with caution. Late-season ice fishing can be fantastic. Panfish and perch fishing can really heat up for the angler who knows and understands their…
Wild moose chase: Taking a census from the air
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently issued a press release announcing that mid-winter aerial surveys of the Adirondack moose population had been completed. But there was still some work to be done as DEC biologists wanted to get a better peek this winter at the number of moose calves, especially in relation to a handful of cow…
How are whitetails weathering winter?
It will be interesting to hear what our wildlife biologists will have to say about the condition of the deer herd after this winter. And, what impact it could have on the 2019 fall hunting seasons.
First steps in woodlands management
I consider myself very fortunate to be a property owner. Twenty-two acres might not seem like much to some, but it is a world of its own to others. For me, it is a place I’ve trampled nearly my entire life and part of a bigger piece of ground that has been in the family since the 19th Century. The…
Late-season small-game hunting stirs memories
Small-game hunting might not be the big ticket it once was, but at least you can say it’s still hunting season and perhaps re-live your own memories. Get out there while the seasons are still open.
Always sad to see deer season end
Some hunters are ready for deer season to end, but I’m seldom one of them. Especially this year, when the weather interrupted numerous hunting plans. It was a crazy deer season where the weather was concerned, starting from the beginning. I hunt primarily in the Northern Zone, and our early archery and muzzleloading seasons featured plenty of rainy days, including…
Living the R3 initiative
Recruiting, retaining, reactivating on full display this deer hunting season.
Memories of a Thanksgiving Day deer hunt
Hard hunting was worth it for the author during a Thanksgiving Day hunt a few years ago, and he couldn’t have been more thankful.
Now is the time to be in the whitetail woods
And put in the time to help ensure your success.
Is the Northern Zone deer season too long?
If writer had to make a choice, it would be to cut some time off the end, at least in years when the late season carries into mid-December.
Early-season conditions challenge deer and turkey hunters
Archery season is open across New York and hunters couldn’t be happier. With the exception of a mid-October warm-up, the weather has been much cooler this year compared to the past two early archery seasons. Encouraging, to say the least, when considering a morning or evening in a tree stand or ground blind. In the Northern Zone, the early muzzleloading…
In praise of small game hunting
I remember my first days of small game hunting like it was yesterday. Being born in mid-November, I had to wait until my 14th birthday, which was the minimum hunting age at the time, before I could buy my first hunting license. It was a Friday and we had a half-day at school, and afterward, my older brother Tim and…
Don’t put away those fishing rods
The meteorological summer is over, and the autumnal equinox lies ahead. That means the average sportsman is likely preparing for hunting season, or perhaps even enjoying some early-season goose or gray squirrel hunting and anticipating the opening a number of other seasons (bear, grouse, archery deer, waterfowl and turkeys) in the weeks ahead. Versatile sportsmen, meaning those who hunt, fish…
Practice now for upcoming deer season
I can’t tell you how many deer hunters I know who never touch their deer rifles, or any firearm for that matter, until just prior to deer season. For many it doesn’t seem to be a big deal, but for others it can be the difference between a hit and a miss. I’m actually surprised you don’t hear about more…
Sportsmen estate planning: accepting the inevitable
It’s been a tough summer in terms of losing friends and family. We in New York’s outdoor writing (and reading) community continue to mourn the losses of our friends and colleagues Will Elliott and Ron Kolodziej, who both recently passed. And the passings of a family member as well as the friend of a friend have taught me a lesson…
Safety first during summer boating season
There are more boats – big and small – on the water these days than ever, and owners of all types need to learn to co-exist. The smaller boat always has the right-of-way, and motor-boaters need to keep an eye out for paddlers and fishermen.It’s mid-summer and boating in vessels of all sizes is at its zenith. As someone who…
A different kind of bear season
Bears quickly learn how to acquire food, and in some cases that means intimidating humans or even destroying property, including vehicles.The early black bear hunting seasons in New York are still a couple months away. However, summer ushers in a bear season of its own, where it’s the bears that are doing the hunting – for food. This can be…
Scholastic clay target league explodes in popularity
About 1,150 students from 59 schools participated in the 2018 spring season. That’s up from 370 kids and 19 schools in 2017, and 128 students from five teams in 2016.
With spring gobbler season over, it’s time to prep gear for fall deer hunting
Turkey season is over and many of us toss our gear aside for the time being while we go about getting our gardens fine-tuned or squeeze in some late-spring fishing. If you’re like me, a fair amount of your turkey hunting gear doubles as your deer hunting gear, especially if you’re an early-season bowhunter. When you hang up the turkey…
The light stuff: Running and gunning for late-season gobblers
When the morning sit doesn’t pan out and you have room to roam, scale down the gear and give mobile hunting a try. It’s a great way to find birds and get a little exercise to boot.
Spring has sprung, and has trout anglers and turkey hunters thankful
It was surprising just how many lakes still had ice in the first week of May, despite the warm-up. If you are one of those anglers who has been waiting for ice out to finally come at your favorite trout pond, you may finally be in luck. What has been one of the longest winters that many of us can remember,…
Going back to your turkey-hunting roots: longbeards in the big woods
Every turkey hunter dreams of a textbook spring gobbler hunt. And when they do occasionally happen (for some it’s more occasional than others) we’re on top of the world. When you pull one off on a woodland or a mountain gobbler, it’s even more rewarding. I’ve heard all kinds of stories about hunting timberland gobblers, and the often-advised technique is…
Tackling busy April of chores ahead of spring gobbler season
Easter weekend finally brought the weather I was looking for, and I sprang into action on the chore list. After all, turkey season was only a month away (shorter for the youth weekend) and there’s plenty to do if I want to spend my weekend mornings in May chasing gobblers. The truth is, I’m going to hunt turkeys anyway because…
No fooling: N.Y. poised for a typical cold trout opener April 1
I at least hope for a calm day with no wind, even if the air is cold, so as to drift over the deep holes with a number of lure presentations.
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