As a mentor, Ladd has witnessed some interesting youth hunts.As New York’s youth turkey hunting weekend fast approaches, I have almost a sick feeling in my gut over it. For the first time in I don’t know how many years, I’ll have to sit this one out. Mentoring new hunters is something I believe strongly in, and whenever possible, I’m…
Trout season is here and turkey season is on the way. Eventually the writer will wet a line, but the chores are coming first. Come May, however, he plans on being in the turkey woods.
It didn’t happen this year, but it sure has in the past. While out checking my tapped maple trees I’ve returned with ticks crawling on me. Sometimes they were deer ticks, which happen to carry the Lyme agent, while others they were dog ticks. Neither is pleasant. During this year’s late-February and early-March sap runs the conditions were prime for…
Not only might you have some happy wildlife, you’ll have some nice apple wood to use in a food smoker, and the satisfaction of doing something yourself.
Whether it’s taps, traps or just a walk in the winter woods, snowshoeing is great exercise and a viable cure for cabin fever.
We’re now in mid-February and instead going ice fishing I’ve been getting my maple syrup-making gear together. Why? Because other than a snowstorm the weather forecast for the days ahead calls for daytime temperatures to climb into the 40s and then cool down into the 20s at night. Perfect for maple sap to run, not so good for ice fishing….
More than any other type of ice fishing, this angler would much rather spend a day on the hard water either running and gunning or setting out tip-ups in hopes of landing a pair of keeper lake trout.
I’m not one of those people who is obsessed with the vehicle I drive. But when the time came to say goodbye to the Jeep Wrangler I’ve had for the past 14 years, I did so begrudgingly. This, despite the fact that it was simply time to let it go. You see, I’m a Jeep guy, and by that I…
Don’t tell my sister who lives in Georgia, but once again she’s getting venison jerky from me as a Christmas present. Same for my brother who lives in Arizona. But for him, it’s not actually a gift as he earned some of this meat during his hunting vacation back here at home. Every year around the holidays members of my…
As I write this, the end of deer season across New York is fast approaching. This year the Northern Zone and Southern Zone rifle seasons end on the same day, Dec. 8, with the late muzzleloading seasons following. They end Dec. 15 and 17, respectively. For those who hunt the Southern Tier, that’s business as usual. But for Northern Zone…
I’ve always considered myself lucky to be raised in an extended family of Adirondack deer hunters. While that’s the primary reason I’ve likely become an avid whitetail hunter myself, the fact that I was born in mid-November may have also contributed. Yes, I was a rut baby. Some of the hunts that have transpired on my birthday have shaped me…
For the second year in a row a significant weather event put a dent in the plans of deer hunters, especially those in and around the southern and eastern Adirondacks and beyond – this writer included.
Opening day in New York’s Northern Zone is just as big as it is in the Southern Tier. In fact, we have two of them! A week prior to the regular big game season opener, there is a week-long early muzzleloading season in the Northern Zone that always opens the Saturday following Columbus Day. Since the state began allowing additional…
This year I know of at least 10 new hunters who will be experiencing their first deer hunts come November. Likely more. They are part of the Field to Fork program, which in New York is a collaborative effort between the Quality Deer Management Association and Cornell Cooperative Extension office. QDMA began developing the program a few years ago, modeling it…
This year saw a record 185 anglers take part. That’s nearly triple the number that participated in the first derby in 2015.
Early bear season is getting under way in parts of New York. This includes a season that runs from Sept. 7-22 in parts of Regions 3 and 4 in southeastern New York, as well as the traditional early season in Regions 5 and 6 that begins on Sept.14 and continues on into the early muzzleloading and regular big game season…
It’s been several years ago now since there was a sporting license fee increase in New York. And just before that last increase I forked over a nice chunk of change to purchase my lifetime licenses, pretty much across the board. That now means I don’t make the annual trek to the local sporting goods store or town clerk’s office…
Although the author didn’t boat the big fish, he can finally say he got to tangle with one.
It’s not hard to figure out why competitive kayak bass angling is catching on. First, anyone with a kayak and fishing rods can join in.
Earlier this spring we talked about simple worm fishing for trout as a time-honored tactic. Quite often, I take the same approach to summer bass fishing. Only this time the worm is fake. Just like real worms have landed so many trout and .30-30 Winchester rifle has taken many bucks, the simple tactic of rubber worm fishing has likely brought…
In the weeks ahead trout action will likely start to dwindle as the weather warms and trout anglers back off pursuing their favorite fish. At the same time, bass fishing will intensify. But for now, at least in this part of New York, an angler can have the best of both worlds.
Keeping the non-hunting public informed and in support of hunting and trapping is they key to halting such legislation.
As a native to New York’s Adirondacks, I often find myself being a stout promoter of the region. Therefore I was happy to play a role in bringing a bunch of outdoor media types to the Schroon Lake region for some turkey hunting, fishing and just plain fun. The Schroon Lake area served as a perfect setting for the recently…
Using these levels of twilight is not only fun, but if you happen to be a weather and/or astronomy buff, they can serve as guidelines for setting the alarm clock and getting you where you need to be at the right time to bag that gobbler.
Last year, I attended for the first time the New York State Outdoorsman Hall of Fame induction banquet, typically held in late April. My reason for going was to be there for the induction of a friend and colleague. I had a great evening as I ran into some old friends and made some new ones. Most of all, I…
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.
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