Quick now, what’s the official amphibian for New York state? Don’t know? Don’t feel bad, because I didn’t know either – until I read an article about the hellbender, or mud puppy, being designated by the Pennsylvania State Senate as the official amphibian for the Keystone State. So I had to look it up. The move by the Senate to name the hellbender (mud puppy) as the official state amphibian…
New York’s season for both smallmouth and largemouth bass traditionally opens the third Saturday in June, which this year means June 15. Bass are a favorite among fishermen because of their relative numbers and the fact they readily adapt to life equally well in large, shallow lakes or even farm ponds. Newcomers to bass fishing should look for bass near obvious cover such as lily pads,…
When using a decoy setup in an area where another hunter might be encountered, it’s beyond wise to play it safe. If you see another hunter stalking your decoy setup, call out in a loud, clear voice to warn them, and never wave or make a turkey sound to get their attention.
Like hunting deer, turkey hunting is a lifelong experience, and the more time you spend in the woods the better hunter you’ll become.
Next to your gun and your turkey calls, a good turkey vest is perhaps the most useful item a turkey hunter can own. A little knowledge of what to look for will help you choose the right vest.
A great time to scout ahead of spring gobbler season.
Year-round practice works wonders.
Game Commission is currently considering abolishing the blaze orange requirement for archers, but fall turkey hunters would still be required to wear an orange hat while moving. The regulations concerning deer and bear hunting during the firearms season would remain the same. No orange is required for hunting spring turkeys because that requirement was rescinded back in the late ’90s.
Sure, you can hunt without a good set of binoculars, but without top-quality optics, the writer believes you will never be as efficient or successful as someone who constantly glasses their surroundings.
Layering a way of life outdoors in this neck of the woods, and doing so properly could be the difference between an enjoyable hunt and not-so-fun outing.
By marking a sparse blood trail, the hunter can use the information to determine the animal’s line of flight and, if need be, come back the next morning to easily pick up where he or she left off.
For the writer, the value of a rub is that it tells where a buck has been and in which direction he was heading.
Over the years, I’ve discovered that an essential piece of outdoor equipment and one that many hunters and even fishermen fail to consider is a small, compact first-aid kit. It could be argued ad infinitum about what should be included in a first-aid kit, but I try to keep things simple by including what I feel might be required for…
There is a lot at stake here because in states where CWD has been present for many years, deer and elk populations declined. Deer hunting here in New York represents a $1.5 billion economic value to rural communities and small businesses throughout the state.
Some of my fondest memories as a kid are of the summer weekend picnics our family took to a favorite picnic grove along the Big Bear Creek in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains. After arrival, my father set up a folding picnic table then placed the cooler of food my mother packed in a shady spot under a large hemlock tree. If memory serves, the cooler was a green…
Rummaging through a storage closet a few days ago I came upon the backpacking tent I frequently used on our overnight canoe trips down the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers. Back in the day, the Eureka tent company held an annual tent sale where they sold tent “seconds” at really cheap prices. My friends and I never missed it. At one sale I bought a two-person backpacking…
A non-professional bass fisherman’s opinion on the three best artificial lures for catching bass under difficult conditions.
Turkey season is over, and hunters will put away their calls, clean their guns and hang up their camo clothing. But there’s one more thing to do before calling it a season. Unfortunately, it’s a chore many hunters forget about. When it comes to outdoor equipment, hunting boots get little respect. We would never consider putting a gun away wet…
Ask any turkey hunter what’s the toughest turkey to hunt and you’ll most likely get a variety of answers. Nobody’s asked, but I’ll volunteer my opinion anyway. For me it’s the strutting tom in a field. Turkeys are likely to be seen in farm fields or other open areas for a number of reasons. First, on warm days there are plenty…
And toe tracks along muddy trails or other soft areas can be good indicators of turkeys, as well as fresh droppings, and they’re just as good as a gobble for betraying silent toms.
Quick now, if I ask which animals cause the most deaths in North America every year, what would you say? If you guessed bears, coyotes, mountain lions or wolves, you’d be wrong. I was surprised to learn that according to researchers at Stanford University, it’s farm animals. Not only that, the study reported people who are afraid of being bitten…
New York’s trout season opens April 1. This may pose a problem because April 1 is also Easter Sunday. Nevertheless, there are bound to be those diehards who will find a way to get out on the water. Early-season anglers are likely to find streams running high, but they can improve their chance of success by fishing deep and slow. Where…
Individually, we may not have much of an impact, but collectively, we can do something positive to help our waterways recover.
Ornithologists tell us birds only get about 20 percent of their food needs from backyard feeders, but these feeders can be very important during periods of extreme cold or when ice covers food sources.
Effort a half-century ago was a labor of love.
Like it or not, crossbows are here to stay, and more New York hunters are hunting with them every year. We talked to several archery pro shop owners about what new-to-the-sport crossbow buyers are looking for and just about all of them said price. It seems customers looking to buy their first crossbow don’t know very much about the type…
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