Outdoors North Fall 2016 by Press-Republican

Outdoors NORTH

Fall 2016

NORTH FALL 2016

Outdoors NORTH

Fall 2016

Outdoors NORTH

FALL NORTH

THE

DEER (Regular and

Bowhunting)

COTTONTAIL RABBIT

BLACK BEAR

ding)

Season Dates: Bag Limits: Hunting Hours:

NORTHERN ZONE LINE

WATERFOWL

SMALL GAME TURKEY (fall season)

DEER (Muzzleloa

NORTHERN ZONE LINE

L-OUT SECTIO

SPECIAL PUL

SON GUI HUNTING SEA

Youth Hunts: Ducks, Coots & Mergansers:

Oct.1 - Mar. 19 6 Sunrise to Sunset

g (All WMUs) Early Bowhuntin Crossbow Regular g Late Bowhuntin 6A, (Only WMUs 5A, 5G, 6C, 6G and 6H)

Sex Deer of Either Sex Deer of Either Antlered Only Sex Deer of Either Sex Deer of Either Antlered Only

Sept. 27 - Oct. 21 Oct. 12 - Oct. 21 Sept. 27 - Oct. 21 Dec. 5 - Dec. 11

Sunrise to Sunset Oct. 8 - Oct. 10 Hunting Hours: Season: only Youth Firearms except bowhunting and Southern Zone, Area Open: Northern MWUs. of age. Youth 14-15 years with eligible Eligible Hunters: in all open areas, deer of either sex Bag Limit: One and tags. during the Northern deer hunt to be used to may not be used Crossbows: May seasons. Crossbows Southern Zone regular Firearms Season. Youth the hunt deer during

Oct. 15 - Oct. 21 Dec. 5 - Dec. 11 Oct. 15 - Oct. 21 Dec. 5 - Dec. 11

Oct. 15 - Oct. 21 Oct. 15 - Oct. 21

Sunrise to Sunset Hunting Hours: during the Northern be used to hunt deer Crossbows: May regular seasons. and Southern Zone n applies to entire

BOBCAT (Informatio

Early Bear Early Bear g g Bowhuntin Bowhuntin Crossbow Crossbow ding ding Muzzleloa Muzzleloa Regular Regular

- Oct. 14

17 - Oct. 21 Oct. 21 Sept. 17 -Sept. 12 - Oct. 21 Oct. 21 Oct. 12 - Oct. 15 - Oct. 21 Oct. 21 Oct. 15 - Oct. 24 - Dec. 24 Oct. 22 Oct. 22 - Dec.

Sunset to Sunset Sunrise toSunrise sea- bear seathe early Hunting Hours: early bear theduring Hunting Hours: bear during to hunt bear used : Maytobehunt firearms seasons. : May be used Crossbows regularseasons. firearms Crossbows and the the regular seasons r seasons rand sons, muzzleloade sons, muzzleloade

TURKEY (spring

, Skunk,

Weasel, Opossum Racoon and Fox

you must: If you take a bobcat, possession tag AND 1) Complete a furbearer sealed. unskinned animal 2) Get the pelt or

SPECIALTY GAME BIRDS

of Conservation State Department of the New York of the state are appears courtesy on these maps and other areas on these pages All information More information f. with permission. huntseasons16.pd and is reprinted docs/wildlife_pdf/ available at www.dec.ny.gov/

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Season Dates: Bag Limits: Hunting Hours:

Northern Zone)

25 - Feb. 25 2016/17: Oct. Season Dates day, and any hour, After sunrise on opening are NO bag limits. There Hunting Hours: the regular season. day or night, during

Oct. 1 - Oct. 14 One, either sex Sunrise to Sunset

Season Dates: Bag Limits: Hunting Hours:

Season Dates: Oct. 1 - Nov. 14

CROW

COYOTE Season Dates: Bag Limits: Hunting Hours:

Nov. 1 - Feb. 25 None Day or night

Oct. 1 - Mar. 26 None Day or night

BLACK & FOX SQUIRRE

RUFFED GROUSE Season Dates: Sept.20 - Feb. 28 Bag Limits: 4

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Oct. 8 - 30 Nov. 5 - Dec. 11 Oct.1 - Apr. 15 Oct.1 - Nov. 29 Sept.1 - Sept. 25 Oct.22 - Nov. 14 Nov.16 - Dec. 11

species: A note on these listed include All season dates except for all of New York State Hunting parts of Long Island. gallinules is snipes, rails and Long Island. prohibited in all of stamp is not A migratory duck these three hunt to required groups of birds. required for HIP registration is except each of these species call 1-888crow. To register, www.NY-HIP 427-5447 or visit .com.

Oct.1 - Dec. 3 Sept.1 - Sept. 25 Oct.12 - Nov. 30

Posession Limit:

ILS FOR LESS RIDE THE TRA

Hunting Hours: Sunrise to Sunset

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Season Dates: Sept. 1 - Nov. 9

Lake Champlain: Sept.24 & 25 Oct.12 - 16 Oct.29 - Dec. 22 Oct.29 - Dec. 22 Oct.29 - Dec. 22

18 6 45 15 No limit 25 6 2 9/1-9/25 (15/day) 9/1-9/25 (15/day) 10/12 - 11/30 (3/day) 10/22 - 11/14 (3/day) 11/16 - 12/11 (3/day)

Ducks/ Sea Ducks: : Coot Snow Geese: Brant: Canada Geese:

Season Dates: Sept. 1 - Mar. 31 Sundays & Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays only.)

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VARYING HARE Season Dates: Bag Limits: Hunting Hours:

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ARE YOU READY? You’ve been waiting for it all year - and after all the prepping, planning, hoping and waiting, at long last—

IT’S HUNTING SEASON.

TODD MEAD ON TUNING INTO NATURE FOR A BETTER HUNT DAN LADD ON WHY WE LOVE GOING TO CAMP TREE STAND SAFETY BASICS 2016-17 State Hunting Law Highlights

Bioengineering for Beginners

Fisher trappers get a shorter season, plus pending deer and bear season changes. See page 4.

Got a set of pruners? You can help save a stream from erosion. See page 9.

A publication of the PRESS-REPUBLICAN • Thursday, September 22, 2016

Outdoors NORTH

Fall 2016

NORTH The outdoors is in all of us.

Special Publications Editor Michael Gallagher Contributing Writers Chris Fasolino Dan Ladd Todd Mead Ed Noonan Marc Peterson Rich Redman Shannon Surdyk

Outdoors North Magazine is a product of the

PRESS-REPUBLICAN

and is published quarterly as a supplement to the Press-Republican daily newspaper. Contact Information email: specialpubs@pressrepublican.com Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/OutdoorsNorthMagazine

9 11

8 On the cover

FEATURES

CAMPING

THE ALLURE OF CAMP

It’s the season you’ve been waiting all year for, fall in the Adirondacks! That means hunting and hunting means returning to camp— Dan Ladd shares his advice on every camp’s necessities, some of his best memories, and how you can get your own little shack in the woods.

HUNTING

FINDING THE FUTURE IN THE PRESENT

The answer is hidden in the trees— and the leaves, acorns and other places. Todd Mead offers hunters tips on how to read the clues in nature now to plan where to hunt this fall.

GEARBOX

Ed Noonan’s got what you need for hunting and angling this fall, with sweet lures from Mepps, a powerful but affordable rangefinder from BPS, the perfect airgun to introduce hunting to your children with, and much more!

HUNTING

SPECIAL HUNTING SEASON PULLOUT SECTION!

It’s the ultimate quick-reference chart for planning your hunting seasons! Every animal, game big and small, from bears to snipes, every season date, bag limits, restrictions and more, all in one place!

HUNTING

GAINING AN AERIAL ADVANTAGE

If you want to be ahead of your prey, taking to the high ground is a good way to go about it - Ed Noonan goes over your necessary prehunt gear checklist and pontificates on the importance of a good treestand harness.

ANIMALIA

NATURE PROFILE

Once headed for the endagered species list, the New England Cottontail is slowly regaining in population, thanks to recent conservation efforts.

A hunter’s silhouette stands against a softly rising sun in our dramatic cover welcoming the coming hunting seasons. (Photograph courtesy of Metro Creative Connection)

COLUMNS TRIBUTE TO A TRAILBLAZER

WILDLIFE MATTERS

This issue features a column from Dennis Aprill’s archives circa October 2007, as he talks about the rebounding numbers for deer, coyote and bear after a near-disasterous previous winter, as well as the need for hunters to be mindful of their near-kills.

ECOLOGY

LENDING MOTHER NATURE A HAND

Rich Redman’s early work in conservation had him using primitive techniques in bioengineering to help protect sunbleached tributaries and rivers. Here, he offers some tips for you.

FISHING

WHAT’S IN A BAIT?

Can’t find bait you like? The options for customization, or even making your own, have never been more plentiful. Bobby Williams talks about the options that anglers have in finding businesses and websites that will custom make your tackle - or how you can try your hand at making your own.

Read us outdoors, and everywhere else. You can read any issue of Outdoors North on your mobile device— find us on the web at pressrepublican.com

Fall 2016

Outdoors NORTH

DEC DATA: CAMPING ON STATE LAND State Land Camping and Hiking Rules Backcountry Camping The DEC encourages the use of bear-resistant canisters throughout the Adirondack and Catskill backcountry. Bear-resistant canisters are required to be used by overnight users in the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness between April 1st and November 30th.

Camping Rules and Guidelines Home is where the hunt is The sun sets behind a cozy spot in Warren County.

The Allure of camp I

The home of short stays, long shots and tall tales, a deer camp can be the highlight of any hunting trip. By Dan Ladd

EARLY MEMORIES My association with hunting camp began at an early age and for that I consider myself very lucky. In my early teens, and just about the time I became old enough to hunt, my father was put in charge of the care-taking responsibilities of a small hunting camp not far from our home in the eastern Adirondacks. This camp, which was owned by a long-time family friend, was the epitome of what many of hunters

1425-1295151

t’s autumn in the North Country and for many consider the ideal hunting camp. It sat on a small hunters in the region that means the annual pond, offered some private land to hunt, yet was also pilgrimage to the fall hunting camp has begun, close to public land. Inside it had a wood stove in the center next to a or is about to. Ask any hunter what it is that draws them to what might be equated to a fraternity or long table with a small kitchen adjacent to it. Three an institution all its own and you’ll get a variety of beds were located in the main camp but a screenedin porch overlooking the lake was transformed into a answers. Hunters love camps, and those fortunate enough sleeping porch for the deer season by being insulated with plastic and filled with military sleeping cots. to be able enjoy their benefits albeit There were propane lights, a big throughout the season, or perhaps just gun rack for the deer rifles, a wood a weekend or vacation visit courtesy Hunting shed, outhouse and a spring-fed of a fellow hunter, will tell you that camps are all water supply. there’s simply nothing like it. about hunters For my dad and I this camp immersing was a blessing. As the youngest WHAT MAKES A CAMP of five kids I was surely the most Like the hunters who visit them, themselves in the natural rambunctious. But our visits to the and their reasons for doing so, hunting camp solidified our relationship. camps come in many fashions. Some world. In the winter we would ride in are elaborate outposts that may have on snowmobiles and shovel off electricity and running water while the roof. In the warm weather others may be a little shack in the months we would cut firewood woods with a wood stove and some for both the camp and our home bunks for sleeping. On public lands, and enjoy the fine bass fishing on such as those of the Adirondack Forest the pond. But come fall the camp Preserve, hunting camp is a lean-to, a came alive as our family hunting backwoods tent camp or even an RV party and those who visited the parked on a designated campsite. camp took to the woods. Regardless of its form, hunting camps (commonly referred to as “deer” Continued on next page camp) usually have three necessities. First, the accommodations must provide adequate Always Accepting New Patients shelter from the elements, especially for sleeping. Second, there should be a reliable source of heat. Lastly, hunting camps are located in the general vicinity of their quarry, which means they’re often Gil Smith, D.D.S. in a remote location away from civilization where Linda Shepard, D.D.S. one can see the stars at night and enjoy the peace MEMBER of the nearby woods. Aside from the fact that they are structures - either permanent or temporary PROVIDER - hunting camps are all about hunters immersing themselves in the natural world.

Office Hours By Appointment

• Camping is prohibited within 150 feet of any road, trail, spring, stream, pond or other body of water except at areas designated by a “camp here” disk. • Groups of ten or more persons OR stays of more than three days in one place require a permit from the New York State Forest Ranger responsible for the area. • Lean-tos are available in many areas on a first come first served basis. Lean-tos cannot be used exclusively and must be shared with other campers. • Use pit privies provided near popular camping areas and trailheads. If none are available, dispose of human waste by digging a hole 6”-8” deep at least 150 feet from water or campsites. Cover with leaves and soil. • Do not use soap to wash yourself, clothing or dishes within 150 ft of water. • Drinking and cooking water should be boiled for 5 minutes, treated with purifying tablets or filtered through filtration device to prevent instances of giardia infection. • Carry out what you carry in. Practice “leave no trace” camping and hiking. • Observe and enjoy wildlife and plants but leave them undisturbed. • The storage of personal property on state land is prohibited.

Read more at www.dec.ny.gov/ outdoor/7872.html.

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Outdoors NORTH

Fall 2016

THE ALLURE OF CAMP, Continued from page 3

Can’t find a parcel? You can always go mobile. An RV hunting camp set up like the one pictured here can be used to at a designated campsite on public land in the Adirondacks. For information on rules for camping on public lands in the Adirondacks, see the sidebar on the previous page.

HIGHLIGHTS OF CHANGES TO NEW YORK STATE HUNTING LAW FOR 2016-2017 Revisions to Fisher Trapping Season Regulations were recently adopted that will: • Reduce the fisher trapping season from 46 days to 30 days in selected Adirondack Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) • Require licensed trappers who pursue fisher to obtain a free permit from their regional wildlife office

PENDING Updates to Deer and Bear Hunting Seasons Regulations are currently pending that will: • Allow junior hunters to take bear as well as deer during the youth firearms hunt • Rescind an antlerless-only requirement established in 2015 during portions of the bow and muzzleloader season in some Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) • Reduce the take of antlerless deer in WMUs 6F and 6J by allowing hunters to only take antlered deer during the early muzzleloader season • Reduce the take of antlerless deer in WMUs 6F and 6J by allowing hunters to only take antlered deer during the early muzzleloader season • Clarify that bow/mz either-sex and antlerlessonly deer tags may both be used during either bow or muzzleloader seasons by properly licensed hunters

For a complete list of changes

Pick up a free copy of New York State Hunting & Trapping or view it online at www.dec.ny.gov/ outdoor/37136.html

My dad and I often took a ride onto the camp on Friday nights to open it up. It was my duties to fetch water from the lake and stock the camp with firewood. Quite often we stayed at the camp, which along with our own crew was visited by hunters from all over the Northeast. The culture was amazing both in the woods and at the camp and is something I’ve desired throughout my adult life. Again, those who have a camp to venture off to this fall are quite lucky. For those who don’t, it’s not too late if this is something you desire. If so, here’s a few tips that might help. FINDING YOUR PLACE Everyone wants a little shack in the woods but these are getting harder to come by. There just aren’t that many small parcels of land available anymore. Still, it doesn’t hurt so scour the real estate listings in the general area you are interested in hunting. You never know what you might find, such as a chunk of land or even a camp for sale. If you do find something, act fast as it likely won’t be listed for long. Next, consider joining an existing camp. Throughout the Adirondacks and surrounding regions there are camps that operate as clubs on recreational leases. These clubs and leases offer year-round access for other activities besides hunting and usually provide hundreds or even a few thousand acres of private hunting land. Since these leases are often owned and managed by timber companies, logging is usually prevalent and therefore a benefit to the local deer population. All leases and the clubs on them operate differently. Some may have a central lodge or camp where you can stay. Others offer extended opportunities to build a your own camp on. These camps are limited in the Adirondacks to 500 square feet. In some cases hunters will simply park an RV at a location where allowed as there is something to be said for portability for camps on recreational leases. Should the leaseholder sell their land for it’s future inclusion as public lands, the camps on them have to go. So, make your investment portable. I maintain a list of hunting clubs on my website, ADKHunter.com

GOING PUBLIC Speaking of public lands, which is where many hunters do their thing, the rules of the Adirondack Forest Preserve allow for both short term and seasonlong temporary camps. For a weekend hunting/ camping outing the general camping rules for the Adirondacks apply and can be researched online. Permits are also available for those seeking to set up a camp for the entire season or even park an RV at a designated campsite location, of which there are several throughout the Adirondacks. The little camp I hunted out of growing up became the living room to a beautiful home when the owner retired in the early 1990s and lived another 25 years there. We still hunt there today. As for the deer camp life, I am fortunate to visit my brother’s camp in the Northern Adirondacks on occasion. In addition, a few years ago we began hunting a new area and one of the crew had an old camp that needed some TLC. Our group got together and brought the camp back to life. It reminds me of that old camp my dad I frequented in my early hunting years. It’s small, has wood stove and a sleeping porch and we hunt right out the back door. Most of all, it’s a place where my hunting partners and I make memories and share the facility with some young hunters in our group in hopes of passing on the culture of hunting camp to the next generation.

About the author

Dan Ladd is the author of Deer Hunting in the Adirondacks and contributor to numerous outdoors publications. Contact him at adkhunter.com.

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Fall 2016

Outdoors NORTH

Early fall can bring a variety of temperatures, as can be seen with the ice on this pond in October.

FIND THE FUTURE IN THE PRESENT

For fun and successful hunting this fall, learn to read the clues nature offers. By Todd Mead

eading into the fall months, the temperatures usually drop in the evenings, and the crisp morning air lets us know that bucks will be shedding their velvet, marking their territory and begin venturing out of their safety zones to find receptive does. Although that won’t start until late October, the increased testosterone allows bucks to begin ripping trees apart with their antlers and pawing the dirt out of primary breeding scrapes that can be found in the same places every year. Archery season is a good time to introduce kids to bow hunting and make the event educational. When batches of red, yellow, orange, and jagged shaped leaves let loose simultaneously and float effortlessly through the sky until they gently rest on the forest floor, a peaceful sensation can overtake a hunter. READING THE (TREE) LEAVES Picking through the leaves, it’s usually easy to spot the bright red leaves that have fallen from the nearby maple trees as well as the brownish orange leaves from the oak trees. The poplar trees can always entertain a child’s imagination if you tell them that in a time long ago, the leaves became golden nuggets when they hit the ground. It always worked wonders on my imagination when I was a kid. Identifying leaves and the trees they fall from can help kids and adults alike. Although many people take the types of trees in the forest for granted, there are many others who

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don’t know the difference between leaves. The early fall can be a great time to wander through the woods while hunting and use the time to identify as many different types of leaves as possible. Once oak trees, beech trees, hemlock trees and cherry trees can be identified, it might help people find areas to set up where deer, squirrels, bears and a variety of other wildlife can be viewed. Since many animals wander amongst these trees to find food, notes can be taken to use in the future. Sometimes certain trees will drop nuts and others won’t provide a crop. If you know where a lot of mast-producing trees exist, it might make it easier to locate animals when the food seems like slim pickings. FINDING YOUR PLACE Although muzzleloader season opens a few weeks after archery season, it brings the orange army tramping through the woods. By the time muzzleloader hunters make their way into the woods, many forested areas will have lost the majority of the leaves, but other areas will still be as thick as a jungle. Usually, the southern end of the Adirondack Park will be covered in greenery, and the northern end will be void of leaves in the tops of most trees. I’m not a scientist, but I’ve noticed that the leaves have always come off the fastest in the fall after a really dry summer, so I look forward a fall that follows a dry summer. Continued on page 8

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Outdoors NORTH

THE

NORTH FALL HUNTING SEASON GUIDE DEER (Muzzleloading)

DEER (Regular and Bowhunting)

BLACK BEAR

NORTHERN ZONE LINE

Early Bowhunting (All WMUs) Crossbow Regular Late Bowhunting (Only WMUs 5A, 5G, 6A, 6C, 6G and 6H)

Fall 2016

Sept. 27 - Oct. 21 Oct. 12 - Oct. 21 Oct.. 22 - Dec. 4 Dec. 5 - Dec. 11

Hunting Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Youth Firearms Season: Oct. 8 - Oct. 10 Area Open: Northern and Southern Zone, except bowhunting only MWUs. Eligible Hunters: Youth 14-15 years of age. Bag Limit: One deer of either sex in all open areas, with eligible tags.

NORTHERN ZONE LINE

Deer of Either Sex Deer of Either Sex Antlered Only Deer of Either Sex

Oct. 15 - Oct. 21 Dec. 5 - Dec. 11 Oct. 15 - Oct. 21 Dec. 5 - Dec. 11

Deer of Either Sex

Oct. 15 - Oct. 21

Antlered Only

Oct. 15 - Oct. 21

Early Bear

Sept. 27 - Oct. 14

Bowhunting Crossbow Muzzleloading Regular

Sept. 17 - Oct. 21 Oct. 12 - Oct. 21 Oct. 15 - Oct. 21 Oct. 22 - Dec. 4

Hunting Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Crossbows: May be used to hunt bear during the early bear seasons, muzzleloader seasons and the regular firearms seasons.

Hunting Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Crossbows: May be used to hunt deer during the Northern and Southern Zone regular seasons.

BOBCAT (Information applies to entire Northern Zone)

Crossbows: May be used to hunt deer during the Northern and Southern Zone regular seasons. Crossbows may not be used to hunt deer during the Youth Firearms Season.

Season Dates 2016/17:

Oct. 25 - Feb. 15

Hunting Hours: After sunrise on opening day, and any hour, day or night, during the regular season. There are NO bag limits.

All information on these pages appears courtesy of the New York State Department of Conservation and is reprinted with permission. More information on these maps and other areas of the state are available at www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/huntseasons16.pdf.

If you take a bobcat, you must: 1) Complete a furbearer possession tag AND 2) Get the pelt or unskinned animal sealed.

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Season Dates: Sept. 1 - Mar. 31 Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays & Mondays only.)

SNIPE, RAILS and GALLINULES

Season Dates: Sept. 1 - Nov. 9 A note on these species: All season dates listed include all of New York State except for parts of Long Island. Hunting snipes, rails and gallinules is prohibited in all of Long Island. A migratory duck stamp is not required to hunt these three groups of birds. HIP registration is required for each of these species except crow. To register, call 1-888427-5447 or visit www.NY-HIP .com.

Fall 2016

Outdoors NORTH

SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION WATERFOWL SMALL GAME

TURKEY (fall season)

Northeast:

COTTONTAIL RABBIT

NORTHERN ZONE LINE

Season Dates: Bag Limits: Hunting Hours:

Oct.1 - Mar. 19 6 Sunrise to Sunset

VARYING HARE Season Dates: Bag Limits: Hunting Hours: Oct. 14

Oct. 21 Oct. 21 Oct. 21 Dec. 4

Sunset early bear seas seasons.

Season Dates: Bag Limits: Hunting Hours:

Oct. 1 - Oct. 14 One, either sex Sunrise to Sunset

TURKEY (spring season) Season Dates: Bag Limits: Hunting Hours:

May1 - May 31 (Youth hunt April 22 & 23) Two bearded turkeys (one per day) One half-hour before sunrise to noon

Weasel, Opossum, Skunk, Racoon and Fox Season Dates: Bag Limits: Hunting Hours:

Nov. 1 - Feb. 25 None Day or night

COYOTE Season Dates: Bag Limits: Hunting Hours:

Oct. 1 - Mar. 26 None Day or night

Youth Hunts:

Sept.17 & 18

Sept.24 & 25

Ducks, Coots & Mergansers:

Oct. 8 - 30 Nov. 5 - Dec. 11

Oct.12 - 16 Oct.29 - Dec. 22

Snow Geese:

Oct.1 - Apr. 15

Oct.12 - Dec. 31 Jan. 16 - Apr. 15

Brant:

Oct.1 - Nov. 29

Oct.5 - Dec. 3

Canada Geese:

Sept.1 - Sept. 25 Oct.22 - Nov. 14 Nov.16 - Dec. 11

Sept. 1 - Sept. 25 Oct.12 - Nov. 30

Oct.1 - Mar. 19 6 Sunrise to Sunset

GRAY, BLACK & FOX SQUIRREL Season Dates: Sept.1 - Feb. 28 Bag Limits: 6 Hunting Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Note: The red squirrel is unprotected and may be hunted at any time without limit.

RUFFED GROUSE Season Dates: Sept.20 - Feb. 28

Lake Champlain:

Daily Limit: Ducks/ Sea Ducks: Coot: Snow Geese: Brant: Canada Geese:

Posession Limit:

6 18 15 45 25 No limit 2 6 9/1-9/25 (15/day) 9/1-9/25 (8/day) 10/22 - 11/14 (3/day) 10/12 - 11/30 (3/day) 11/16 - 12/11 (3/day)

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PHEASANT Season Dates: Oct.1 - Feb. 28 Bag Limits: 2 Hunting Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Youth Hunt: Sept. 24-25. Youth 12-15 must be accompanied by an adult licensed hunter.

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Outdoors NORTH

Fall 2016

GAINING AN AERIAL ADVANTAGE

TODD’S COLUMN continued from page 5

Sound preparation and a safe treestand will reap big benefits for the early deer season. By Ed Noonan The longbow hunter’s season opens on the 27 th of this month through October 21. They also will have a sevenday late bow season beginning on December 5. Crossbow hunters however will only get 10 days; October 12 through 21. For those of you who will be taking advantage of these early seasons there are several things that you should have already started in preparation for your hunt. If you haven’t there is still time.

insure that he will soon be hanging in a place of honor in your home.

TREE STAND SAFETY Speaking of tree stands, is yours ready to support you safely? If it is a permanent stand or one that you have left in a tree all year, it definitely should be thoroughly inspected. Connecting straps/chains and foot pegs or ladders should be checked and repaired/replaced. Safety belt selection should not be based on price; when GOOD HUNTING STARTS WITH GOOD GEAR you need a safety belt you want it to be the best money can First, you should have your compound or crossbow buy. There are a number of them out there, and no hunter inspected and tuned by an archery shop professional to should ever enter a treestand without a belt or a harness. insure you a successful and safe hunting season. Once this For years I have used the traditional around the waist belt is done try to shoot at least a dozen arrows three times a and fortunately never had to test it. But after doing a little week at traditional block targets or even better, 3-D deer research I found there is a better one out there that we all targets. This can best be done at a sportsman’s club walking should seriously consider - the harness safety system. This vest-like full body harness is range that presents real the proven way to restrain a woods hunting scenarios. fall safely. Unlike the safety When shooting from belts, when you fall wearing an elevated treestand a harness it will distribute your arrow will always your weight evenly and hit higher than normal hold you upright. The because gravity has less waist belt will break your effect on its trajectory fall however it can also lead and therefore you must to suffocation and internal compensate and aim body injuries. Buy the lower. To do this depends harness! on arrow speed, angle and One last word on safety horizontal distance to the - two way radios are great target. One simple rule of should an emergency occur thumb followed by many when you fall you can call bowhunters is to use the your buddies for help. But horizontal distance to the if you are hunting alone deer. or even if you have radios Determining this there may not be anyone requires that you know/ Don’t skimp on safety: A full-body harness is the safest option for keeping you in your treestand. to hear you. The best rule measure the distances is to always carry your cell from the base of your tree before hunting. Once you have cleared and selected your phone. And if you don’t have one, get one - they are cheap shooting lanes measure and mark your distances while on insurance especially when you need it. Most of the places the ground. The most accurate way is to use a rangefinder. we hunt now have cell service and it is truly the quickest Write all these distances down on a small piece of paper way to get help. and tape it to the inside of your upper limb. ONE LAST WORD Pendulum bow sights are another choice for closeIt should go without saying but by now you should have range shooting from a tree. These sights compensate for flattening arrow trajectory as you increase your shooting spent some time in your bowhunting woods scouting angle. Check with your archery professional for further and setting up your cameras and pruning your treestand area. Hopefully you have found trails leading to the deer’s information about these sights. The more you shoot the more you will increase your bedding and feeding areas which are all ideal places to ability to judge distances, accuracy and increase your put your stand or blind. Just remember, wind direction is drawing strength. When that big North Country or critical to your success and set up accordingly. Don’t let Southern Zone 200 pound 10 pointer walks underneath your first time in the deer woods this year be opening day your treestand you will have the confidence and ability to – scout it. Good Luck!

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FOCUSING ON FOOD SOURCES Near the end of the week of muzzleloader season, a lot of scrapes usually start inundating the forest floor, which makes it an ideal time to cover as much territory as possible. This is a time to figure out where you want to set up for the first few days of northern zone rifle season. In the early parts of the season, you should focus your efforts around food sources. Big bucks usually won’t be traveling too far yet, but like all the other deer in the woods, they have to eat. If you can find a cluster of oak trees or a grove of beech trees that are dropping nuts, it’s a good idea to set a camera up to find out if the deer have found the food. The trail camera will reveal the answer and possibly lead you to a good watch for the beginning of rifle season. After the trees are barren, the days get shorter and the temperatures drop. If you’re lucky the snow will hold off, but there’s always a possibility of getting buried in it while you’re hunting. The unpredictable weather can lead to some memorable fall days. With the temperature around 55 degrees, you could look into a starlit sky on the way into the woods in the morning and be stuck in a snowstorm by nightfall. There are always many adventures waiting to be taken during deer season from mid-September to early December, and upstate New York is a perfect place to begin your journey. As you read this take a look out the window and watch the leaves make their journey out of the sky to find a new home and realize that beyond the colors in the sky there will be flakes of snow waiting to cover everything. Go out and make this deer season the most memorable fall of your life.

About the author

Todd Mead is a member of the New York Outdoor Writers Association. He’s a a regular contributor to several outdoor sports magazines and is the author of Backcountry Bucks and A Lifetime of Big Woods Hunting Memories. He resides in Queensbury, NY. He can be reached at www.toddmead.com

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Fall 2016

Outdoors NORTH

Gearbox

guns & gear with

ED NOONAN

As the leaves begin changing and our calendars fill up with plans and thoughts of the hunting season ahead (whatever our game of choice may be), our thoughts turn undeniably to gear checks. If you’re finding yourself in need of something new this year, check out some what I consider the best out there. This fall, we’re kicking things off with an excellent rangefinder from one of my favorite one-stop places, Bass Pro Shops.

PURSUIT XR600 RANGEFINDER

For the hunter, gun or bow, the distance to that trophy ten-pointer makes a BIG difference if you have plans of putting him on the wall. You can guess the distance but why not know exactly how far with a new Pursuit XR600 Angle Laser Rangefinder from Bass Pro Shop. Features include 600-yard performance and constructed in a rugged and affordable package. Readings are immediate with readings within one yard accuracy with a single push of the button. It also gives you the ability to quickly range multiple targets when set in the scan mode. The XR600B automatically detects and compensates for differences in elevation between the user’s position and the target being ranged with simple and accurate displays. It has a 6x magnification with color LCD readout reliably that displays the reticle, battery status, mode setting, numerical display and unit of measure (yards or meters). This unit is water resistant, comes with a CR2 Lithium ion battery and nylon case. MSRP is $139.00 www.basspro.com

CROSMAN BENJAMIN TRAIL NP2 Here’s something for dad to share with that young gun in the family. It is Benjamin’s new break barrel air rifle featuring the new Nitro Piston 2 and an enhanced two stage Clean Break Trigger. It delivers a lead .177 pellet at a velocity of 1150 feet per second and an alloy pellet at 1400 feet per second. It comes with a Center Point 3-9x32mm scope, all-weather synthetic thumbhole stock and rubber recoil pad. The Trail NP2 is ideal gun for plinking, teaching a youngster safe shooting/hunting techniques as well spending some time in the woods small game hunting. MSRP $249.99. www.crosman.com

LURES BY MEPPS

OTIS I-MOD

If you have a firearm and you are at the range, in the field or hunting a dirty barrel can end you day. To solve this problem without going home you should check out the new OTIS I-MOD Breech-To-Muzzle Gun Cleaning System. The system includes a bronze bore brush to remove copper deposits and other fouling, a chamber brush and rods for proper cleaning, 30 inch Memory-Flex cable for effective and correct Breechto-Muzzle cleaning and Ripcord for quick, one-pass cleaning. MSRP $79.00 www.otistech.com

REDHEAD LAYOUT BLIND

Fall is one of the most productive times to be on your favorite lake or river. Here are a few of those that not only catch the fisherman’s eye but also the fish. Let’s begin with the Mepps Double Blade Aglia which create additional flash and easier to fish over weeds. They come in a variety of attractive colors and sizes and are coated with a tough acrylic finish and carbon steel hooks and genuine bucktails. Prices vary from $7.75 for the 5/16 ounce and $10.05 for the 11/16 ounce. For you walleye anglers Mepps have a Trolling Rig Bucktail that features an interchangeable spiralwound stainless steel clevis for quick and easy blade changes. These two have a variety of colors. Prices vary from $9.05 for the 3/16 ounce to $10.55 for the 1/4 ounce. www.mepps.com

Staying hidden is extremely important for the water fowler if he/she plans on having roast duck/goose dinners. The best cover I have found for lying in a crop field or shoreline is a laydown blind and the RedHead Deluxe Layout Blind is a perfect hiding place. It has all of the features you expect in a premium blind. The light, sturdy aluminum frame deploys and breaks down quickly. It is made with heavy 900 denier polyester fabric shell, light and sturdy aluminum frame and has straps for grass or stubble. Other features includ e zippered flagging ports; insulated, padded back and headrest; 100% waterproof bottom for comfortable warm and dry hunting; and zippered boot sock for easy cleaning. The DeLuxe Layout Blind is 36x83x15 inches open and folds to 36x29x5 inches and includes backpack straps for easy carrying. Total weight is just 15.5 pounds.MSRP $169.97 www.basspro.com

THE CONSERVATIONIST

LENDING MOTHER NATURE A HAND In the first part of this two-part series, Rich Redman highlights the importance of bio-engineering in conservation, and how you can improve an area with a few simple tools.

ears ago when I worked in Washington County as a young USDA Soil Conservation Service employee, I found my calling, so to speak. Rivers have always captured my interest, starting back in my youth on the Cayuga. So, when it came time to do some stream restoration and stabilization projects using a technique called bio-engineering, I jumped into the cold clean waters head first. Working with the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Fishery Technician, Burt Morehouse of the Warrensburg office, and Trout Unlimited members, I was involved with the first bio-engineered cribbing project in New York State back in the late 80’s. THE PROJECT AT WHITE CREEK The project was on White Creek, a tributary of the Battenkill River, which is famous for its trout fishing. This was a cribbing project to protect the streambank from further erosion and to create trout habitat. The cribbing was built with willows laid out in between each layer of cedar logs that formed the crib. The willow cuttings, in time, rooted and grew, with the young whips hanging out over the water, forming a cut bank effect and providing trout habitat. The roots inside the cribbing boxes bound everything together and provided additional bank stability. The willows planted on the top of the crib, covered them with vegetation, hiding the cribs and blending them in, so they looked more natural. The plantings not project was a success and started my career towards more bio-engineering only reduce work protecting streams and reducing erosion, but they shade the the negative effects of erosion and water, acting sedimentation on our trout streams. Plantings are important because as a refuge they not only reduce erosion and during hot and sedimentation, but the vegetation dry weather. hanging over the stream, shades the water, helping to keep the stream cooler. This is especially important for the tributaries that act as refuge sites for trout during hot dry weather like we have had this year. The overhanging vegetation is great cover for fish. The trout can lie in the slower velocity waters along the shoreline and the cover hides them from aerial predators like eagles and osprey, plus those patiently stalking heron. As a seasoned and retired grey hair, I want to share with you river walkers and fishermen some simple willow and dogwood planting methods, namely; live stakes, fascines and posts. These methods can be used on eroded sections where there is a lower velocity and low bank heights. If erosion is severe, other heavier duty methods may be needed such as rock rip rap toes or rock weirs in combination with bio-engineering. BIO-ENGINEERING TECHNIQUES There are three simple techniques that anyone can do with a set of nippers, brush cutters, a shovel, a manual post-hole digger and a small tractor with a fence post augur if you are really feeling adventurist. Live stakes, fascines and posts are simple methods that most of us can tackle. These are no cost to fairly low cost methods if you do the work. Much of the willow and dogwood material can be found along streambanks already, or even growing in nearby wetlands and ditches. Most private property folks are not going to object if you take cuttings, but ask first to be sure. Cuttings do not harm the mother plant. They actually encourage new shoot growth the following year. Continued from page 11

Tributetoa

Outdoors NORTH

trailblazer

Fall 2016

For more than 20 years, Dennis Aprill’s columns were a weekly staple in the Press-Republican. An avid hiker and writer, he delighted readers with his insights and musings on the beauty and wonders of the Adirondacks. Outdoors North remembers Dennis Aprill each issue with a reprint of a past column.

Wildlife Matters

ast July, after giving a talk south of Old Forge, I left to return home early the next morning, driving north via Raquette Lake, Long Lake and Tupper Lake — in other words, through the Adirondack heartland. On that trip, I counted more than two dozen deer browsing near the roadside. In my decades of traveling this route, I have never seen anywhere near that amount of deer. Locally, the sightings have been equally impressive. Recently, I have spotted deer on almost every trip to Plattsburgh from my home in the Adirondacks. In addition, the number of deerauto collisions is rising — all signs the deer herd, after a couple of mild winters, has increased tremendously. On the downside, almost all my sightings have been of does and fawns, few bucks. So, the upcoming deer season for hunters seems to be a good one, especially if more bucks materialize. The North Zone muzzleloader season (deer of either sex legal) opens Oct. 13, the longrunning regular ﬁrearms season starts Oct. 20 and runs to Dec. 2. With the new hunting and trapping license period starting Oct. 1 comes the new, revamped, but not necessarily better Hunting & Trapping 2007-2008 Ofﬁcial Regulations Guide, full of color photos, lots and lots of colorful ads and even, believe it or not, the open seasons and regulations. However, there are some errors, and one should read the guide carefully and double check with the Department of Environmental Conservation Web site. Again this year, there are numerous

big buck contests locally, one of the largest sponsored by Ward Lumber in Jay. This is the 15th year for that contest, and no preregistration is needed. If you are lucky enough to shoot a deer during the archery or upcoming muzzleloader season and it is close to dark and you don’t kill the deer instantly, persist in finding it. A friend of mine lost one recently, and when he finally located the deer the next morning, the coyotes had cleaned it down to a bare carcass overnight! I have had reports of similar experiences from other hunters. Try to find that deer ASAP. Speaking of coyotes, last January DEC and the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry started a coyote study called “Population Status and Forging Ecology of Eastern Coyotes in New York State.” DEC biologists and SUNY ESF researchers are trying to find out the distribution and abundance of coyotes in the state and their impact on deer, especially fawns.

if you are lucky enough to shoot a deer during the archery or muzzleloader season and do not kill it instantly, persist in finding it. They are looking at the coyotes’ overall diets on a seasonal basis. Coupled with this study is the Roland Kays genetic study of coyotes in the northeastern United States. Kays, from the New York State Museum, has been getting coyote DNA samples from northern New York. Look for more on this study and coyotes in

Eastern coyotes are the focus of an ongoing Department of Environmental Conservation study to determine their impact on deer. So far, the early beartake results indicate there are more bear around this year than last.

general in an upcoming column. DEC wildlife biologist Ed Reed reports the Northern Zone bear-take as of last Monday was 183, compared to 52 last year, an all-time low. Apparently, bear numbers have stabilized, and there was less food out there this summer and

fall to keep bears close to home. The more they move about, the more vulnerable they become. Reed adds, “Most of the bears have come from outside the core Adirondacks and from towns in the peripheral Adirondacks and Champlain Valley.”

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Fall 2016

Outdoors NORTH

WHAT’S IN A BAIT?

Technology has made tremendous advances in allowing anglers to make and customize their own bait. By Bobby Williams

hroughout the fishing industry, whether you are trolling for Muskie, Northern Pike, Salmon and Lake Trout or casting for Large or Small Mouth Bass, custom plastics have become an integral part of the angler’s arsenal with exceptional results. Most anglers have their go-to baits when fishing, especially when the bite gets tough, but in many cases those products are no longer available or manufacturers have modified the colors. As manufacturers of artificial fishing products is on the decline and the availability of tried and true baits can’t be found anywhere on the market, Anglers are choosing to have custom soft plastic lures made to fill the void. Andre DuQuesnay, owner of andrescustombaits.com stated that he “has been making custom tackle and baits since the mid 1970’s. I started pouring my own bass jigs because I couldn’t get the size, colors or quality I wanted in tackle stores” THE DEMAND FOR CUSTOMIZATION The demand has been increasing for hand crafted custom products throughout the country for several years. With technological advances in affordable equipment, soft plastics and the addition of additives such as color, salt and scent, numerous small businesses have popped up all over the country, several in our local communities. When discussing hand pored baits or injecting plastic into molds with our local experts, Andre DuQuesnay , Jesse Bezio (Bezio’s Custom Bait and Tackle) and Perry Marvin (Peru, New York), one thing became abundantly clear, demand his high for products that exceed durability and color options of some of the industry leading manufactures. DuQuesnay stated “the advantages of using hand poured baits is that they can be made to match regional differences. What I did find was that people like the quality and color selection they had available to them”. Bezio added “ they are custom made to fit certain types of water depending on water clarity, structure and habitat including an angler’s

specific needs, including action and scent”. Many of the big lure manufacturers are producing soft plastic products that range between $1.00 -$40.00 per bait. When purchasing Home Made soft plastic products this doesn’t indicate they are cheaply made or an inferior products, quite the contrary. “These lures need to work, be durable and have an affordable price tag states Bezio, “I developed custom made lures for every angler including bass fisherman. Marvin added “Making your own tackle not only presents many advantages, it is also a great pass time for the long winter in the North Country.” LIMITED TO YOUR IMAGINATION “The fishing industry changes every year, companies come out with new baits or new inventions to try to get a better edge on the competitor. It’s very important to stay up to date with the new technologies of the fishing industry because that’s what recreational or tournament anglers want” stated Bezio.

Since Perry Marvin Jr. is the youngest interviewed, I asked Marvin about the novice beginner and how to get started making your own tackle, the costs involved and was there a learning curve . He stated “The initial start up cost is relatively low for the yield it allows to be produced, and the materials are readily available online. In addition it allows you, the angler, to produce a bait the specifically responds the way you desire. By creating various mixtures of both salt, plastic, and softening agent you are able to produce almost any texture imaginable in a soft plastic, with the wide array of colored dyes, reflective flakes, and scents, you are able to personalize your baits even further.” Custom and Home made doesn’t stop at soft plastics. There are hundreds of molds and products that can be purchased online for anyone wanting to try their hand in the manufacturing of their fishing gear; lead molds for spinners and jgs, hand pour and injection type soft plastic molds of all shapes, sizes and styles. It doesn’t stop at soft plastics and lure manufacturing , many molds are available for both weights and terminal tackle. For example, drop shot weights, a highly expendable and relatively expensive product can be made for no more than .10 cents a piece” Whether you choose to purchase custom hand made products or try dabbling in it yourself , many angler’ are enjoying a vast amount of success with customized products. Give it a try, I use them and I can promise, you won’t be disappointed.

About the author Soft plastic swim baits by andrescustombaits.com.

Bobby Williams is a retired professional angler, Head Coach of SUNY Plattsburgh Fishing and is a member of The Bass Federation National Board of Directors.

LENDING MOTHER NATURE A HAND, Continued from page 9

Note: You can’t legally take cuttings from STATE land in the Adirondacks because of the “Forever Wild” policy, nor can you plant anything on State land. This means that if you are fly fishing along the river on State land, and you see an eroded section that is screaming for some willows or dogwoods, you can’t legally take a few cuttings from nearby willows or dogwoods and stick them in an eroded section of streambank. So, if you are leaning towards a renegade outlaw eco willow warrior fly fishermen or river walker approach, and take a few cuttings and stick them in the soft mud to help the Mother Nature out, you are on your own. As Sergeant Schultz of Hogan’s Hero’s declared: “I know nothing”! It was just a passing psychotic thought! Fall is the best time to do bio-engineering work. When the willow leaves turn yellow, the plants are going dormant and much of the energy of the plant has been

stored in the roots. This is a prime time to take cuttings. Due to the dormancy, the mother plant won’t try to regrow and burn stored energy. Willows and dogwoods like sunlight, so make sure your cuttings are going into a sunny location.

About the author

Rich Redman is the present owner of Forest Field Stream Habitat Restoration and a columnist for Outdoors North.

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