Author Name: John Burmeister
Well it looks like the first Rubs of the season are starting to show up.
With the many pics of the bucks shedding their velvet in the trail camera section : http://huntingny.com...amera-pictures/ - I suspect we will start to see a few more members posting pictures of rubs found around their property like our member here did : http://huntingny.com...aly-a-buck-rub/
Keep on the lookout! These are all signs that the season is just around the corner!
Author Name: John Burmeister
High Peaks & Giant Mountain Wilderness Areas Re-opened; Dix Wilderness Area Remains Closed
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) continues to review and update state trail and campground closures in the Adirondack and Catskill regions, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. Many state trails continue to be impassable or inaccessible due to the current weather conditions. In the interest of public safety, DEC will continue to assess conditions to determine if new closures are necessary and the status on the reopening of state trails and campgrounds.
“We know how popular these areas are to hikers and how important hikers are to the local economy,” said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. “We have been able to re-open some of the wilderness areas and much of the trail systems in those areas due to the quick response and hard work of DEC staff and our stewardship partners. I also want to express my appreciation to the public for heeding the closures and allowing us to focus on the trail system. We did not need to respond to any search and rescue calls in the three wilderness areas during the closure.”
Unsafe conditions remain in much of the backcountry of the Catskills due to the aftermath of Hurricane Irene and heavy rains which continue to cause flooding, bridge wash outs, trail wash outs, downed trees and other debris. In addition, many local roads are closed or only single lane traffic. As a result, DEC has received local requests to close trail heads in these impacted areas in an attempt to keep the roads open for local residents and emergency vehicles.
Heavy rains across central New York and the Southern Tier have caused flash floods in some areas. DEC managed areas may be inaccessible and have not been fully assessed for damage at this time. Plan accordingly and be prepared to turn back when conditions warrant.
Campgrounds
Many DEC Campgrounds in the Adirondacks and the Catskills experienced significant damage from the storm including flooded areas, road destruction and loss of electric and water service. Campgrounds in the Adirondack Park and in all of the Catskill Preserve are being assessed and evaluated daily and are opening based on their accessibility and safety.
Given the weather and imminent return of flooding to the Northern Catskills and beyond, DEC will not reopen the Catskill regional campgrounds this weekend. In addition, all DEC campgrounds in Delaware, Greene, Sullivan and Ulster counties will remain closed until further notice.
Seventeen of the 41 Adirondack DEC campgrounds have closed for the season as regularly scheduled. Four campgrounds – Lake Harris, Scaroon Manor, Luzerne and Hearthstone Point – will close on Sunday, September 11. Fall camping is available through Columbus Day weekend at 20 Adirondack DEC campgrounds.
Clinton County: Ausable Point.
Essex County: Crown Point, Paradox Lake, and Wilmington Notch.
Franklin County: Fish Creek, Meacham Lake, and Saranac Lake Islands
Fulton County: Northampton Beach
Hamilton County: Eighth Lake, Indian Lake Islands, Lake Durant, Lewey Lake, Moffit Beach, and Sacandaga.
Warren County: Lake George Battleground, Lake George islands (Glen Island, Long Island, & Narrow Island), and Rogers Rock.
Herkimer County: Nicks Lake.
A list of open and operational DEC campgrounds is continuously being updated on the DEC's website at http://www.dec.ny.go...blic/76659.html. The public should be aware that many state and local roads may be inaccessible to travel and access to campground areas could be limited. Those planning to visit the Adirondack or Catskill regions this weekend should call ahead or check for road closure information at the Department of Transportation's webpage at http://511ny.org/.
Trails
Catskills: Trails in the Catskill backcountry have been heavily impacted and the public is advised to avoid the backcountry at this time. Due to damage to roads, many trailheads and other access points to the backcountry are inaccessible. All trails on DEC-managed property in Ulster and Greene counties are closed until further notice.
Adirondack Area openings: The eastern zone of the High Peaks Wilderness and Giant Mountain Wilderness areas has been re-opened effective Thursday, September 8. Due to the amount of damage to certain trails, and the continued closure of a section of route 73 and other roads, Dix Mountain Wilderness area and a number of trails in the reopened areas will remain closed. However, the majority of trails are now open for public recreation.
Giant Mountain Wilderness: Open trails include all trails starting from the trailheads on Route 9 and Route 9N. Giant Mountain may also be accessed via the Hopkin Mountain trail from the Ranney trailhead.
High Peaks Wilderness: Open trails include those starting at the Adirondack Loj trailhead, the Cascade Mountain trailhead, the Garden trailhead, the Rooster Comb trailhead, the Upper Works trailhead, and the East River trailhead.
All trails out of the Adirondack Mountain Reserve (Ausable Club) remain closed due to the closure of a section of route 73 and the damage to the trailhead parking lots.
The Elk Lake trailhead remains closed.
Trails that are not closed still may have bridges washed out and water levels in most rivers and brooks are at spring-high water levels. Crossings may be impassable at this time. These trails may also have blowdown, eroded sections or flooded areas. Pay close attention as many trails have been rerouted to avoid heavily damaged sections and eroded drainages can be mistaken for trails. The ability to navigate with a map and compass is important.
DEC is bringing in additional emergency crews and staff to continue to clear and repair trails. The list of closed trails and conditions for open trails are available on DEC’s High Peaks Trail Information web page (www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7865.html). Information on closures and conditions of Catskill Preserve trails can be found at: http://www.dec.ny.go...blic/76659.html. This information will be updated as trails are assessed and reopened.
Hikers and campers should expect to encounter flooding, bridge wash outs, trail wash outs and blowdown when entering the backcountry. Hikers are advised to plan accordingly and be prepared to turn back when conditions warrant.
Author Name: John Burmeister
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has confirmed that approximately 100 white-tailed deer found dead in the Town of Clarkstown, Rockland County, over the last two weeks were killed by Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD). EHD is a viral disease of white-tailed deer that is transmitted by the biting midge in the family Culicoides. The EHD virus does not infect humans and humans are not at risk by being bitten by the infected midge also known as a no-see-um or punkie.
DEC wildlife biologists collected a sampling of deer carcasses in Rockland County and submitted them to the Fish and Wildlife Health Unit for necropsy. Tissue samples were then sent to the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University and the National Veterinary Services Laboratory where the diagnosis of EHD was identified.
The EHD virus was last confirmed in New York in 2007 in Albany and Niagara Counties. EHD outbreaks are most common in the late summer and early fall when the midges are abundant. The symptoms of EHD include fever, small hemorrhages or bruises in the mouth and nose, swelling of the head, neck, tongue and lips. A deer infected with EHD may appear lame or dehydrated. Frequently, infected deer will seek out water sources and many succumb near a water source. An infected deer may die within 1-3 days after being bitten by the midge or the disease may progress more slowly over weeks or months. There is no treatment and no means of prevention for EHD. The dead deer do not serve as a source of infection for other animals
.
EHD outbreaks do not have a significant impact on deer populations. Generally, EHD outbreaks occur in a specific geographic area and about half of the EHD infected deer may die in an outbreak. In the North, the first hard frost kills the midges that transmit the disease and the EHD outbreak ends.
Hunters should not handle or eat any deer that appears sick or acts strangely. DEC will continue to monitor the situation. Sightings of sick or dying deer should be reported to the nearest DEC Regional Office or to an Environmental Conservation Officer. For more information on EHD and helpful related links, visit the DEC website directly at http://www.dec.ny.go...als/39767.html.
Author Name: John Burmeister
I can't speak for everyone, however last year I could have shoveled the acorns off the ground almost everywhere on our property. Last year was quite a year for acorns in New York and I believe it had accounted for less action and movement during the hunting season, specifically bow season. Deer love acorns, and if they are dropping that is what they are going to hit first regardless of food plots and other food sources you have in the area.
If there are acorns everywhere, specifically in the area's where deer feel secure, near bedding area's and thickets why would a deer move out of those area's when they have everything they need right there? Most of the success around my area were people that had hunted near deer bedding area's. While others who did not observed minimal movement during the bow season, which was the complete opposite of previous years where their stands / blinds had a lot of action and success. Last year I observed that the deer movement basically changed overnight once those acorns started dropping. We had two trail camera’s up one on a major travel route to our two small food plots and another in the field. The deer were still hitting the fields at night, however action during the day nearly stopped on the fields once those acorns starting dropping and the one travel route became a ghost town, the trail camera was snapping a fraction of what it was before.
This year is different, I noticed a lot less acorns in the oak tree’s, and hope that this may cause some more movement during the day. Those with food plots might see the plots getting hit more frequently and earlier then last year. If you have an area's where acorns drop constantly year after year that might be the place to setup shop this year. There are a few nice white oaks where we had setup a friend to hunt during the bow season, unfortunately there was not a lot of action in this spot because the deer had way to many other places to fill up on. Something else to thing about is how has last years acorn crop effected this years deer population. I was speaking with a friend yesterday, and he is could not believe the amount of bear cubs and fawns he has seen this year, and attributes that the to the acorn crop of last year.
Acorn information:
“One ounce of dried acorn has on average 140 calories, of which 9 grams is fat, 15 grams is carbohydrate, and 2 grams is protein. Using some simple math, that means a whopping 50% (72 calories) of the caloric intake is from fat! Now you now why deer pig out on them prior to the onset of winter. But the buck doesn’t stop there.
Carbohydrates make up 43% of the caloric intake, which can also be converted and stored by a deer’s body as fat or immediately used as energy. Protein makes up just 6% of the caloric intake, but protein is not very important for adult deer at this time of year. However, growing fawns appreciate the additional protein because they need it to increase muscle mass prior to the dead of winter.” - Source: http://www.buckmanag...iled-deer-food/
The QDMA has an article “Scouting After The Harvest” which covers some great points about what to look for when inspecting an Oak tree.
“If you are inspecting an oak, do you see many acorn caps, a good indication that something has eaten the acorns? In fact, if deer are heavily using a particular oak tree, you shouldn’t find many acorns because they are eating them as fast as they fall. Obviously, signs that deer are eating the food source are important. However, the one key sign I look for and will instantly give me confidence that deer are using the area is fresh deer droppings. If old droppings are present too, I’m hanging a stand! That means that deer have been using the area consistently for a while.”
What have you noticed in your hunting area’s? Do you notice any deer movement changes during banner acorn years? How is the acorn crop this year looking as opposed to previous years?
