The latest from ADKHunter…

ADKHunter.com Posted on by

Here comes bear season (and grouse):

Sept. 19 is a big day for Adirondack bear hunters, as the rifle season opens in the interior of the Adirondacks this Saturday. Bowhunters can have at it in the rest of the Northern Zone on the fringe of the ADK’s. DEC says there’s a lot of berries in the woods, plenty of acorns but not much on beechnuts. Of course, this is all newsworthy to deer hunters as well with the Sept. 27 bow opener just around the corner. That also includes crossbow. 

And, grouse season begins Sunday, Sept. 20. Finding them in the North Country (or anywhere these days) can be tough, but when you do, they’re fun to hunt.

Speaking of crossbows, here’s a pretty good commentary I wish I had written. Meanwhile, good luck out there for the bear opener and shoot us a photo if you shoot a bear. Also, be sure to share your photos with NY Outdoor News. 

-Dan’l 

More reports below:

Continue reading →

Adirondack Bear Season Begins Sept. 19

ADKHunter.com Posted on by

Bear hunting seasons begin on Sept. 19 and run through December 6 in the Northern Zone. The rifle season is only in Adirondack WMUs, while bowhunting is allowed in the rest of the Northern Zone. 

Bear Cooperators
Each hunting season, DEC works with successful bear hunters, cooperating taxidermists, and meat processors to collect age, sex, and weight information from harvested black bears. Recording this information over time allows DEC to more accurately monitor the size and health of New York State’s bear population, which helps inform future bear management decisions. To determine a bear’s age, DEC examines growth patterns in the root of an extracted premolar tooth.

Successful hunters who report their bear harvest and submit a premolar tooth from their bear will receive a commemorative patch and the age information from their bear. Hunters may also work with cooperating taxidermists and meat processors who will remove and submit the premolar teeth on their behalf. Please note that bear jaws and skulls submitted in lieu of a premolar tooth will not be analyzed for an age estimate.

Southern Zone Bear
An early bear season began on September 12 and runs through September 27 in 11 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) in the Southern Zone (WMUs, 3A, 3C, 3H, 3J, 3K, 3M, 3P, 3R, 4P, 4R, and 4W). Additionally, an early antlerless deer season begins on September 12 and runs through September 20 in 23 WMUs in the Southern Zone–including 10 new WMUs where the early antlerless deer season has been expanded (1C, 3M, 3P, 3R, 3S, 4J, 6P, 7F, 7J, 7H, 7R, 8A, 8C, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8N, 8R, 8S, 9A, 9F, and 9G).

 

Early NY deer Seasons
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is reminding big game hunters that early hunting seasons for deer and bear begin in September in New York State. An early bear season began on September 12th and runs through September 27th in eleven Wildlife Management Units in the Southern Zone (WMUs, 3A, 3C, 3H, 3J, 3K, 3M, 3P, 3R, 4P, 4R & 4W). Additionally, an early antlerless deer season begins on September 12th and runs through September 20th in 23 WMUs in the Southern Zone – including 10 new WMUs where the early antlerless deer season has been expanded (1C, 3M, 3P, 3R, 3S, 4J, 6P, 7F, 7J, 7H, 7R, 8A, 8C, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8N, 8R, 8S, 9A, 9F & 9G). Bear hunting seasons begin on September 19th and run through December 6th in the Northern Zone.  

Continue reading →

Adirondack Backcountry Conditions (9/11)

ADKHunter.com Posted on by

Recent Notices

The following are only the most recent notices pertaining to public lands in the Adirondacks. Please check the Backcountry Information webpage for a full list of notices, including seasonal road statuses, specific trail conditions, and other pertinent information.

Weekend of Sept. 11

Western

  • Five Ponds Wilderness: Campsites 14 and 19 on Stillwater Reservoir are closed through October 2 for improvements.
  • Cranberry Lake Wild Forest: As of September 1, the Massawepie Conservation Easement is open to public use for the season.

Southwestern

  • Independence River Wild Forest: Campsites 35 and 41 on Stillwater Reservoir are closed through October 2 for improvements.
  • Five Ponds Wilderness: Red Horse Trail- Hikers will need to navigate around two bridges that have washed away between Witchopple and Clear Lakes, and beaver flooding between Salmon and Witchopple Lakes. A trail crew will be working on the trail 9/8 – 9/17, and may be camped at the lean-to or along the trail during this period.
  • Forked Lake Campground: Attention boaters, backwoods campers, and hunters – Forked Lake Road from North Point Road to the Forked Lake Campground will be closed to all traffic starting on 9/11 for a bridge replacement project. DEC will notify when it’s reopened. Be aware that access to the campground parking and boat launch will be shut off starting on 9/8.
  • Upper Chateaugay Boat Launch: NYSDEC will be closing the Upper Chateaugay Boat Launch site starting 9/21 for up to 3 weeks for construction. During this time, the entire facility will not be accessible for any purposes to the public. Thank you for your patience during these necessary repairs.

Continue reading →

Saratoga Spa State Park Announces Deer Hunting Season 

ADKHunter.com Posted on by

Deer Management Plan Offers 15 Archery Permits in Undeveloped Area 

Apply by Sept. 22

(Saratoga Springs, NY) – The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) will open an undeveloped section of Saratoga Spa State Park to white-tailed deer hunting for the 2026-27 season as part of a deer management program. The program allows permitted bow and crossbow white-tailed deer hunting within a roughly 600-acre section of the park south of East-West Road within the city of Saratoga Springs and the town of Malta. The park will issue 15 permits for the initial hunting season from October 13, 2026, through January 1, 2027. 

Hunters are required to receive a park-specific hunting permit, in addition to their New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)-issued hunting license, to hunt at the park. Applications for the park-specific hunting permit will be available at the park office, 19 Roosevelt Dr., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, from September 8 through September 22, 8:30am-4pm. Applications will be accepted until 4pm Tuesday, September 22. A randomized lottery system will be used to select which 15 applicants receive permits to ensure all applications have an equal chance of being selected.

The hunting area will be posted with signage, and hunting will not be permitted within 250-feet of any building, road, parking lot, or neighboring private property. Portable tree stands are permitted during the hunting season, provided hunters do not damage trees or other vegetation. Building or using permanent tree stands is prohibited. No overnight camping is permitted within the park. All other OPRHP rules and regulations apply.

The park’s deer management program will follow DEC’s Earn-a-2nd-Buck program – meaning that before harvesting an antlered deer (buck), participants must first take an antlerless deer. All other rules pertaining to hunting season dates and allowed take will follow DEC deer hunting regulations for this area of the state. The park is within DEC Wildlife Management Unit 5R, within DEC’s Southern Zone. 

After taking into consideration feedback gathered at a public information meeting on May 14, 2026, and a two-week public comment period, OPRHP approved the hunting proposal to address the negative impacts of deer overabundance in Saratoga Spa State Park and to provide additional outdoor recreational opportunities. The goal is to manage white-tailed deer populations within the park at a level appropriate to support forest regeneration and resilient natural communities; enhance habitat for forest-dependent wildlife; and provide for safe and enjoyable recreational and educational opportunities. Over 80 New York State Parks and Historic Sites maintain hunting programs, of which 65 offer deer hunting, including several in OPRHP’s Saratoga-Capital District Region.

Further information on the hunting program, including the hunting area map, is available on the Saratoga Spa State Park website: https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/saratoga-spa-state-park.  

Sporting Licenses On Sale

ADKHunter.com Posted on by

Hunting and trapping licenses and Deer Management Permits (DMPs) for the 2026-27 season are now on sale. Licenses and permits can be purchased online, at any of DEC’s license-issuing agents, or by telephone at 1-866-933-2257. Hunting and trapping licenses are valid from September 1 through August 31 each year, while annual fishing licenses are valid for 365 days from date of purchase. Lifetime licensees who receive their licenses and tags electronically should check their email and those still receiving them via mail should receive them during the month of August.

Through November 30, the DEC Call Center is operating from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday; from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays; and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 22 and Sunday, November 29. Regular call center weekday hours resume on December 1.  

Hunters should have the following ready when buying a license: 

  • Complete contact information (e.g., name, address, email address, telephone number). For those who want their license and/or tags emailed, a valid email address is required. 
  • DEC customer ID number (if applicable). 
  • Proof of residency (e.g., driver’s license or non-driver’s ID with a valid New York State address). 
  • If purchasing by phone or internet, a valid credit card. 
  • If not already entered in DEC’s automated licensing system, hunters must provide proof of hunter or trapper education certification or a copy of a previous license for all hunting and trapping license purchases. 

For additional information, visit the General Sporting License Information webpage on DEC’s website. Information for hunters with a disability can be found on the Permits for Hunters with Disabilities page on DEC’s website. 

The 2026-27 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, with pertinent rules and regulations, is available on the DEC Hunting webpage. Copies are also available at license issuing agents. Hunters are encouraged to stay up to date on changes to regulations as they prepare for the fall hunting seasons by visiting the Hunting page on DEC’s website. 

Hunting and Trapping Rule Changes for 2026 
In addition to changes in DMP availability (below), DEC adopted several changes to deer hunting regulations, including an expanded September antlerless season in several Wildlife Management Units and the “Earn-a-2nd-Buck” program. To facilitate the “Earn-a-2nd-Buck” program, DEC reclassified the former “Regular Season Deer Tag” as an “Antlered Deer Tag” and the former “Bow/Muzzleloader Either-Sex Deer Tag” as a “Bow/Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Tag.” Hunters who purchase bowhunting and muzzleloading privileges will receive a “Bow/Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Tag” for each privilege. Hunters will earn a tag for a second buck after taking and reporting one antlerless deer. For more information, review the “Q&A” on new hunting regulations to increase harvest of antlerless deer.  

Deer Management Permits (DMPs) 
Hunters can apply for DMPs (tags for antlerless deer) at all license-issuing outlets, by phone, or online. New in 2026, hunters can apply for up to four DMPs: two in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) with limited DMPs and two in WMUs with unlimited DMPs. For WMUs with limited DMPs, the DMP application and issuance process will be open from August 3 through October 1 and DMPs will be issued through the typical lottery process. The chances of obtaining a DMP in these units will remain the same throughout the application period; hunters do not need to rush to apply.  

Unlimited DMPs will be available in 23 WMUs (1C, 3M, 3P, 3R, 3S, 4J, 6P, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7R, 8A, 8C, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8N, 8R, 8S, 9A, 9F, and 9G). Hunters can apply for DMPs in these WMUs at any time throughout the hunting seasons and all hunters who apply will receive DMPs. Preference points are not used or received when applying for DMPs in WMUs with unlimited DMPs. DMPs that are used to harvest antlerless deer in these WMUs will be replaced with a bonus DMP in the same WMU upon harvest report, allowing hunters to continue harvesting antlerless deer. There is no fee to obtain bonus DMPs. 

The 2026 chances of selection for a DMP in each WMU are available online, through license issuing agents, or by calling the DMP Hotline at 1-866-472-4332. To learn more about the issuance of DMPs, visit DEC’s website.

DEC also adopted changes to season dates and zones for fisher trapping. Visit DEC’s website for up-to-date information on hunting and trapping regulations and seasons.  

Camper missing in Moose River Plains

ADKHunter.com Posted on by

New York State Police are reaching out to the public for assistance in locating a 73-year-old camper who was reported missing in the central Adirondacks last month, and who has not been seen since early August.

A NYSP press release said that on Aug. 17, they were notified of a possible missing person, Craig K. Streeter, of Mahopac, in Putnam County.

Streeter was last heard from on Aug. 2 and was last seen that same day at the Stewarts Shop convenience store in Indian Lake, in Hamilton County. Police said he was wearing a dark-colored long-sleeve shirt and jeans and left the location traveling in his RV.

State Police members responded to campsite 36 on Moose River Road (Limekiln Lake-Cedar River Road) in the town of Inlet after a recreational vehicle was located with no known activity. A preliminary investigation determined the RV belonged to Streeter, who is known to travel and camp in remote areas.

Due to Streeter’s lifestyle and frequent travel to remote camping areas, it was not uncommon for him to be out of contact for periods of time.

New York State Forest Rangers were the first to locate the RV. After they were unable to locate Streeter, additional law enforcement agencies were requested to assist with the search.

At press time, the search remained active and was being conducted by multiple agencies. Since August 17, searchers have covered more than 728 linear miles and 2,514 acres. There are currently no indications of foul play.

The 64,322-acre Moose River Plains Wild Forest is part of the 79,487-acre Moose River Plains Complex. The complex is a popular year-round outdoor recreation area accessible via a 23-mile seasonal road that features 116 remote roadside campsites. Streeter’s campsite is in the vicinity of the Sly Pond and Butter Brook trails, which are among several backcountry trails in the complex.

Anyone who was camping or hiking in the area or nearby remote camping areas between Aug. 2 and Aug. 7, and may have seen Streeter or has any information regarding his whereabouts or this incident, is asked to contact the New York State Police at 518-897-2000.

DEC Finalizes Adirondack Brook Trout Management Plan

ADKHunter.com Posted on by

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced the release of the final Adirondack Brook Trout Pond Management Plan. The brook trout is New York’s state fish and an iconic symbol of the Adirondacks and DEC’s new plan identifies the current risks, challenges, and opportunities that will guide the State’s management actions at Adirondack brook trout ponds for the next 15 years.

In the United States, pond dwelling populations of brook trout are extremely rare outside of Maine and New York. Brook trout ponds are an important component of the natural heritage of the Adirondacks, providing a unique angling opportunity in an often-secluded location. Once ubiquitous on our northern landscape, up to 90% of brook trout pond habitat has been lost due to anthropogenic factors, including poor silvicultural practices, acid-precipitation, and incompatible and detrimental fish species introductions. Retaining this resource is imperative to preserve our Adirondack natural heritage and a key element of the ecosystem.

Read the NY Outdoor News Report here. 

Continue reading →