New York State Conservationist back issues from October 2006:
Native Americans & white-tailed deer: before Europeans arrived with iron, brass, copper, steel, fabrics and glass, the white-tail was a virtual "general store" to the native people of the northeast.(Food, function & fashion)
Oct 01, 2006; ... The lives of Native Americans and white-tailed deer have long been intertwined. To eastern woodland tribes, deer were essential for survival, providing everything from food to weapons. In fact, with the exception of the bison and the Plains Indians, the white-tailed deer probably did more ...
Land for the future.(Cover story)
Oct 01, 2006; ... In the past eleven years, New York State has invested almost $600 million to conserve nearly one million acres of open space, including important wildlife habitat, working farms and forests, and recreational resources such as lands for hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, trapping and ...
The longtail weasel: survival chooses many colors, and for the longtail weasel--Mustela frenata--those colors are white and brown.
Oct 01, 2006; ... Survival chooses many colors, and for the longtail weasel--Mustela frenata--those colors are white and brown. I was lucky enough to "meet" a longtail weasel late last year, and it was an experience I'll never forget. Longtail Weasel: Facts Most of the year, the ...
Fall foliage tours.(EMPIRE STATE ADVENTURES)
Oct 01, 2006; ... If you're a resident of New York State, particularly the eastern part of the state, you've been conditioned to believe that New England--notably Vermont--is THE place to view truly stunning fall foliage. And if you're typical, you head in that direction every autumn despite encountering ...
The American woodcock.
Oct 01, 2006; ... The American woodcock is one of New York's most unusual upland birds. Approximately the size of a mourning dove, the woodcock has a bill that looks too long for its body, and ears that are placed forward on the face, between the eyes and the bill. To help guard against predation from ...
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana).
Oct 01, 2006; ... As you walk through the woods of New York this fall, keep your eyes open for witch hazel, the last blooming "wildflower" of the year. Found from Nova Scotia south to Georgia, the woods-loving witch hazel is a 10-15 foot tall shrub that sports unusual yellow flowers in autumn ....
Standing the test of time: still-hunting the Adirondacks.
Oct 01, 2006; ... Adirondack deer hunting has changed considerably since the days of guides like Mitchell Sabattis, John Cheney and French Louie. Gone are hounding, floating and jacklighting; they've been illegal for more than a century, Today, practices such as rattling antlers, calling, and bowhunting ...
Outdoor discovery: nature's color palette.
Oct 01, 2006; ... Autumn in New York means a dazzling display of fall foliage; the rich tones of red, orange, yellow and gold make the world seem alight. It's one of nature's most impressive scenes, and also one of her most closely guarded secrets. Like a skilled magician, she makes the impossible seem ...
Rangers to the rescue.
Oct 01, 2006; ... Wildfire--Washington County In September 2002, Forest Ranger Steve Guenther was on an aerial fire detection flight in the Lake George area of the eastern Adirondacks. Rangers were using aerial detection due to extremely dry conditions and recent lightning storms. Ranger Guenther ...
Bear baiting--Greene County.(On Patrol: Real stories from officers in the field)
Oct 01, 2006; ... In early October, ECO Mike Arp received an anonymous tip stating that there was illegal baiting activity occurring in the town of Halcott. Information indicated that the owner of a hunting camp had been baiting bear with apples, corn, bagels, and doughnuts near his camp. The tipster said ...
Not fishing--Oswego County.(On Patrol: Real stories from officers in the field)
Oct 01, 2006; ... ECOs Robert Higgins and Steven Shaw patrolled the Salmon River in plainclothes looking for illegal fishing. They heard yelling and splashing on Trout Brook, a tributary that flows into the Salmon River. Walking up the brook to investigate, the officers found four fishermen on the bank of ...
Heap of trouble--Cortland county.(On Patrol: Real stories from officers in the field)
Oct 01, 2006; ... The owner of an unregistered auto dismantling facility in the Town of Cuyler had been cited for numerous environmental violations over a period of years. Recently, while working an undercover operation. ECO Jim Milewski was able to purchase auto parts at the scrap yard, observe ...
Ask the ECO.(On Patrol: Real stories from officers in the field)
Oct 01, 2006; ... Q: Can I still use lead sinkers for fishing? A: Yes. But beginning in May 2004. the sale of lead sinkers weighing one-half ounce or less was banned in New York State. This law does not limit the use of these sinkers, but studies have found that small lead sinkers (a.k.a. "split ...
Deer management: update.
Oct 01, 2006; ... DMPs New York's deer population weathered the worst of the storms that caused population and harvest declines since 2002. Many New York Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) were in a stage of intentional herd reduction when severe winters hit. and the impact on the deer population ...
New license plates.(NEWS)
Oct 01, 2006; ... The Marine and Coastal District of New York license plate is the newest in the "special causes" series. Joining plates that support open space conservation and cancer research--among others--it raises both money and awareness for a unique area of the state. $20 of ...
New nature center.(NEWS)
Oct 01, 2006; ... After years of planning and one year of building, the Montezuma Audubon Center is scheduled to open this fall. Located in the Northern Montezuma Wetlands Complex, the center is Audubon New York's first environmental interpretation and educational facility in central New York. It boasts a ...
Botulism in Lake Ontario.(NEWS)
Oct 01, 2006; ... DEC is investigating the deaths of birds found along the shores of Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands area of the St. Lawrence River. Gulls and terns collected from Little Galloo Island in July were infected with Type E Botulism. This strain most commonly affects fish-eating birds. It ...
New state symbol.(NEWS)
Oct 01, 2006; ... The striped bass and the snapping turtle have joined the beaver, brook trout, bluebird, and others as official New York State symbols. The state's new official marine fish, the striped bass, is an ...
Rest stop rattlers.(NEWS)
Oct 01, 2006; ... Snake sightings in mid-July prompted the closing of a rest area near Corning, just west of Exit 43 on Interstate 86. Public Works employees found two timber rattlesnakes--the state's largest venomous snake--sunning themselves b the area's picnic tables. The Department of Transportation ...
Government flies?(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Oct 01, 2006; ... For the past week we have been inundated with large flies. We have heard stories that flies have been released to kill off the gypsy moths that are infesting the mountains. Please give us any pertinent information. Pat and Bert Ketchum Shokan, Ulster County ...
Fox trot.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Oct 01, 2006; ... We have an old bird feeder we don't use any more, so we use it to feed stray cats in our area. We put two bowls of cat food in the feeder and every morning they are empty. So we watched one night and this is the culprit, a grey fox. Here is the proof. We definitely enjoy watching the ...
Here Kitty, Kitty.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Oct 01, 2006; ... A few days ago, my neighbor claims to have seen a mountain lion cross a field near his house. He said that it was bigger than his dog. I wasn't convinced until I came across a deer carcass that had been dragged from area under an apple tree. Is it. possible, for mountain lions to be in the ...
Gobble, gobble.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Oct 01, 2006; ... I have been a turkey hunter for more than 25 years and I have shot my share of turkeys. I am now 63 years old and retired; the only turkeys I shot this year were with a camera. My wife once told me that she figured the cost of me getting a wild turkey is about $500 per pound. But I ...
Bobcat.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Oct 01, 2006; ... I was lucky enough to catch this bobcat in my backyard. John Kimble Addison, Steuben County Bobcats are solitary animals and generally avoid people, so you were very ...
The Eastern Cougar: Historic Accounts, Scientific Investigations, and New Evidence.
Oct 01, 2006; ... The Eastern Cougar, Historic Accounts, Scientific Investigations, and New Evidence Edited by Chris Bolgiano and Jerry Roberts 246 pages, softcover $19.95 Stackpole Books www.stackpolebooks.com As the title indicates, this book is a compilation of newspaper articles, ...
Sunday too soon.(The Back Page)
Oct 01, 2006; ... I stopped counting how many pheasants I shot in a season when I turned 50. There really didn't seem to be much point in keeping score anymore. Over the years I graduated from a 12-gauge 870 to my Beretta 20 over-and-under, and my boots are Gore-tex. Now it's about the enjoyment shared in ...
2005 Big Buck Club Winners.
Oct 01, 2006; ... Each year since 1972, the Big Buck Club has recognized the hunters who take the largest trophy bucks in New York State. The winner in each category receives an original painting by renowned artist and former Conservationist art director Wayne Trimm. 2005 Record Archery Deer ...