The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) will open an undeveloped section of Saratoga Spa State Park to white tail deer hunting for the 2026-27 season as part of a deer management program. [Read more…] about New Deer Hunting Season at Saratoga Spa State Park
whitetail deer
The Swamp: Tanneries, Bucktails, Loco Focos & Democracy
“The Swamp” was a lowland area in Lower Manhattan centered around Beekman’s Swamp, bounded roughly by modern-day Gold, Frankfort, Pearl, Water, and Ferry streets just south of the Brooklyn Bridge in the Financial District.
In the 17th century the marshy wetland was known by the Dutch as Bestevaer’s Kripplebush. It was later acquired by the Beekman and Roosevelt families and filled and drained over the 18th and early 19th centuries. [Read more…] about The Swamp: Tanneries, Bucktails, Loco Focos & Democracy
Recent Wildlife Rescues Around New York State
New York State Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) recently rescued six baby opossums on Long Island, and a whitetail fawn that fell down an abandoned well in Dutchess County.
They also released a previously rescued Bald Eagle along the Mohawk River in Montgomery County. [Read more…] about Recent Wildlife Rescues Around New York State
New Regulations Increase Antlerless Deer Hunting
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced several changes to whitetail deer hunting regulations to increase the number of antlerless deer (primarily female) killed each hunting season.
“Deer populations are growing across much of New York and, in many areas, are increasing to levels that are detrimental to deer, their habitat, and the public,” according to DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. [Read more…] about New Regulations Increase Antlerless Deer Hunting
Snapshot NY Citizen Science Wildlife Monitoring Project
Snapshot NY, a citizen science program created by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Cornell University in 2025, will begin Year Two in July.
The innovative program, which enables the public to participate in the state’s efforts to monitor wildlife by deploying privately-owned trail cameras, has already enlisted more than 800 volunteers. [Read more…] about Snapshot NY Citizen Science Wildlife Monitoring Project
Hunting, Poaching & The American Revolution
John Bird Burnham (1869-1939), Chief Game Protector for the state of New York in the early 1900s, once made an observation worthy of Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America.
“The union of monarchial game laws with an anti-monarchial sentiment make for an impossible marriage, and in America, drastic prohibitions on hunting can never be as effective as they are in England,” he wrote. [Read more…] about Hunting, Poaching & The American Revolution
Black Bear Cub Rescued From Leg Hold Trap; Deer Rescued from Entanglement
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) were involved in two recent wildlife rescues, including a black bear cub rescued from a leg hold trap in Schoharie County and a whitetail deer entangled in a rope with another deer in Ulster County. [Read more…] about Black Bear Cub Rescued From Leg Hold Trap; Deer Rescued from Entanglement
Blacks Bears Rescued from Trap; Deer Rescued from Well
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) recently rescued two young black bears from leg-hold traps in the Catskills and and a whitetail buck from an abandon well in Niagara County. [Read more…] about Blacks Bears Rescued from Trap; Deer Rescued from Well
Wild Nuts: An Important Food Source
Fall is an especially good time to find all kinds of nuts on the forest floor, in a picnic area in the park, or maybe even in your neighborhood or back yard. Let’s take a look and learn how to identify some of these wild nuts.
In technical botanical terms, all of these “nuts” are called the “fruit.” The fruit is defined as the seed and the package which holds the seed. So, for example, the acorn is the fruit of an oak tree, and inside is the nut which is a type of seed. If you use plant keys you will see those terms, but for general use, it is OK to call them all nuts. [Read more…] about Wild Nuts: An Important Food Source
Genesee and Wyoming County Frequent Deer Poacher Convicted
In July, a Wyoming County man pleaded guilty and paid a penalty for numerous deer poaching incidents in Genesee and Wyoming counties, ending a nearly two-year investigation by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs). [Read more…] about Genesee and Wyoming County Frequent Deer Poacher Convicted
30 Deer Over 5 Years: Persistent Poacher Faces Felony Charges
On August 6, 2025 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Lieutenants Burnell, Grogan, and ECO Hilton arrested a subject accused of widespread deer poaching in Oswego County following a lengthy investigation that began in late 2024 with a complaint about gunshots on posted, County-owned property. [Read more…] about 30 Deer Over 5 Years: Persistent Poacher Faces Felony Charges
King Louie, Beloved Whitetail Buck Killed by Poacher, Was Record Size
On December 5, 2024, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) received complaints regarding the potential poaching of a well-known whitetail buck nicknamed “King Louie” in Johnstown, NY, by a local hunter. Photos of the impressive deer, known for its unique antlers, circulated through social media and text chains, eliciting concerns in the community. [Read more…] about King Louie, Beloved Whitetail Buck Killed by Poacher, Was Record Size
Poacher Shoots Self in Criminal Comedy of Errors
On Saturday, December 14, 2024, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) charged three Vermont residents for their alleged roles in a shooting incident in Washington County in November 2024.
Vermont Game Wardens and State Police investigated and determined that on November 30, the trio drove through the town of Salem, in Washington County, NY, in search of a whitetail deer to shoot illegally from the road. [Read more…] about Poacher Shoots Self in Criminal Comedy of Errors
Conservation Officers Kept Busy Ticketing More Than A Dozen Poachers
New York State Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) have been very busy dealing with more than a dozen wildlife poachers across New York State, including hunters illegally taking whitetail deer, songbirds and numerous varieties of fish. [Read more…] about Conservation Officers Kept Busy Ticketing More Than A Dozen Poachers
Conservation Officers Charge Several Wildlife Poachers
A Schoharie County man is facing several charges for illegally hunting a black bear in the town of Fulton, one of several men accused of poaching New York State wildlife recently. [Read more…] about Conservation Officers Charge Several Wildlife Poachers
Governor Kathy Hochul Vetoes Safe Wildlife Crossings Act
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has vetoed the Safe Wildlife Crossings Act, a bill designed to make highways safer for motorists and wildlife with purpose-built crossings in the New York’s North Country. The bill would have required the NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) and the NYS Thruway Authority to conduct studies to determine the most hazardous areas of highways for vehicle-animal collisions and develop a plan to reduce those hazards. [Read more…] about Governor Kathy Hochul Vetoes Safe Wildlife Crossings Act
Chronic Wasting Disease Discovered in New York State
The New York State Departments of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) and Environmental Conservation (DEC), in coordination with the State Department of Health (DOH), today announced a confirmed case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a facility in DEC’s Region 6 area, which includes St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida and Herkimer Counties.
A DEC announcement said the state is now implementing New York State’s interagency CWD Response Plan developed jointly by DEC and AGM. [Read more…] about Chronic Wasting Disease Discovered in New York State
Big Charges Become Small For Defiant Deer Poacher
In August, a Wyoming County man pleaded guilty to several charges related to the unlawful taking of deer, ending a months-long investigation. In January 2024, NYS Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Lieutenant R.J. Ward received an anonymous tip alleging a Silver Springs man had taken more than the legal limit of bucks during the previous (2023) deer season. [Read more…] about Big Charges Become Small For Defiant Deer Poacher
Understanding Whitetail Deer Antler Size Variations
Across New York State whitetail bucks have begun shedding the velvet that has covered their growing antlers, revealing the hardened antlers that they will use for sparring, sign marking, and attracting the attention of does throughout the fall breeding season.
But why are antler sizes so different among different regions? [Read more…] about Understanding Whitetail Deer Antler Size Variations
Repeat Deer Poachers Face New Fines and Hunting License Revocations
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Division of Law Enforcement (DLE) charged two North Country men with multiple offenses related to alleged deer poaching in Jefferson County. The subjects are repeat offenders who now face thousands of dollars in potential fines and revocation of their hunting licenses. [Read more…] about Repeat Deer Poachers Face New Fines and Hunting License Revocations