From the April 2010 issue

Miscellaneous News Items

2009 Deer Harvest Continues at High Rate

A young girl poses with he dead buck and rifle

Nearly 16,000 14- and 15-year-olds got Junior Big Game licenses

Hunters harvested about 222,800 deer in the 2009 season, virtually the same number as were harvested statewide in the 2008 season. The annual deer hunting report also showed that nearly 16,000 14- and 15-year-olds signed up for the Junior Big-Game License through the Junior Hunter Mentoring Program. The 2009 deer take included more than 120,700 antlerless deer (adult females and fawns) and just over 102,000 adult bucks. Antlerless takes grew by 3 percent from 2008 (117,232), while buck takes dropped 3.5 percent from 2008 (105,747). Totals for bow and muzzleloader seasons were on par with the past few years.

The 2009 deer harvests by county, town, and Wildlife Management Unit, with comparisons to previous years' deer harvests, are available at the Deer and Bear Harvests web page on DEC's website.

2009 Bear Harvest State's Second Highest

Bear harvest numbers in 2009 were the second-highest ever recorded in New York State. Last fall's harvest was only exceeded by 2003's record total.

Statewide, hunters took 1,487 black bears in 2009-a 15 percent increase from the 1,295 taken in 2008. The 2009 increase is principally due to a strong surge in bear harvest in the Adirondack region, where the 814 bears taken in 2009 was a 40 percent increase over 2008. In 2003, 1,864 bears were harvested statewide.

The 2009 bear harvests by county, town, and Wildlife Management Unit, with comparisons to previous years' bear harvests, are available at the Deer and Bear Harvests web page on DEC's website. Historical bear harvest data is available at the Historic Black Bear Harvest web page.

Environmental Education Camps Now Accepting Applications

Several canoes on a lake with campers in them in life vests

Camp descriptions, open weeks and applications are available on the DEC web site.

Applications for youth interested in attending the 2010 summer environmental educational camps are now being accepted. DEC urges families looking for an out-of-the-ordinary summer experience to consider enrolling youth ages 12 to 17 in these exciting and challenging programs.

Full information, including registration forms, available weeks and detailed program descriptions is available at the Environmental Education Camps web page, by writing to NYSDEC Camps, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4500, by e-mailing edcamps@gw.dec.state.ny.us, or calling (518) 402-8014.

DEC to Hold North Country Pesticide Collection Events

A person in a yellow hazmat suit collecting toxic materials

Pre-registration is required. The deadline is April 7 for holders of unknown materials, April 16 for all others.

DEC will hold pesticide and chemical collection events for businesses, farms and institutions in Clinton, Essex and Washington counties during the week of May 3. Pre-registration is required. April 7 is the registration deadline for holders of unknown materials; April 16 is the deadline for all others.

CleanSweepNY provides businesses, farms and institutions with an opportunity to properly dispose of unwanted and obsolete pesticides and other hazardous chemicals. Businesses, farms and institutions in neighboring Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga and Warren counties are also encouraged to take part.

See the North Country Pesticide Collection Events press release for more information.

Grants Available to Protect Endangered Bog Turtle Habitat

Private landowners interested in enhancing and restoring critical bog turtle habitat could be eligible for a federally funded grant program totaling approximately $150,000. With bog turtle populations declining in New York and throughout their range, DEC's Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) for Bog Turtle Management and Protection directs funding to projects on private property that will help the survival of bog turtles and other at-risk species.

LIP is a grant program administered by DEC and funded through a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. LIP participants must provide 25 percent in matching funds to implement their project. Applications must be postmarked no later than June 1.

See the full press release on the bog turtle habitat grants for more details.