Cory Dente of Delmar NY with a 10 point buck he harvested in the 2018 early bowhunting season. Cory reported his harvest through the HuntFishNY mobile app.
Did you know that only about 50 percent of hunters report their deer, bear and turkey harvests each year, even though it’s required by law?
Did you know that a hunter can be fined up to $250 for failing to report?
Reporting a harvest within seven days of take is not only your legal obligation, it’s also essential to proper wildlife management.
When hunters report their harvest, they are playing a crucial role in the management process, providing important biological data which is used to help estimate the number of deer, bear and turkey in each area of New York State and set management objectives.
At a time when hunter numbers are declining, it’s more important than ever for hunters to take seriously their role in wildlife management, to be good role models and mentors for younger generations, and to do their part to preserve their hunting traditions.
Reporting your harvest is easier than ever, so this fall please remember to Take It, Tag It, Report It!
The Genesee River flows in splendor and grace over the Middle Falls.
A beautiful hidden oasis, one of many natural wonders in New York State, has earned the title of the “Grand Canyon of the East”.
Why, you wonder? In addition to having three natural GORGEous waterfalls, Letchworth State Park also contains wonderful overlooks of the gorge that has been carved out by the Genesee River.
Anyone can drive into to the park for a $10 fee per vehicle, which covers the cost of the whole day. There is also an abundance of camping options, from tenting to bringing a camper, to staying in a cabin or renting out a shelter for a day.
My friends and I – fresh home from college and looking for an outdoor adventure, decided to drive the hour or so and make a day trip. We found what USA Today described as the “Best State Park in the Nation of 2015.”
We parked at the High Falls and started hiking north to the middle and lower falls. Yes, this river flows south to north! Along the way there were breathtaking outlook points and an easy-to-follow trail that kept us mostly next to the river and gorge. The park offers an additional 66 miles of trails to choose from!
Our trail included several steep walking sectors where various levels of stairs eased the trek and climb, both on the way there and back. We explored a small creek that ran under a bridge, waved hello to other hikers, and stopped at various outlooks to stare in awe at the intriguing beauty of the Devonian bedrock, shale and limestone, that make up the sides of the gorge.
The Upper and Middle Falls aren’t extremely distant from each other, only about a half-mile; it’s the Lower Falls that’s the most remote and takes up a majority of the hike.
An overlook of the Devonian Bedrock that defines the gorge.
All in all, hiking the Upper Falls to the Lower Falls and back again is a 7-mile excursion (this includes, of course, taking closer looks at “that tree over there” or “this really cool stream over here”). We all had a fantastic time! It was a beautiful day and reaching the Lower Falls was worth the effort of the hike, especially with it adjacent to a stone bridge that crosses the gorge.
After we hiked back to the car, we drove through the park at the far entrance so we could view so many of the other wonderful views. There are many “pull-over” points designated as “Photo-Spots” along the drive. This park has a diversity of activities and accommodations, including a restaurant, museum and gift shop, while offering kayaking, cross-country skiing, exquisite bird watching and thrilling white-water rafting.
