STAMFORD - For Walt Keller of Stamford, the fight to eliminate lead contamination in venison isn’t just about hunting ethics — it’s about protecting public health and wildlife. A … more

Daryl Birdsall of Unadilla harvested this 160-pound, 8-point buck opening day of big game rifle season on Nov. 6. The deer was harvested in the town of Butternuts. more

Joe Dibble of Bovina harvested this 6-point buck Nov. 18 in the town of Delhi. more

Dawson Bowker, 12, celebrates his first successful hunt on rifle season’s opening day in Walton, bagging an impressive 8-point buck with guidance from his proud dad, Kris Bowker. more

New York City has escalated its response to a historic precipitation shortage, moving from a drought watch to a drought warning and pausing the $2 billion Delaware Aqueduct Repair Project. Mayor Eric … more

DEC issued a heightened Drought Warning for much of the Catskill, Hudson Valley, and New York City regions. The rest of the state remains under a previously declared Drought Watch. A … more

The Catskills Fire Tower Challenge intends to inspire experienced hikers to visit the region’s six remaining fire towers. To participate, ramblers must hike to all six DEC-owned fire towers in … more

Jennifer Seiferth of Hancock shot this 8-point buck on Nov. 4 while hunting on New York City-owned land in Delaware County, with a compound bow. The deer weighed 135 pounds. more

The burn ban prohibits the starting of outdoor fires statewide for purposes of brush and debris disposal, as well as uncontained campfires, and open fires used for cooking, according to the New York … more

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reminds hunters to report deer, bear, or turkey harvests, and for trappers to have certain furbearers like bobcat, fisher, marten, or … more

With hunting seasons and fall hiking underway, DEC encourages outdoor enthusiasts to follow safety precautions while recreating this fall and winter. Whether you are a hiker, nature photographer, … more

DELHI - Delhi resident Kevin Rossley has found an unusual way to prepare animal skulls for display in an intersection of art, science, and nature: by enlisting the help of dermestid beetles. … more