Long-time measurer and past-president Jim Dowd of the NYS Big Buck Club joins the first podcast of 2026 to talk about the organization, including its long list of nearly 100 measurers scattered across the state. Knowing things will be busy from now through the spring for measurers, Jim encourages hunters to bring their antlers to shows he mentions, or to contact a measurer soon, regardless of if their buck potentially qualifies for the record book or not.

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In what may be the final podcast of the year and in conjunction with the Dec. 26 issue of New York Outdoor News, host Dan Ladd looks back on the top stories of 2025, which include crossbows, freshwater fishing records, e-tags and bass tournaments. Also, before weighing on what might be ahead in 2026, Dan also talks about the recent death of a hunter in Pennsylvania killed during a deer drive and how some in the hunting community might be overreacting in calling out the popular hunting method.

The post Episode 87 — Looking back on New York’s biggest outdoors stories from 2025 appeared first on Outdoor News.

With a grant secured, Ducks Unlimited, the University of Delaware and a host of partners are preparing for a trail camera study of black duck habitat in the Delmarva Peninsula and Chesapeake Bay areas. DU Director of Conservation Science and Planning John Coluccy and university professor Chris Williams join the podcast to talk about the project and what its implications could be throughout the Atlantic Flyway.

The post Episode 86 — Ducks Unlimited Eastern Black Duck Project appeared first on Outdoor News.

In the second of a two-part series, former hunting and fishing guide Joe Eggleston shares stories from his days spent deer hunting and brook trout fishing in the Adirondacks. But first, Dan has a few stories to tell of his own, including his recent birthday harvest, taking a buck with his own handloads.

The post Episode 85 — Adirondack Deer Camp Part 2 appeared first on Outdoor News.

Lauren Tonti, from New York’s Southern Tier, is an instructor for Becoming and Outdoors Woman who teaches field dressing and hunter education. Fresh off the 2025 program, she discusses how she became a hunter as an adult and how she shares her passion with others. Along with BOW, Lauren just passed her NYS Licensed Guide exam, and is involved with two other groups; one that supports non-lead hunting and fishing alternatives and another that helps those from under-served communities get outdoors.

The post Episode 83: Lauren Tonti — Becoming an Outdoors Woman (and more) appeared first on Outdoor News.

Host Dan Ladd sits down with Rick Vladyka, a man who works at so many levels to promote hunting, fishing and conservation in eastern New York and the entire state of New York. Rick has coached shotgun shooting sports, including trap shooting, at the high school and collegiate level and continues to serve in leadership roles among sportsman’s groups and shooting clubs at the local and regional level.

The post Episode 82: Rick Vladyka – The Involved Conservationist appeared first on Outdoor News.

With archery seasons poised to open in New York, and with crossbows now part of the picture, host Dan Ladd takes the helm to talk about crossbow hunting. Dan touches on what the new law means, compares crossbow hunting to using a compound and/or recurve and emphasizes safety. He also touches on small game hunting and the current drought and low water levels in the Northeast.

The post Episode 81 — Here comes the crossbow in New York appeared first on Outdoor News.

Fresh off their Fall Convention in the Adirondacks, NYS Conservation Council President Dr. Keith Tidball joins the podcast to discuss the event, which featured a presentation on lead-free ammunition, a number of awards and resolutions. Host Dan Ladd and Keith also talk about the recently passed crossbow bill, as well as Keith’s involvement with Wounded Warrior outdoor programs.

The post Episode 80 — Dr. Keith Tidball, New York State Conservation Council appeared first on Outdoor News.

Dennis Racine, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Redding Reloading, in Cortland, N.Y. joins the podcast to talk about the reloading/handloading industry. Dennis discusses some recent upgrades at Redding, including their new website, and then goes into detail on a number of the latest cartridges on the market for which reloading dies are needed. Dennis and Dan swap reloading and hunting stories in anticipation of the fall hunting seasons.

The post Episode 79 — Catching up on the reloading industry appeared first on Outdoor News.

This episode marks the third anniversary of the Great Northeast Podcast and with that we welcome retired New York Outdoor News editor Steve Piatt. Steve was the very first guest on this podcast when it launched in 2022 and has appeared on each anniversary since. In this episode he chimes in on the latest Sunday hunting development in Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, he’s busy in retirement, still writing, camping, fishing, working with his dogs and preparing for a September Newfoundland moose hunt.

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