1/18/2026
DEC Website has public comments open and a virtual hearing scheduled on the website for gaining access for people with disabilities.
Federation property located in Tillson is being looked into by the board to become self sustaining income through Carbon Stotage. More info can be found at
familyforestcarbon.org. This is a program open to anyone with 30 acres or more of property/
July 18th 2026 at Lake Katrine Rod and Gun Club with be the Federations 80th Anniversary Celebration. This is an all day event with a light laser show at the end of the night. Currently looking for sponsorship for the day. Anyone who sponsors with have their name lit up during the light laser show.
FNRA. Save the date September 26th 2026 for the banquet to be held in Kingston at Safe Shoot. Pre raffle will start shortly, we do need more help the day of the event and suggestions for a reliable auctioneer. The banquet helps raise funds for grants that clubs can apply for. The more we raise the more grants can be paid. This year the Federation is getting grant money towards the new BB Gun range that is portable and goes to events.
DEC information: Camp DeBruce and the three other DEC summer
environmental conservation Camps registration for youth campers will open
on Sunday, March 22 at 1:00pm. Early registration of prospective participants
is recommended, as historically registration fills up quickly. Clubs: now is the
time to be recruiting interested youth who would like to attend Camp DeBruce
or one of the other three camps this summer. Full information on the camps
and the sponsorship and registration process is available at the DEC website
www.dec.ny.gov, search under "summer camps."
Grape Hollow State Forest (Dutchess County) Unit Management Plan - DEC
holding an information session to gather public input on the Unit Management
Plan for this area. The session is to be held on Tuesday, January 20 from 6pm
to 9pm at the Town of Beekman Recreation Center, 29 Recreation Center Rd.,
Beekman, NY. More information available on the included DEC news release.
DEC Draft Policy to improve Access to Outdoor recreation for People with
Disabilites -- the proposed policy "guides the use of "Other Power-Driven
Mobililty Devices on DEC managed lands," according to DEC news release.
Note that public comment and input being accepted, and there will be a
virtual public meeting on February 4 and written comments will be accepted
until March 9.
The Federation has been very active with events and activities.
The annual Federation Youth Pheasant Hunt was held in September during
youth pheasant hunt weekend. Dog handlers were available as usual, as
youth participated in a fun day of safe, mentored hunting.
The "lend a pole" program has been updated, with new poles and a trailer to
store equipment. The West Hurley Public Library is the latest to receive
updated poles and a storage cabinet. This makes poles available to borrow by
library patrons, and when returned are kept at the library and serviced by
Federation members. With the Ashokan reservoir nearby this should prove a
popular addition to the library.
A "Fishing On the Go" Trailer is being acquired, and when placed in service,
can be used for Club/Federation events, and also used for supporting the
successful library lend a pole program.
The "Field to Table" Event held in October by the Federation at Walker Valley
Club was very successful, with attendees learning how to butcher a deer and
process venison, including sausage making.
Federation Annual Awards Banquet was held in Kingston in October. A running
video showing the many Federation activities during the past year was shown.
Awards were given for outstanding service by individuals and member clubs
over the last year.
Plans are in the works to acquire a second BB range (inflatable) to be used at
outreach events. The BB gun range, operated by Federation member clubs,
for years has proved popular at the Ulster County Fair, library fairs, a turkey
shoot, and other outreach events.
DEC youth environmental conservation summer camps will be open again in
2026. Each will offer seven one week sessions, with either a Hunter Education
gun, bow, or trapping class to be offered five of the camp weeks. The four
camps are Camp DeBruce, Camp Rushford, Camp Pack Forest and Camp
Colby. The Federation continues to help clubs sponsoring children to these
camps by offering a rebate to the club sponsoring a camper. Most youth
sponsored by Federation member clubs attend Camp DeBruce in the
Catskills. Information on the Camps upcoming summer 2026 schedule and
Hunter Ed. class availability is available under "summer camps" on the DEC
website.
DEC stocked pheasants into December this year. This expanded season
stocking began last year. In Ulster County, it is down to just one site stocked
by DEC. Generally, greater numbers of birds have been available statewide
under this new expanded stocking regime, so If more sites can be found within
the county, perhaps more birds can be made available.
The Federation is planning to start a trap league in 2026. Besides all the
recreational benefits, this can be a great way to draw new participants into the
shooting sports while promoting safety.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced an information
session on January 20, 2026, to solicit public input on the development of a unit management plan
(UMP) for the Grape Hollow State Forest in the towns of Beekman and Pawling in Dutchess County. The
meeting will include a short presentation by DEC Region 3 Division of Lands and Forests, followed by an
open table session with DEC staff to facilitate conversation and answer questions.
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Town of Beekman
Recreation Center, 29 Recreation Center Road, Hopewell Junction, NY, 12533.
The purpose of the public information session is to solicit input from the public on the types of public use
and supporting facilities they may want developed at Grape Hollow State Forest and how the land will be
managed.
Since 2024, the property has been designated as State Forest, owned and managed by DEC, which
guarantees public access and the permanent protection of wildlife habitat. Grape Hollow State Forest is
open to hunting and trapping during appropriate seasons, as well as hiking and wildlife watching. There
are currently no marked trails. The UMP will examine forest management, maintenance, and recreational
activities at the property and make recommendations to meet needs for the next 10 years.
For more information on Grape Hollow State Forest, visit DEC's website.