2021 NYSOWA Spring Safari @ Sacandaga Lake

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2021 NYSOWA Spring Safari @ Sacandaga Lake

Standard / by mookyj / June 6, 2021 / No Comments

Photo: Ann Boles

NYSOWA Spring Safari at Sacandaga Lake

A long overdue and highly anticipated Spring Safari took place the second week in May in the town of Broadalbin. The Broadalbin Hotel would be our base of operations for outings on Lake Sacandaga, and gobbler chasing in secret locations in and around Fulton County. Originally scheduled to have taken place in 2020, it was canceled due to the pandemic lock-downs that we are all too familiar with.

From a most personal perspective, the safari was a heartfelt reunion for those of us that could attend. We do enjoy each other’s company and especially enjoyed a well ran safari by so many that I will thank here shorty. It was an outstanding spring safari. It was clear to this author that a year and a half is far too long for us as a group to not spend time together enjoying the outdoors. With the passing of beloved members over the the course of this down time, the loss of spending time together is ever so poignant. I will provide links at the end to those who helped make this a most memorable event.

A big thank you for setting up the event and doing the heavy lifting to make it happen goes out to Safari Chairman Stephen George from our group, Ann Boles, director for tourism for both Fulton and Montgomery counties and last but not least, Dan Ladd who is indispensable for making things come together and pitching in wherever needed. Flawless execution of many moving parts and for herding cats which we are world renown in a casual observation.

The Broadalbin Hotel was an ideal base camp for us, as it is steeped in rich history, and provided all we could ever ask for in warm hospitality, comfortable rooms, and wonderful table fare! We took advantage of a great 2nd-floor balcony for our impromptu get-togethers and a back area fire pit which we thoroughly enjoyed. The hotel provided easy access to all our activities and I might add a perfect place to stay for any outing you might want to pursue in the area. Highly recommended and there are many from our group that will be looking to return for overnight stays in our gateway to the Adirondack outings.

The outings for our safari included fishing, turkey hunting, hiking, canoeing, shopping, museum/historic site tours, and visiting craft beer breweries. Ann was our liaison with the bureau of tourism, and provided support throughout our safari and did an outstanding job in representing the county in all that it has to offer. There were so many places to see and activities to enjoy it would take far more than a few extended weekends to partake in them all.

Turkey hunting was my natural choice for both mornings, and it did not disappoint. I stepped foot in some of the best turkey woods I ever had the privileged to hunt in. Hunting beautiful dairy farms with well-managed forests was a treat I particularly enjoyed. The birds did not gobble much in the piece I hunted, but I did manage to call up jakes on both days in addition to a hen on the second. Other fellow writers drawn to the turkey woods had close encounters and there was a swing and a clean miss. A trail cam revealed a few weeks later that a few tail feathers were trimmed, nothing more than hurt pride to report. A big thank you to Jerrod Vila and his crew for putting this together.

After seeing up close the Great Sacandaga Lake for the first time during this trip, I might opt for fishing when I return. Brian Hurst who owns Fish Attractor Guide Service hosted writers from our group on the lake both days and they had action both days. A good time had by all as reported.

Our afternoon events would include a tour of Slipstream Canoes along with a live demo at the lake and a stop for a pizza party, a tour at the Adirondack Sports & Educational Museum / New York Outdoorsman Hall of Fame, and a preview of a large expansion currently under construction. A big thank you to Mike Hauser for sponsoring the visit to Great Sacandaga Brewing! We would enjoy excellent tastings at Great Sacandaga Brewing and Stump City Brewing in the afternoons, Meeting the owners and getting the rundown on their respective histories along with first-hand descriptions of each offering topped off great afternoons on both days while taking in what the area has to offer for visiting sportsmen and tourists.

Our first lunchtime presentation featured special guest Robert Smullen, NYS Assemblyman for the 118th District who took many questions and responded very candidly as a supporter of sportsman’s issues and second amendment rights. We had a zoom meeting with the NYSDEC and many questions and answers took place. We welcome the opportunity to have a direct audience and hope for more direct dialog in the future. A big thank you to Adirondack Outdoorsman Show (Mike Hauser) & Allwater Guide Services (Capt. Stephen George) for sponsoring a great lunch at the Broadalbin Hotel. The craft hamburger was outstanding in case you may inquire…

Saturday lunch was a special treat at the Pine Tree Rifle club which is steeped in history and has an impressive outlay of ranges and activities. We got a rundown of the lengthy and impressive history of the club, followed by a presentation and product demos from Black Street Archery.

Our main dinner event was held at the Broadalbin Hotel, followed by a member zoom meeting lead by president Chris Paparo. A big thank you goes out to Capital Region Pheasants Forever chapter, Franks Gun Shop, and Pine Tree Rifle Club for sponsoring the event. Our sponsors were in attendance and I personally enjoyed their comments and meeting them at our safari. On a side note, Dan Ladd and I made a quick stop at Franks Gun Shop and it is very impressive how much they carry in stock and the team of knowledgeable and friendly employees they have on hand.

Randy Gardinier, chairman of the Great Sacandaga Lake Fisheries Federation (GSLFF) gave us a rundown of the history of Great Sacandaga Lake, and a new hiking challenge: Fulton County Five, that includes a patch and certificate for completing all five trails. The trails are ideal for those new to hiking the Adirondacks. The trails that comprise the series are Indian/Stewart Lake, Kane Mountain Fire Tower, Mud Lake, Nine Corner Lake, and Willie Wildlife Marsh.

The event concluded Sunday with a few of us staying for breakfast at the hotel which I highly recommend. With a beautiful sunny day to greet us, the ride home was worth taking the more scenic route and worth the price of admission. The year’s spring safari was one I’ll long remember, and I encourage our members to come spend a long weekend with us in the future. I was duly impressed with my time here and will return in the future to enjoy it further!

Please check out the links below:

Adirondack Outdoorsman Show (Mike Hauser) http://adkshow.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Adirondack-Outdoorsman-Show-79046747861/

Adirondack Sports & Educational Museum / New York Outdoorsman Hall of Fame https://wildlifesportsmuseum.com/ https://nysohof.org/

Allwater Guide Services (Capt. Stephen George) www.allwaterguideny.com/ https://www.facebook.com/AllwaterGuideNY

Ann Boles, director of tourism:Fulton and Montgomery Counties https://www.fultonmontgomeryny.org/staff/

Black Street Archery https://www.blackstreetarchery.com/ https://www.facebook.com/BlackStreetArchery/ https://www.yelp.com/biz/black-street-archery-johnstown

Capital Region Pheasants Forever chapter https://pheasantsforever.org/

The Broadalbin Hotel https://www.historicbroadalbinhotel.com/ https://www.facebook.com/hotelbroadalbin/

https://www.yelp.com/biz/historic-hotel-broadalbin-broadalbin

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g47366-d7708473-Reviews-Restaurant_and_Bar_at_Historic_Hotel_Broadalbin-Broadalbin_New_York.html

Franks Gun Shop http://www.franksgunshops.com/

Fish Attractor Guide Service https://www.facebook.com/Fish-Attractor-Guide-Service-1984435795130312/