Any hunters or hunting clubs up around Rochester, NY?

[Pickerel]

Hello y'all. I just started hunting last season in New Jersey. That was my senior year in high school, so now I'm at college in Rochester. I'm wondering if there's anyone up here that would take a newbie hunting. Last season I did a bit of whitetail, small game, and pheasant hunting. I never got a deer, but I helped my friend clean, skin, and butcher a deer when he got one. I've only got my shotgun license in New Jersey, but I hope to take the bow and muzzleloader courses there definitely in time for the 07-08 season. I also have some experience working with retrievers and working with waterfowl as I worked as a bird boy with various retriever clubs for a few years and have picked up some stuff from that. I've had a few years of experience with 12-gauge shotguns from the retriever clubs and last season, and I have several years of experience with .22s. When it comes to something I'm interested in such as hunting, I can learn fast. I don't have my truck at college yet, but I intend to bring it after Thanksgiving break, and until then I can use my friend's little car or my mountain bike to get around to some degree.

[Phade]

Welcome!

There's plenty of hunters here from the Rochester area, and there a few gun/sportsmen clubs.

The clubs charge money normally for membership. Some are great, some are not. You might just be better off learning from an individual, or a handful of people who hunt.

I'm mentoring a 17 yr. old now. I didn't have the luxury of having a mentor when I was younger, but it certainly is valueable. I'd personally help you out, but the land I largely hunt can't handle 3 hunters in regular firearms season in a way I would feel safe doing so.

What do you have as far as equipment up here? Kind of hard to have a shotgun being in college, I bet.

[Pickerel]

Until I can get an apartment, I have very little equipment up here. I've just got my boots, gloves, and coveralls. I started hunting in December last season, so I still have to invest in some lighter camo for warmer weather. I also finally got a decent knife. I've got my Jersey hunting license up here in case I get a New York one. Hopefully next season I will be in an apartment and have a rifle, shotgun, and a full kitchen. It'll definitely be off-campus as although you are allowed to have alcohol in the college apartments, you can't have firearms or bows.

[Pickerel]

Fall break is in a couple weeks, and after that I am bringing more of my equipment up here. I'm gonna try to get something set up so I can bring my bow up here, as I know there is an archery range on campus and have seen a couple people with bows.