Stewart State Forest

[NJ Camo Man]

Has anyone ever hunted Stewart State forest in Orange County NY? Care to share your experience?

[RuLzU]

Stewart? or do you mean Sterling?

[birdhunter75]

I've hunted Stewart a number of times for pheasant in the fall and turkeys in the spring over the years, but like with many public place, it is a madhouse on the opening few days. I started going during the week and it was much nicer. It is a huge piece of property with diverse habitat, so you have many choices of where to hunt. On the plus side, the hunting areas are numbered and you can only park 1 (or 2 in some) car in each spot and you are restricted to that area. This is nice so that you have the area to yourself. On the down side, you have to spend time driving around looking for open spots and if its busy, it might take you an hour to find one.
I think that they do a lottery/wristband system for the start fo the deer season.

Here is a link for more info:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/22544.html

I hope this helps. Good luck.

[NJ Camo Man]

Thanks for the reply BirdHunter75. My plan was to try the area out after the second weekend when they don't have the lottery.

Do you know what kind of results the forest generates for Deer. Have you had any luck there?

[NJ Camo Man]

RuLzU....Stewart State Forest in Orange County?

[birdhunter75]

I'm not sure of the numbers/quality of the deer taken there, but I used to pass it every day for 5 years on Rte. 84 and I would see a good number of deer and once in a while a few really nice bucks on the property that I could see.

[trophyslugster]

Been hunting Stewart State Forest for over 25 years.........
Small and Big Game.............
Lived on property most of my life, with so much information, I could write a book.....or be a guide where all the best hunting spots are and what to avoid on those "over crowded" days....
There are spots where I hunt and I don't see a single hunter all day.....
Taken many nice bucks, you just have to weed out the small ones...
Yes, I have been on those long lines, overnighters, where you sleep in your truck, just awaiting to get "my" spot .....but that's long gone since now I have to call in the week before opening week, to make reservations....
Email me if you want to know about anything about Stewart, I can spend the whole day and then some talking about it....
Great for snowmobiling too!!!!

[trophyslugster]

[trophyslugster]

[birdhunter75]

Those are some beauties, there!! Well done.
Can you give me any insight onto the best pheasant hunting zones, in your opinion?