Don't get down.

Swamp hunting is fun. It's one of my favorites, and one I haven't been able to do as much up here in NY. I was raised in VA, and hunted swamps a good deal. There can be some really big bucks in swamp lands. The key is to find an "island" type habitat with a strong attractant food source (in the south it was persimmon, but up here you should look for hard masts of any kind that'll supply a buck).

Many times these bucks will isolate onto the "island" because it fits their needs during the day. They have food, water, shelter, and most of all, a good vantage point.

The key is to sneak in real early, before the buck returns from night activity (rut, food, etc). You'll want to place yourself in one of three locations.

1. The trail entering the island (or leaving if it is a better set up, but rare they arent the same)

2. The food source. (The buck will often feed during middday there, as it satisfies it's physical demands of feeding at elast once during the day. Be sure to wait out all day if you sit here, and not morning or evening only hunts.)

3. The off-side to the vantage point based on the wind. You'll be able to figure this out easy. Get the wind direction, and walk in that direction to the end of the island. Look for an ideal spot that would offer the deer sight vision of the cross wind directions, and the up wind directionwould be off the island. The wind would push scent on the island to the buck, and it can see all the other areas. This is likely where the buck will be for a part of the day. Set up on a cross-wind lane. It works.

Don't get too down on the sporting chances in NY. It is a very well-kept secret, especially WNY deerhunting. Fishing opportunities abound. Bill is a wise man, so I'd follow his pointers. If you need any help on any outdoor stuff, feel free to PM me.

And, subscribe to NY Outdoor News, I've found it to be the best place to get info on fishing, and hunting in the state.