NY hunters (I have a question for you)
 

Hey there...

I just got back home to Virginia yesterday afternoon and had a great time in upstate NY seeing all the relatives. My brother-in-law introduced me to a bunch of buddies of his and we all talked about hunting. Also, my wife's younger brother and his friends were talking to me about hunting.

I am curious about coming up next season and going hunting on my brother-in-law's farm and also looking into the DEC state lands around NY. I didn't want to get in on the "NYDEC is a joke" thread, because it looks like it is turning into a flame war.

Here are some facts if you are curious:

Present home: Richmond, VA
Originally from: LaGrangeville, NY (Dutchess Co. - right near Poughkeepsie).
Family had a summer cottage: Lake Ozonia (St. Regis Falls area, bordering Franklin Co. and St. Lawrence Co. - Northern Adirondacks, back in the 70's).
Immediate family still in NY: Hyde Park, NY... Millbrook, NY... (still Dutchess Co.) and my oldest sister/bro-in-law/elderly mom just bought a 125 acre farm in Brookfield, NY in Madison Co. south of Utica).
Relatives, cousins, aunts/uncles, etc: Auburn, NY... Weedsport, NY... Port Byron, NY... Rochester, NY... and a few other places I can't remember.
Wife/wife's familyis from: West Seneca, NY (Erie Co. -suburb of Buffalo)

Anyway, I had such a great time up in upstate NY this past week visiting relatives. We were in Buffalo with my wife's family, and then in Brookfield at my sister's big farm. It is really beautiful up there! Lots and lots and lots of snow, which is a far cry from what we get here in Richmond, VA!

You guys up in NY can hunt on Sundays, which is great. Here in VA we still have that stupid, colonial "blue law" thing, like a few other states and it is utterly ridiculous! [:@]

If I went hunting up near my sister/bro-in-law's big farm, the state DEC land area thing is labelled"7M" whatever that means. Do any of you NY hunters hunt around that area?

I am not looking to get into a flame war, but just want solid advice for coming up to hunt NY for a change of pace next season.

Thank you!

Butch A.

RE: NY hunters (I have a question for you)
 

I dont live in NY but I hunt up there during the firearms season. NYDEC cuts the state up into WMU's - wildlife management units in order to better regulate the herd in different areas. I hunt in 5P on the VT border. If you want to apply for a doe permit you apply for the area you'll be hunting in. Some get alot & some almost none. Other than for doe tags the numbers dont affect you.

RE: NY hunters (I have a question for you)
 

ButchA-I live just south of 7M,which takes in most of chenango county.Lots of deer in 7M,and lots of state land.The DEC in it's infinate wisdom,has placed designated 7M as bucks only for the last 2 years.2 years ago the only doe permits issued were for land owners(over 50 acres/single parcel), and disabled Vets.This year no permits were issued.Their explanation was that they know there is an abundance of deer on pivate land,but low populations on state land.So they issued no permits,to protect the deer that don't exhist,since most hunting pressure is on state land.Don't get me wrong it is a great area if you want to shoot a good buck,a lot ofhunters are now hunting other areas.

Charlie

RE: NY hunters (I have a question for you)
 

Hey Butch,

I grew up and currently still hunt in Rhinebeck. Give me a shout if you plan on being in the area next season.

RE: NY hunters (I have a question for you)
 

what would you like to know? i live in aubrurn and hunt much of cayuga county..nonpublic lands
what do you hunt for etc

RE: NY hunters (I have a question for you)
 

Oh... As seen in my signature, I have a little "one of each" kind of philosophy towards firearms. I have the old Marlin 30-30, but will (hopefully soon) be getting my hands on a lefty version .270 bolt action rifle.

I hunt deer mostly. I also like turkey hunting when I can get out in the spring. Rabbits, squirrels, etc... are also in my sights as far as small game is concerned.

I don't know how NY State manageshunting versus how they do it here in Virginia. Here in VA they run hound dogs (which I don't particularly care for, but that's another subject... :eek:) but only east of the Blue Ridge Mtns. Public lands around here get unbelieveably crowded on Saturdays to where itgets almost SCARY!

I guess I am just wondering what you all think of hunting in NY State. Is it worth the $125 out-of-state license, tags, etc...etc...

RE: NY hunters (I have a question for you)
 

7M produces some big deer from what I have seen. I hunted Cortland County from time to time. It is a shotgun,pistol,bow or muzzlelaoder zone. NO rifles. Well as far as for cortland county. The other ones I don't know about. there are a ton of does but you can only shoot bucks. Also where I hunted very rough terrain. Alot of hills. Hope this helps.

RE: NY hunters (I have a question for you)
 

Yes Butch,

If you can find access to land in Millbrook in you would definetely be set..

I took this deer this fall about 15 miles from Millbrook...

RE: NY hunters (I have a question for you)
 

Congrats on the buck! Merry Christmas to all.

RE: NY hunters (I have a question for you)
 

i hunt ny state land every year...especially up north some big deer are produced. i've seen 9 this year within 2 days. If you have a good feeling bout the area and u get a chance to visit, why not hunt the land? happy hunting

RE: NY hunters (I have a question for you)
 

Great looking buck, jcchartboy!! [8D] I have a sister in Millbrook, right off Route 44. Small world....

With all the relatives scattered about, I could probably hunt all over NY State if I wanted. But it's been years since I went "back home" to my old stomping grounds, you know what I mean? Lower NY State is rapidly developing more and more each week it seems. I mean, what is next? Westchester Co.becoming a new borough of NYC? The last time I was home near Poughkeepsie, I was driving on the Taconic to Route 55, and couldn't believe my eyes... Farms are gone, apple orchards where I used to steal apples as a kid are all gone. In their place are $1.5M townhouses and condos!! [&o]

I will focus on hunting more upstate areas and on/around my sister/brother-in-law's farm in Madison Co. But the first and foremost thing I need to do is get a NY State DEC hunting guide (or maybe download a .pdf file of regs) and read everything I can before I get an out-of-state license for next season.

Thanks again everyone and I hope your Christmas was good to you and yours.

Butch A.

RE: NY hunters (I have a question for you)
 

just curious - 7M isn't really anywhere near any of the locations you mentioned in your "bio". just wanted to make sure you were looking in the right area.

as for 7M, I have a camp about in the center of the unit and have hunted there for 16 years. it is a large WMU and does have a lot of state land to hunt. it also tends to get a moderate to high amount of hunting pressure. there are prlnty of deer there (although some might argrue that point). I hunt bow, gun (shotgun or, now, rifle), and muzzleloader. I get around 30 days in the woods each year. I see plenty of deer (could always see more, but....). this year, gun season was quite slow, but saw good amount of deer in bow/ML.

bottom line, 7M is a good place to hunt with plenty of access

RE: NY hunters (I have a question for you)
 

My oldest sister/brother-in-law/elderly mom now live in Brookfield, NY in Madison Co., which is in "7M". I was just up there last week visiting them. My brother-in-law told me I can hunt on his farm or stay there and go hunting anywhere else I want.

RE: NY hunters (I have a question for you)
 

Butch, Im in Brockport, just outside of Rochester, and I too graduated from West Seneca, like your wife did. Those areas are also pretty good hunting. You mentioned Weedsport too. Ive seen some whopper bucks come from those locations. Im a taxidermist, so I see and hear of many good bucks. In fact, almost every town you mentioned you have relation in has some decent hunting. Ill admit that some areas in NY have been overharvested in recent years while the DEC tries to get a handle on the deer herd. Good luck.

RE: NY hunters (I have a question for you)
 

leverdude where abouts in 5p do u hunt? I live and hunt here in Salem.........

RE: NY hunters (I have a question for you)
 

If you have access to lightly hunted, privatefarm land in upstate NY, GO FOR IT!!

I could only wish I as in your shoes...