Anyone familiar with the Hamburg Mountain WMA? I am considering hunting it next year and I was wonder how bad the hunting pressure is there?

Thanks,
Dave

I hunted Hamburg for a couple of years with my Dad and brother. It is a tough place to hunt with the hills and rocks but can be worth it as there are some big deer back in the swamps. You can access the WMA from Rt 23 and also from Rt 517. We hunted off Sand Pond Road which is off Rt 517. You go to the top and can hutn 2 sides of the road near a private lake community.

THere are also lots of small game/turkey/bear in the WMA.

Let me know if you need anything else and try to scout the place this spring before it greens up.

Broadhead88,

Hey! Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it. How bad was the hunting pressure when you were there? What seasons (bow, muzzleloader, shotgun) did you hunt? Are you allowed to park along the roads there or do you have to stay in the parking lots?

Dave

Dave,
I live in that area. I don't hunt there but I drive thru it alot. It is a hard place to hunt but the number of hunters in the woods is way down. There are a couple of places you can park right on rt 23 and during bow and ML season ther is only 1 or 2 cars parked there. During shot gun alot of guys will go to an area - drive it and leave- then go to the next area. You should look into getting a newark watershed permit and there is also a national wildlife preserve (I can't remember the name of the place)up there that you can get a permit to hunt for $10.

Dave--noons has it right. Investigate the Nwk Watershed and Wallkill Refuge.

I hunted Hamburg during bow and shotgun. Shotgun got a little crazy as some locals would do massive drives and then split. It was fun if you got in front or to the sides of them. I drive by 2 parking lots on Rt 23 and saw about 10 cars/trucks there the last Sat of buck season. I think that muzzle loader is wide open.

Best bet would be to find access off the beaten path and then come in from a different direction. Check out the Sand Pond Road entrance off Rt 517N.

Thank you for all the advice. I am primarily interested in hunting the Hamburg Mountain WMA for January bow only next season. I think the Watershed closes for all hunting on Dec. 31, so that is not an option.

Dave