AuburnNYC

Enders the Adirondacks are pretty notorious for being tough hunting. If it snows - I'd consider looking for fresh tracks and trailing a deer, continuously glassing and keeping your head up. Walking the woods with snow on the ground is a huge learning experience and you'll see that deer ignore/hardly use a large portion of the woods. If it doesn't snow, I'd focus around a few things: (1) Openings in the woods i.e. fields or cutover (2) "edges" where thick woods open up to thinner woods, or pines break to hardwoods (3) walking ridges - moving very slowly - so that you can at least get a chance to see a deer and potentially have a shot at one This book is very good for learning to hunt large tracts of woods, and identifying areas with higher probabilities of seeing deer. https://www.amazon.com/Bowhunting-Forests-Deep-Woods-Miller/dp/0972132120/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=bow+hunting+forest+and+deep+woods&qid=1574390075&sr=8-1

This has gone way off topic but may be helpful for people who are carrying loaded long guns... I'm not a lawyer so do your own research but in short I wouldn't carry any loaded gun in a vehicle... period. It's technically an environmental law but New York will apply it regardless of circumstance. A guy in New York City was prosecuted under the environmental code and found guilty basically because the court personally considered carrying a loaded shotgun a "thoughtless hazard". The decision reads like a high school AP english student trying to sound intelligent but you can see it below if anyone is interested. Relevant Environmental Law: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/ENV/11-0931 Court Case: https://www.leagle.com/decision/196399538misc2d9572710 "And indeed, would it not border upon the macabre to hold that this statutory language which evinces the expressed purpose of protecting human life from the thoughtless hazards of carrying loaded shotguns and rifles in automobiles should be applicable only in areas where feathered and fur-bearing animals can be the quarry, but have no applicability in the metropolitan areas of human congestion? "

Yep - my car broke down on the west side highway once - cooling hose to radiator burst - when it was about 15 degrees out. I called a tow truck and waited about 30 mins but they said it would be there in an hour. It was brutally cold and I didn't have warm clothes on (suit for work) so I put a note on the windshield saying I was around the corner grabbing a coffee, couldn't have been gone 15 minutes but had a ticket when I got back. Sent in a photo of my car on the tow truck and a receipt explaining what happened and that I repaired it when I got home. The NYC judge said it was "not compelling" because I repaired the hose myself rather than having a shop do it. That still bothers me when I think about it.

I would agree with this. Also helps the image of hunters with the general public. I'm actually pretty surprised the law is written this way but it's probably just from an older era and NY has more important legislative issues to deal with. There's also nothing stopping an officer from writing the ticket and/or arresting you which then puts the ball in your court to either defend yourself in court or hire a lawyer... The potential legal issues/headaches would not be fun. WNYBuckHunter - What was the basis of the tickets "sticking" or did they just not fight it? Were there improvements of any kind on the land? Had you run the guys off at some point? Buckmaster7600 - Definitely agree with that having a mowed trail, greenfield, cabin, etc. would likely qualify the land as "improved" and leave it open for interpretation. Since they walked across the field there is no denying that they "were not aware" of the improvement, which definitely qualifies them as trespassing.

I don't have a dog in the fight but I actually think you would based on what I've read. I found several other places where the trespassing law is discussed. See the blue text below. From Cornell: http://www2.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/info/pubs/LegalFinancial/liability_boundary_posting.htm Note that in Penal Law 140.00, which defines the terms used above, the term "enter or remain unlawfully" is explained as follows: A person who enters or remains upon unimproved and apparently unused land, which is neither fenced nor otherwise enclosed in a manner designed to exclude intruders, does so with license and privilege unless notice against trespass is personally communicated to him by the owner of such land or other authorized person, or unless such notice is given by posting in a conspicuous manner. Leaving your property unposted. If you are one of the majority of landowners who are willing to let others use your property for recreation, and if you are seldom inconvenienced by others who use your property, consider leaving it unposted. By doing so, you may be providing a welcome service to neighbors and others who do not have sufficient property of their own for recreation. You would still have considerable control over recreational use of your property; for according to New York law, any person must leave your property upon request, even if it is not posted. Also, the results of previous court cases indicate that your recreational liability is no greater on unposted than on posted property. A possible disadvantage to not posting your land is that although the State strongly encourages all recreationists using private lands to first request permission, this is not a legal requirement on open (unfenced), nonposted rural lands. Often property boundaries of rural lands are not apparent to recreationists. In addition, not all recreationists take the time to request permission. Thus, at any given time, recreationists may be using your property without your knowledge. If this poses a frequent problem, you may wish to consider posting your property. Document Citing Legal Precedent: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=11&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjnn87_4fvlAhWLpFkKHVqiD84QFjAKegQIARAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.riverkeeper.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F06%2FTrespass-Law-in-NY.doc&usg=AOvVaw03DXgUZD6EeJT8pbd3jeBw Based on the above, in order to prove that someone is guilty of criminal trespass, the prosecution must: (1) prove that the defendant knowingly entered or remained unlawfully in or upon land, and (2) negate the exception for unimproved or apparently unused land.1 1 See People v. Dailey, 69 Misc. 2d 691, 693 (County Ct. of N.Y. Saratoga County 1972).

This law is very different from AL so I decided to look into it. Personally, I'd ask for permission before hunting anywhere but it is nice to know that if a deer you shot runs onto unposted unimproved land in NY you can drag it out without having to track down the owner. In AL, you have to ask permission before even stepping foot on someone else's property (even to drag out a downed deer) but generally there people approve of hunting. Under the NY penal code (link below) Trespass is defined as "knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in or upon premises". It looks like there is an exception if the land is unimproved and apparently unused whereby a "person who enters" does so "with license and privilege". So technically it looks legal to hunt unimproved unused unposted land if you're entering under the privilege exception under the trespass code. In this particular situation the deer were in a field and the fact that there was any posting at all would seem to disqualify it from "apparently unused". I can't find anything in the DEC regs stating otherwise. The website has this information saying hunters have a "responsibility to obtain permission" but I can't find anywhere in the actual DEC codes. My guess is this has caused DEC headaches but isn't illegal technically. The wording here is interesting "does not give you the right to trespass". Technically you aren't trespassing under the NY penal code if you enter by the unimproved land exception... DEC Website https://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/2442.html Question: Can I be arrested for trespass if I didn't see any posted signs? Answer: Yes. Your hunting license does not give you the right to trespass on private property. It is your responsibility to find out who the land owner is and ask their permission whether the property is posted or not. The New York State Penal Law makes it an offense to enter any land without permission. "Question: If a property is not posted, does that mean I can hunt there? Answer: All property is owned by somebody. The lack of posted signs, fences or other man made objects does not imply that you may enter to hunt, fish or trap. It is your responsibility to obtain permission to enter private lands or waters. Public lands and waters may or may not have restrictions that can be found by contacting the municipality owning the lands." Relevant NY Code: http://ypdcrime.com/penal.law/article140.htm#p140.05 S 140.05 Trespass. A person is guilty of trespass when he knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in or upon premises. "A person who enters or remains upon unimproved and apparently unused land, which is neither fenced nor otherwise enclosed in a manner designed to exclude intruders, does so with license and privilege unless notice against trespass is personally communicated to him by the owner of such land or other authorized person, or unless such notice is given by posting in a conspicuous manner."

What a bruiser. If I had those in my backyard you'd pretty quickly see a ladder stand back there ha

If your scent is blowing into the cover on your way in, maybe you can walk in more of a loop or from a different direction to avoid that while entering? When hunting from the ground in thick cover there is a good possibility deer are winding you and then just slipping away in a different direction. If you're gun hunting I'd invest in a climber and get up in a tree further back from the travel route than you are currently hunting but with a few shooting lanes into the travel route. Will help with your scent if that is the problem. If hunting bow you have to play the wind - which can be frustrating if wind shifts in that area but that's just the way it is.

Sterling has a tendency to get pretty crowded during gun but I've seen a decent amount of deer in there. It sounds like you're hunting from the ground - when on the ground try to get some elevation with a good view and ideally something behind you - you don't want deer to be able to silhouette you and ideally you have enough vision to see/shoot them before they can scent you. I've killed a decent number of deer from the ground on public land with a gun and what I generally do is get a little elevation in an area I like, scrape some leaves away from a spot next to a tree so I have something to lean back on and lay up against a tree, then backfill leaves around so it doesn't look odd once I'm settled in. I wear a leafy ASAT suit when I'm doing this but probably not necessary. Moving the leaves gives you the ability to adjust yourself without being as loud and the tree makes things a bit more comfortable so you don't need to move as much. 99% of the noise you'll hear will be squirrels most likely but try to visually check it off with your eyes without moving your body too much. It is shocking how quietly deer can move compared to a squirrel. Deer vision is odd where they don't have great visual acuity but they can spot movement very well in a wide band i.e. from the side whereas we would have to be looking right at something. If you're going to move around midday try to get in the habit of moving from tree to tree. Walk slowly and quietly between trees, pause for a couple of minutes and listen while visually scanning all around yourself. I've bumped lots of deer this way but haven't killed as many. That said, on public land when you're starting out just seeing a deer can be rewarding and should be the first goal.

Are you hunting rifle/shotgun or are you also hunting bow? Are you hunting out of a treestand? Can you hunt weekdays or weekends only? I'm currently visiting my GF in NYC for a few months, but lived here before for ~10 years and have hunted North Jersey and Westchester a good bit but only bow/crossbow. The NYC regulations are too wild for me to consider bringing a gun here. I may do a hunt or two in a gun legal area post Thanksgiving - PM me if you would be interested. Some Tips: Wear some hunter orange if you're on public land during a gun hunt. Get further from the city if you can. Areas that get run over at the beginning of gun season get tougher to hunt after the first week of gun season in my view. You being in bronx will help the drive. If you get a chance at a deer and have the tag go ahead and take it even if it isn't a "trophy". Mountable class public land bucks don't come around that often. Use a topographic map and google map aerials to pre-scout the area you are hunting. If you don't know much about reading topos for deer I recommend "Mapping Trophy Bucks". MyTopo has free good maps First time on a piece of land if hunting (gun hunting) without having ever scouted I'd get to the woods very early for an afternoon hunt. Take some time walking ridges or trails slowly looking for deer sign. As it starts getting late try to position yourself near acorns that have deer droppings in them within viewing distance of thick cover. Having an elevated vantage point so even if you don't have a shot you may see deer and learn something. If you can, after the season going along with someone who is scouting will teach you much faster than going on a hunt with someone. Generally in season people are just trying to slip in and out of pre-scouted spots.