PostedBoys Gallego

Exactly! It's like when I ride my motorbike with speedsters. I know to ride my ride. When you hunt, hunt your hunt. Just enjoy it.

Less stressing about getting a buck and more fun enjoying the hunt.

All I can say is hunting bear exclusively without bait is real tough. Spot and stalk is practically impossible in the ADK especially this time of year with all the dense foliage. If you go often, you might be able to scout and find areas where they frequent and then become more successful over time. I would recommend going up during deer season, that way you can have a better chance at seeing either bear or deer. This was my last year driving 5 hours to try and find a bear in that dense forest. However, if you have the time and expenses to kill, I wish you the best of luck and hope you get one! Report back how it goes, looking forward to it. I'd give you tips if I had any, but I'm bearless the last 3 years.

Good luck to all going for the Early Season Bear in the northern zone this weekend! I'll be up there. Hoping even a glimpse at a bear. I'll worry about the rest after that

I would do the camping on sagamore road in moose river plains if i were solo but my friend is solely camping and rather be a campground so heading to Lewey Lake. NFK, you don't happen to setup a huge outfitter tent on sagamore road do you? wish you the best bowhunting those deep woods. Tough stuff! I know first hand experience!

Well even though the DEC website states the following: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7844.html " Hunting on Public CampgroundsHunting is not permitted within DEC campgrounds, although some campgrounds in the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserves allow camping during big game season. DEC operates 52 public campgrounds in the Forest Preserves. Unloaded firearms are allowed on public campgrounds only during the spring and fall hunting seasons for hunting. A valid hunting license is needed. Firearms cannot be discharged in the campground or day use facilities at any time. For more information contact the Bureau of Recreation at (518) 402-9055. Campgrounds outside the Forest Preserves are operated by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) (see link at right)." I called that number and spoke to Recreations and they said they do not allow camping when the season is closed. Odd, because I definitely remember talking to people that were camping in the Adirondacks campground last early bear season. Ugh. I ask too many questions. Should think less and do more

I am pretty sure yes, just want to make sure. Anyone know? I remember reading you can camp and free at that during the closed season, but now I cannot find that anywhere.

First timer, just got one, want to get good at it before opening day of course

All great points. Anyways, now I am paranoid about going to use my climber by myself. Watch me end up on the news as 'Dumb Man climbs tree in Queens Park and is left hanging for hours until rescued, then fined $1000' hahaha screw that.

True Elmo. Although here is one instance where a fine was given. Although looks like in the end the parks chief realized how crazy $1000. I figure if a cop sees me using a climber he is going to be thinking WTF unless he knows about climbers. http://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/10/nyregion/metro-news-briefs-new-york-parks-chief-to-seek-lower-climbing-fine.html This was in 1999 though. People are alot more paranoid for suspicious activities these days.

Which park? People climb rocks and trees all the time. Just annoyed at the fact that it is written as against the law. If it weren't for all the police presence going on right now here I wouldn't think twice about it. They have a command station setup right at the entrance of my park, so good thing I did a little research first. But still, it reminds me how free we really are.

Just read that climbing a tree in NYC is illegal, labeled as disorderly behavior, and you can get fined. So I am supposed to drive up north 1.5 hours to public land in order to practice my new climber now. i live near a park that has hiking trails and is pretty big densely wooded, so I might be able to get away with it. However, there are cops everywhere at the moment due to recent crimes in the park. Of course... Gotta get out of here badly. http://www.nycgovparks.org/rules/section-1-04

Hey Rustin, I am/have been in the same situation as you for the past couple years. I've been up to the Dacks public lands in search of deer and bear. Last year I did an exclusive early bear hunt with the bow. The problem I found was that in Sept 14 which is early bear opener, the woods are still too thick. I mean I couldn't see past 20-30 yards in most places. This is a tough way to stalk anything with the bow. I've scouted plenty and found trails and scat but doesn't mean I would see a bear with their range and the amount of land. Food sources are extremely hard to find up there. Forget about Acorns depending on where you go, very little. Beechnuts not easy to find at least for me. I still need to work on finding good food sources up there. It is definitely an adventure and I did it by myself. However, I did my homework in the areas I went to and did not venture past what I knew. 2-3 miles deep max for me and I had printed out topo maps of the areas I was going. I had a gps with an extra battery and a compass of course. I studied google maps/earth/topos and did scouting on late spring trips. Coming from Queens so its not something I can easily get to and its costly. Spoke to locals and other bear hunters who were going at it with rifles and its just really a tough hunt that could be like finding a needle in a haystack up there. However do not let that deter you because like it said, its an Adventure! I am considering doing a rifle hunt this year for the opener or second weekend but not decided yet. You can see my boring bear hunting video on my youtube page in the link below. Btw, I found this video that helps you learn how to properly skin/quarter out a bear for a rug. You would definitely have to quarter it out depending on the size, distance and help you have. I go at it knowing I am going to quarter it out in multiple trips. Not like I am going to get one Video to skin: Being in your same shoes, I would definitely recommend going at it with the rifle your first year. I also wanted to get one with the bow, but with the thickness of the foliage, it will be extremely difficult and frustrating, from my experience.

Hi and welcome. I was in your shoes about 3 years ago. I just went out there the first year and started walking into whatever public land I could find, which is A TON. Then I realized I really needed to narrow it down better. I picked up Dan Ladd's book and it has very valuable info on all public lands up there to hunt. The book does not exactly point you to where to shoot a deer but it shows you where you can go on a map and describes the areas lol. I've been trying to arrow a deer out there for 3 seasons now, very tough hunting. Hope this book helps you! Deer Hunting in the Adirondacks http://www.adkhunter.com/Adirondack%20Deer%20Hunting%20Book.html

Yea freehand while looking at an image on my phone. Gonna make another one for this years bird.

Congratulations Elmo! We gotta hit up Blue Mountain again soon.

Very nice, and very creative idea! I might try that with some oldies I never mounted. I was looking into buying a Fan Plaque but then realized why not just make one. So I made two, one for last year's bird and one for my friend who will never get it mounted unless I do it for him. I used a jigsaw to carve it out of whatever wood I found in the back and then a dremmel tool to carve in, and then stained it. Next time I'll leave it unstained. I like the natural wood color better. Here is what I came up with. I think I'll setup the beard your way and then hang it off the plaque next. Great work Joe! I see you post DIY stuff often and thats a great thing, keep that creativity up!

Thanks guys. Deerthug, Hell or highwater! Hope you do make it up. If they are pretty quiet, and since you know the fields they hang out on, camp out till noon on em with soft light calling not very often. Hope to see you with one soon!

After a grueling 9 full days, I finally nailed one this past Friday. I shaved off most of his beard. They fooled me again Saturday and today though. Not going to make it back upstate so just happy to put one down. I gotta move upstate!

Congrats to everyone with a bird already, or two! I'm looking for a way to get back up but its not looking good this May. Missed on a perfect opportunity the first weekend.

I try to scout as much as possible but the lands are 3 hours north of me. You definitely learn a ton by following tracks all day in the snow. Reading up on new tactics is also something I love to do. Here is a great resource for anyone interested: http://www.pursuithunting.com/p/scouting-advice.html

Guess I am an 'anti' also because I agree with this. Predators have their part to play in the world.

Can't wait to see a pic or vid of you taking one down this Spring my ex contest partner!

Uggh, im like real close to banning myself from forums until I have something good to input. All I see is bashing and more bashing. Can't we all just get along?

I would actually like to see Suburban Hunting but without all the editing/tv. I think it would be an interesting show. This is still pretty funny though. The bow poker contest is a fun idea!