Napping in the woods

From my experience over the past few years in the area, there isn't a whole lot of meat on many deer in Putnam, and I'm sure the last few winters caused all of them a set back in the meat development department. It probably didn't thin the herd out much, but I'm sure their reserves were exhausted. Here's hoping a there are a more in the woods of north-central putnam this year. Good luck.

Last year, opening day of regular season, I put one down around 8 am. cleaned it out, got it back to the car. Had to go back up as I left some items on stand. around 10 AM, when I got back to my stand, I watched a buck approach from downwind right up to and passed the gut pile left about 2 hours earlier. I wouldn't sweat it much either.

I've recently moved into the Ulster/Orange County area....and so the seemingly monumental task of accessing private land began in spring/early summer. I've spoken to a few folks, even though the conversations were friendly enough, with no success. Each of them brought up the dreaded "liability" issue. I know this is a circular argument with lots of confusing legal mumbo-jumbo; it also be can used as polite way to say "stay off," which I do. I did a little digging and I found a couple of options, one is 300 per year for me and an addition 47 for each landowner I add. It covers both of us. I'm wondering 1) if this helps my always friendly request to access land and 2) is it a worthwhile investment? I've been pretty successful on state land in the region, but I've been getting really nervous lately with some of those run-ins with the not so noble among us. Just back into bow hunting this year, which I'm really excited about, but I also use a shotgun/rifle, a modern smokepole and a flintlock...yes, the flinter stems from my PA hunting traditions, love that after Christmas hunting! Interested in hearing some insightful input, sprinkled amongst the standard, and overwhelming, "you're an idiot" comments.

I'd be interested...just moved from Putnam to southern Ulster, but willing to travel a bit.

In my experience with my flinter, I did switch from the aerotip copper to hollow point copper. I found the copper aerotips didn't expand well, but hollow points and the pretty, shiney silver ones that cost a bit more do expand well. It's all about your gun and how the load performs on game with the charge you are using. As we all know there are countless combinations, unfortunately one could shoot themselves out of house and home trying to figure it out. find something accurate for your gun, see how it performs on game and then adjust as necessary. There are no clear cut answers to this riddle.

I've shot three bucks with accutips all between 50 and 80 yards out of a 12 guage weatherby PA-08 shotgun. None traveled more than 10 feet, lost a bit of meat though. tried many load varieties before settling on accutips but because my 12 gauge loves them, so do I.

I use the 300 gr out of my CVA Optima...shot a doe at 75 yds, she went 30 yards. Not a good exit wound, but it lodged in the front shoulder opposite the entry point (angling away and I shot a bit too far forward). I've been using powerbelts for years out of both an in-line and flinter. Lots of meat has gone in the freezer with them...not to say that better options don't exist, but they seem to be the most accurate and consistent for my my guns.

All depends on where you are. I didn't hear many shots today,10-15, but that's because I was on my out by 10 or so with a filled tag. I saw more deer today than in the last three years combined. Saw more guys in the woods I hunt today than in the last three years too.

You can hunt Fahnstock for Turkey but you need to secure a permit from the park office on 301. Tons of sign, but that was during deer season, not sure what the winter did to them. Haven't any yet this spring.

I've used powerbelts out of my flintlock for 6 years now. Initially I used the aerotips, but found the bullet didn't expand on contact...I recovered the bullet from a shoulder and it was essentially intact but the tip was missing (quartering away, double lung shot; yes, I got lucky). I switched to the hollowpoints and have taken several deer with them. Although this fall I started second guessing myself because I shot at 3 doe and didn't bring any of them home...gotta be shell, because it's never the shooter's fault I don't take shots much beyond 75 yards with the flinter so my experiences are all at semi-close range. I trust their accuracy, beginning to be skeptical on their lethality, but tough to get the flinter to "like" any other load...Hornady's are all over the place no matter the grain behind it. Haven't tried roundballs though....probably to techy for my own good.

SLOW two days so far...passed a nice 8 or 10 due to lack of clean shot and a small 4 pt chasing a doe yesterday. Zilch so far today. Only a relatively close shots yesterday and i've seen 2 other hunters in the woods. Seems i have the place to myself! Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

I just ordered some slugs from Cabela's and they arrived without a problem.

Lodging on site or hotel room? You've got my attention.

A few shots in the Fahnstock/Cold Spring area today, I only saw 3. However, I did see a beautiful red fox try to stalk and pounce a gray squirrel...twice!! Of course, that was after I watched shooting stars during the 5 am hour. Great day, regardless of low deer sightings. I've only lived here a year now, but I still find it hard to believe all of this happens an hour or so north of NYC.

I'm in Putnam on Oscawanna Lake. I have a few public land spots picked out. Haven't seen a ton of deer sign or deer for that matter, but the mountain laurel hides them pretty well. Looking for some piece and quiet more than anything. It will be my first season around here, so I'm sure it will be an adventure. Let me know if you'd like to run around sometime...shotgun or muzzleloader. I'll be in tree next Archery Season for sure!

Evening all, I'm a relocated hunter in western Putnam County. Started archery hunting, but haven't shot a bow, sadly, in 8 years. I'll be in a stand next fall though. Right now I'm just trying to figure out "the ropes" around here while toting a rifle or my .50 cal flintlock. Don't mind walking, but nothing beats a nap in the woods!! I don't mind shooting a buck, but I also prefer to eat venison...so doe are just fine my me too! Laws are pretty complicated around here and I've heard an awful lot of misinformation and rumors. Are flintlock legal in these parts? I'm pretty sure they are but I could be wrong. Happy to have the benefit of some local knowledge or put together a new hunting group, I'm starting from scratch around here. Cheers...