Live2Hunt

Buttermilk Falls & Robert Treman are state parks and allow hunting with a permit in certain areas. Permit holders must sign in.

So myself and my Buddy went Saturday. First time in the area. Our estimate was about 28 guys hunting the stateland. From all the guys we talked with everyone saw deer,(we saw 7 total), but no one took anything. Fun to get out and explore a new area.

Thanks that was the game plan....toss a coin.... Does this season get alot of hunting pressure?

Going to give it a try with crossbow.Which of the 2 state parks do you think is better?

You cant say its just hunting tactics..I hunt state land Tonawanda WMA, a highly pressured area from August (dog field trails),Duck & goose hunting, pheasant hunters (which there were extremely high numbers of guys with dogs),small game hunters and then us deer guys. Its a different kind of hunting compared to private and even S. tier WMA's. If people are having the same results for years and then there are no deer sightings you cant just say tactics. I have seen 3-doe during the entire gun season -300 yards away, thats it. I get out more than just the weekends. I am normally a sitter and at seasons end did walk and stalk without seeing a single thing.Very little as far as sign goes (rubs ,scrapes) but there are some trails being used. My take on this......Very hard winter on the herd. I found one buck skull-4pt, and had another guy walk out with 5, and said there were doe skulls there also. Deer numbers are down and the guys that are getting deer are doing so on private land because of less pressure. DEC is doing a terrible job on the management end, and when asked the told me there were no issues as far as winter kill.When I go into the woods at seasons end and find acorns still on the ground there is an issue. Weather has been the game changer as most deer movement has been during the night. Even road kill numbers have been down as I have only seen 3 roadkills in that area the entire season. Usually there are 3 every other day. This weekend went out to southern Tier and had no deer siting but sign was a bit more prevalent. No road kills on a 2 hour road trip in the heart of deer country?

Can you share the recipe?? LOL Same boat as you brother!!

I cut and wrap my own. I by the restaurant size rolls of plastic wrap, Everything is double wrapped and all the air is squeezed out. may not be as efficient as a vacuum sealer but i have no issues with freezer burn meat.

8G Tonawanda wma only 3 shots that were close and maybe 10 shots within 1,5 miles. Gun season to date ive seen ONE doe at 600yards. I ran into 2 guys coming out of the woods saturday that came out with 5 buck skulls.(winter kill)They found the place were deer go to die. 8, 6, & 4 point other 2 had antlers gone one was small the other was a big old boy that had bases bigger than a half dollar. They said there were some doe remains there also and one fresh gut shot doe. Explains the 3 shots on the opener, rifle guys. If you can take shots at deer at 300 + yards then walk the 300 yards to see if you hit the thing. I also found a 4 point skull during archery season. I have hunted hard and this will be the worse season on record for me. What does the DEC really do ???

Barnett Jackal with 100gr. G5 monotec broadheads

We need to post this as a reminder at the beginning of next season,

I hunt stateland and Im in 2 hours before legal shooting time to get my spot on opening day. If I was fortunate to have my own land it may be a different story, but you do what works. I also pattern hunters and find the deer (as well as ducks / geese) have us patterned. Hunted one section of public land (thanksgiving morning) and had seen 17 hunters in the am. Most guys leave by or before 10:00am. At 10:45 deer were moving and seen eight in the next 1.5 hours. You do what works for you. Even the best plans can be screwed up on stateland. LOL

Yes Mike, we dont need politicians regulating DEC conservation efforts.......They screwed up enough things already!!

Thanks Mike, lotteries are all closed as I was not selected at Iroquois or tonawanda / oak orchard. I have always hunted Tonawanda but never the other 2, Just looking for some other Stateland /wma optionsfor the opener to scout out. I do put my time in scouting ect, unfortunately it was all in one area. LOL This is only my 4th season duck hunting hence the question of other options. Thanks again!

Not looking to take your spoy just some other area options to hunt. Tough crowd here!LOL

Hi everyone! Did not get picked for the lottery at Tonawanda WMA/ oak orchard for the opener. Does anyone know of other areas to hunt ducks for opening day? Only been doing this for a couple of years so I dont have a backup plan in place. Thanks for your help.