catskillkid

Congrats, your hard work is paying off

Geno, I say go for it, I also had the long time desire to own my own hunting land. 12 years ago, after much searching, I found a nice piece of land in Delaware County which is only 2 hours from our principle residence. Buying it was one of the best decisions of my life. Our family enjoys it just about every weekend, it had a small run down house on it that I fixed up, just the right size to not require allot of maintenance. After all this time we still daydream all week about getting out of work early on Friday to get there. Hunting on your own place is something special. Call me crazy, but I pass up invitations to hunt the rut in Ohio and Illinois every year because I could not stand being away from my place during that time of year, even though I know that I will not see a buck near as big as in those other states. As for the peticulars, In Delaware County, someone can buy a larger parcel for around $2k per acre. Not all land is leased to a gas company, you just need to make sure of it before buying. Also if you buy in the watershed area, there will be no need to worry about gas drilling as the DEC is not going to allow it. If you buy 50 acres or more, you can do as I did and put it in the Forestry Program, this reduces the taxes on that portion of forested land by 80 percent! All costs associated with the Forestry Program are tax deductable also, i.e. trail maintenance, gravel, equipment and the purchase of a tractor. If it is your first and/or second residence, the IRS allows the mortgage interest and property taxes to be deductable also. Once the land is paid for, the timber sales pay for all of costs associated with the land and more! As I said, go for it, there is a special feeling when sitting in your treestand on the land that you own with no one to interfere with your hunt.

Very entertaining thread, and I am staying out of it.

I'm in Sidney Center just off the Sidney / Walton Road

I'll also give my DMP tag to a friend who does not bow hunt and has not shot a buck yet when it gets late in the rifle season. We do take advantage and shoot a few does during the bow season on our bow tags.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I guess I was just venting, I do here that dribble from guys who don't want the work or responsibilities of ownership but still want the percs that go along with it.

Looks great, your will do well this year

Dave, I don't know where you get the idea that guys with landowner permits couldn't care less about the rest of you. I do wish the DEC would release more doe tags for 4o and I am a land owner! My buds have also been rejected the last few years and our doe population has been on the rise. Seems like you have a chip on your shoulder against land owners. Land owners play a big role in preserving the land from development so wildlife can flourish. Many farms have been past down through the generations and it is very hard to hold onto them in these hard times because of fiscal problems. I worked my butt off for 30 years to amass enough $ for a downpayment on a piece of land. If one of the bonuses of being a landowner is getting one measly doe tag. I'll take it!

Great idea using the brush, but watch out for the poison ivy

My area in 40 is overrun with does. Maybe because of all my food plots or the DEC is just late on counting the upswing in population. I have no problem seeing 20 does a day when hunting. I always ask my buds to please take a doe when bow or muzz. hunting. to try and get the buck to doe ratio corrected and to get the carrying capacity under control. My plots have been getting wiped out the last 3 years before bow season even starts!.

Hurry and buy 50 acres before the cutoff date Then apply for your landowners tag Sorry, but the only option That would be one expensive permit

I hunt in 4o also. If you read the DEC booklet, it tells you that nonresidents have no chance for a DMP. Residents with PPs have a slight chance and landowners will of course get one.

I'm going on my annual Idaho Whitetail / Muledeer hunt in mid October. Great scenery and the hunting is outstanding! Spot and stalk, just can't bring myself to sit in a tree all week with those beautiful mountains all around. This is always a must be in shape hunt or you will be paying for it with sore legs and lungs after the first day. Of course NY for bow, rifle & muzz. NJ and Ohio are also on the list to hunt with buddies. I'll have to pick up a part time job just to pay for all the licenses and tags. Can't wait, the seasons are just around the corner.

I think I know that guy, lol

Yup, bobcat

Fever, I feel your pain, a few years back I was clearing an old brushy field with my backhoe to prepare for a new food plot, I unknowingly dug up a yellow jacket nest. A swarm came in the cab and stung the heck out of me. I jumped off the machine and ran for my quad as they were still stinging me. Raced back to the house about 500 yards and they still followed in a swarm. Those little buggers were on me all the way into the door! My wife and I found 40 stings and stopped counting. Those bees were in my shirt, pants, ears, hair and nose. Thank god you and I are not allergic to them. I guess they thought my big old yellow Case backhoe was another big bee attacking them

Felt it big time in North Jersey. I thought our shop was coming down. We ran outside to get away from the building!

Good one!

Grow, Will the feed corn produce ears?

congrats

ditto, my plots were looking very dry last weekend. I'm sure that after this rain the leaves will be turning up again.

cool pics

Don't forget the septic system & well

Great news, maybe we should take up a collection and buy him and any other friend that he has a one-way bus ticket. But Florida is too close, maybe Siberia

Wow, great seed bed. What did you use? Discs then rake? Looks like you may have used a tiller. My fields are full of rocks, I'm jealous of your soil. Good luck, keep the pics coming when things start sprouting. Catskillkid