Daveboone

yow! I have given a lot of thought to a wolf hunt, and although I have a lot of patience 14 days without seeing one is beyond my sitting ability!

I have been to New Brunswick and Quebec on spring (baited) hunts a total of six times, and would happily go annually. A good outfitter (and there are plenty) works hard to keep you on active baits. Each year I saw multiple bears, and always had a great time. Sitting for 6-8 hrs or more on stand (I prefer ground blinds) isn't an easy shake. I have had many memorable evenings, seeing moose, Lynx and coyote from stand, as well as enjoying watching different bears- including sows with cubs, doing the bear thing.. I am a die hard big woods deer hunter, and cant stand the thought of baiting, bean field shooting, or all the gimmicky crap that is out there nowadays. For me,bear hunting is much less a sure thing than deer hunting is, but in some ways simpler and more pure. I know damn well I will get my venison (I didn't say buck...)each year. Bear hunting for one week, I will put in a solid 40 or more hrs on stand and maybe see a bear I want to shoot. Deer hunting I will stretch the season as long as I can to stay in the woods. Most years I can easily have a deer down within the first couple of stands. Someday I would love to go to the pacific coast to hunt coastal black bear spot and stalk, but I don't think that is any more or less sporting. You glass areas for a bear, work within range and plug it. Generally the hunts are shorter because they are more productive. Spotting known food sources is the same as baiting them in. The ranges are only longer. If you don't want to go on a baited hunt, don't go. But chances are you wont just stumble over a bear in NY.

"The Camp"

I just got back (western Tug Hill region).. The snow is melted around the camp and the nearby more open woods, but there is still a lot in the thicker and northern hell sides. I wasn't very happy to find a coyote deer kill just behind my camp...It wasn't there 3 weeks ago.

Several years ago after getting tired of getting my shed broken into, I invested in a steel shipping container. That and the best padlock I can buy. Of course, anyone determined enough with enough time and a torch, can get in.

Dang, and it drives!

I never hunted deer there, but we used to do a lot of small game hunting- grouse, pheasant, squirrel... In the summer we spent many afternoons stalking woodchucks. I don't live nearby anymore, and haven't hunted it in years, but it does get quite a bit of traffic.

An important aside for your question asking if you can legally take it out hunting.. That will largely depend on what type of pistol permit you have. Be sure to adhere closely to its provisions. I have been surprised by the number of permit recipients who are either ignorant of, or who choose to ignore, restrictions on their permits. Darn few full carry permits are issued anymore. If in doubt, contact your permit office to clarify how and when you can carry.

upstate and northern NY has a lot of public land, a lot of which is very low pressure hunting. Areas I used to frequent heavily hunted 25 years ago are now lightly hunted. My suggestion is to contact the DEC and ask for information on areas you are interested in. Plan a few camping/ scouting trips to explore areas. Be sure to tone down expectations from the media...big woods hunting is a lot of hunting, not much shooting, but the deer are there, and you will probably find woods hunting more rewarding than downstate hunting with higher deer populations. If you would like to send a personal response, I can suggest a few areas that I have enjoyed, but no longer frequent, and good luck to ya. You want to be sure to get your basic skills down first though (fire starting, compass use, etc).

What do you hope to do with the pistol? Other than being concealable, target, hunting, personal protection (concealed carry) for which you need a full carry permit, or home protection, where anything goes. If it is your first pistol, .22 lets you practice the most for the price. .22s are getting pretty easy to find again. After that in centerfire, probably 9mm is most affordable for shooting, if not versatility (where.38 special/.357 mag reigns, from self defence, hunting, target use, and still moderate cost). I would decide on your caliber / purpose first, then the actual gun, other wise its kind of putting the cart in front of the horse.

This is my first year in 6 years not going to Canada for spring bear, and its killin me! It has turned into a great week away without a care in the world (new Brunswick). I have to save my pennies up for 2015 when we are going to Newfoundland for a fly iin moose hunt, long time in coming.

if you are referring to Frenchmans Island on Oneida Lake, as I recall there were quite a few large mast trees there. Undoubtedly the deer head out there as mainland sources grew thin.. Plenty of cover out there, besides

Generally speaking, CCI .22 is some of the best. The mini mags in particular are some of the most reliable .22s out there. In many different 22 rifles and pistols (semi specifically) they have across the board been the most reliable for me.. The Stingers are built for velocity, use a lighter bullet and as I recall a slightly longer case. The combination does not work well in a lot of semi autos.

The 45-70 has significant recoil. It isn't a rifle for target shooting- other than sighting in, of course. Varying loads also have a big affect on the shoulder. It is possible to load up to the equivalent of .458 magnum energies. I keep recoil down somewhat handloading a 350 grain Hornady RN, which has been very effective (4 shots, 4 kills) on bear. I also shoot it out of a Browning 1885, which is a relatively heavy gun. I have read many times that it can be brutal out of the Marlin lever actions, as theyare relatively short barreled and much lighter. I love the round, but it does have limitations. It takes extensive practice to get proficient at the longer ranges (100 yards, for this gun) Plenty of killing power, but the trajectory is like a rainbow. It is a great round for someone who has the time to spend with it, but I would tend to steer it away from someone for an all around shoot a lot gun.

I would think the johnboat idea would be simplest, cheapest and safest. Place it there a couple months ahead of time and the deer wont pay it any attention. As previously mentioned, run a line from one shore to the other for pulling yourself along. Probably the easiest way to move gear or a deer across also. You sure wouldn't want to try to move a deer with a zip line or a suspension bridge.

Seems like the rat killer wouldn't do it any good!

A friend joined. He received a one time collection of Walmart grade items (cheap folder, a couple of cheap lures) to eval. If I remember correctly they have their own magazine they want you to subscribe to. Not worth the time.

I just got back from my camp an hour ago (western edge of the Tug Hill). Beautiful weather. We have about 2 feet of heavy snow on the ground...too soft to walk on, just skatie enough you cant snow shoe very well. It appeared the deer were moving around fine.

Ah, Creekside. I think it was about 15 years ago I was in there last. At that time they were greatly down from what they had in the mid 80s when I was previously in. A buddy was looking for an Uzi, and I almost bought a HK 9mm ( model 93?). I allways thought the prices were pretty fair for an independent shop. Kittery would be my choice for a 2nd. The last time I was there though, they were getting cleaned out pretty good by all the city types coming in from NY and Boston. The Pa. Gander has had a great assortment of used guns (handgun, rifle, shotgun) and I thought across the board prices were quite fair. I am still kicking myself for not having bought an H+jR octagon bbl 45-70 for 150.00 two years ago. It was a pre- NEF rifle.

I tend not to get involved in these discussions, but I must here. NYS has more heavily wooded deer country than open. Our deer overall can run much heavier than found in southern states where the .223 and .243 are popular because their deer run smaller...much smaller. Yes, I have hunted the south, and a big buck MAY be as large as an average ny deer, but more often is much smaller. The lighter calibers may kill with a perfectly placed shot, but are easily deflected, have less mass to penetrate, and we seldom are presented with the perfect shot. For all those reasons, 30 caliber reigns king in the NE for a rifle cartridge. If you are an adult, recoil will not be an issue with the 'o6, .308 ir ,270. Ammo is easily found anywhere, and there a a zillion guns out there to pick from. I agree a 12 (or 20 gauge shotgun with a rifled slug barrel is perfectly adequate for deer, but can be brutal for sighting in and practicing..

I also am completing a gun project...more like out with the new and in with the old though . My Ruger mk 11 .308 is being put in the 2nd tier for the rebirth of my fathers Mauser 98. Drilled, tapped, competitions firing pin and spring, timney trigger, it gives me 1/2 inch groups at 100. Of course it is in 8x57. The currently way overpowered 2x8 is coming off for a Leupold 1.5x5, which is worn on my .308 and 45-70 (I like consistency) and has proven more than adequate out to 200 yards, and far more versatile in typical NY woods. The mauser is 80 years old this year...and still a force to be reckoned with.

I agree with SteveB. The only reason the herd is there is because of mans interference: first the fence, then the base commander initially declaring the first mutants off limits to shooting. They are neat to see, but other than that Ma Nature in her wisdom would weed them out.

wow, beautiful. I have never heard of a color phase in NY. About the grumpy look someone asked about...I know I have helped drag out plenty of critters, and sometimes there just aint no energy left for the smile. It might me hiding under the mustache though.

I have been for bear 5 times over the border in New Brunswick. It is a great time. If you are fudging money, you could go cheaper, bur what you are paying is in the ball park. (I pay 1600. for 5 days). Black bear are super timid, and even though it is spookier than hell leaving your stand at night, it is virtually unheard of to be attacked while hunting. If you have a choice, go for a tent blind instead of a tree stand the first time. You have much more freedom of movement than in a tree, and the sit is much more comfortable. Get yourself a good bug suit head to toe. The bugs need to be experienced to believe them. I have used a Thermocell every year, and they work great. Just have the bug suit as back up. I would go every year if I could. It is a reasonably priced hunt, the meat is fine...many bear hunters prefer it to venison. Just treat it like real meat- keep it clean, cool. We like to cook it like pot roast, and the texture, grain is very similar. Go and have a great time. Just remember to sight your gun in for closer ranges.

I frequently have game cams on state land, but not usually during peak hunting or scouting times (late summer, fall). also the areas I post them in are not visited much. I usually put them up during the late season, through mid summer to get an idea of what is still in the area. I have a number of known trails used year around, and it is fun to monitor the local deer population through all seasons. Once hunting season starts, usually its all out the window as far as where the bucks will be, anyway.