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Hi all, we're a week away form my first Turkey hunting season ever. I was curious if anyone knew any public lands or WMA's in region 3 that are good for Turkey. Been scouting California Hill area and not much luck. My Son and I had been small game hunting at Stewart a few times, and it seems like they have lots of good Turkey habitat there, I was just looking for something on this side of the river, hopefully in Putnam. It seems like 6 or 7 years ago I saw Turkeys everywhere, and these last 3 or 4 years they seem to be a lot scarcer, maybe the coyote's? Thanks, Steve

The last 5 or 6 years I've been seeing them come and go into the powerlines that run along Secor Rd in Mahopac, of course you can't hunt there. But I have heard of them in Ninham where you can hunt. Lived in Mahopac since early 90's, numbers were small through the 90's and up until around 6 years ago. I had heard from old timers that the area was full of game back in the 50's and 60's. Really South Putnam is a little too developed these days. Better up to in the Northern towns. Paterson is still good. Great Swamp WMA definitively has coyotes, I've seen scat and also "feather explosions" from pheasants they dined on! I think there is even a thread about yote hunting in the Region 3 forum.

shawnhu, Great Swamp is nice, and there are lots of birds there, saw a dozen piles of feathers easily. Problem is without a bird dog, the stuff is just too thick.

Oh, and out of desperation and thinking that "any dog is better than no dog" we brought my GSD last Sunday to the Great Swamp. Didn't flush a single bird, but he had lots of fun!

Hmmm, looking at Forester Rd on Google Maps, where can you park around there? I see one right on the map- http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/stewartbrmapa.pdf Thanks everyone again

Thanks for all the info and tips everyone, I think we'll head over to Forester Rd tomorrow. Funny I worked right up the road a piece from Rock Tavern for a few years, used to eat at Johnny's Pizzeria and that great Hot Dog trailer on 17K almost daily!

Thanks Shawnhu and Elmo. I thought it was a little early, maybe after a few hard frosts those weeds will start to fall over. Well if anyone is ever interested in having a couple more "beaters and shooters" on a hunt just shoot me a PM. -Steve

Has anyone has any luck here? I'm looking at the area North of Weed Rd. by the DEP field office. Have no dog just my me and my Son. Been slogging through fields up to shoulder high at the Great Swamp in Patterson last 2 Sundays. Saw plenty of piles of feathers, just no birds. For almost 5 hours of walking we only flushed one hen between the 2 days. Cover is too heavy there, I think you really need a dog. Anyone know any other good spots? Coming from Putnam County, 3N region, but will travel an hour or so.