LI OUTDOORSMAN

very nicely done awesome

I have a lease in Owego WMU 7S..all level farm land with bushy draws and small bedding pines.Not hard to pattern deer here as the Ag is the main food source and some woods mast.We always see deer plus plenty of sign.I Just picked up a new place in Spencer. A nice hunting cabin and 93 acres of big woods very different from the farm.No more tents and campers yippee!.What a difference a half hour drive and a little elevation makes!.This place is full of huge spruce trees and pines and some hardwoods.Did some scouting and found the oaks..a week ago there was tons of acorns on the ground..this past week nothing but caps!.My question is will deer return to these spots looking for missed acorns or will they switch over to a different food source in these types of woods?.mind you there is no Ag fields of any kind close by and water is abundant.I'm told by friends in the area that these types of terrain yield the biggest bucks taken every year, One guy even told once I start hunting there I'll give up the farm!..Also not alot of sign like rubs and scrapes but we have found some very large buck tracks!The guy we bought it from did some logging before he sold it and left alot of tree tops piled around and i've been concentrating my hunting in these newly opened areas around the oak stands.So far I havent spotted any deer while hunting from my climber but I know they were there at some point.Seems kinda late to hand a cam...anyone have some thoughts?..tips?

All DEC equipment is supplied by DEC No equipment is purchased by the vendors

Thats why I always tell guys to take the time and read the book.Its all in there. Heres a hypothetical for you.. With the crossbow laws being so new and many ECOS not familiar with them what if he gave you the wrong answer instead of just saying he didnt know?

I was told by my neighbor that when you find them high off the ground that its going to be a cold snowy winter,, anybody got any feedback on that or was he just pulling my chain?

I dont live on my hunting property so I opt not to accelerate any new activity around my permanent stand areas prior to the season that could potentially tip deer off to something being amiss..The deer are used to little or no human action so I basically do all my scouting in winter when season is over to redefine the trails they use to and from bedding areas.All my stands were adjusted and shooting lanes cleared in late May.I havent been back to those areas since If I find a new rub or scrape I'll try to hunt it with a climber trying to keep scent to a minimum. I'm a big believer in trying to keep my hunting area as scent free and pristine as possible.

Good luck with your new venture..nothing like having your own place to roam and hunt at will. It will take a while for most of the neighbors to come to grips with losing their sacred hunting ground. Some will finally learn and some will not care who owns it and will constantly try to figure out ways to hunt it without being caught and some will not care IF they ARE caught. You might find it easier because your originally from the area, us guys from downstate have it much harder but it does get better over time. Just part of the price of land ownership That powerline is gonna be the stickler for you..too easy access for quads and snow machines. What I tell all my guys while hunting our land that NEVER assume you are alone in the woods while hunting even though nobody else is supposed to be there. Again Good luck and have a safe season.

Regarding the making of these scrapes in your line of fire from your stand do any of you find the increased human activity to be detrimental to taking a big buck? I know alot of guys put cams on the tree under or near their stand and I did the same for awhile. Last year I had some really good bucks on cams and put up some scent drippers and mock scrapes in early Sept. being as careful as possible with scent control.None of these animals were ever observed during normal hunting hours after the setup of these extras. Does and yearlings yes but none of the real nice shooters. This year I'm going "activity free". No drippers,mock scrapes,scent wicks,no wing a dings whatsoever around my stands. Even my food plot cam is setup far away from stand area and only check it from the quad..no walking around.. All my stands were adjusted and shooting lanes cut in late May when turkey season was winding down. Just relying on natural deer activity and stands placed along good travel routes between food plots and bedding areas Want to enter my stands this year with the area well rested and scent free .ready to hunt I'm interested in seeing how the season progresses.

I was told by my local ECO that before we start making any trespassing calls that we must post the entire property according to the rules set down by DEC.

Awesome

My son sent me these pics from my new food plot this year in 7S. The dates are wrong as he had alot of cameras to do and didnt have time to set dates / time.These were taken a week ago and my stand is located about 75 yds into the woods on a travel route.

Every year we get alot of reports of bear being taken in Sterling Forest. Be prepared to deal with lots of ticks and other hunters but the bears are there.

All great items listed so far I also like to carry..zip ties,hand sanitizer,extra release if your bowhunting,leatherman type multi-tool,small zip lock bags,flagging tape,packable rainsuit I never leave without my fleece jacket,fleece gloves and fleece neck gaiter.(one of man's greatest inventions)

Muzzleloader tags can be purchased anytime You can pick these up the day before you go hunting and in most zones its a guaranteed doe tag for $15.00 during the proper season

Alot of guys just buy a sportsman or supersportsman license every year because way back you got the DMP for free, Not the case anymore.Now with the new "AL A CARTE" system they only pay for what they really will use and for most guys it has worked out cheaper. The price reduction on the freshwater license from $29.00 to $25.00 has also helped save guys a few bucks.Its all there on the DEC website..checkout highlights of changes http://www.eregulations.com/newyork/hunting/highlights-of-changes-for-2014-15/

For bait fishing you cant go wrong using fresh bunker chunks or fresh clam fished on the bottom on a fishfinder rig with at least a 5 ounce or more pyramid weight. Poppers at first light switching over to diamond jig / tube combos,assorted tins or bucktails as the sun climbs higher. Night fishing youll do well learning to use needlefish and darter plugs by SUPERSTRIKE. Also the past few years Daiwa SP minnows have been working very well as they cast far with a slim profile and of course bucktail / pork rind combos are a time tested go-to lure.

I live in Nassau County.Secured a lease in town of Owego,Tioga County a few years ago. I have a 4 hour drive to get to my place,Its not something we usually do in a weekend but its been done.Having said that we have every type of huntable specie on the property which is a working farm with rotating crops and we also have stepped up our food plot program.I constantly hear from guys how the land closer to Long Island has got no more rabbits..no bucks..etc.We have everything and the DMP's are plentiful. 9 guys on the lease everybody gets a doe tag every year no problem.The area is so good we just negotiated a lease to buy deal with our lease holder for another 93 acre parcel in Spencer with a house!So phsyched up cant wait to setup the new place.Finally made the gradual progression from a motel room to tent camping to a camper to a full blown hunting cabin!.The 4 hour ride is definitely worth it to us. I've hunted in Cooperstown , Otsego county and that is another awesome choice lots of turkeys! you have chosen wisely In my opinion just getting land because its close isnt always the best factor but you have to balance out whats best for you.Delaware county isnt that far and has abundant game but land there is pricey! No Matter what we always will be considered flatlanders It seems the most unaccepting are the ones that want to hunt your land for free and dont like to be told no You'll get along much better when you give out some work to the local carpenter,plumber,or farmer with a tractor We had a big pig roast and BBQ this past weekend and invited all the neighbors which was awesome and goes a long way to improve relations. If you go up there and just put up gates and fences and posted signs and dont wave hello and dont stop to take a minute and share a beer with your neighbor you arent doing yourself any favors its not just about money..show up with a case of beer or a fresh baked pie or something and take time to talk to folks We've made some good friends that we can trust Its a a delicate balance.. Good Luck with the new property

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28605.html 2014-2015 bear hunting map legal zones and implements

yes this year you will see licenses printed on camo , yellow and even green! (2 years ago) DEC just wanted to make sure everyone got a license while they worked the bugs out of the new system.They have been updating it almost daily and its getting better and faster, you should start seeing more and more licenses on the new paper as time goes by

We are a license issuing agent, We were assured by DEC it was ok to use the yellow paper as the new valeron paper was giving trouble.BUT check thoroughly what tag you are using you can't mix up any of last years tags with this year tags. Remember its not the color thats important its what printed on it.Any unused tags from last year should be thrown out to avoid confusion

Its not the color that really counts its whats printed on it!

thats what it looked like everywhere before we all showed up!!

new paper has been very tricky to use its thicker and a smoother finish than the old stock so the printers are having a hell of a time with it we were told its ok to use any old stock as long as we can print a license so u might see licenses on camo paper or last years yellow paper or even green! DEC...go figure!

yeah us too had to dry out the store basement luckily my house sits high and dry , never get water there