Warren

Hi NY hunter I'm familiar with Sterling Forest - that's where I've been deer hunting for the last few years. I was looking for a place where I'm pretty much guaranteed my girls will catch something. I bring them up to Lake Champlain labor Day weekend but there are some days when the fishing is slow and I'm trying to get the little one interested buy having her catch something.

I also stopped watching the hunting shows. I realy enjoyed Tred Barta. I could not take watching another show with an 8 year old girl in a box blind passing up a 10 pointer because it was too young. I agree that the shows are all just advertisements. Cancelled the cable shows and feel much less stressed or frustrated. Someone mentioned the video - October Whitetails. I still have it and still watch it. They don't make them like that anymore. I use to enjoy Peter Fiducia's woods and water show but it went off to the cable world and I lost track of it.

I'm looking for a place to take my 8 and 10 year old granddaughters fishing where they can catch something and keep their interest up. I am from Dutchess County and would like to limit the driving distance. I found 2 places in Pa (Big Brown fish and pay likes) and then found this place called Eldred Preserve in Sulivan County,NY. Anyone have any info or comments on this place? Any other suggestions for pay and fish locations? Thanks Warren

Hunter I've been to Waccamaw Hunting Lodge located in Hemingway,SC. Rick Grubs runs an honest operation for deer and hogs. If you contact him, tell him Warren from NY recommended him. He has lots of deer but the big bucks are smart and show up just at dark. I highly suggest you have a flat shooting rifle and good scope for the low light conditions. Most shots are about 100 to 125 yds. Here is his web site http://www.huntinglodge.net/

Got my Marlin 336 35Rem back in 1968. It served me well and never let me down. I just passed it on to my son. This is the rifle he used to take his first NY deer with in 96. I hope he gets another 43 years of reliable service out of it.

eagle rider - I understand what you are saying and as a general rule what you say is fine. However it is my opinion that shot placement is more important than muzzle energy. I'd rather hunt with a guy that is using a 40auto and limiting his shots to 20 yards than go with someone who likes to throw slugs out past 150 yards and has never tried sighting in his shotgun. The hunter who knows his limitations and his firearm's capabilities is the ethical one. With all that said, it is also my opinion that a 40 auto is too light to use on a 200 lb buck but would work fine on a small 90 lb doe up close. Thank you for your years of teaching sportsman education.

I have to disagree with the 1000 ft-lbs of energy as a minimun. I have taken full grown N.Y. whitetail deer with my 357mag that had a muzzle energy of about 500 ft-lbs.

WNYBuckHunter - You might want to post your question on the handgun Hunter web site. www.handgunhunt.com or http://www.handgunhunt.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/postlist/Board/1/page/1 There are lots of handgun hunters on that site who will give you good advice.

G-man, I had a similar expeirience with 44 mag jhp. My new 41mag shoots these 210gr jhp's really nice but I have time to see how hard casts will shoot out of the short barrel. Thanks for the information and the reason/motivation to have to go to the range more.

Here is my new set up for whitetails - a Ruger Blackhawk in 41 mag with a 2x scope.

fisher2 - Why would you get pulled over? As a ccw holder I would assume you follow the laws (sorry, that's the dad in me). If I was pulled over (with a gun or without) I would make sure I had both of my hands in clear view for the officer to see and I would not make any quick moves. With the age of the computer I'm sure the officer will already know if you are a permit holder or not. I don't think you have to tell them you are carrying unless you are asked. Just google this subject, there is plenty of good advise on the subject. Sounds like you might look into taking a handgun safety class where you can get these questions answered, don't take our word for it. This might be a requirement for the permit anyway.

It's been many years ago that I got mine but I think the acceptable reasons for wanting a pistol carrying permit have not changed that much. I would think a good reason for a carry permit would be for hunting and target shooting. I was under the impression that NY only had 2 kinds of pistol permits - (1) on premise only and (2) full carry. I don't think you need to convince anyone that you need to carry all the time to get a full carry permit and I can't see you being turned down for wanting to hunt with a handgun.

In the resent post on "Tioga boar ranch" I commented on page 2 about checking out the Double Boar Ranch in Northwestern Pa. I have gone there twice and they only have pure European boars.

You guys might check out Double Boar Ranch. They are located in Northwestern Pa. I have been there twice and they only have pure European Boars and they do their best to make the experience more like a hunt. On my last trip it took over 5 hours of hard walking to finally connect on a boar. Here is the web site --- http://www.doubleboarranch.com/

NYantler - From your reply, I'm guessing that you are not from Putnum or Dutchess County. You are lucky that you have the option to move to other state land that is not crowded.

I have been hunting NY state land during the gun season for many years and I understand why people get discouraged and quit hunting. Firearm season on state land is hard work and can be very frustrating. After opening weekend most deer have vanished. It is my opinion that state land deer are a completely different animal than a deer hunted on private land. In most cases, anyone that hunts private land has a huge advantage over the state land hunters. I have learned the hard way that the state land in Dutchess County is a waste of time. They are nice pieces of land for a nice fall/winter hike but usless for filling a buck tag. I have been successful on state land in Ulster and Orange Counties but it takes a lot of hard work and usually 1.5 mile drag back to the car.

I just watched this video and I don't understand why everyone is so upset about it. Sure it's in bad taste and the hunter did a poor job of acting like a redneck but shooting a deer like that can happen when you go deer hunting. I'm surprised there are so many bleeding hearts on this site. Did this guy do anything illegal or unsafe? No.

Just in case you were not aware, Sterling Forest requires you to obtain a hunting permit. The fee is about $5 and you can get it at the visiters center. I'm not sure if you can get it that day or if it has to be processed. Here is a link to the application: http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/74/permits-applications.aspx Sterling Forest allows rifles and shotguns and follows NYS hunting rules.

Buckheart - nice job. How is the muzzle blast on that handgun? When in the field do you wear ear protection?

Here is a link to the article http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101212/NEWS/12120333

This is a quote from the local paper - The Times Herald Record - "MONTGOMERY — A 9-year-old boy was airlifted to the hospital in serious condition after he was shot in the stomach while helping drive deer toward a hunter, Town of Montgomery police said." It has always been my understanding that NY considers driving deer as hunting. You need a license to hunt. Therefore, a 9 year old is not allowed to help drive deer. Hear is a qoute from the DEC regulations about when you tag out -- After you have used your last deer tag, you may help others hunt deer. You may not carry a firearm or bow, and you must have your hunting license. It's one thing to bring a youngster along to sit with you on a stand but to have him out driving deer is very foolish and possibly illegal.

Chefhunter86 All the deer I have seen this year (except for the buck that spotted me) have been while I was still hunting the higher ground. I use to sit and freeze near the low lying swamps and see one deer a season. Now I slowly walk and sit a short while at the highest points that have the most cover and I have been seeing deer (mostly doe). I have had similar results off of Ironwood road. About 1/2 way down the road there is a small parking area on the northside. I took a doe at the top of that hill and my brother-in-law shot at a bear but we never recovered it. Both were about 7:30 on a saturday morning mid-season. I wish you good luck.

Chefhunter86 I have been hunting the southeastern section near the golf course. Opening day I took a doe and mid-day I got busted by a buck - I was putting on a warmer shirt and I looked around and he was looking right at me. Saw a total of 7 does and that buck and my other buddies saw one doe and a bear. The day before Thanksgiving I saw 2 does in the morning,1 at mid-day and 1 in the evening (total of 4). I will be back out this weekend. On opening day one guy was dragging out an 8 pointer (really a very nice 4 with 4 additional smaller points). At the check station on opening day evening my deer was #46 and a guy has checking in a small bear - the third bear for the day.

I saw one last year while hunting in Pleasent Valley and I saw one this spring while riding on the rail trail in Amenia.

Here is an old picture of me back in 1968. Back then we didn't worry about ticks or lyme disease. Camo clothing was from the army surplus store.