Elmo

Thanks Warren. My younger brother and I just got back from Sterling Forest. You can get the permit at the same day and it is good for the entire season all the way up to spring turkey. We went out looking for squirrels and crows. We came out with our first squirrel. My bro and I just started hunting 2 months ago and we've picked up everything off of what we read online and off this forum so I have to thank everyone on this forum who helped. Gutting and skinning it was harder than I thought. Fitzy's right, the skin is tough. I kept the thighs and shoulders and threw out the rest. Will probably grill them on a grill pan or something later.

My little brother and I got our first squirrel today. I missed with the .22LR but my bro took it down with a 12g. I called it out with the Primos Squirrel Buster. It really works. It won't get the squirrel to come to you. We walked around using the untouch snow to look for squirrel activity. Tracks, chewed up nuts, and droppings. All fresh. We hid off to the side somewhere, kept quiet and still for 10 minutes or so, then use the call. If the squirrel is in its tree borrow, it'll climb out onto a limb to see what's going on.

How's the action (Squirrels, crows, coyotes) in California Hill? Thinking of going there to check it out in the near future. DIdn't think a .22 was enough for a coyote.

Are you positive Putnam County is shotgun only? I was hoping to start coyote hunting and would like to get a centerfire rifle for it. Here's the New York DEC regulation on furbearer hunting. As always, it's vague. http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/45559.html

Thanks. I called the ranger and specifically asked if I could use a .22 and she said that it was allowed. I know Stewart State Forest is shotgun only.

This is my first season. I was going to West Point during throughout deer season even though I hunt small game. Was able to get in because my younger brother (we both got into hunting at the same time) is an army veteran and still an active reserve. Went every weekend (sometimes twice). Found ourselves a great spot. All of a sudden, this past weekend they were closed. So I called them up and they told me that they only open it during deer season. Bummer! Now I have to find a new favorite spot. Going to check out Sterling Forest this weekend. Anyone has any suggestions? Looking to take squirrels and crows with a .22LR.

No offense taken. The city has its pluses and minuses. It is certainly not for everybody. I grew up here so it's home and I love it but I also need to escape on the weekends and get away from all the craziness that's here.

Problem. So I picked up the rifle today but they forgot to mention that I live in NYC. The Ruger 10/22 come with a 10 round magazine which is illegal in NYC so they had to give me the rifle without the magazine. I went home and ordered the legal 5 round magazine online and can't shoot my rifle until the 5 round magazine shows. Lesson learned.

Buying all these gifts for others I figure the heck with it...I need a gift too. Just ordered the Ruger 10/22 (in birchwood), express shipping. Plan to pick it up from the dealer this Saturday. Excited. Plan to use it on some crows.

What's the general feedback on the newer X-Mark trigger? I've had my heart set on the 700 SPS Varmint or the VTR but I will absolutely not carry a rifle that has a reputation of inadvertant discharge.

"i simply stated living with that on your concous is pretty bad, you know..." Geno, you're under the assumption that everyone has a conscience as morally correct as yours. Like someone had previous stated, the shooter might be the kind of jerk that probably thinks he didn't do anything wrong and it was the kids fault.

I just started hunting this season for the first time in my life. I went on two prior outings and haven't caught anything yet. I went for squirrels again today determined to bag something but being that it was the last day of deer season and the down pour, my expectations were low. Even the ranger at the check-in station was telling me that it'll be tough to get the squirrels running in this weather. Me and my brother tried using a squirrel call and got nothing. What we did get was a few crows laughing at us. We tried to stark the crows but they knew we were there and just teased us. They would let us get within 50 yards or so and they would take off and land a little further down. We kept following after them and they lead us to a clearing near a lake and in the middle of this clearing, we saw a bunch of birds walking around in a group. With the heavy rain, we couldn't tell what they heck they were so we kept on watching. We left the binoculars in the car because we figure it wouldn't do any good in this heavy rain. One of the bird eventually spotted us and took off. When it did, the rest followed. With the wings spread, it became obvious what they were. Canadian Geese! Me and my little bro emptied 6 rounds total (#6 shot, steel pellets) and hit nothing. One goose did land on a tree branch while the rest continued to the other side of the lake. We figured we must have wounded it. As we tried to get closer for a kill shot, it too took off over the lake looking as healthy as ever. I couldn't believe it. These birds flew within 50 feet of us and we missed every one of them! Down on ourselves, we turned around and started walking back away from the lake when my brother saw it. A second Canadian goose had decided to land on a tree branch and it just stood there. We got low. I made sure I had my beads on him perfectly. Took one shot and down came tumbling my first successful harvest. Canadian geese. We didn't see anything else the rest of the day other than those annoying crows who continue to mock us from a safe distance. Funny how it works. That I came for squirrel, ended up chasing crows, that lead me to geese on a day where I wasn't expecting anything.

Has anyone used this before? Is it worth it? Will it make a huge impact in my results? I can't afford the higher end FoxPros. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the response! Probably saved me a whole lot of trouble.

I heard it is hard to tell the difference between a crow and a raven. Has this been an issue? I certainly don't want to illegally shoot a non-game bird.

The coyote problem is actually the final push that got me into hunting (plus six years of going to school in Michigan where almost everyone hunts). I walk my dog at night and on a few occasions, spotted a coyote. Keep in mind, I live in NYC. I had also read newspaper stories of coyotes attacking children in the suburbs. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38015001/ns/us_news-life/ So I started reading reports on coyotes. Turns out, they have become so over populated, that they are being pushed further and further into the suburbs and even into Central Park in Manhattan. Coyotes had also adapted to suburban life by attacking house hold pets and going through trash. The reports were actually encouraging the taking of coyotes to keep their numbers in check.

Hunters regulations manual specifically states that you can't not carry a rifle larger than a .22 in westchester or nassau county and deer is archery only. This means I can hunt small game with a shotgun or a .22 in those areas outside of deer season, right? I want to double check just to be on the safe side.

Mossberg 500 12 gauge. Blackhawk recoil reduction stock. 18.5" smooth bore and additional 28" field barrel. My first gun ever. As my first, I wanted a gun with the most versatility/usage. Original wood stock and forend also shown. Looking to add more stuff to it in the near future. (red dot, heat shield, etc) I prefer the tactical looks.

My Mossberg 500 with a Blackhawk Recoil Stock and Forend. I am going to put the wood forend back. I know. It's going to look weird with a wood forend and a black synthetic stock but I really don't like how the Blackhawk forend looks or sits. It'll just be until I find a better forend.

Thanks Martin. Sounds like a game plan. Slug gun with a scope will work? I didn't think you can get that close to a coyote. Been looking to add a red dot to my gun. I like the tactical look.

I'm new at this stuff and I'm just making my comments based on logic instead of experience so take it with a grain of salt if you will. I think the two determining factors as to why crossbows are grouped with guns is 1. terminal range. Crossbow arrows may not travel as far as bullets but don't they go further than bows? If a crossbow arrow misses in an area that is densely populated like Westchester county which I think is archery only county, there is a better chance it can hit a nearby home or something. 2. Animal control. Crossbow hunters would have such an added advantage during archery season that the number of deer takes would jump beyond the number the DEC would allow. This would force the DEC to either shorten the hunting season or reduce the number of tags it hands out which would piss off the rifle hunters and bow hunters altogether. By forcing cross bow hunters to hunt during rifle season, there would not be any major increase in the number of deers taken during the season. And finally, a friend of mine who is also trying to get into hunting thought about going with crossbow but he figured that this was signed off by Gov Paterson and it's not firm. Now that Coumo is in, it can just as easily be erased. He didn't want to spend all that money on a crossbow only to have it banned a few years later.

How did your first hunt go? I went for the first time this year as well and it looks like my luck is the same as yours. I thought I was the only hunter from NYC. Glad to know there are others out there.

I won't have the funds for a coyote rifle until at least after I recover from the holiday shopping. If you apply for the NYC Watershed access permit online, apparently it gives it to you right away. All you have to do is print it out. I just got mine. I can't go this weekend but let's shoot for something in Putnam county after that. How's West Point? I went there this past Friday but didn't see anything. I got there late though. Was only in the woods from 2PM to 4:30PM. Only military personel can enter but they can bring guests. My brother is still an active military personel.

I called Mossberg tech support and they helped me out. For anyone else who may come across this problem in the future. The forend is secured tight so it won't just slide off with bare hands. You have to smack it off with a soft hammer. I used a rubber soft hammer as to not damage the wood and used a bunch of light taps. Thanks for the help, all.

Thanks for the advice. No, I never removed the entire assembly. The metal tube was still attached to the gun. I'll give it a try sometime this week.