mre_90

cool that sounds good, I'll watch out for the ticks I've already been sick for the past year because of them! Do you do any small game or waterfowl hunting?

I'm kind of in the same boat, new bow hunter looking to hunt in long island, I am upstate as well. I was looking to go down this january to try and fill another tag with either shotgun or bow. also was looking to do some small game hunting while i was there (squirrel and rabbit). Did you have any luck figuring out how to hunt down there?

I'd like to introduce myself to the forum, I hunt mostly in the Catskills around West Shokan and Woodstock also spend some time in Dutchess County as well around Red Hook/Rhinebeck area. With deer season pretty much done I was looking for anyone who would want to go rabbit or small game hunting. I have been trying to find some spots but am definitely open to suggestions as I haven't come across anyplace with a lot of activity, could be the weather. I don't have my dog trained yet and do most of my small game hunting with a .22. If anyone is interested let me know. Thanks.

I have one, it is an inland, never took it hunting though. Its going to act a lot like a handgun. As far as ethics go if you do end up hunting with it I would keep it pretty close (under 50 yds) and of course use soft points. With standard ball ammo you would definitely wound and have a runner on your hands. Federal makes soft points and recommends that you only use for smaller game and coyotes. That being said, my great grandfather used to hunt deer with a .32-20 (a pop gun compared to the .30 carbine). It was a different time, his family lived on deer meat and they only had that gun. The big thing you would have to be sure of is shot placement. You have to hit vitals and hit them hard, the closer you are the harder it will hit. In my opinion I wouldn't do it unless I were really close, didn't have any other rifle and was pretty hungry however, lots of guys hunt with handguns. If you do end up using it go for high velocity soft points and become an absolute expert with that rifle. Treat it like a pistol that happens to have a stock on it.