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Just a reminder that the NY DEC has posted their 2012 DMP availibility chart located here: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30409.html There also have been reports of those with Lifetime Hunting Licenses receiving theirs in the mail already. Regular license sales start Monday, August 13, 2012, this is the same day you can apply for your DMP's. This post has been promoted to an article

Last weekend i got my very first bird thanks to you guys from my previous topic i posted and i need help filling the other tag. While scrolling through the thread i seen a couple of guys say how they got birds with the RUN and GUN method. I have looked up the run and gun method and did find some things on the topic, but i still have some confusiuon about it. The first off what is excatly, is it like still walking for deer and what calls should i do if any?

Hey everybody, Just stuck at school till graduation, and have yet to bag a turkey. I will have roughly the last 10 days of May to get some time in the woods looking for a tom. Just wondering if the tactics stay the same throughout May. Should I just set up early morn. and call? Or are the toms generally done collecting flocks by that point? Thanks in advance for any advice, much appreciated, Muthers

For the past couple of days I have been looking at many different bolt action rifles. Everyone i came to seem to be some what the same, but there were some difference. I lloked at the Sako A7, Winchester 70, remington 700, savage 110, ruger m77 and browning X-bolt and i was wondering which one is the better gun to go with?

I have been living in Dutchess County 10 years now. Have been Bow-hunting Deer & turkey since the 80's in Westchester County. I am tired of driving 40-60 mins to hunt. I know theres great Turkey hunting here in Dutchess county. Lots of gun clubs and they have stakes on all the land that seems any good. Anyone know of any Good Public land? I know there is a MUA off the Taconic Between the Poughkeepsie & 44 exits. Tried it last year it was awful. Any areas anyone can recommend I would be greatly appreciative. Oh By the way, I hunt alone & on weekends so I won’t be bringing trucks full of guys in the woods. LOL

If you hunt for fish in the off-season, check out my reports web site. I update it every week and when any of the contributors fish. http://www.newyorkfishingreport.com P.S. I had my trail camera up for 2 weeks with no pictures. So sad.

So recently i've been hunting a nice peice of property out in cuba about 10min from the cuba cheese factory. I feel cuba has a lot of deer movement during gun season and chayte a lot of tukrey flocks to before the fall seson. If you hunt Cuba please tell me your succes stories or others things!!!! Cuba reminds me of silvertown in Joe Dirt:]

I'm looking to purchase approximately 30 acres. Particularly - somewhere around either Chenango, Cortland, Tompkins, Schuyler, or Yates Counties. What is the most effective way to find a piece of land for purchase? Does Anyone have any ideas where to look or who to contact? Thanks in advance!

Im trying to sell my parker compund bow i got it a few back for my son and he needs to buy a new one. The draw weight is 40-55 puond (its a starter bow). Its starting price i 125, it comes with a 5 arrow quiver, a release and a sight. Email me if intrested .. [email protected] PS pictures avaiable upon request

Hi i hunt the NormanskiLL creek area.I think im gonna like it here,When im not hunting im thinking about hunting .

The 2011 regular deer and bear hunting seasons open at sunrise on Saturday, Nov. 19 in New York's Southern Zone, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. The two big game seasons close at sunset on Sunday, Dec. 11. “Hunters provide a valuable public service by keeping deer and bear populations in check. Regulated hunting is the most effective and efficient tool to maintain wildlife populations at levels that are compatible with our communities and natural resources,” Commissioner Martens said. “We expect deer harvests to be up slightly from last year, and with expanded bear hunting opportunities in the Southern Zone, big game hunters should have an exciting season.” The Southern Zone regular deer season is New York’s most popular hunting season, with participation from about 85 percent of New York’s 560,000 licensed deer hunters. Harvest during this season accounts for nearly 60 percent of the total statewide deer harvest. The remainder occurs in the Northern Zone, on Long Island, and during special seasons when only archery or muzzleloading firearms may be used. Following the regular deer and bear seasons in the Southern Zone, late bowhunting and muzzleloading seasons will open at sunrise on Monday, Dec. 12 and close at sunset on Tuesday, Dec. 20. Hunters taking part in these special seasons must possess either bowhunting or muzzleloading privileges. In the Northern Zone, the regular deer and bear hunting season opened Oct. 22 and will close at sunset on Dec. 4. This zone generally includes the Adirondacks, Tug Hill Plateau, Eastern Lake Ontario Plain, and the Champlain and St. Lawrence valleys. A late muzzleloading season for deer will be open in portions of the Northern Zone from Dec. 5 to Dec. 11. Hunters should be aware of several important programs and recent changes as they prepare for the 2011 regular Southern Zone hunting season. · New Bear Hunting Areas: Bear hunting has been expanded in eastern New York to now include the counties east of the Hudson River from Westchester County north to Washington County, and is open during the same time periods as deer hunting. · Crossbows: Crossbows may be used during the regular deer and bear hunting seasons and during the late muzzleloading seasons. See DEC’s website for more information: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/68802.html · Black Bear Tooth Collection: Successful bear hunters are asked to submit a tooth of their bear so DEC can age the bear and monitor bear population dynamics. See the bear tooth collection website for instructions at: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/45598.html. · Mandatory Antler Restrictions: A new law covers the portion of wildlife management unit (WMU) 3A that lies south and west of State Route 28 (which includes parts of Ulster, Sullivan and Delaware counties) and requires that bucks taken in this part of the unit have at least one antler with three or more points that are at least one inch long. The law applies to all public and private lands and all hunting seasons in the affected portion of the unit. Mandatory antler restrictions are also in effect in WMUs 3C, 3H, 3J, and 3K (which include portions of Ulster and Sullivan counties). Only hunters under the age of 17 are exempt and may take any antlered deer with at least one antler measuring three or more inches in length. See DEC’s website for more information:www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/27663.html · Harvest Reporting: Hunters are required to report their harvest of deer and bear within seven days. Failure to report harvested deer or bear is a violation of NYS Environmental Conservation Law. Hunters may report via an online reporting system (www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8316.html) or by calling the toll-free automated reporting system at 1-866-GAME-RPT (1-866-426-3778). · Junior Hunters: Junior Hunters (14 and 15 years old) can hunt deer and bear with a firearm when appropriately accompanied by an experienced adult. See the junior hunter mentoring webpage for program requirements and to download the mentored youth hunter permission form: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/46245.html · Venison Donation: Hunters are encouraged to participate in the Venison Donation program. By filling your permits and donating your deer, you help accomplish the needed deer management and you can feed less fortunate families. For more information see: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8351.html. · Trespass: Property owners who have problems with trespassers should contact DEC’s tip line 24 hours a day/seven days a week at 1-800-847-7332. For more information about posting property against trespass see: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8371.html. Although safety-conscious hunters have significantly reduced the number of firearms-related injuries, studies show that individuals wearing hunter orange clothing are seven times less likely to be injured than hunters who do not wear the bright fluorescent color. Hunters are encouraged to review hunting safety tips (www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9186.html) and pay careful attention to basic firearm safety rules that can prevent hunting related shooting incidents: · Point your gun in a safe direction. · Treat every gun as if it were loaded. · Be sure of your target and beyond. · Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. · Remember to wear hunter orange. For specific descriptions of regulations and open areas, hunters should refer to the 2011-12 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide at:www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/37136.html. Hunters are urged to review all regulations and safety tips contained in the guide. This post has been promoted to an article

Hey everybody, I've been enjoying reading various topics/posts on this forum, so I decided to make an account myself. I'm a college student, and my school is near Boston, MA; which is unfortunately far from home in NY (meaning days in the field are lacking). I've only had my hunting license for a few years, and picked up my bow license this past summer; been out only 4 days this year (on random weekends when I can make it home). Saw a few does before shooting light and a couple just outside of my comfortable shooting range...soo close! Haven't shot a deer yet, but I'd love to fill some of my tags finally as well as the freezer. I'll be hunting 4C most likely, and it's looking like Thanksgiving will be my next home-visit. Can't wait to get out of school and into the woods a lot more next year.

Hey all I'm new to this site, and am really impressed with the quality of it ,and the stories and pictures. I am interested in hunting most everything but deer hunting and running beagles is my primary interest over the years. I would like to meet someone with land to hunt in 7J for possible swap to hunt in 7M. If it sounds interesting chime in. Not really interested to swap tags at this time but might be open to that down the road. Good luck to all this deer season, have a safe and fruitful season. NYH

this bear was taken last year in the southern zone. it is one of four bears taken on our 75 acres. those for bears were the four out of the 5 bears taken in our county in 2 years. for some reason they like our land. it borderds 200 acres of state land. I had just came out from lunch around one o'clock, been settled in for about an hour and in the corner of my eye i see a black furball. it dissapeared for a few minuets then reapperead. 20 yrds away perfect broadside shot my parker inferno and 3 blade spitfire broadheads did the job and passed through both lungs and sliced the heart. she didnt run more than 10 yrds. i was scared out of my mind so i waited in my stand for TWO HOURS just to make sure the deal was sealed. sure enought it was. P.S: this was posted now because i just joined the site. looking forward to having another one in just a couple of weeks.

Heading to my property this weekend.... Can't wait to check the trail cam's! Hoping to see some new bucks in the area too since this is the time of year last year we started to see some new guys roaming around. My brother is meeting me up there as well, thinking of throwing up a stand quick if the weather holds out. I would have liked to have had it up already but it is what it is. Then going to take the wife and baby apple picking and hopefully find some pumpkins too. Going to practice with the bow at the further distances as well with my brother, and get those broad heads on there to take a few shots. Sooooooooo excited for this season!

I can't speak for everyone, however last year I could have shoveled the acorns off the ground almost everywhere on our property. Last year was quite a year for acorns in New York and I believe it had accounted for less action and movement during the hunting season, specifically bow season. Deer love acorns, and if they are dropping that is what they are going to hit first regardless of food plots and other food sources you have in the area. If there are acorns everywhere, specifically in the area's where deer feel secure, near bedding area's and thickets why would a deer move out of those area's when they have everything they need right there? Most of the success around my area were people that had hunted near deer bedding area's. While others who did not observed minimal movement during the bow season, which was the complete opposite of previous years where their stands / blinds had a lot of action and success. Last year I observed that the deer movement basically changed overnight once those acorns started dropping. We had two trail camera’s up one on a major travel route to our two small food plots and another in the field. The deer were still hitting the fields at night, however action during the day nearly stopped on the fields once those acorns starting dropping and the one travel route became a ghost town, the trail camera was snapping a fraction of what it was before. This year is different, I noticed a lot less acorns in the oak tree’s, and hope that this may cause some more movement during the day. Those with food plots might see the plots getting hit more frequently and earlier then last year. If you have an area's where acorns drop constantly year after year that might be the place to setup shop this year. There are a few nice white oaks where we had setup a friend to hunt during the bow season, unfortunately there was not a lot of action in this spot because the deer had way to many other places to fill up on. Something else to thing about is how has last years acorn crop effected this years deer population. I was speaking with a friend yesterday, and he is could not believe the amount of bear cubs and fawns he has seen this year, and attributes that the to the acorn crop of last year. Acorn information: “One ounce of dried acorn has on average 140 calories, of which 9 grams is fat, 15 grams is carbohydrate, and 2 grams is protein. Using some simple math, that means a whopping 50% (72 calories) of the caloric intake is from fat! Now you now why deer pig out on them prior to the onset of winter. But the buck doesn’t stop there. Carbohydrates make up 43% of the caloric intake, which can also be converted and stored by a deer’s body as fat or immediately used as energy. Protein makes up just 6% of the caloric intake, but protein is not very important for adult deer at this time of year. However, growing fawns appreciate the additional protein because they need it to increase muscle mass prior to the dead of winter.” - Source: http://www.buckmanag...iled-deer-food/ The QDMA has an article “Scouting After The Harvest” which covers some great points about what to look for when inspecting an Oak tree. “If you are inspecting an oak, do you see many acorn caps, a good indication that something has eaten the acorns? In fact, if deer are heavily using a particular oak tree, you shouldn’t find many acorns because they are eating them as fast as they fall. Obviously, signs that deer are eating the food source are important. However, the one key sign I look for and will instantly give me confidence that deer are using the area is fresh deer droppings. If old droppings are present too, I’m hanging a stand! That means that deer have been using the area consistently for a while.” What have you noticed in your hunting area’s? Do you notice any deer movement changes during banner acorn years? How is the acorn crop this year looking as opposed to previous years? This post has been promoted to an article, click here to view.