Jump to content

Sterling state Forest

AaronBlaine

By AaronBlaine,
in Deer Hunting

 Share

Recommended Posts

joe12 Newbie

joe12

Posted
Posted

check out the access points from orange turnpike. Are you asking about bow season or rifle season? Doesnt seem to get as much pressure as other areas, especially during bow. I saw a real nice buck on that road this past weekend. I would definitely do some scouting along there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
AaronBlaine Newbie

AaronBlaine

Posted
  • Author
Posted

thanks a lot man im talking about rifle havent gotten into bow hunting yet unfortunately next year its on. What is opening day like during rifle season? Do i need to get there friday night just to sleep in my car to hunt sat morning? What is a good time to arrive? I was thinking of driving up friday night and just passing out untill 4 then heading out into the woods. Thanks for your time!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
joe12 Newbie

joe12

Posted
Posted

i never hunted there opening day, only have done some drives a few afternoons towards the end of rifle season. I would definitely check out the spots along orange turnpike though - its out of the way from the rest of the park, so I would think you could find a decent spot there. It's not like stuart where only 1 person can park per spot. You just park along the road there. During rifle there are always a few trucks, but nothing out of control (at least not along on orange turnpike). If you get there by 430 I think you should be good. There are a few hotels in the area you could stay at if you didnt want to sleep in the truck. I know the area well, so let me know if you have any other questions.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
AaronBlaine Newbie

AaronBlaine

Posted
  • Author
Posted

So basically you just pull right off the highway wherever you would like and walk right in?! interesting and i wont get my car ticketed? Do i have to check in if i already have the permit from mailing in the 5 bucks? Do i leave it on my dashboard incase the green giants come by? Or carry it on me? Thanks a lot for your help if you ever wanna get a hunt on let me know!!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Warren Newbie

Warren

Posted
Posted

No need to get there the night before. We usually arrive between 5 and 5:30 and have an hour hike to our spots.

Just in case you aren't aware of it, be advised that you need a hunting permit and you need to do it before Sept 30th to be able to hunt the opening weekend.

We hunt the sothern end of the park but we have had reasonable success off of Ironwood road. I've taken a few does there and my brother-in-law missed a bear.

I would suggest you find an area near some thick cover or natural funnel and try to stay there all day on opening day. 2 years ago I had a nice 8 point wander past me at 11:30 only to spot me as I was putting on an extra sweater.

Once you get in about a 1/2 mile or so and wander off the fire roads you should not be bothered by other hunters.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
joe12 Newbie

joe12

Posted
Posted

Also,you should def. look into hunting west point. You are a vet so I believe that you would have access. From LI, it isn't much farther than Sterling Forest. I never hunted there but people have told me that there are a ton of deer, and I would guess that it wouldn't be as crowded as Sterling. Not sure what you have to do to get a permit etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Warren Newbie

Warren

Posted
Posted

That's a good suggestion, joe12, I had forgotten about West Point. It's been a few years since I hunted there.

If I remember right, they have the area sectioned off with limited access to each section. You need to check in and select an area that is not full and check out when you are done hunting.

This might give you more info

http://www.ocshooters.com/Hunt/West-Point/west-point.htm

Link to comment
Share on other sites
AaronBlaine Newbie

AaronBlaine

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks a lot guys! I sent away for my permit already and i am awaiting its arrival. Thanks for the info warren i will def consider west point later in the season but when i get my heart set on a spot i have to see it through. The idea of coming across a bear drives me crazy! I will put the permit on my dashboard and i will make sure to hike in a few miles in order to get deep enough in the park to avoid other hunters. I am in great shape from work and exercise so the hike sounds like a walk in the park ha haaa . No i have put together some decent gear including my old marine corps cammies. I was thinking of going to a local park near by and scooping up a bunch of a corns to put in a bin to store my clothes with. I got the idea of scent prevention using natural methods from another member on this site and i think its a great idea. I figure if i am going to mask my scent i might as well do it with something they might be attracted towards! I am so glad i joined this sight everyone has been so helpful. There is no way i would have gotten this kind of information on my own. I once knew a brotherhood in the USMC but there is def a brotherhood among hunters as well!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Warren Newbie

Warren

Posted
Posted

If your planning to hunt in Sterling or West Point then storing your cloths in corn may not be the best idea. There are not too many corn fields in those area. A better choice might be storing your hunting cloths in leaves and/or pine needles.

I usually just wash my cloths and hang them outside most rain free days.

The smell of corn might be a strange smell to the deer back in the hills.

No matter what you do, it all comes down to wind direction.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
AaronBlaine Newbie

AaronBlaine

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Yea i think your right the pine needles may be a better idea due to food source location. I got a wind tester so i will do everything i can to stay down wind. I have been writing down notes on everyones posts in a notebook which i will be taking with me. I feel the more info i learn about this amazing sport the better my chances of success are going to be! So thanks again guys!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 years later...
Futuretrash Newbie

Futuretrash

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hey guys i was wondering if anyone out there has hunted sterling state forest and if so where the hot spots were, what to expect on opening day, what time to arrive on opening day to get a spot, stories, etc....

 Going tomorrow for my permit and then bowhunting Opening day and Thursday, super amped. I've hiked there a bunch but never hunted. Huge place, and closer than Catskills for me (NYC), just an hour drive. Rock and roll!

Edited by Futuretrash
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mike DBH Newbie

Mike DBH

Posted
Posted (edited)

I hunted SF for 10 years when I lived in GWL. Did most of my bowhunting in the Clinton woods area off 17a. Killed a few deer, turkeys and a bear. Gets hit hard in gun season though.

Been some changes since then but you got a green pkg pass for your car and a small permit to carry on you.

A good and overlooked area of SF is the access point on Candle rd off W. Mombasha rd in Monroe, lots of deer and bear up there but its off the main rd so youd  probably wanna scout it out before opening day so you can find it and get a feel of the terrain. 

Hunted West point couple times, didnt care for it, you needed a 3p doe tag and have to shoot a doe and check it before you can take a buck. Cant hunt opening day unless youre military and by the time you check in and get to your spot its at least 1/2 hour after sun up. You also dont know where youre gonna hunt until you check in and unless youre there super early all the best spots are taken. Not sure about now but then you couldnt shoot a bear either.

Edited by Mike DBH
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
RTGobbler Newbie

RTGobbler

Posted
Posted

COME ONE MIKE!!! Lets not talk about the little known spots!! :nono::D

 

I have only actually gone up there once, this spring turkey hunting when I found the access point. Its not a huge tract of land that you can hunt off Candle Rd though. There is another chunk of huntable land right near there that is inaccessible. Its surrounded by private land, and the only public access is via the Appalachian trail. Since your not allowed to have firearms, even unloaded, on the trail you cannot access that way either. No one at Sterling has been able to tell me how to legally access the spot.

 

Clinton Rd has a lot of guys because it is easy to access, one of the spots I have seen a few guys so I avoid it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Chef Grand Master

Chef

Posted
Posted

Hey, how are you! I did! A doe actually I spotted her while I was walking up the gravel road. I was able to slip off into some cover and wait for her to give me a good shot. Wound up hitting her at about 10 yards with my 30-06. I'll actually be bow hunting tomorrow afternoon on the other side of 17a. I meant to thank you for that and couldn't find your contact info!

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mike DBH Newbie

Mike DBH

Posted
Posted

Hey, how are you! I did! A doe actually I spotted her while I was walking up the gravel road. I was able to slip off into some cover and wait for her to give me a good shot. Wound up hitting her at about 10 yards with my 30-06. I'll actually be bow hunting tomorrow afternoon on the other side of 17a. I meant to thank you for that and couldn't find your contact info!

Congrats! glad to hear you're

still at it and now bowhunting. My # is 845 499 0584

Link to comment
Share on other sites
AaronBlaine Newbie

AaronBlaine

Posted
  • Author
Posted

man how cool is that! I love hearing stories like that! Congrats guys that's what hunting is all about.  Guy have to remember this is not the most popular sport in the world anymore.  A lot of people are against it these days.  I love hearing stories about fellow hunters helping each other out like that.  This is a brotherhood.  Every time I run into another hunter in the woods its an experience!  I have never met a grumpy hunter in the woods and I have met some pretty cool people in the woods!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Similar Content

    • Raul2145
      Gun Hunt in 3G, 3F, 3N Help
      By Raul2145
      Hi Everyone, 
      It is current the last week for regular season in upstate NY. Living the life working and being a full time student, I have some time off this week and would like to take a ride upstate to do a gun hunt. Never have I hunted public land in the areas 3 G, F, or N and was looking for some recommendations and help! I had used the DEC info locator and found California Hill and thought I might go there. Is there any recommendations on areas to go to in any of the wmu’s? Or on California? Any help would be really appreciated!! 
       
      best of holiday wishes! 
       
    • Toth9050
      Any good spots within an hour of New Paltz?
      By Toth9050
      I'm new to the area and looking for some places to hunt  the next few weekends through bow/muzzleloader season. I'm living in New Paltz, and the place that seems the most promising to me so far is Vernooy Kill State forrest, and north into Sundown. Has anyone had any luck in these areas? Is there anywhere better in the area I should check out? Any info is welcome
    • Raul2145
      Rocky Point
      By Raul2145
      Hi Everyone,
      My name is Raul and I am a new hunter! I've been hunting public land for now, but have been suffering. I've done 2 10 hour sits at Kings Park and 3 10 hour sits at Rocky Point and haven't seen one deer. I use a treestand and use scent blocker. I also get there super early in the morning. I need help! I plan to go again this friday. I scouted Rocky point after the first day and always see sign and I try to hunt the areas, but no success. I hunt around 42 and 36 I think. If someone wants the exact spot I can send them it on a map. I am really just looking for help in any areas and everything. I have put so much effort yet all i want is to just see one that will keep moral up. Any help is really appreciated!
    • C-H Brad
      2020 hunting leases
      By C-H Brad
      We will be publishing the new list of available hunting leases on Monday, March 2, 2020 at 7:30 AM on our website www.cottonhanlon.com 
      Cotton-Hanlon is a private timber company that owns land in NY and PA (sorry all our land in PA is currently leased). We have been leasing land since the fall of 1970. You will be dealing directly with the us, no third parties.
      Still working on the list but it looks like we'll have woodlots available in the following counties in NY: Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Oswego, Schuyler, Tioga and Tompkins.
      Make sure to check it out first thing that morning for the best choices.
      Thanks, Bob
    • John Barton
      Extra DMP
      By John Barton
      Wondering if anyone has an extra DMP tag for 4W. 
      Long shot I know and would be happy to get a 1C to exchange. Or trade my turkey tag. Wasn't sure where I would be hunting and never got a deer yet.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...