Deer hunting on State Lands

[wztirem]

Seemingly the majority of the posters to this Forum hunt private property, but how many of us hunt Public Land?

[burmjohn]

Voted... I've been very fortunate to have land in the family since i started hunting.

[Karpteach]

I hunt mostly state land. I could never afford my own land with a teachers salary. Love the job hate the pay. Last couple of years hunted on my brother in laws partners land.

[wztirem]

In the past I primarily hunted private land in several DMU's. For the past several years I have elected to hunt State Land closer to home and may I add with excellent results. I have not eaten a tag sandwich in a long while.

[growalot]

Karpteach...makes me sad to hear guys say things like that...We bought 24 1/2 acres for 10,000 dollars ...just before season opener last year....Our son bought 5 acres with a  lrg updated farm house ...pond...2 garages...and a 12x10 ft shooting house on 20ft telephone poles for 35,000...3yrs ago when he was 21yrs old

It's not so much the money but the time you put into it.......

[Karpteach]

Karpteach...makes me sad to hear guys say things like that...We bought 24 1/2 acres for 10,000 dollars ...just before season opener last year....Our son bought 5 acres with a  lrg updated farm house ...pond...2 garages...and a 12x10 ft shooting house on 20ft telephone poles for 35,000...3yrs ago when he was 21yrs old

It's not so much the money but the time you put into it.......

Growalot, In what part of the state did you pay those prices? I'm glad that you guys are set. I have never seen property this low downstate. Was looking at 12 acres in Pine Bush. The guy posted on craigslist for 16.5 grand , turned out he wanted 165 thousand . Prices are crazy down here.

[burmjohn]

Pine Bush prices are nuts We looked there for about 10 min, then realized there is better land and prices 30-40 min away.  I've hunted Pine Bush since I was 15, lots of memories there.  This is my first year on the new property.

[Karpteach]

John I used to hunt pine bush for many years. If you remember the big chicken farm (they used to collect eggs) farm off of 52. Robert was the owners son. 

[ss444]

I only hunt State land!

[burmjohn]

John I used to hunt pine bush for many years. If you remember the big chicken farm (they used to collect eggs) farm off of 52. Robert was the owners son.

I don't remember that one. My uncles place is off of indian springs road.  I love it up there.

[ELMER J. FUDD]

Here's an 8pt and 4pt on Church Rd.

[20ftupatree]

I hunt state land in the NZ and private in SZ. State land I usually end up going out with a few buddies, my private land is just me, well it's not MY private land just I have permission.

[Warren]

I only hunt State land, not by choice but that's all I have to work with.

Try finding private land to deer hunt on in Dutchees County.

I am very envious of any of you that have access to private land to deer hunt on.

State land deer are a completely different animal than private land deer.

I use to hunt Minniwaska State Park until the antler restrictions now I hunt Sterling Forest.

Last year I hunted 8 days usually at least 1 mile in and I saw 1 deer.

The year before that, on the 4th day of hunting I was lucky enough to get a doe.

In 42 years of deer hunting I've taken 23 deer (8 bucks/15 does).

[Bleitten04]

I hunt state land or WMA usually a few times a year and to be completly honest I have never seen a deer on state land.  (seen plenty of tracks) I usually end up going towards the end of the season and I feel like the deer are either shot or pushed out.  It seems like with all the area though you would have to run into something?  But it just seems like there is to much hunting pressure there.  Never have tried bow hunting on state land though but have a feeling in might be better with less hunters. 

[apertureguy]

I only hunt on State Land...like others its my only option.

I've seen deer...not just tracks. Almost took a huge buck last year...but I'm actually glad I spooked him before I could shoot.

Would have taken me forever to drag the big sucker back to the car.

[ballbusta]

I hunt from state land lucky enough to find a track with little pressure. If the pics come out these are two eight points I killed from there one last year one three years ago 

[covert]

I bowhunt my land and my father's farm.  I only gun hunt in the big woods up North.  After spending a few weeks hunting where you never see a road, house or another person it sucks to come back down home where it takes 15 minutes to go through a patch of woods and find six houses on the other side.  

I know how the old man feels now because I drive around and say "I remember when so-and-so had corn there" and now there's a bunch of houses.  :'(

[covert]

Whoops, didn't realize I was trespassing in the Region 3 area, my tags are all for regions 5-6.    ;D

[TheHunter]

Nice bucks! 

[Karpteach]

Nice looking bucks for state land.

[JW QLTY]

Pine Bush prices are nuts We looked there for about 10 min, then realized there is better land and prices 30-40 min away.  I've hunted Pine Bush since I was 15, lots of memories there.  This is my first year on the new property.

Did you ever hunt up off of Forest Glen Rd off rte 52?My old camp was at the left side end of the road I could walk across the road go up the hill and be at my stand in 10 minutes.I guess its all been developed in there now??Wish I'd never sold that cabin.JW

[drwost]

State Land for me, I don't mind as long as it isn't too busy...hanging out in Putnam Co. these days

[Dstone001]

What's the best way to go about hunting state land?  Head out before the season to scout the area and look for signs?  Is there any way to avoid other hunters, other than being first?  What if you set up in a spot, and you see someone else hunker down in your line of sight?  How do you avoid encroaching on others? Is it ok to walk past and acknowledge their presence while looking for your own area?

[drwost]

Absolutely scout your area you plan to hunt. I guess it is first come first serve when getting out there. If I am set up and another hunter comes by, I try to get his attention give a wave or a whistle so he knows I am there! If see a hunter and you are passing through, out of respect, I try to circumnavigate the area to get to my area

[Dstone001]

Just seems that unless you've got some good intelligence, it's just such a crap-shoot as to whether a deer will wander by.  I guess that's what distinguishes a good hunter from, well, someone like me.