Completely New (Lost) To Hunting - Help

[Angela]

Hi!

 

So my name's Angela, and I'm trying to get into hunting. I'm only just now realizing the insane amount of red tape NYS has put up around the topic, and I'm not sure how to go about it without winning a pair of free bracelets and a trip to camp fed from the DEC. Right now I just want to do some small game hunting. Squirrels, Rabbits, etc. I've never had either, but I figure if worst comes to worst and I hate it, then my cat has some free food. 

 

So I live on Grand Island, and we only have one spot here to hunt at, Spicer's Creek. The lady I asked at the town hall basically lied to me and said hunting was banned on all government owned property on the Island, but when I followed up with the DEC and asked them, they said I could hunt there. After forwarding that little email, the town employee relented and said "I guess you can", but added that town law prohibited hunting with 500 feet of a dwelling or a town park boundary, both of which border the creek, leaving a pitifully small area where I could actually hunt.

 

But it turns out it gets even more freaking complicated when you go to places like the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge or the Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area. I just want to hunt squirrels right now since Rabbit is out of season, looking up the DEC's rules, the only type squirrel with a year long open season is red squirrel, right? So for like half the year, that's the only thing you can hunt?

 

The people who taught my hunter safety course didn't know this stuff. I asked, all they cared about was big game hunting (which I would love to try next year since I get a free permit for being in the military anyway), so I'm asking you guys, because the only material I can find online clearly wasn't meant to be read by newbies.

 

Where can I hunt near Grand Island, NY?

What else besides red squirrel can I hunt at the present time?

Are there special areas with additional season limits to be observed? (the website for the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge said you can't hunt squirrel after February http://www.dec.ny.gov/regs/3972.html#13151) 

 

Any online resources you guys could include would be sooo helpful.

 

Also, sorry for rambling, I'm just a little completely lost at the moment LOL.

 

-Ang

[Paula]

Red squirrel is it till spring turkey.

Plus depending on the area you get the reds they might not taste the best. Reds eat pine and tend to smell and have an off taste but are tender

Edited March 28, 2015 by Paula

[NFA-ADK]

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7844.html

Dec web site to find places to hunt.  If you want to be sure about the regulations call the local DEC that covers the area you plan to hunt.

Good luck be safe. 

[wolc123]

Woodchucks will soon be emerging from their winter homes and they can provide some fun shooting. You shouldn't have too much trouble finding some farmers who will let you shoot them out on their hay-fields. There are two "happy times" for woodchuck hunting. First is in the spring when the hay-fields start to green up, but are still short enough to provide good visibility. Second is early summer when the hay gets cut, exposing them again. Woodchucks damage fields and cause damage to equipment. Many farmers have been injured or killed when their tractors broke thru a woodchuck den and tipped over on them. Woodchucks might even make decent cat food.

My favorite weapon for them is a .22/250 rifle which is designed specifically for hunting them. A hollow point bullet striking them at center of mass will not leave a mark on their body, but explode internally causing massive tissue damage and instant death. A .22 rimfire will work, but often result in the chuck getting back into its hole before expiring. A shotgun loaded with #4 or 6 shot is another good option to put them right down if you can get close or get between the chuck and his hole. They always run for their hole when alerted. I have shot them out of the hay-mow in my barn with a .410 shotgun as they run for the holes they have dug under the barn.

If you manage to get a "mamma chuck" in the late spring, the little ones will usually emerge several days later seeking milk and are easy plinking then with a semi-auto .22, or you can make pets out of them as they are kind of cute for a little while. If you are interested in nearby places to hunt chucks, try looking up "hay for sale" on craigslist. It is a lot easier to get permission from a farmer to hunt chucks in the spring than it is for deer or small game in the fall. Once you get your foot in the door, it can lead to other opportunities.

Spring turkey season is also just over a month away if you are into that. You are going to have to wait until September 1st or so for most of the rest. Lots of good fishing around that area in the Niagara River, Lake Erie and such before then though, and cats love fish. Hunting and fishing are almost the same to me, both involve killing and eating and I am a natural born killer by nature.

[deerpassion]

I'm close to you, live in tonawanda n hunt anywhere from Iroquois to tonawanda to Carlton hill state forest from squirrels to turkey to deer ... Never hunted the island... Coyote season is just ending , turkey is next ... Would be happy to introduce you to other things n tag along during turkey .... N if you like it maybe deer ... Got my start livin in FL when I was 12, n always support new hunters that think they might enjoy the woods like we do.... No guarantee but u'll be hooked no doubt when a gobbler hammers off in front of you! Pm me if you think you like to tag along ...

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[stubby68]

              Hello as others have said  DEC web site for places to hunt. There are lots of good areas to hunt that are not very far from you. This is a good place to get advice and help. Good luck and welcome to hunting.

Edited March 28, 2015 by stubby68

[Doc]

There is a long dry spell in all of NYS where seasons are closed. This is where it is handy to have alternative activities. Fishing comes to mind.

[growalot]

Well my post was dropped... so I'll make this quick...go to DEC protected species...and it tells you what you can hunt year round...wood chucks...English sparrows...porcupine...starlings and monk parakeets( by the way are sold in pet stores and excellent talkers)

 

wolc123 had great advise and deerpassion a great offer....have fun and good luck

Oh...if space is a problem...take the archery course and pick up a bow...you'll never look back

[grampy]

Welcome Angela, you found a great place for hunting advice. Got some very knowledgeable folks here who are always willing to help new hunters.

As said above, this is kind of a down time for hunting most critters in NY. But it's a great time to get out and practice with your weapon of choice. Being new to the hunting game it's important to become very proficient with any and all of your hunting tools. Practice does make perfect. And just walking in the woods, learning to walk slowly and quietly, and to see critters before they see you is great practice. Through practice you will gain confidence, and gaining confidence in your hunting abilities is a big step in becoming a successful hunter.

[greg54]

Welcome to the site and the D.E.C, has lots info on where to go. Ask your family and friends if they have any property you might be able to hunt, and if they don't they may know someone that may would possibly help you out. And you may want to try crossbow, it's a new option for archery hunting and it's fun to shoot!!

[b3h]

Good advice from others but grampy has some good advice for rite now. Get a good set of binoculars and camera and hunt with it. U will be surprised how much it will help ur hunting skills come fall.

Ol dog on a stray

[Angela]

Do they actually arrest people for hunting non red squirrels this time of year? I only ask because I'm red/green color blind, which in a green forest could mess with my eyes a little O.O

And thanks so much guys for the fast responses!

[Elmo]

What else besides red squirrel can I hunt at the present time?

Off the top of my head, red squirrels, woodchucks, chipmunks, green frogs, and invasive species such as rock pigeons and European sparrows.

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[Doc]

Do they actually arrest people for hunting non red squirrels this time of year? I only ask because I'm red/green color blind, which in a green forest could mess with my eyes a little O.O

And thanks so much guys for the fast responses!

Interesting problem. So what does the color red appear to you ..... gray or something? That could be something that may mess with you a bit. And yes, possessing gray squirrels out of season would get you a ticket. However, there are other visible differences between red squirrels and gray squirrels. Size is one thing. The reds are significantly smaller. Their head shape has some subtle differences. The reds are very vocal and have a completely different sound. Even their running patterns are different. However, to learn all these differences will require some research and observations. So it may be a good thing that you have this time to simply wander around and observe nature a bit and learn these different things about wildlife. The suggestion that you take up nature photography is a good one. It will keep you out in the woods for long periods of time so that you can pick up some of the woods lore that is needed for some of the subtleties of hunting. These learning opportunities can be more enjoyable than the actual hunting.

[dbHunterNY]

Woodchucks will soon be emerging from their winter homes and they can provide some fun shooting. You shouldn't have too much trouble finding some farmers who will let you shoot them out on their hay-fields. There are two "happy times" for woodchuck hunting. First is in the spring when the hay-fields start to green up, but are still short enough to provide good visibility. Second is early summer when the hay gets cut, exposing them again. Woodchucks damage fields and cause damage to equipment. Many farmers have been injured or killed when their tractors broke thru a woodchuck den and tipped over on them. Woodchucks might even make decent cat food.

My favorite weapon for them is a .22/250 rifle which is designed specifically for hunting them. A hollow point bullet striking them at center of mass will not leave a mark on their body, but explode internally causing massive tissue damage and instant death. A .22 rimfire will work, but often result in the chuck getting back into its hole before expiring. A shotgun loaded with #4 or 6 shot is another good option to put them right down if you can get close or get between the chuck and his hole. They always run for their hole when alerted. I have shot them out of the hay-mow in my barn with a .410 shotgun as they run for the holes they have dug under the barn.

If you manage to get a "mamma chuck" in the late spring, the little ones will usually emerge several days later seeking milk and are easy plinking then with a semi-auto .22, or you can make pets out of them as they are kind of cute for a little while. If you are interested in nearby places to hunt chucks, try looking up "hay for sale" on craigslist. It is a lot easier to get permission from a farmer to hunt chucks in the spring than it is for deer or small game in the fall. Once you get your foot in the door, it can lead to other opportunities.

Spring turkey season is also just over a month away if you are into that. You are going to have to wait until September 1st or so for most of the rest. Lots of good fishing around that area in the Niagara River, Lake Erie and such before then though, and cats love fish. Hunting and fishing are almost the same to me, both involve killing and eating and I am a natural born killer by nature.

 

oh yea that season is getting closer every day.  I just got my scope back.  I lapped my scope rings and now just need to sight it back in.  very fun activity and a must on the family farm.  great opportunities for success and taking kids out.  I shoot a Savage Model 12 stainless/laminated in 223 Rem and topped with a high power Nikon with adjustable turrets and a sun shade.  Black Hills loaded with 60gr Vmax seem to work well for me pretty far out there.  getting to the point I need to bring a shovel and fill in the holes when I pick them up.  some people have told me they eat them but idk.  trapper bait and scavenging or predatory bird food is all that eats the ones I shoot.

[growalot]

I believe Dr woods speaks about eating the young ones...they are an animal that eat greens,fruit and nuts...the meat should be no less tastier than rabbit....

[jjb4900]

what guns do you plan on hunting with, and are you interested in hunting for food or just to get out there and harvest (kill) animals?

[Angela]

Probably just my air rifle and my Mossberg 12 gauge. I was looking into crossbows too. And as for why, I personally don't believe in killing for sport, truth is money was a little tight this year, and hunting would at least relieve some of the pressure from my food budget. Plus it's something I think everyone should know just in case society ever goes sideways lol. My grandfather fed his whole family during the great depression by hunting, so I'd like to make sure the tradition doesn't die.

[NYhuntingdogs]

As a new hunter, you won't come out on top money wise by hunting but you'll feel great.  Someone above mentioned that red squirrels might not taste great this time of year but your cat won't care. Good luck.

[Doc]

I really don't know many people that actually save money with hunting. In fact, it can be a very expensive activity. I once bought a 4-wheel pick-up specifically for a moose hunt in Canada .... lol. Yeah, that was a bit on the extreme side. I am not one to ever say, "never". But when you do an actual tally of gas, ammo, gadgets and trinket additions to your hunting equipment, special warm clothing, weapons purchases, and even time has value, the costs of scouting trips, etc., the balance sheet seldom comes up with any money earned through hunting. That topic by itself could make for a very interesting thread....lol.

 

I would guess that for most of us the lure lies in challenge and feelings of accomplishment. And also as you mentioned, there is an element of culture, heritage and tradition that get into it. Also, the self-reliance aspect is part of it for me, although sometimes that aspect creates more doubt than satisfaction. If I really had to hunt for subsistence, there is no doubt that I would be losing a lot of weight.

 

Sport? .... yes I have referred to it as a sport in that there is a competition going on between me and the critter, but there is so much more involved, and it doesn't always wind up measured in pounds of meat.

[jjb4900]

honestly, if you're looking to get some natural food that you can harvest at a decent price, take up fishing during the spring and summer....most of the animals that I consider worthy of eating can only be hunted in the winter and fall, except turkey...either way, have fun at whatever you decide to do.

[wolc123]

Food is also my primary reason for hunting and I too do not believe in killing for "sport".  "Catch and release" fishing is just the senseless maiming of a fine food source.   I would estimate that 3/4 of our family of four's protein comes from game and fish I have killed and I have learned how to do it at reasonable cost, and all legal.   There is an overabundance of two species in particular in your region, they are whitetail deer and smallmouth bass.  If you get that crossbow, then you will legally be able to take 2-4 antlerless deer and 2 antlered ones each season.   You can also take 5 bass a day throughout the open season starting on the 3rd Sat in June.   On a good year, my cost for boneless venison can approach $1.00/pound including all input costs (hunting license, ammo, arrows,  food-plot seed, fertilizer, and fuel).   That is a lot cheaper than we used to produce beef, and it is about as "organic" as you can get and much heart-healthier.  Good luck to you.