NY hunting recommendations??

[bowless]

I'm struggling trying to find a quality hunt at a reasonable price.  Public land around here has been thinned out pretty bad over the last several years and lots of developement.  I hear NY has some good hunting and it's easy driving distance.  Any recommendations, outfitters etc...

Thanks,

Bowless

[BigAl]

I live near Rochester and bow hunt the early season (opens Sept. 27) in the northern zone, along the St. Lawrence river. (Note: must have a tag from the previous year to hunt those few days prior to October 1.) There is plenty of public ground there and, almost guaranteed, you will not see another bow hunter in the early season. With a bit of scouting you'll find deer. Most guys up there don't get serious about deer hunting until the snow flies.

Now, when you say "quality hunt at a reasonable price" if you're talking about paying to hunt private, I'm not into that...I'm too cheap plus there're good numbers of deer without paying other than for the license.

[swampbuck]

I'm actually west of BigAl and don't know of any outfitters myself either.I read that there's a nice spot on wolfe island but I believe that'll be Canada speaking of which your not that far from the border there at least as close as we are anyway.

The northern zone does indeed have lots of land that you could wander for a good long time without ever seeing anybody.If ya can,t find an outfitter and look for a do it yourself I'd find state land near farm land than ask....the stae land would be open even if land owner's said no

Good luck!!

PS one of these days I'm gonna do a back pack hunt up there maybe canoe in a few miles and set up base camp...

[finger lakes bowhunter]

A great place to go is connecticut hill  http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9331.html  and the arnot forest, which is owned by cornell.  These two lands both over 16,000 acres are basically next to each other. 3.4 miles up from ct hill is treeman, which is bow hunting only.  all together it is over 40,000 acres of hunting land.  To hunt the arnot you need to register and join the earn a buck program (gotta shoot a doe before a buck).  Arnot has some very cheap cabins that can be rented.  There are some very big bucks in this area.  Ct. hill is managed just for hunting.  It used to be an orchard and there are lots of apple trees everywhere. It can get busy on weekends in Ct. Hill, but that is when you goto the arnot forest. Turkey hunting is not that big around here and I only would see a few cars when going out in  the morning. It is a beautiful area full of gorges and waterfalls.  Lots of grouse and woodcock there as well.

[Stone Knife]

Letchworth state park has some good bucks in it, there are guy's that hunt it but if your willing to do some extra work and hunt the gorge you wont be bothered. The park is located in Wyoming county and Livingston county. There is a lot of farmland around it if you knock on some doors you could expand you opportunities, I'm not far from it and have hunted there myself.

[BobW]

There is a retired DEC officer here in western NY that is running an outfitter service.  I think he has a number of lands that he uses throughout northern, central, and western NY.  Don't know a thing about him, just seen information from a buddy.  He also does fishing charters on the Finger Lakes.  Other than that, it is the "do it yourself" that we all try on the state lands.

If I can locate it, I'll send it to you in a PM.  Like I said, don't know anything about him.  Do your research.  Get references if you are going to go that route.

Good luck.

[ishiwannabe]

I dont know of any outfitters either. I do most of my hunting on private land, but I do enjoy hunting state land too. You can do a search for NYSDEC, look for the public lands locator link. You can get a lot of great info from there...topo, access points, trails, etc.
Depending on where in Mass you are, the Catskill park is not far south of the berkshire spur of the NYS Thruway. Might be worth looking into for you.
I have some NY Game and Fish Mags somewhere....they list outfitters, I will try to find them.

[maxfit]

Bowless,
Why an outfitter? Are you looking for a "trophy", or time constraints, scouting etc...   If you are just looking for a quality hunt,and a good time that can be had in most public lands in NY. I hunt in Ontario county. Shoot and see a lot of deer still, even though there arent a many as there used to be. That said i can tell you some places to go where you will see game,probably shoot some arrows at em' and have a great time on the cheap!

[bowless]

Thanks for some great input guys.
Maxfit, just looking for a quality hunt, see some deer, get one if I'm lucky.  A trophy to me is anything with fur and a big white tail:)

Thanks for any info,

Bowless

[maxfit]

pm sent!

[Adirondackman]

Come up and hunt with Adirondacken and the boys at the annual Adirondack Attack. Ken has a great traditional get together for a weekend of deer hunting. Good chance to meet a bunch of great NY hunting guys.

[Shawn Leonard]

I agree with Ishiwannabe, check out the web-site, look at some of the areas in Albany county. If ya hunt in them during the bow season there will be little if any pressure, Partridge Run in Western Albany County is very good and I know of several nice bucks taken each year, but during gun season, so they are there for the taking during bow. Shawn

[woodchucker]

I have to agree with Shawn,Partridge Run is a great piece of property with a good deer population. (and,It's about 2 miles away from my Dad's place)

As for the "Adirondack Attack".....If you want to spend a weekend in the BEAUTIFUL Adirondack Mountains in a wonderful "Deer Camp" atmosphere with fellow TradGangers.....Ya Gotta Come!!!!!

You can PM Ken (adkmountainken) for details,or wait untill about Sept. when he starts the "invite" thread.

It sure is a really "Good Time".          

[Alex.B]

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7844.html
that's really all you need to see some fur and maybe get a shot    

some years I get a CT licenses and go to Housatonic Forest. In NY, watch for sleazebags trying to "outfit" you on a canned hunt