First season in NY

[Jimmy82]

I'm up in the Watertown/Ft. Drum area. I already know that pheas don't survive well up here and that the state releases pen raised birds in the northern WMU's, but anybody out there know how things progress into late season? Is it worth it to try once the snow's start or just move on into the woods for the grouse?

[modog1]

Howdy fellow NY hunter, I also hunt in the Henderson Harbor area... The state released birds are pretty hard to come by towards the late season. Although we are blessed with some great grouse cover in the area. Snow Fun is also a pretty good preserve if you are looking to get after a few late season roosters.

[Jimmy82]

I have tried calling them several times, and left a few messages but they never pick up and have not returned any calls. Dunno if I'm just getting unlucky or if they're on vacation. I have done some walks with my dog on the Fort Drum reservation and found some grouse, haven't hit any of the WMA's yet. Are the WMA's pretty crowded then?

[FLDBRED]

We used to do pretty good on wild birds in the Finger Lakes Region. Haven't hunted it lately, but we may take another look at it.

[modog1]

Well hopefully Snow Fun is still around. I have hunted a lot at North Harbour Outfitters but they are pulling way back in the terms of availability this year. As for the Finger Lakes Region and the area South West of Lake Ontario there is some better cover, when you start heading closer to Fort Drum the cover seems to thin out a bit, and forest birds are a better bet.

I am a member of Central New York Pheasants Forever, if you would like to attend one of our meetings let me know. it is a good place to chat with like minded hunters and it also opens up some opportunities in the area.

[Jimmy82]

Sent you a pm about the PF Meetings. I'll have to poke around down South on a long weekend and see what I can scare up.

[1pheas4]

As for the Finger Lakes Region and the area South West of Lake Ontario there is some better cover, when you start heading closer to Fort Drum the cover seems to thin out a bit, and forest birds are a better bet.

When I was in seminary in Boston one of my fellow seminarians told me he was heading to NY to hunt a friends farm for pheasants. At the time it through me for a loop:confused:. I was under the impression NY was wooded. I didn't realize there was an ag industry there.

On the way home I drove I-90 back to IL. I have to say was impressed with the rolling hills w/crops, hedge rows, and very nice looking pheasant habitat/fields in NY. Stuff that most definitely looked as if it could hold birds. By the sounds of it, it does:cheers: