So I was gonna go deer hunting in NJ last year. I got my license and a nice gun. I never went. Sold the gun. Something about shotgunning a deer just isn't appealing to me. This year, one of my colleagues offered to let me hunt her property upstate. It is a rifle county. I'm psyched. I used it as an excuse to buy a new toy as well. So here is where I stand:

 

I've never hunted before.

I have a rifle (.308)

I have property to hunt

 

What else do I need?

 

I'm not planning on a ton of camo or anything of that nature and I'll most likely walk the property/plant myself under a tree, so I don't need a stand. I know that I need some blaze orange. I'm thinking some rope, I have a nice knife that I'm looking to use, but after that I'm lost.

 

Any and all suggestions are welcome. Also, if you have any videos that you would recommend, don't hesitate.

 

Thanks.

 

Christopher

A ground blind would be good.

 

I assume you took hunter education and can get a hunting license - which you will need even on private property.

A ground blind would be good.

 

A ground blind would be good.

 

I assume you took hunter education and can get a hunting license - which you will need even on private property.

 

 

Presentation of a past or present NJ Hunting license will qualify you for a NY Hunting License

Scent control would be a good idea. Use scent free soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, deodorant. Keep your scent free clothing in a sealed container so other smells from your home don't permeate them. No air freshers in your car either. If your sitting on the ground that's probably the most important thing. There is a reason we use treestands. Getting up 15-20 feet off the ground keeps you above the deer's sent area, equating in greater chances of success. Sense of smell is the best weapon a deer has against a hunter.

 

I mostly bow hunt myself so it's probably more important to me, to control scent. I have to have the deer within 30yds. for a kill shot. A rifle can drop a deer at 300yds usually without issue. I just prefer to kill up close and personal though. Hunting deer with a slug gun or my .50cal muzzle loader from 100 yards got boring over the last 25 years I've been doing it. I pretty much only use stick and string now.

If you have a NJ license, that's all you need to present a licensing agent to get a NY hunting license.

 

Review the regs. and zones; make sure where you are hunting is rifle country. A handful of deer zones are still shotgun-only.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8305.html

 

Deer & bear zones:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/35010.html

 

New York is one of the few states where blaze orange is NOT required.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9186.html

 

But it's wise to wear some:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/huntingsafetystats13.pdf

 

Check out some online hunting forums like NYAntler.com & HuntingNY.com. Some helpful tips there, areas where others go, areas that are congested, areas that hold big deer, etc. 

 

You're lucky to have some property to hunt. I would scout it pre-season and get a lay of the land and locate where deer movement exists. Set up your stand from there. Getting off the ground is advisable to limit your scent. But if you scout the area you may find a location for a ground stand that's situated between feeding and bedding areas that would work for you. 

 

 

A lock on stand is relatively inexpensive, under $50 as I recall.

Thanks all for the suggestions.

 

I am actually taking a good friend that is very experienced with me. We are planning to head to the property in October to take a look around and get the lay of the land. Should be a fun and interesting experience.

 

C

Have Fun.

 

A stand will get you more opportunities at more shots.  You can see more from 8' up than you can from the ground.   And with a rifle vs. shotgun, you'll be able to take longer shots.  My preference would be a stand over sitting by a tree.

Having enjoying and good one.

Just a quick update seeing as how the season is coming up:

 

I spoke with the other half of the property ownership team. I got a resounding "Come on up" from him. There are stands on the property and on camera they have some decent sized animals roaming around. He and some of his friends will be there so I will be in good hands should I harvest an animal. I have to say, I'm pretty excited. I am heading up on sunday morning to see the property.

 

Christopher

Good luck. I'm sure you'll have fun.

So, I went up to the land owner's home this morning to scout the property.

 

There are some big deer on the property. He and his buddy set up a trail cam and they picked up a 3 pointer, (2) 4 pointers, a 6 pointer, and an 8. Best of the group was the first shot on the camera, a 10 pointer. Beautiful animals. The owner showed me around his 30 something acres, then showed me his neighbors property, over 100 acres in all. There are 2 permanent stands and if I'm so inclined there is a climber available to me as well. Most likely I'll just use the permanent stand, hang out and hope for the best. I don't imagine I'll bag anything however I'm looking forward to sitting up there and taking it all in. I head up next sunday afternoon... wish me luck.

 

C

Good luck!

Good luck!

 

Well...

 

I got stumped. Oh well. I may head up really early Monday morning. We'll see. It poured pretty much all day. Blah.

 

C

Well...

 

I got stumped. Oh well. I may head up really early Monday morning. We'll see. It poured pretty much all day. Blah.

 

C

 

Don't worry. You have a lengthy season still to get out.

Got skunked again. I'm just not catching a break, weather wise. Rainy and windy. I would like to give it one more go, however I don't know that I will have the time.

 

I did, however, get to see just how in-elegant turkeys are when they land. It looks like someone is throwing a bucket full of feathers thru the trees and when it hits the ground, it magically becomes a turkey.

 

C

I did, however, get to see just how in-elegant turkeys are when they land. It looks like someone is throwing a bucket full of feathers thru the trees and when it hits the ground, it magically becomes a turkey.

 

 

I just had a hilarious mental image... lol.

I remember when I started deer hunting years ago, the only deer that I saw were deer running away from me. It took a while to learn to become one with the woods, to move slow and look and listen and to be quiet. Spend some time in the woods alone or learn to move alternately with your partner using hand signals to start and stop motion. The comments regarding odor control are sound suggestions. Pratice how to shoot your weapon accurately before you go trudging around in the woods. Good luck!

BTW, windy days are great days to catch the deer off guard; the wind makes noise that drowns out your noise, it blows your scent away, and it makes everything else move which hides your motion. The deer will like to bed down where they feel safe and not move unless the get pushed out. Once they are forced to move they are vulnerable.