[230grain hollowpoint]

I don't like the sound of this e-mail I got today

Dear Sterling Forest Hunter:

Applications for 2009 – 2010 park hunting permits were mailed out on Thursday, Sept. 3 to every hunter in our system from last season. You should have yours within days.

In an attempt to better manage the Park’s natural resources, there are significant changes to the hunting program this year. Hunting is a critical tool to maintain the health of our forest and that makes us partners. While the numbers of hunters is declining in New York and nationally, we hope to retain hunters to help us manage the resources of the Park by increasing your satisfaction. Not everyone will like every change we are making, but I sincerely feel over time, a great majority of our hunters will come to appreciate the package of changes.

Please read everything we sent you carefully. If, after very careful reading, you still have questions; please send me your questions by e-mail if possible. We are still fine tuning details and may not have an answer for every question immediately. Your questions will help us anticipate and avoid issues that could otherwise arise.

Please make a commitment to help us manage the resource better by doing your part, including completing surveys accurately, bringing your deer to our check station, reporting rule violators, and having an open mind to new policies such as those being implemented this season.

Thank you, partner, for your cooperation. Good luck, enjoy your hunting season, and above all be safe.

Jim Gell
Park Manager
Sterling Forest State Park

Then they sent an additional e-mail with the deer check stations omitted

Dear Sterling Forest Hunter:



Applications for 2009 – 2010 park hunting permits were mailed out yesterday, Thursday, Sept. 3 to every hunter in our system from last season. You should have yours within days.



In an attempt to better manage the Park’s natural resources, there are significant changes to the hunting program this year. Hunting is a critical tool to maintain the health of our forest and that makes us partners. While the numbers of hunters is declining in New York and nationally, we hope to retain hunters to help us manage the resources of the Park by increasing your satisfaction. Not everyone will like every change we are making, but I sincerely feel over time, a great majority of our hunters will come to appreciate the package of changes.



Please carefully read everything we sent you. After very thorough reading, please e-mail any remaining questions to [email protected] We are still fine tuning details and may not have an answer for every question immediately. Your questions will help us anticipate and avoid issues that could otherwise arise.



Please make a commitment to help us manage the resource better by doing your part, including completing surveys accurately, reporting rule violators, and having an open mind to new policies such as those being implemented this season.



Thank you, partner, for your cooperation. Good luck, enjoy your hunting season, and above all be safe.



Jim Gell

Park Manager

Sterling Forest State Park

 

[WackemStackem]

hows the hunting in the park and is it rifle hunting??

 

[jcchartboy]

Looking at a map of the area...I just have to ask...what goes on in the nearby hamlet of "Snufftown"..[rofl][spy]

JC

 

[jcchartboy]

230,

If this it...Looks like a stupendous move to me!!

JC


-------------------------------------------------

ARs under consideration for Sterling Forest lands


By Jeff Murray
Contributing Writer
Thursday, August 6, 2009 10:06 AM CDT
Tuxedo, N.Y. - Sterling Forest State Park is looking at a proposal to impose antler restrictions on bucks harvested in the park.

The suggestion comes from some of the deer hunters themselves; more than 4,500 hunters head afield in the 13,000 acres open to hunting in the park.

Officials invited hunters who have used the park in the past to take part in a meeting July 15 to discuss antler restrictions and several other proposals.

Those ideas surfaced as a result of a hunter survey, said park manager Jim Gell.

The point of the meeting was to look at ways the park can improve hunting opportunities with the help of the users themselves, Gell said.

“We issue 4,500 annual permits to hunt in the park. We do surveys every year,” he said. “The last few years, one suggestion has been to impose antler restrictions in part or all of the park. In the last survey, the number rose to 62 percent of hunters in favor and 29 percent opposed. So we thought it was something we should look into.

“Hunters really appreciated being asked. It was a very positive meeting,” Gell said. “When we start talking about antler restrictions, there is some polarity there.”

Sterling Forest State Park comprises nearly 18,000 acres and lies along the New Jersey border in Orange County. Hunting is one of the primary attractions at the park.

Mandatory antler restrictions are already in place in the portion of New Jersey adjacent to Sterling Forest.

Gell invited Charlie Fiscella, New York state chapter president of the Quality Deer Management Association, to speak to the crowd about antler restriction issues.

Fiscella doesn't know what's best for Sterling Forest. That's for the wildlife managers and the hunters to decide, he said.

The association's job isn't to impose its beliefs but to offer guidance to hunters and others who are looking to improve deer hunting opportunities, Fiscella said.

“We have three criteria - it needs to be based on honest data, it has to be supported by a majority of hunters, and it needs an objective monitoring program in place,” Fiscella said. “Our purpose is education and information. They invited us to come and give a well-rounded view of what antler restrictions are as a goal. Antler restrictions are one tool in the toolbox. Any program has to be site-specific.”

No decisions were made at the meeting and none is expected in the near future, Gell said. Park and wildlife managers have a lot of homework to do before deciding if any form of antler restriction is in the best interest of hunters and the health of the deer herd, he said.

“As a park, we have to consider other users, wildlife and plant life and stuff,” he said. “We'd like to see the doe population reduced. Our thinking is we'd like to have deer tread lightly on the land here.

“We're not really advocating quality deer management in the park. We're listening to the hunters,” Gell said. “We're looking at it, but no decisions have been made.”

 

[230grain hollowpoint]

It is rifle hunting and it is Sunday hunting for all weapons.

This guy Gell is generally a good guy, but he may be being pushed into ridiculous crap like check stations.

When I get my application I fully intend to e-mail them protesting about some existing conditions like: Gates on roads being closed off; the rangers not doing anything about ATV/dirt bike riders, having to wait to 11/1 to use a firearm for small game; having to wait until 10/15 to use a bow for turkeys when the NYS fall turkey season starts 10/1. I am certain I will have plenty more to complain about when I see the changes. I am just glad I got this information before I purchased my NYS license for this year.

 

[230grain hollowpoint]

JC
I must have been typing my last post when you put up yours. I have no problem with antler point restrictions if that is all it is. Perhaps I am going off half cocked

 

[Setters4Life]

230,

Did you go to the July 15th meeting they had? It was more a feeling-out meeting, getting input from park hunters, etc., in addition to Charlie Friscella's presentation on the pro's and con's for AR. No decisions we made, just a gathering of input.

I'm still tickled that there is lot of land up there and it's rifle country, less than thirty minutes from my home. Still one of my woodcock hidey-holes for a quick four-hour hunt with the dog. Seen a couple of grouse in there the last few years but nothing to get excited about. It's just too close to pass up. Early in the small game season they used to stock a few areas with pheasant, but no real cover for them. Don't know if they still do this anymore. I used to enjoy watching the locals shoot those pheasant from their vehicles right off Long Meadow Road. Quintessential road hunting at its best! Maybe that's why I don't go to that area anymore?

 

[230grain hollowpoint]

Did you go to the July 15th meeting they had? It was more a feeling-out meeting, getting input from park hunters, etc., in addition to Charlie Friscella's presentation on the pro's and con's for AR. No decisions we made, just a gathering of input.

No this is the first I heard of a meeting. How many people were there? I would have had a ton of stuff (listed in previous post)to bring up.

Still one of my woodcock hidey-holes for a quick four-hour hunt with the dog.

Be careful with the dog there...lots of snakes...I almost got bit by a rattler there a few years ago.

You are right about the pheasant stocking....not pheasant habitat. I never saw anyone shooting them from the road, but I wouldn't be surprised. It is the only place I know where you see both Deliverence banjo players hunting and goofy hunters from NYC.[hihi]

 

[jcchartboy]

It is the only place I know where you see both Deliverence banjo players hunting

Those must be the "Snufftown" residence you are speaking of..[rofl][spy]

JC

 

[rackmaster]

Last year there were two red Dodge pickups doing some road hunting on one of the gated roads that was opened. My buddy said it looked like a bunch of the "local Indians."

 

[230grain hollowpoint]

Those must be the "Snufftown" residence you are speaking of..

I had never heard of "Snufftown" before so I checked it on Google Earth. It is near Pine Island. I once visited a farm there with a friend that knew the people there. Yup, you nailed it Deliverence banjo players at this place.

 

[xpert_hunter]

230, ever get anything in Sterling? May go there this year.

 

[230grain hollowpoint]

In 2003 I got a nice buck actually on Wanague WMA with my muzzloader when I was parked in Sterling and the seasons overlapped. In 1986 I got a real big 6 point near Cedar Pond.

Hunting there went downhill fast when NYS took it over. They blocked off all the roads. SF is big and rough terrain. Without being able to drive further in some of the good areas are a tough walk and a worse deer drag.

The last few years it has been improving though. I have been seeing a lot of small bucks. I have seen one decent buck several times in one area. I have seen him several years running and never got a shot for various reasons. If he is still around this year he will be a real good buck.

One thing about SF is that after the 1st week of the NYS season there are hardly any other hunters. Not a lot of bow hunters either.

 

[rackmaster]

Just got the permit application and the changes are;

1. Antler restrictions south of Rt.17 and west of Rt.84
2. $5.00 permit fee
3. You must enter your NYS license Number on your application.
4. Check station. Located on Rt. 84

Antler restictions is not finalized but more information will be provided with the permits.

 

[rackmaster]

It does not state whether or not bear, doe or bucks killed outside the antler restriction area need to be checked in.

It also does not state what is considered a scoreable point as there are no details of the antler restrictions.

 

[Setters4Life]

No this is the first I heard of a meeting. How many people were there? I would have had a ton of stuff (listed in previous post)to bring up.

About 45 people were randomly selected from those who submitted their surveys from last year and were invited to this meeting.

- $5 for a permit now (?)
- 1,994 new acres open to hunting, 714 acres for archery-only near Rt. 17. Most are near Rt.17, sandwiched between previously hunted areas and the NYS Thruway.
- AR's south of Rt. 17A and west of County Road 84.

 

[230grain hollowpoint]

Years ago when it was owned by Sterling Forest Corperation you paid $40 for a permit. Then you could drive anywhere you vehicle could go. They also had seperate ATV permits. If I am paying for a permit I want better vehicular access to the property.

Where is the $5 permit fee going anyway?

I think I am going to pass on hunting in NYS this year. Since I am unemployed I have plenty of time to hunt Jersey plus I could do without spending the almost $300 for the supersportsmen license.

 

[230grain hollowpoint]

I have re-thought what I said in my previous post. One of the main reasons I hunt SF is Sunday hunting. Now that there is Sunday bow hunting in NJ SF is not much of a deal for bow hunting especially since I am unemployed and can now hunt during the week. However if I find a job between now and Nov I will need the Sunday hunting for firearm hunting. In fact that is the reason I started hunting there back in the 1980's. That is, in 1987 I started a new job in NOV.

So this is what I am going to do. I will get my small game license and turkey tags. In spite of the fact that you cannot hunt with a fire arm until Nov1 and you cannot hunt turkeys with a bow until archery deer season starts even though NYS fall turkey season starts Oct1. (I am going to raise that issue with them.) Back when I used to only rifle hunt SF small game hunting there was my scouting operation. So I will get the $5 permit and small game license and if I need the firearm Sunday hunting I will get the big game license as needed.

 

[Setters4Life]

I understand and agree with you. Anyplace that's 25 minutes from my home where I can drag myself, gun and dog out on a Sunday is worthwhile for me. Even if it's just to walk. To minimize inconvenience, you can still scout the area from Sept. 19th - Oct. 16th. If you don't have last year's permit you can stop at the office and they will issue you a temporary permit.

 

[Catskillhuntr]

can you take bears from Sterling Forrest?