[230grain hollowpoint]

Back in the 70's & 80'sI used to hunt an area in the park called Cedar Swamp. We used to park on County Road off Banker Road in Upper Greenwood Lake. Back then I hunted with a group of guys from Westwood & Paramus with whom I have long since lost touch. Since there was a lot of new houses built there parking on County Road is no longer allowed.

There was and still are some big deer in that area. In '85 I took a 165# 9 pointer from there.

A couple of years ago I scouted it when parked on Cherry Ridge Road. That's a long hump for a 57 year old guy in compromised health.

The area looks the same. The deer hang out on the edge of a huge strech of laurals. They hop between the laurals and the hardwoods. It is also great for bears especially in sept/oct. There is an abundance of choke cherrys which the bears love.

I also hunt the Moe Mountain area. This is an easy hunt. Parking of Iron Mountain Road it is a short distance to the edge of the Hemlock Ravine. This is another major edge area between softwoods & hardwoods. The problem is during bow season there is an abundance of noisy horseback riders & mountain bikers. The first & last hour of daylight are best for deer activity because of the noisy non hunters.

 

[230grain hollowpoint]

The two areas I pointed out are "edge" areas where they can drop in and out of heavy cover. They like that.
Otherwise you are right both places are big woods with small pockets of deer activity.

 

[bgood]

I've hunted there a bit but with no success (except Squirrel). I saw two very nice bucks in there last year while scouting. There is a road that leads up into the back part of the park from Clinton Road. There's a swamp up in there past the gate that holds some nice dear. There is also a swamp pretty far in along the road. Follow from the gate to the T (Old Coal and Cherry Ridge I think), go left and follow that up. I had this 7 pointer walk right over toward me and start snorting and kicking up the ground. I was all in camo and I don't think he knew what I was. It was pretty cool. He ran up the hill about 20 yards away and made a big racket, came back and stared at me, snorted and then took off. I was actually a little scared. I'm trying to remember what time of year this was - I think I was scouting fall turkey at the time. This is also the area where I saw three bears. But like 35Whelan said - tough hunting in there.

I've also taken my Jeep down Wawayanda Road to Iron Mt Road until you can't go anymore. Didn't see any game or sign and it is pretty rough back in there - I'm sure there are deer in that Ravine or near the swamps on the way down Waway Rd. I wish I had more time to spend scouting in there. Since I joined a club this year I probably won't be hunting up there at all this go around. It would be cool if you could park over near Cherry Ridge Range as it would probably be a shorter walk in there. Nice area and I have seen very few people when I've been in there.

 

[BobM]

We hunted off Canistear Road for several years but never had much success. Saw quite a few does but the area was hit pretty hard during shotgun. We then switched to Hamburg WMA off Rt 517 and saw less deer and probably hunted a lot harder. There are some monsters back in there but again it is tough hunting.

You guys ever hunt Ringwood?

 

[bgood]

Never hunted Ringwood. I think there was a thread about Ringwood State Park recently. Try a search. If I remember right, some guys have hunted it.

 

[BIgBuckLuckNJ]

Ringwood has absolutely no deer in it. There is no need to hunt Ringwood at all...The last deer was hit by a car a few days ago...nope, no deer in Ringwood.