Who hunts the rt.23 Sussex area?

Welcome Turdy. I suppose if there poaching in the area it would affect the Deer movement.

I am in Montague and there are a lot of oldtimers that think they don't have to obey the Regs. It is the old "Ive been hunting this way for 40 years" mentality. I hunt on a 690 acre farm that boarders High Point state park and had someon poach a buck with a rifle a couple of weeks ago[mad]. A lot of Does get poached during shotgun season. There are a lot of deer but they are not dumb and as soon as guns go off they disapear into the deepest and thickest parts of cover they can find. I hunted a spot so thick today that the deer run I am over looks like a tunnel The deer are around you just have to hunt the stuff that is so thick no one would even consider it. I have counted at least a dozen gun shots at night since late august in my nieghborhood[mad]

Welcome to the site Turdy![up]

Hunted Hamburg for years and now back in Lafayette near the Sussex Airport. Welcome!!

Will be there this Friday---

I was hunting the inside corner of a corn field right near that area. I seen some deer make their way into the field, one being a real nice 8. 15 minutes after the deer arrived here comes a red pick up. I could'nt blieve what I saw, they shot a nice 8. Not one guy shoting but two. Then they pulled up and three guys jumped out and threw the deer into their truck. I tried getting the license plate but everthing happend so fast. After all the work I put in to see that is sick. I heard of things like this but seeing it make your stomach sick. My father and I plan on trying to set them up with a decoy. Lets hope it works.[mad][mad]

I heard that the biggest poacher in the area (a guy from Wantage) died last year in a car accident. This guy and his crew would take out a ton of deer each and every year from Zones 1 and 2. Good riddance!

welcome turdy!

I heard about that guy. I think his name was Joe.

And the worst part is the CO's know all about this going on. I have had so many run in's with some of these dirtbags I am surprised I am still here to tell about it. On opening day of Slobgun Matt saw a guy blowing Turkeys out of a tree at 5 in the morning. They need a new CO up here as the one they have doesnt do a damn thing about any of this.

WELCOME TO THE SITE! I HUNT UP IN SUSSEX IN WANTAGE TURN LEFT AT THE DOUBLE"S" DINER ON A 300 ACRE PIECE NEXT TO A MAJESTIC GUN CLUB. I CAN'T COUNT THE AMOUNT OF TIMES I AM SITTING IN THE WOODS AND HEAR GUN SHOTS VERY CLOSE. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT DURING THE RUT I HARDLY SEEN ANY BUCKS, SNIFFING,TRAILING OR RUNNING ANY DOES. NO MOVEMENT, NOTHING! ITS LIKE THERE ARE NO DEER THERE. I ALWAYS DID HUNTING IN HUNTERDON COUNTY BUT LOST THE PIECE. DURING THE RUT IT WOULD NOTHING TO SEE ANYWHERE FROM 5-10 DIFFERENT BUCKS IN A MORNING. WHAT A LET DOWN WITH THIS SUSSEX PROPERTY!

I don't think poaching is the problem with the deer movement. I hunt Picatinny Arsenal which is an excellent place to hunt and the deer aren't as active this year as they were in past years. I think it may have to do with the abundance of acorns this year.

Sixpoint you are correct to some extent. Wit that said anyone who lives in Wantage or Montague can tell you without a doubt there are NUMEROUS poachings taking place every year. You have to live here to really get an idea of the extent of it. It definatly has an effect on the herd no doubt about it. I used to have up to 18 deer feeding in my backyard all year long. Including some very nice young bucks. The last 2 years I have no more than 3 adult does and 3 fawns all year. Right now I only have 2 Does and one fawn visit everyday. There is definatly a problem with poaching.

The mast acorn crop is the best I've seen in years and I believe that could hamper the deer movement. Also, I noticed on the neighboring piece of property, the club members are all over the property. Overscouting and walking right through the bedding areas that are on the property line. I see them walking around often and it kills me to think it could ruin everything.. Do you think this could affect the deer movement on my piece? I've always tried to keep my movement through the woods at a minimum and I never ever walk through bedding areas. These are some of the reasons I don't hunt with a club anymore. BobM, the Sussex Airport is so close to me that I could see the parachuters dropping from the planes!!! Kinda kills the mood listening to the prop planes all day long but I'm just happy to be outside.

Just my observations..best year sighting bucks and does...have about 12 stand sites that I rotate in zone 2 and 3 and see abundant deer..Last year hunting same spots very slow..[confused]