Good squirrel spot just over NJ border??

[mazzgolf]

I'm a NJ hunter, but bought a NY license for the first time this year so I could deer hunt in NY last month. But now that I have a license, I thought maybe I could take advantage.

I have always wanted to hunt squirrel with a .22lr (which is not allowed in NJ). I also enjoy hunting different places I've never been.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a good squirrel area that's just over the border?

I'd drive up and probably spend the day, so I'd like to find a large area I could explore. I live in south Jersey and have a long drive just to get to the border so I don't want to go too far past that. I see Sterling Forest, but the topo map shows it's very mountainous. I'm not looking to climb steep mountain sides but maybe there's good spots in there?

 

 

[Bucksnbows]

31 minutes ago, mazzgolf said:

I'm a NJ hunter, but bought a NY license for the first time this year so I could deer hunt in NY last month. But now that I have a license, I thought maybe I could take advantage.

I have always wanted to hunt squirrel with a .22lr (which is not allowed in NJ). I also enjoy hunting different places I've never been.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a good squirrel area that's just over the border?

I'd drive up and probably spend the day, so I'd like to find a large area I could explore. I live in south Jersey and have a long drive just to get to the border so I don't want to go too far past that. I see Sterling Forest, but the topo map shows it's very mountainous. I'm not looking to climb steep mountain sides but maybe there's good spots in there?

 

 

Mazz, don’t worry, those mountains won’t give you a nosebleed 

Look for the more middle age to mature forest with a strong mix of oak and hickory mast. I’m trying to come up with some spots, but I have never hunted southern NY myself. Perhaps others can help. Love the idea of the .22 squirrel hunt!  If I wasn’t on the mend, I’d ask to join you! 

[blackbeltbill]

Take a good walk in a few of the Flatter Woods Roads in Sterling Forest.

    Try the Blue Lake. About 1 mile up on Long Meadow Road. Look for the " Blue Lake" Sign on your Left as you are driving North. Just past the Jehovah's  Witnesses major left Turn.

  Drive about a half mile on the Woods Road and park right at the end of the Lake near the Boat Ramp.  I believe the nearby Gate is locked up after Deer season.

  Walk on in and take the left Woods Road and walk on around the Lake. An easy walk. 

  Check all Sterling Forest Hunting Regs.  I have no idea if they allow 22 Rifles for Squirrel Hunting. 

  When you get your Sterling Forest Hunting Permit at the Visitor Center further up on Long Meadow Road on your left- just ask your questions  there.

  Good Luck.

[mowin]

You probably did, but figured I'd ask...

You mentioned buying a NY license to hunt deer. But did you get the small game license too?  

[mazzgolf]

6 hours ago, blackbeltbill said:

Sterling Forest Hunting Permit

Can you pay the $5 for the permit online somewhere? All I see is the form that you need to mail in. Guess I'll need to find out when the visitor center opens in case I have to buy one in person (update: they start selling permits at 8:30, ugh.. that's late.)

39 minutes ago, mowin said:

But did you get the small game license too?  

AFAIK, there is no additional small game license to purchase for non-residents. I do not see one offered for sale in the NY license online website, and the Hunting Digest says my $100 hunting license is good for small game.

Edited December 24, 2023 by mazzgolf

[mowin]

10 minutes ago, mazzgolf said:

Can you pay the $5 for the permit online somewhere? All I see is the form that you need to mail in. Guess I'll need to find out when the visitor center opens in case I have to buy one in person (update: they start selling permits at 8:30, ugh.. that's late.)

AFAIK, there is no additional small game license to purchase for non-residents. I do not see one offered for sale in the NY license online website, and the Hunting Digest says my $100 hunting license is good for small game.

I don't realize that.  Thanks for clarifying, Bill.  

[Bucksnbows]

Good luck @mazzgolf!

[mazzgolf]

7 hours ago, blackbeltbill said:

I have no idea if they allow 22 Rifles for Squirrel Hunting. 

No prohibitions mentioned anywhere. Sterling Forest website just says, "NYS DEC hunting license and park permit ($5) fee are required to hunt big and small game, and turkey. Please check State hunting regulations (https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/65231.html) for specifics on game and manner of taking for each species." Sterling Forest hunting regs pdf says nothing about it either.

Although I may decide to try somewhere else. Probably will take weeks to mail that form in and get the permit mailed back to me, and waiting for the permit sales to open in person until 8:30am means the good morning hours will be gone by the time I actually get in the woods. What is this, the 80s? No online permit sales??

 

[blackbeltbill]

8 minutes ago, mazzgolf said:

No prohibitions mentioned anywhere. Sterling Forest website just says, "NYS DEC hunting license and park permit ($5) fee are required to hunt big and small game, and turkey. Please check State hunting regulations (https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/65231.html) for specifics on game and manner of taking for each species." Sterling Forest hunting regs pdf says nothing about it either.

Although I may decide to try somewhere else. Probably will take weeks to mail that form in and get the permit mailed back to me, and waiting for the permit sales to open in person until 8:30am means the good morning hours will be gone by the time I actually get in the woods. What is this, the 80s? No online permit sales??

 

Yeah check online. I do everything the old fashioned way. I go in person to get my permit and pay the 5 Bucks.  

  I gave 2 Turkey Hunting Seminars years back at that Visitor Center.  It was Fun. Although the 2nd time only 3 Men showed up.  I figured  that's the last time- lol.

[Dinsdale]

58 minutes ago, mazzgolf said:

No prohibitions mentioned anywhere. Sterling Forest website just says, "NYS DEC hunting license and park permit ($5) fee are required to hunt big and small game, and turkey. Please check State hunting regulations (https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/65231.html) for specifics on game and manner of taking for each species." Sterling Forest hunting regs pdf says nothing about it either.

Although I may decide to try somewhere else. Probably will take weeks to mail that form in and get the permit mailed back to me, and waiting for the permit sales to open in person until 8:30am means the good morning hours will be gone by the time I actually get in the woods. What is this, the 80s? No online permit sales??

 

I doubt it’ll take weeks, the pony express hasn’t been used in a while. Aside from the fact that your poor planning on getting a permit earlier isn’t really their fault you need it like tomorrow.

The NY/NJ trail conference maps offered for there are very high quality printed on tyvek not paper and last for years.

I doubt there is more then 5-600 feet of elevation gain in Sterling, it maybe tops out at 1300’ and I’d guess without looking at my trails map that most of the bottom is maybe 7-800’ to start with.

Cant hunt either side of AT, nor carry a firearm across that area to get to the other side; but there’s plenty to the south anyway.

Closer to Port Jervis where NY,Pa,NJ meet up is Mongaup,Bashakill,Neversink for larger areas and a host of smaller state land all found on NYS DEC interactive mapper on their website. Super easy to use and very complete (they already have land added near me that was acquired a couple weeks ago) Clic on Menu>Land related activities>Hunting on DEC managed lands> and the lands icon symbol for description/acreage.

https://gisservices.dec.ny.gov/gis/dil/

Its squirrel, not exactly requires a ton of prep plan scouting, they’re everywhere in southern NY woods. Mongaup or Neversink pretty good chance to see a fischer around too.

Edited December 24, 2023 by Dinsdale

[blackbeltbill]

1 hour ago, Dinsdale said:

I doubt it’ll take weeks, the pony express hasn’t been used in a while. Aside from the fact that your poor planning on getting a permit earlier isn’t really their fault you need it like tomorrow.

The NY/NJ trail conference maps offered for there are very high quality printed on tyvek not paper and last for years.

I doubt there is more then 5-600 feet of elevation gain in Sterling, it maybe tops out at 1300’ and I’d guess without looking at my trails map that most of the bottom is maybe 7-800’ to start with.

Cant hunt either side of AT, nor carry a firearm across that area to get to the other side; but there’s plenty to the south anyway.

Closer to Port Jervis where NY,Pa,NJ meet up is Mongaup,Bashakill,Neversink for larger areas and a host of smaller state land all found on NYS DEC interactive mapper on their website. Super easy to use and very complete (they already have land added near me that was acquired a couple weeks ago) Clic on Menu>Land related activities>Hunting on DEC managed lands> and the lands icon symbol for description/acreage.

https://gisservices.dec.ny.gov/gis/dil/

Its squirrel, not exactly requires a ton of prep plan scouting, they’re everywhere in southern NY woods. Mongaup or Neversink pretty good chance to see a fischer around too.

One of my fav Hikes is the Steep woods road to the Top where the Transmission Tower is.

  And Steep it is. You will be Puffing. Sterling Mt. Is quite Steep as well.

[mazzgolf]

Using that online map, this looks like a nice place - Huckleberry Ridge State Forest:

• https://dec.ny.gov/places/huckleberry-ridge-state-forest

"The main game species and furbearers found on the property include small game (especially squirrels)..." ... "and bear."  (those over in NJ W&W know my feelings about bears)

Some different areas scattered around, with parking spots, to go to. A few hiking trails, too. I may give that a try before February ends. Just shy of a 3-hour drive for me. I have some vaca days at work I need to use up, and might just take a day and do this.

@Bucksnbows - you are always welcome to stalk tree rats with me if and when you are healed up, or we do it next year!

• Raymond Drive Parking Area (41.378494°N, 74.624696°W) Google Maps 
• Greenville Turnpike Parking Area (41.359123°N, 74.647914°W) Google Maps 
• NYS Rte 6 Parking Area (41.366°N, 74.655°W) Google Maps 
• Old Greenville Turnpike Parking Area (41.358279°N, 74.677055°W) Google Maps 

[Bucksnbows]

8 minutes ago, mazzgolf said:

Using that online map, this looks like a nice place - Huckleberry Ridge State Forest:

• https://dec.ny.gov/places/huckleberry-ridge-state-forest

"The main game species and furbearers found on the property include small game (especially squirrels)..." ... "and bear."  (those over in NJ W&W know my feelings about bears)

Some different areas scattered around, with parking spots, to go to. A few hiking trails, too. I may give that a try before February ends. Just shy of a 3-hour drive for me. I have some vaca days at work I need to use up, and might just take a day and do this.

@Bucksnbows - you are always welcome to stalk tree rats with me if and when you are healed up, or we do it next year!

• Raymond Drive Parking Area (41.378494°N, 74.624696°W) Google Maps 
• Greenville Turnpike Parking Area (41.359123°N, 74.647914°W) Google Maps 
• NYS Rte 6 Parking Area (41.366°N, 74.655°W) Google Maps 
• Old Greenville Turnpike Parking Area (41.358279°N, 74.677055°W) Google Maps 

I’m about three weeks from being able to go back to “normal” except that I can’t lift heavy things another 8 weeks which doesn’t impact squirrel hunting. If you’re going soon, I can’t. But next year it would be a blast. I have two .22 rifles, both scoped. And I always have my NY non resident hunting and fishing licenses every year. 

[mazzgolf]

I drove up to Sterling Forest yesterday with The Wife and we spent the whole day hiking some of the trails. The place is huge! Only managed to walk just a few trails I wanted to explore, and never had time to check out Neversink or Huckleberry. Different world than south Jersey, what with the elevation changes and huge rocks everywhere. Saw a few squirrels, not a lot. But some of the places did look "squirrely". I never left the trails, so I assume going off-trail would help in finding more squirrels. While there, I did pick up a $5 hunting permit so I can come back with my .22.

Even though I now know a bit more about the place, if anyone has any tips on squirrel hunting Sterling Forest (good spots to try, places to park, etc.), I'd be very interested to hear.

@Bucksnbows - you all healed up?  

[Bucksnbows]

5 minutes ago, mazzgolf said:

I drove up to Sterling Forest yesterday with The Wife and we spent the whole day hiking some of the trails. The place is huge! Only managed to walk just a few trails I wanted to explore, and never had time to check out Neversink or Huckleberry. Different world than south Jersey, what with the elevation changes and huge rocks everywhere. Saw a few squirrels, not a lot. But some of the places did look "squirrely". I never left the trails, so I assume going off-trail would help in finding more squirrels. While there, I did pick up a $5 hunting permit so I can come back with my .22.

Even though I now know a bit more about the place, if anyone has any tips on squirrel hunting Sterling Forest (good spots to try, places to park, etc.), I'd be very interested to hear.

@Bucksnbows - you all healed up?  

I’m getting there!  My prostate removal was supposed to take about tens weeks to recover from. But the kidney stone set that back some. But all the hardware is out and I’m back on the mend. Will certainly be fine by spring!