Any luck on opening day at Stewart Forest?

[John from Queens]

Hi Everyone! Novice hunter here. I tried for pheasant yesterday at Stewart, which I had heard a lot about. I didn’t show up for the legendary pre-dawn (or night before!) line up for parking when the gate on Weed Rd. opens—I’m not just new but also dogless, so I was mostly there to learn and thought I would be better off with some sleep! I arrived before noon and by that time was able to drive all the way to the area on south Maple where I had scouted the week before (Spot #12), thanks to advice on timing I got right here at WAW, by the way. Everyone I met who had been there before me said they hadn’t flushed a thing. I had a great day anyway, getting a lot of very helpful advice from seasoned hunters I met during the afternoon. But I wanted to ask folks here if they had any luck in the morning. One person I bumped into said that people showing up at the beginning did.

[Versatile Hunter]

12 minutes ago, John from Queens said:

Hi Everyone! Novice hunter here. I tried for pheasant yesterday at Stewart, which I had heard a lot about. I didn’t show up for the legendary pre-dawn (or night before!) line up for parking when the gate on Weed Rd. opens—I’m not just new but also dogless, so I was mostly there to learn and thought I would be better off with some sleep! I arrived before noon and by that time was able to drive all the way to the area on south Maple where I had scouted the week before (Spot #12), thanks to advice on timing I got right here at WAW, by the way. Everyone I met who had been there before me said they hadn’t flushed a thing. I had a great day anyway, getting a lot of very helpful advice from seasoned hunters I met during the afternoon. But I wanted to ask folks here if they had any luck in the morning. One person I bumped into said that people showing up at the beginning did.

The OCFSC follows a pheasant release schedule throughout the season. I'm not sure if it begins prior to Oct. 1st. I'll tag our resident expert, @blackbeltbill, he may be able to share the stocking calendar with us.

[John from Queens]

Thank you!

[blackbeltbill]

44 minutes ago, Versatile Hunter said:

The OCFSC follows a pheasant release schedule throughout the season. I'm not sure if it begins prior to Oct. 1st. I'll tag our resident expert, @blackbeltbill, he may be able to share the stocking calendar with us.

I was at Stewart yesterday with good Friend Cynthia  here and her husband.   Ridge Road absolutely  Sucks/ craters.  Not the best conditions for a car. Four Wheel Drive,Front  Wheel  Drive, or AWD . Just a heads up.

    Pheasants  were out.  I know that the DEC released alot of Pheasants For the annual Youth Pheasant Hunting Day/September 28th. I don't think there was a release for October  1st.  There was a moderate  amount  of Shooting however. We hunted up on Buchanan Hill our first stop. A good 7 Fields up at the Top. Damn-- They did not Mow up there. Just the Trail itself is wider now. 

   We waited for 1 guy to finish hunting. Heard him shoot 3 shots . We think he got the 1 Pheasant.  We went in there next and this Field was mowed with those " Lanes" that make for a Awesome Pheasant Hunt. We were in there close to an hour. Cynthia's Dog-- COOPER Flushed up a Rooster. 2 Hunters missed including yours Truly.

  That was it- just the 1 Pheasant.  The Orange County Federation Of Sportsmans Clubs does not have the New Graph up of Bird Releases/"WEEK OF". I found just the 2021 Graph. Look for Trout Releases/OCFOSCS and the Pheasant Releases again/ week of are listed.  I don't know why they don't  update?? I could not find it- just the one above.

    Hey- We had a great time Though! I was at Sterling Forest this Morning.  ABBEY had a few Hot Scents- but again,I could tell nothing was put just before October 1st and,I was the only Pheasant  Hunter there at Sunrise this Morning.

  

 

 

[John from Queens]

Thanks very much for the information. Glad to hear about some success. I agree about the roads!

[ATbuckhunter]

I don't go up to Stewart the first couple weeks. Too warm for the dog and cover is still a bit too thick. 

[Water Rat]

I used to hunt Stewart for pheasants years ago but haven’t lately because the ticks were unreal the last time. I didn’t have any dogs to hunt with but had success hunting the cornfields. I would quietly slip into the cornfields and walk against the grain so to speak. I would stick my head through each row looking left and right….. then proceed to the next row. You would be surprised to see how many pheasants that you can sneak up on that way. Good luck  John from Queens.

[John from Queens]

Good to know, and thanks for the tips!

Edited October 2 by John from Queens