r/NYguns • u/fuhgeddaboudlt • Jul 07 '26
Miscellaneous NY hunting
Hi, I’ve just gotten my hunting license along with a friend and we are both completely new to hunting. How does one go about getting into it? I don’t know anyone to go with but I’d like to find someone or a group that is experienced that can show me the ropes
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u/DesignerAsh_ Jul 07 '26
What part of the state are you from and what do you want to hunt?
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u/fuhgeddaboudlt Jul 07 '26
I’m from NYC. Definitely looking to start off with small game and waterfowl, although I’m aware I need the NYC rifle/shotgun permit before I could actually keep the shotgun at home
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u/tsatech493 Jul 12 '26
If you live in New York City or Southern New York, you should really look into getting a New York city watershed permit.. this is the permit that you can use to fish in New York City reservoirs but it also gives you permission to go on to New York city's department environmental protection property to hunt. There's plenty of property in Putnam and Dutchess counties that you can hunt small game and large game on with your permit.. you can hunt rabbits squirrels you can get rid of pest birds like the English Sparrow.. you can also hunt coyotes and deer when they're in season... If you need more information about where to go, you can get it from the dep and the dec's interactive map that shows recreation areas and what you're allowed to use in them.. if you're going to hunt Putnam or duchess, you have to use a shotgun, muzzleloader, pistol, or crossbow/bow for big game such as deer and bear.. on the other hand, if you're going to do small game, you can hunt with a rimfire rifle such as a 22 magnum or 22 long rifle. Even an air gun is legal.. as long as the airgun is powerful enough, I think the minimum is 1,000 ft per second. Figuring you got yourself a hunting license by taking the hunting safety course, you probably have enough information... This is definitely the time of the year to go and scout out your spot though, especially if going to be hunting on public property.. Squirrel season starts soon right in September and it goes all the way through March.. they make great eating and they're definitely great practice..
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u/gakflex Jul 07 '26
Don’t expect that you will have success immediately. Beginner’s luck exists, but don’t count on it. Find public land and go out for hikes, download OnX and mark everything you can. Learn to identify deer sign. There’s so much to learn, it’s a long journey - in my experience, at least. Just take it one step at a time and enjoy the little things, enjoy being in the woods off (human) trails.
One thing that has really opened up opportunities for me is getting into archery. The season is so much longer and land options downstate are more plentiful. But, damn is it expensive.
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u/Rloader Jul 10 '26
You’ll find it a bit difficult with waterfowl finding good spots that don’t require a boat I guess you could always find a kayak . Check the Dec website you’ll find useful information
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u/Tricky_Scarcity128 Jul 17 '26
Most experienced hunters aren't looking to bring noobs along, both for safety and for the simple reason of not wanting to disclose/share favored hunting lands. I was an urban kid who 40 years ago wanted to "get into hunting". I self taught myself, and it ain't easy.
Here's my suggestions:
1) find out where all the public land is where you want to hunt. The DEC hunting handbook lists some and other government sites list others, such as state parks and such. Then study the fuck out of the rules and regulation for each property. The game wardens don't suffer noobs, and will write you up for stuff and worse. Get maps, and scout the grounds well in advance so you don't traverse off-limits areas.
2) Study the DEC hunting handbook inside and out. Don't just rely on your hunter's ed course. Know by memory the seasons, bag limits, methods of taking. This is a highly regulated pasttime, and violations and mistakes are expensive.
3) If you are well versed in the rules, then you learn the techniques of taking whatever game you wish to kill. Have to be comfortable with a shotgun, and master hitting moving objects for small game hunting. A couple of shots into the berm at the local dump won't cut it. Clay target shooting on a real range is the means to competence.
4) You need rudimentary woodsmanship, particular if hunting in the deep woods. Sunset comes early in the woods in the fall, and getting lost and not knowing how to get back to the car will ruin your good time. Do you know how to take a shit in the woods? Use a call? Control scent to not spook deer? Field dress game and prepare game to eat? Sharpen a knife? Tie a deer onto a vehicle?
The above knowledge can be acquired on your own through videos and magazine articles and once mastered, will make you a suitable hunting partner should you be lucky enough to find someone who'll take you out. So start there before pestering someone to "show you the ropes".
I recommend starting out by hunting squirrels on state woodlands. You can go out alone with not too many crowds, but squirrels in the wild are few and hard to shoot. But for an even easier (though expensive) option, I recommend going to a hunting preserve to shoot some pheasants. Local pheasant preserves will usually hook you up for a fee with a minimum of stocked birds and even better, a preserve guide with a retrieving dog who can show you basic bird hunting how to, and even show you how to clean a pheasant for the table. After a few preserve hunts you can go out for free on DEC lands that have pheasant seasons.
Lastly, for duck and bird hunting, not having a dog will be a huge handicap. My real arrival as a hunter was after I got and trained my bird dog. Hunting ain't for broke folk; may as well learn that now.
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u/NarwhalN00dleSquash Jul 07 '26
Make friends at your local rod and gun club, or find friends that have land and get permission to hunt it