Now that NJ has a dedicated bear season for archery I am thinking of heading up this year. Looking for some inside information on what areas in the State to concentrate my research on.
Northern Jersey, in the Deleware Water Gap area!!! Lots of problem Bears there & the TradGang "Jersey Boys" won't deer hunt there, without bear spray!!!
Some of them should be along shortly...
Yep hunt the gap , worthington , or Stokes If been seeing more bear than deer sometimes . Check out the worthington campgrounds . Right next to the Delaware river . But man it would be a rough haul getting one out !
I'm sure you're not the only non-resident thinking about trying your hand at taking one of our bruins. The areas mentioned are excellent but make sure you go to the NJ Fish and Wildlife site and check on the regs, especially concerning baiting. Ignorance can get you in a heap of trouble, no pun intended. And Dan is spot on about getting one of average size out of the woods. Can't use ATVs on state or federal land. I don't know if you've ever had the opportunity of trying to move a dead bear, but it's nothing like a deer. More like trying to move a 200 lb. blob of Jello. And a 200 lber around here is quite common so your chance of taking a really good one are pretty high. Bring a lot of friends with you or, if you happen to tag one, stop in at one of the local gin mills and I'd bet there will be more than enough patrons glad to help dragging it out of the woods. Killing a bear is the easy part.
QuoteOriginally posted by Dan bree:
man it would be a rough haul getting one out !
Rough getting one out...... You Sir are very kind. :roll eyes:
I have a word for it, but that word is not proper to use outside of a dog kennel.
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/bearseason_info.htm
good luck!
Makes me wish I was still in Philly. I tell people all the time about NJ bears and they don't believe me.
14. Q) Can I quarter my black bear to transport it out of the woods?
A) Yes, provided that all of the parts (except entrails) are taken to the check station.
This from a guy that works for Fish and Game
Bamboo thanks for that info . I'll be camping at the worthington campgrounds for the hunt . Come on in and share a camp fire , and help me drag one out lol lol.
A friend of mine and I were seriously considering trying to make it up there this year to try our luck, but we are re-considering due to the comparatively restrictive handgun laws in NJ. We are both CCW license holders here in OK, but are aware that NJ does NOT have a reciprocal agreement with OK and therefore we would not be allowed to carry during (at least portions of) our trip. It's unfortunate that this is the case, because we were both excited to try our luck there, as this new season sounds to be a great hunting opportunity. For us, however, this may prove to be a deal-breaker...
Good luck to all that participate, though!
You don't need a handgun here. I don't know of any of my hunting buds, or theirs, who have ever had an encounter with a bear that required the use of a firearm. And to say that NJ handgun laws are restrictive is an understatement.
Cant carry 2 weapons at anytime in nj. Besides a handgun in this state,good luck!
I'm not worried about the bears. Lol. It's people that I don't trust (the general public, not fellow trad-bow hunters). It's sad, but true. I'm a correctional officer and see on a regular (if not daily) basis the evil that men are capable of. And it is always the unprepared and/or the unobservant that are the first targets. I don't like being either of those things.
I'm curious how this hunt will turn out...lots of guys speculating it'll be a cluster with the OTC license and the amount of non-residents its attracting. I'm from South NJ and I know the north guys hate it when even we come up and stumble around the woods. Maybe with enough TG guys we can get a camp going.
Ulysses ,I don't mine you guys stumbling around ,it keeps the deer moveing . Lol and getting a camp going sounds like a good time . Plenty of room at the worthington campgrounds
Thanks for all the feedback. Definitely going to try to get up and hunt. I know what its like to haul a bear out. About ten years ago I killed a large bear in CA and it took 5 of us from 3P to midnight to get it off the mountain. When it gets close we should plan on a Tradgang get together.
The camp ground at Worthington looks like a good place to settle in for the week.
lets bring this back up
Mike (bamboo) I will be picking your brain at Denton if your going
Drewsbow
I'll be at Denton for the weekend if you want to get together and talk about NY bear hunting.
love to talk bear hunting :wavey: :thumbsup:
Well two weeks away and it will time to archery hunt bears in NJ. A friend and I will be at the Worthington Campground. Stop by if you are in the area. We will be in a Silver Chevy PU with VA tags and our tent will look like it should be in Wyoming. (Big white outfitters tent).
I did learn a lesson as always and that is to read the small print. I read over the counter sales pf permits and figured that meant unlimited. Well went to buy a permit for zone one only to find out there are sold out. Now I need a Plan B. Anyone have any suggestions on areas to hunt in zone 2. Looks like mostly private property.
I did the same Tony and got a zone 2 permit , it does state oc on there site
Good luck on your hunt, sounds like a lot of fun!
zone 2 isn't short on bears!!
good luck boys!!
That's for sure Mike. Plenty O' Bears in zone 2.
Well the process to get a non resident license was not easy but the people at the DWF were very helpful and I have my license and permits for zone 2 and zone 3.
Anyone know of s decent campground near Whittingham or should I just stay the Worthington Campground and drive to the hunting area presuming I decide to hunt Whittingham.
Really hoping this works out. I have killed bears with my gun and compound but my first time out with trad gear.
http://www.campthegreatdivide.com/maps/local-map/
http://www.reserveamerica.com/camping/swartswood-state-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NJ&parkId=670035
http://www.njcamping.com/kymers/
I've never camped at these--but all are in zn2 or right on the line--
Thanks a bunch. Swartswood Stat Park looks pretty nice and good location to get around from.
Don't know why anyone would spend there hard earned money for a out of state NJ license. I've been hunting here for 35 years and I am seriously considering not even buying my resident license next year. It's not so much the money ( I spend about 150 a year for hunt, fish and permits) but the wasted time Its very frustrating getting up at o dark thirty, driving, walking and setting up only to have another "hunter" walk under me at prime time and ask "have you seen anything". It's gotten progressively worse every year but really bad since x guns were allowed in. Most public areas are very small and can't take that kind of pressure. All the game is driven out and are living around homes. Last year I sat tip dark over a couple hundred acres of cut soybeans. In the past I would have seen 20 deer, but last year none. The following week I was driving down a major highway and counted 17 dead in 15 miles. I am predicting that the bear hunt,!like everything else in NJ will be a circus. I drove 1 1/2 hours up to Worthington last week to find a spot to get away from the central jersey crowd. I walked up a mountain then walked a mile through the woods and counted 3 ladder stands and the season hadn't even opened yet. I have been hunting Ariz the last few years (a friend moved there) and it's like heaven compared to NJ. There is plenty of game (and a wide variety) and if you walk half a mile off a road you can have thousands and thousands of acres to yourself
Sounds like sour grapes Bowzonly. Feel free to enjoy AZ any time. I spend almost all my time hunting NJ and wouldn't have it any other way. I hunt public land, almost never see other hunters. I saw 4 nice bears yesterday. Last year my freezer was full of venison, and I'm actually eating the last of it today.
Unfortunately bowsonly is pretty much the truth, there are more deer living in backyards than ever before, I know, I see them there all the time from the RR tracks. Can't tell you much about the bears as they seem to be smarter, but there are plenty of bears to go around, that is for sure.
I was thinking about going for a bear but my heart's just not into it as I can't stand giving my $ to this state any more !
Good luck to all who go.
NJLOCO, it's only $2
Once again Jeffers, it's not about the $. I'd gladly spend a lot more for a quality experience i.e. No x guns ( I barely recognize the compound as a bow,never mind those things, and by the way I'm not an elitist, I used the compound for many years and think it is a great weapon) And more bow only areas with limited permits. The excuse that we need to control deer numbers doesn't hold up on public land. There are plenty of deer in people's back yards but to me that is culling, not hunting Watching people through picture windows drinking their morning coffee, saying hello as the neighbors jog by and waiting for deer to clear the swing set before you have a clear shot is not my idea of fun. I was thinking of checking out PA 013 area. It seems like you can get away from the crowds up there and see some deer as well. What's your take Jeffers
Ok, well, Xguns and compounds I know you are not particular, but they are not going away soon. I don't use them. Culling and hunting, I'm filling my freezer if I can, but I won't be in any back yards. I have never been to PA 013 area. I looked on a map, it has potential as anyplace does. However, I not sure your $$ to experience level ratio could be met here in PA. There is a large hunting club near there. I mainly hunt private land in PA.
I know this thread is about NJ but you could hop across the border to Northeast PA. I hunted Susquehanna and Wayne counties most of my life. The bear population has been rising. We see bear every year while up there deer hunting. There are less hunters but you will still have to deal with some pressure. We used that to our advantage especially on opening day of rifle season. Get to the back of the gameland to an area with no public access. The other hunters will push deer and bear straight to you. We killed many deer coming up draws and running benches with no scouting.
Thanks for the input guys. At this point ANYTHING has got to be better than NJ public land. I live in the most densely populated corridor of the most densely populated state in the nation. There is guaranteed to be another human within a couple hundred yards. And if you do some research you will see estimates of deer #'s at around 125k harvest around 42k ( more than half of which are taken by bowhunters ( so that gives you another indication of how crowded bow seasons are) ). Deer vehicle collisions 25 k (that's only what's reported, insurance companies estimate it may be at least double that) and there are not many deer left at the end of each year
My brother actually bought some land in NY to hunt because of the overcrowding on NJ public land. Too often the upland guys are out there with their shotguns and dogs while he and his sons are trying to bowhunt for whitetails. He said he didn't feel safe anymore so he got himself a nice piece of property here to bowhunt
Those pheasant "hunts" are the biggest joke of all. I don't know how the state doesn't get sued for creating an unsafe environment It's a total free for all. Every year people and dogs are shot. Guys screaming at each other over dead birds. Anyway, long story short(too late) I don't hold out much hope for the bear hunt being any different. If you shoot a bear and it runs more than fifty yards there will probably be another arrow in it and it may turn into a fight. Don't just take my word, anyone who has hunted long enough in NJ has probably been involved in or witnessed several fights over dead animals
boy jerry I guess we need to get our eyes checked!!
i'm just not seeing all that!!well the pheasant opener is pretty busy!!--but if you set up a safe distance off from stocked fields --they run deer out of the fields up onto the ridges pretty well!
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I shot this nice doe Saturday on state land-for scale i'm #250---after getting her dragged to the truck-[7am]-we took a ride to check the other parking spots for this piece--nobody parked anywhere-opening day!!-I have driven through stokes state forest--sunrise mt/coursen rd /crigger rd the first saturday of novermber--FULL RUT !!--not one truck or hunter!!-- stokes is 16000ac--water gap 35000 ac--with many thousands of acres of smaller fish and wildlife properties--I say there is a little elbow room if you look around---I've 4 bear tags in my house--with friends and family rolling in--to make the best of it!!
Nice doe. I hope that is true that there is still room to roam up there. That's why I'm giving it one last chance this year. It's an hour and a half drive for me and if it's anywhere near as bad as where I hunt now this will be the last year for me buying a NJ license
You have to get together with Mike, and the other "Jersey Boys"!!!!!
They definately tag many deer each year!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Anyone have any suggestions for a Motel That will give us decent access to Hamburg WMA. I was given some decent info on a spot that we are planning on starting at. My buddy has been having a little trouble with his back is is kind of backing out of camping. Thinks the cot will not work out for him.
Update
Got a place to stay. Thanks for all the suggestions.
headed down sunday
Well I've given it one last chance. Got up at 350 drove an hour and a half spent 30 mins walking 3/4 of a mile up a hill got up in my tree and what do I see. Another hunter 100 yards behind me. Hunters in NJ are like NY city rats for every one you do see there are 50 more you don't. I started right away wit a predator call and after about 10 mins the guy wandered off. Hope it wasn't one of you guys who drove down from Mass. and bought an out of state license. My buddy in Ariz has great success calling in bears and killing them with a longbow. All you you have to do out there is go a half mile into a deep canyon and you have the place to yourself. Last time he got one and his buddy, who was road hunting with a 300 win mag did not
Wanted to make that last post clear. That was the bear hunt up in the gap where there is supposed to be "room to roam" In NJ you are never more than a half mile from another human
Nice Doe Mike Congrats
Nice Doe Mike,
Good Luck Drew
I have just the opposite experience as bowzonly ,I live in New Jersey,hunt both state and private land,(about 20 minutes from Worthington),I've killed a buck and two does this season and haven't seen another hunter,two of the three deer were shot on state property.I see numerous bears, no desire to shoot one,I've had 40/50 Turkeys in my front yard numerous times.A great State for deer hunting, bowzonly,give me a call if you'd like to get together and hunt, Ray,973-908-4770
If you are still trying for one this week, I have a short story to relate which might come in handy should you put "blackie" down. Talked to my butcher this morning. Had 11 bruins in yesterday. One was 533 lbs. Took the guy and a "volunteer" (had to go on FB and plead for help) 8 hours to get it out of the woods. That's a long time before cooling the animal. Especially a bear with all the fat acting as reverse insulation. The butcher isn't sure the meat will be any good. Plus, he has no more room in his cooler and will have to turn away any future successful hunters. These are definitely two things that need to be considered before loosing an arrow. I definitely will not be shooting one. Just not worth the trouble.
How you been Mike? Real nice doe, glad to see you're still stacking them up.
I heard today from a very connected source that the bear kill is going strong AND interestingly the percentage of tagged bears is much lower than expected. What this means is that there are apparently a lot of bears out there that haven't even been identified and counted. Ergo, the bear population is substantially larger than was appreciated by NJ Fish and Game
Something I've always said 2w.
I went down to NJ and stayed with Mike who was a great host ( thanks again Mike) and had a great time . We did spend some time kinda scouting while we made setups and did some calling. This was new property to both of us and we still managed to see deer , turkey and called in a red fox very close .
The last morning that I hunted we got into some bears with a sow and cubs that where two years old at least and big enough to be on there own . Mike encouraged me to keep working up to them every time they moved and we where with in shooting distance four times.
I had a couple chances for a shot the best being when the sow stood up at roughly 25 yds and then after she dropped back down. I didn't shoot for reasons known only to my inner mind and when it doesn't feel right you don't shoot . I had my chance and have no regrets on my decision , what a great time.
Thanks Mike , for showing me how awesome NJ can be. Drew
Good to see that a few are having a positive experience in. NJ but I still contend that for the vast majority that hunt public land that is not the case. I have been doing this for forty years and in my opinion it has become a horror story. I have two children and did not introduce either to the outdoors do to the lack of quality experiences available on NJ public land. Traveling out West has further opened my eyes. Last year I went on a public land mule deer hunt (lottery permit) License and permit cost about 500. In 10 days I saw 350 deer including several trophy bucks. And on top of that I did not see another' hunter in the woods (they all hunt from the road out there') This year elk hunt, same experience as the deer hunt
I don't know where you live in NJ bowzonly but I will suggest a state forest where you can hunt and I doubt you will see another hunter. That forest is Stokes in Sussex County. I think most who hunt public land think they have to go deep to evade other hunters so they tend to congregate in the center of these properties. My advice would be to hunt the edges and small sections that others will bypass. What public land do you hunt?
In the past , central jersey 6 mile run, Assunpink, Black River. More hunters than deer in these places nowadays. Have taken deer out of Stokes with a muzzleloader (Hawken not modern "rifle") That was twenty years ago. This year on opening day of bear I was 3/4 of the way up the mountain near poxono boat ramp and that's were I had the guy 100 yards behind me. With all that bear muzzleloader activity (a lot of guys walking around) I'm just afraid that any deer that were up there have already left the big woods and are living behind houses. I've seen that happen many times. Used to do really well on public land. In the late 80's I bow killed a 200 lb 10 pt in Assunpink then the compound rage took off and I started seeing less and less deer. Left the stand early one eve to check the fields and there were none in Assunpink. As I was driving out there were 20 in the field just across the street Have MANY similar stories
Sounds like a very cool experience Drew. I know where you are coming from, sometimes not loosing an arrow is better than killing something.
I don't hunt to say I've killed I kill to say I've hunted (author?)
Jose Ortega y Gasset
Thanks Adirondack. My point being that Trad gang has a lot of like minded members i.e. Hunters, so I prefer to talk on here about the hunting aspects of my hunts and save the nature walk aspects for my FB page where the vast majority of my friends are non hunters. Feel free to visit my page and you will read many stories and see many beautiful photos relating the tremendous joy I receive from just spending time in the outdoors. Since my buddy has moved to Arizona I have visited him at least 6 times we have had close encounters with Javelina, bobcat coyote monster Elk monster Mulies black bear Coues deer and I have not killed anything ( had I been using a compound I would most likely have one of each) yet these have been the best hunting trips of my life simply because I have been in the game. In NJ I just don't feel that way anymore I see more hunters than wildlife. Out there I have walked up to 15 miles a day and not seen another human. And I haven't even begun to talk about the gorgeous landscapes surreal sunsets and moonrises (which in many areas you can see both at the same time simply by looking to the left and right). All his friends make fun of me because I am constantly stopping to take pics of wildflowers or sniff a butterflies arse or pick up a insect (again, visit my FB page and you will see many of these photos) If NJ is the only place you spend your hard earned money you are doing yourself a tremendous disservice. For the longest time I put off traveling and now that my eyes are wide open I am angry at myself for not doing it sooner
QuoteOriginally posted by Tique:
How you been Mike? Real nice doe, glad to see you're still stacking them up.
hey dave!! yep still beatin' the brush!! hope you are too!!
your loss bowz!!a few seasons ago---
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mike jr will likely kill his first NJ deer this season
[already had a close call!]
today pulling bear stands--jr hauling two out like a stud ![drags our deer out now too!]
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Can I borrow Jr. for dragging should I get lucky this season?
He does a great job!
He does a great job!
Hey mike, not sure what you mean by my loss. Do you mean not taking my kids hunting? Great to see that yours goes along with you! I do share many other interests with my children so I really don't miss having them in the field. I just did not want to spend any more of my money here' where the investment would not be worth the return so it was my choice to not even encourage them
you'll have to feed him dave.....might not be worth it!!!HAHA!!