Wood Chuck Hunting in New York

MikeMurf0505 · February 3, 2009, 11:24 PM

I an FINALLY booked for a Wood Chuck trip in New York in April. I'll be landing at Albany, and need some chuckin spots in Schenectedy, Delaware county, and vicinity.
Anyone got any good leads on checkin spots in NY?

Brian Pfleuger · February 4, 2009, 12:05 AM

Hmmm, I hope the coyote population is lower in that area than it is in central NY. Our woodchuck population is decimated in many places.

Also, I've spent many an hour hunting 'chucks and I can tell you that April is NOT the ideal month. They tend to still do a lot of sleeping until late in April or even May, you may want to reschedule if the only purpose is 'chucks. June is the best month IMO, 'chucks are out and plentiful and the temperature is not so high to make hunting miserable.

deanadell · February 4, 2009, 10:48 AM

Just dont shoot Staten Island Chuck!!!!!!! He should be protected after biting a chunk out of Bloomberg on Tuesday!!!!

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ne...,5114201.story

FrankenMauser · February 4, 2009, 04:16 PM

Hehe, if only you could shoot in Rochester... I could give you a few streets to set up on, and pop the chucks in people's front yards for hours.

scramble · February 4, 2009, 05:16 PM

If they are what is the best way to prepare tham.

scramble

rwsnc · February 4, 2009, 06:46 PM

You're coming from Houston, TX all the way to upstate NY...... to hunt woodchucks?

ddeyo1 · February 4, 2009, 09:02 PM

i agree that sounds a wee strange.. but anyway on my farm i end up shooting coyotes instead. the woodchucks are all gone. took car eo that problem a long time ago

mikejonestkd · February 5, 2009, 02:50 PM

same situation here, no woodchucks, no shunks, foxes and few rabbits..

lots of fat coyotes though...LOL

April is not a good month for chucks, early June when the grass is still fairly low might be better.

Vergeltung · February 5, 2009, 03:13 PM

I hear the coyotes are a real problem in many areas in NY......

2amencw · February 5, 2009, 03:20 PM

grew up hunting wood chucks in upstate. I would look in the center of the state in the valley farming areas. Recipes? havent heard of any, what ever you do cook it well well done. Would probabley do ok in stew with alot of onions and pepper. I would freeze it for two weeks min also to tenderize, get all the fat off. Let me know how it works out.

kayakersteve · February 5, 2009, 07:45 PM

1 - April is hit or miss in my part of NY (western) - Usually wouldn't see a chuck unless it was a sunny, warm day that time of year.
2 - But, as others have already mentioned, the 'yotes ate most of our chucks. I suspect you are going to be dissapointed.

I used to go out in the grapes and shoot 4-6 in a 1-2 our time frame. Last year, we were out one day for several hours and didn't see a single one!!! Major bummer.

dalegribble · February 5, 2009, 07:58 PM

In the western NY area when I was a kid we used .22's and it was mostly a summertime thing. A prime time was when the farmers cut their hay, the fields were clear and you could see forever.

dalegribble · February 5, 2009, 08:08 PM

As for how to cook them, I've never tried to eat one personaly but when you used to drive down a country road you would see the critters hung over the barbed wire fencing so I'm guessing sun dried woodchuck was a favorite back there in WNY. Of course back then they didn't have coyotes to steal those delicious little morsals off of the fences.

EricReynolds · February 5, 2009, 08:11 PM

I live in Syracuse and there are woodchucks galore! I'm just talking the city though, I'm really not that sure of any rural spots.

kayakersteve · February 5, 2009, 08:44 PM

Where abouts in western NY? - I'm in Chautauqua county.

crowbeaner · February 5, 2009, 09:32 PM

There are many woodchucks left in NY; the problem is that they live in areas that you can't shoot in such as Thruway interchanges etc. Whistlepigs are cousins to the western rockchuck or marmot. Some farmers may allow you to hunt but they aren't usually keen on some stranger shooting around their equipment and livestock. There is plenty of state land to hunt, but the areas you are headed for means that you will have to drive a couple hours north to find state owned land that is open to hunting. Buy a NY state Gazeteer topo map book and study the areas of state land north of Albany. You'll have to do some walking, and ranges will vary as the diggers try to hole up where they have protection from predators and easy escape down the hole. CB.

February 3, 2009, 11:24 PM	#1
MikeMurf0505 Junior member Join Date: October 13, 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 64	Wood Chuck Hunting in New York I an FINALLY booked for a Wood Chuck trip in New York in April. I'll be landing at Albany, and need some chuckin spots in Schenectedy, Delaware county, and vicinity. Anyone got any good leads on checkin spots in NY?

February 4, 2009, 12:05 AM	#2
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Hmmm, I hope the coyote population is lower in that area than it is in central NY. Our woodchuck population is decimated in many places. Also, I've spent many an hour hunting 'chucks and I can tell you that April is NOT the ideal month. They tend to still do a lot of sleeping until late in April or even May, you may want to reschedule if the only purpose is 'chucks. June is the best month IMO, 'chucks are out and plentiful and the temperature is not so high to make hunting miserable. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

February 4, 2009, 05:16 PM	#5
scramble Junior Member Join Date: September 11, 2007 Location: Mary Esther Florida Posts: 7	Are they good to eat If they are what is the best way to prepare tham. scramble

February 4, 2009, 09:02 PM	#7
ddeyo1 Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2008 Posts: 195	i agree that sounds a wee strange.. but anyway on my farm i end up shooting coyotes instead. the woodchucks are all gone. took car eo that problem a long time ago __________________ Beware the man with one rifle... He probobly knows how to use it.

February 5, 2009, 02:50 PM	#8
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,716	same situation here, no woodchucks, no shunks, foxes and few rabbits.. lots of fat coyotes though...LOL April is not a good month for chucks, early June when the grass is still fairly low might be better. __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

February 4, 2009, 10:48 AM	#3
deanadell Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2005 Location: Upstate, South Carolina Posts: 639	Just dont shoot Staten Island Chuck!!!!!!! He should be protected after biting a chunk out of Bloomberg on Tuesday!!!! http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ne...,5114201.story

February 4, 2009, 04:16 PM	#4
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Hehe, if only you could shoot in Rochester... I could give you a few streets to set up on, and pop the chucks in people's front yards for hours.

February 4, 2009, 06:46 PM	#6
rwsnc Junior Member Join Date: June 8, 2008 Posts: 8	You're coming from Houston, TX all the way to upstate NY...... to hunt woodchucks?

February 5, 2009, 03:13 PM	#9
Vergeltung Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2008 Location: near NYC, USA Posts: 292	I hear the coyotes are a real problem in many areas in NY...... __________________ *Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum*

February 5, 2009, 03:20 PM	#10
2amencw Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2008 Posts: 143	woodchuck eating grew up hunting wood chucks in upstate. I would look in the center of the state in the valley farming areas. Recipes? havent heard of any, what ever you do cook it well well done. Would probabley do ok in stew with alot of onions and pepper. I would freeze it for two weeks min also to tenderize, get all the fat off. Let me know how it works out.

February 5, 2009, 07:45 PM	#11
kayakersteve Senior Member Join Date: March 17, 2007 Location: Western NY Posts: 925	2 issues.. 1 - April is hit or miss in my part of NY (western) - Usually wouldn't see a chuck unless it was a sunny, warm day that time of year. 2 - But, as others have already mentioned, the 'yotes ate most of our chucks. I suspect you are going to be dissapointed. I used to go out in the grapes and shoot 4-6 in a 1-2 our time frame. Last year, we were out one day for several hours and didn't see a single one!!! Major bummer. __________________ See Ya!

February 5, 2009, 07:58 PM	#12
dalegribble Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2007 Posts: 861	In the western NY area when I was a kid we used .22's and it was mostly a summertime thing. A prime time was when the farmers cut their hay, the fields were clear and you could see forever. __________________ Waltzes with woofs

February 5, 2009, 08:08 PM	#13
dalegribble Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2007 Posts: 861	As for how to cook them, I've never tried to eat one personaly but when you used to drive down a country road you would see the critters hung over the barbed wire fencing so I'm guessing sun dried woodchuck was a favorite back there in WNY. Of course back then they didn't have coyotes to steal those delicious little morsals off of the fences. __________________ Waltzes with woofs

February 5, 2009, 08:11 PM	#14
EricReynolds Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2008 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 393	I live in Syracuse and there are woodchucks galore! I'm just talking the city though, I'm really not that sure of any rural spots.

February 5, 2009, 08:44 PM	#15
kayakersteve Senior Member Join Date: March 17, 2007 Location: Western NY Posts: 925	dalegribble Where abouts in western NY? - I'm in Chautauqua county. __________________ See Ya!

February 5, 2009, 09:32 PM	#16
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	There are many woodchucks left in NY; the problem is that they live in areas that you can't shoot in such as Thruway interchanges etc. Whistlepigs are cousins to the western rockchuck or marmot. Some farmers may allow you to hunt but they aren't usually keen on some stranger shooting around their equipment and livestock. There is plenty of state land to hunt, but the areas you are headed for means that you will have to drive a couple hours north to find state owned land that is open to hunting. Buy a NY state Gazeteer topo map book and study the areas of state land north of Albany. You'll have to do some walking, and ranges will vary as the diggers try to hole up where they have protection from predators and easy escape down the hole. CB. __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.