Positive things about upstate NY.

What are the good points about Upstate New York? I have read plenty of negative things. I'm somewhat familiar with NYC. But I will admit I don't know a lot about upstate. I understand that there are a lot of dairy farms up there. Please keep this nonpolitical, A trapperman from New York asked me about Virginia so I only think it fair that you Upstate New Yorkers tell me about your area. Thanks for your time.

Everything compared to New York city

Upstate Ny is absolutely the opposite of NYC. It is a beautiful place really.

Thank you.

I went to a trapping class up there last year in The Adirondacks. The black flies were the only down side. Met a lot of great folks that work for the NY DEC.

Nice pics, Delaware Rob.

Upstate NY is beautiful.
Great fishing, hunting, & trapping
Miles & miles of hiking & canoeing
Maple syrup
Local cheeses
The people
Autumn
Fall leave colors are spectacular
Italian Restaurants
Casablanca Restaurant
..... & much else

On my property I can trap beaver, mink, rats, coons, fisher, bobcat, otter, and coyotes. No bag limit and some seasons last over 5 months.

How is the bear and deer population?

I worked a pipeline north and east of Fredonia i enjoyed my stay very much
The locals didnt mind talking to an outsider ,there was garden stand at almost every intersection . It was hard to find a good breakfast sausage everything was nasty old italian sausage , i had to resort to jimmy dean breakfast sausage for gravy . I caught some steelhead .

I spent the first 53 years of my life in the Mohawk Valley area. That's about dead center in the middle of the state.

North and west of there expect snow in winter. A LOT if your in a snow belt area due to lake effect.
Other parts of the state get less, some very little.

Deer and bear hunting can be very good. Furbearer population is healthy. Good duck and goose hunting. Some grouse and woodcock. Of course rabbits and squirrels.

Fishing covers all the bases, lake and stream. From muskies to brook trout. And lake Ontario and Erie.

Finger Lakes area is my favorite area. 200 wineries around the lakes, good hunting, fishing, and I will assume good trapping.

As Bigfoot mentioned, there is a BIG Italian population in the state. You might not get good breakfast sausage, but you can find some of the best Italian food in the country.

Downside: high taxes, bad politics (your probably use to that with Governor Black face). As mentioned, winter will be colder than Virginia.

The state also has several great hospitals.

One of my fondest childhood memories was getting what the locals called “White Hots”. This was around the Bath-Avoka area. Beautiful country from what I remember at 5 or 6.

Thanks for all the positive words out-a-staters. I agree--NYS really is pretty nice. Some great colleges, medical facilities, arts programs and opportunities for those willing to work. And yes, depending on the area, there's lots of game.

Many friends there, yes a sportsman paradise but it si always windy in the western Adks tug hill and north and west. Lots of wind mills and yes it does snow some. the locals pay a lot in taxes all for NYC so they say. You see more border patrols vehicles than regular state police and the local game wardens seem to want to help you. One did me a big favor in getting areas to trap for me and a buddy several years ago......jk

I live at the edge of the Tug Hill in eastern Oswego County over 5hrs from NYC. I have access to almost 3000ac of private land to hunt and trap on right across the road from my house. I have shot 130, 140 and 150" bucks here. We average 340" of snow a year. Due to terrible politics the taxes are thru the roof and getting worse, with that, the locals can't/don't want to pay the taxes on the family woodlands and end up selling it to city people that think nothing of $1000-1500/ac for a swamp hole, driving our taxes even higher. Now mind you, I live 16mi from the nearest grocery store,where getting 36" of snow in an afternoon is not uncommon, not a lot going on for us to pay sky high taxes. I live on my grandparents old homestead, they/we have been here since the 30s, We bought it 20+yrs ago. It is a beautiful, quiet area that is slowly being ate up 5-10ac at a time. I am not sure how much longer we will be able to hold out, hoping at least until my boys graduate high school, then we will look for a place with lower taxes, more sportsman/working man friendly politics. Until we get driven out, my boys will learn the woods as I did. I have almost no competition to set traps on this whole area. Once people find out I'm trapping again the calls start about getting rid of beavers. Lots of furbearers, fisher, beavers, otters, rats, mink, coon, coyotes and foxes are everywhere. I have traveled to quite a few states, went to school in TN after graduation, hunt in MT, own land in ME, been all over the SE and NE and very few places have the overall outdoor opportunities we do here. Long seasons, no bag limits and lots of game. But the NYC driven politics make it hard for the working family.
pictures-my oldest sons first turkey from youth weekend 4/25/20 on our land behind our house
son shooting at our range behind our house...the turkey was taken about 75 yrds behind and to the right of the target
3 bucks I got 1994, 130" gross 10pt, 1995, 150" gross 8pt, 2015 140" gross 10pt. You could have heard the gun shots from my yard on all 3. The one from 2015 was about 100yds beyond where the turkey was shot.
My boys and I with our 2 day check from this spring, we had about 12 traps out total.

Nice pics, Maple Hill.

Great account of the many positives available in New York State.

We also have the best pacific salmon fishing in the Lower 48

along with Steelhead, Rainbow trout, Brown trout, brook trout.

The all tackle world record Silver (Coho) salmon
was caught in Lake Ontario along with most of the
IGFA Line class world records for Coho salmon as well.

We also have a world class trophy Walleye fishery
on Lake Ontario, and some of the best Ice-fishing
for World class trophy walleye in North America.

State fishery Biologists figure It's only a matter of time before

The next world record walleye is taken thru the ice
on a frozen Lake Ontario Enbayment.

w

Thank You

Never been up there, but everything I've ever seen or heard kinda makes me want to!

Best thing it has going for it is its real close to Canada.

Good to see you back Boco
Missed ya! :

Only thing I can think of is that it's a long long ways from here.

I still remember the first time I was in NY State. Being from the Midwest and the endless sprawl even from small cities I expected everything within 200 miles of NYC to be sprawl. Boy was I wrong. I think we were in Montgomery and felt we were in a different country. Drove north along hwy 17 amd up amd down on hwy 9 and a few switch backs. Small little towns here and there. I fell in love. I havent been north of Newburgh or the finger lakes but I can only imagine.

I'm no city hater. I love NYC and also love upstate. I love how you can be in Manhattan in the morning and the peaceful mountains before you digest your breakfast.

Great state for an outdoorsman. To bad the politics and taxes suck.

I live just off the shores of lake Erie. Have some great trapping Hunting and fishing. I live in the middle of a grape vineyard and make my own wine, have a large garden and lots of peace and quiet. People out here are quick to help you if you have a problem and smart enough to leave you alone when you want to be left alone. No city livin' here. Glad to see your back Boco but no we don't go to Canada either we have everything we need right here. 400 miles away from NYC and 22 miles of Lake Erie between us and Canada. In fact lots of Canadians cross the border and come here for our steelhead fishing. Whatever state or country your in I hope you all take advantage of our natural resources and enjoy your way of life in the great outdoors

Yes please.

Word on the street is that Tony is one heck of a crappie fisherman but IDK. I am still on the fence about him. He seems a little feisty if you ask me. Kinda like a Fluff bit not as well nourished LOL

BEWARE , With all the clean air virus's spread quickly !!!!!!!!!!!!!! ADIRONDACKS are " OFF LIMITS " Tut

Nothing , well some great pics but still has GUMBO as Govenor !! So that cancels 99% of the goodness. Think of it this way. You have a big bag of potatoes but there is one in the bottom the is so rotten the liquid is running out. You see the big beautiful baking potatoes on top but the nasty smell gags you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you live in Chautauqua county you can dive to Corry, Pennsylvania and get breakfast during a quarantine.