Author Topic: Long Island shooting spots?  (Read 9157 times)

Offline BumbleShot

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Long Island shooting spots?
« on: August 21, 2008, 11:24:04 AM »
Are there any publicly accessible and safe places I could go to in North-West Suffolk to squeeze off a few rounds?

I have a small woods near me, but it's not an ideal place to shoot.

Somewhere around Huntington/Northport would be perfect.  I'm open to ideas.

By "safe" I mean both safe from pellets for the neighborhood and safe from Suffolk's Finest!  I don't want to be a problem!

As you can guess finding a 20-50 yard spot to put a 'tin downrange can be a challenge.

Mike Melick's B26 came today and the can in the backyard is only 15 yards away!
R9 .20; R7 .177; B40 .177; B26 .177; Tempest .177; HB .20; IZH 46m; BlueStreak

Offline Remo

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RE: Long Island shooting spots?
« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2008, 07:23:22 PM »
Good question!  Should be interesting to see what other folks know about.  Wish I knew a good spot, but so far I'm in the basement.  No magic there.
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Offline longislandhunter

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RE: Long Island shooting spots?
« Reply #2 on: August 22, 2008, 12:01:33 PM »
Western Suffolk is tough,,,, but I can tell you a tool that I use all the time to find new hunting locations,,,, it might help you.....   Google Earth.    It's a great program.  Lets you zoom in with incredible accuracy.  I use it all the time to find new locations out east where I am.  Give it a try,,, I'll bet you locate some possible areas that you never even knew existed.    

Jeff
\"If it was easy it wouldn\'t be hunting, it would be shopping.\"

Offline jeff124

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Re: Long Island shooting spots?
« Reply #3 on: August 24, 2008, 04:27:53 AM »
Hi guy's
What a great forum idea. I'm on Long Island too and would love to find a place nearby to hunt. Going upstate is getting real expensive what with the price of gas and tolls. Anybody know anything about the legality of hunting small game (rabbit) on LI? Are there any open area's accessible to the public? I've bow hunted Rocky Point in the past but I'd really like to get out with the Disco this Fall.
Appreciate any info you might have.
jeff124

Offline longislandhunter

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Re: Long Island shooting spots?
« Reply #4 on: August 24, 2008, 05:20:29 AM »
Hi Jeff,,

Legal to hunt rabbits and squirrels on L.I. with an air rifle on privately owned property, I do it almost every day of the season .  However,,,,, as for the Rocky Point Cooperative area,,,,,, the DEC will not permit you to hunt there with an air rifle,,, it's shotgun or bow only.  Matter of fact,,,, if you attempt to hunt on any DEC Cooperative hunting land where you must first check in at the Ridge check station then don't even bother,,,, they won't permit you to hunt with an air rifle on those lands.  I recently had this discussion with my friend who is the  DEC  lieutenant in charge of the Suffolk  zone.  He told me that even though it's legal to hunt small game with an air rifle the DEC has adopted the policy that they will not permit air rifles to be used on those properties, so it's shotgun only for small game.  

The key is to find available privately owned land,,,, then you are free to hunt with your "BB" guns   :)     ......

Jeff
\"If it was easy it wouldn\'t be hunting, it would be shopping.\"

Offline BumbleShot

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NYS Hunting Safety Course Options?
« Reply #5 on: August 25, 2008, 11:40:02 AM »
I am in Western Suffolk and while I don't know about the hunting rules, the woods I shot my Red Ryder and Crosman 760 in in the 70's and 80's are all but gone.  I can still tape measure 30 yards up there, but now that I'm an adult, walk to the woods with 2 rifle cases raises the eyebrows of many of the 'entitled' house owners who call the cops on anyone who even walks the street with a dog bigger than a chihuahua.

Even though I've been going up to the woods while it shrinks before my eyes for 3 decades...  rant rant rant.

I just applied to take the Hunters Safety Course for NYS, which for me is 2 saturdays.  The first in Late October the second the first weekend of November.

Honestly, I'm taking the course so my Pennsylvania family and friends can add a 2 more animal 'take tags' and we can hunt tall rabbits (Tall-Rabbit = White Tail Deer) along both sides of the Delaware Gap!  These guys want me to encourage my wife to get a tag too so we can take 3 freezers full of venison for next July 4th!  She's still getting over the idea of me shooting hoppers and nutters.  She gave me permission to snipe House Sparrow and Starlings and Pigeons already.  Then again, she love venison too!

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7860.html
http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9191.html
http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9188.html
These links will get you started towards qualifying for NYS Hunting Licenses.

I wish there were more courses in more locations.  If anyone has more course links in NYS or West Suffolk, I would love more options.  And I wish there were private options, but heck, the bar is not too high.  It's like the Driver-Ed course.  Take it once you're set for life.  And frankly, I don't like the idea of numb-nuts in the woods with guns shooting bright orange 'deer' either.  

As for tall rabbits, I don't even want to have to own a shotgun or Muzzleloader to hunt.  Plenty of those to borrow west of New Jersey!

Can I take a tall rabbit with an R7?  LOL.  Just kidding!

R9 .20; R7 .177; B40 .177; B26 .177; Tempest .177; HB .20; IZH 46m; BlueStreak

Offline longislandhunter

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RE: NYS Hunting Safety Course Options?
« Reply #6 on: August 25, 2008, 01:51:23 PM »
Ah yes,,,,, "tall rabbits"  :)

I have 4 of em in the freezer now   :)

As for taking one with an R7 ????   Absolutely possible,,,, the trick is getting close enough and getting him to stand still long enough while you swing the rifle while holding it by the barrel and  clobber him directly between the ears.    :)    

Jeff
\"If it was easy it wouldn\'t be hunting, it would be shopping.\"

Offline BumbleShot

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Have some time on Saturday.
« Reply #7 on: April 17, 2009, 03:26:27 AM »
I just received my MM B40 and I'm picking it up at my folks this weekend.

LongIslandHunter, you mentioned a public dump in Eastern LI, I may want to check out.  I want to pick up some more FTS pellets and a case for the B40 and possibly do some shooting!

Also, you mentioned in this thread using Google Earth to find remote locales.  Do you know the laws regarding carrying an airgun in the woods?  A lot of woods on LI may not be developed but are private and not posted such.  I know people would be alarmed to see a grown man with a scoped rifle like a B40 walking around in the woods.

Any pointers for this?  I just need to find a quiet place where I can sight in at 20 yards or so.

thanks!
R9 .20; R7 .177; B40 .177; B26 .177; Tempest .177; HB .20; IZH 46m; BlueStreak

Offline airgun/cuz

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RE: Have some time on Saturday.
« Reply #8 on: April 17, 2009, 04:16:30 AM »
Nelson,there are quite a few spots to shoot,I have found them  just driving & looking,I usually look for areas where I can drive off the road & into the wooded area & remain un-noticed,just make sure the area & surrounding areas are not posted,the dump area is good but has become to popular & that draws attention,I was doing most of my shooting there last summer & introduced the area to a few idiots that I shouldn't have but believe me there are plenty of unposted areas to enjoy,just don't let any knuckleheads ruin it for,,,,,BTW Watch out for the ticks,the dump area is infested with them,,,I gave you my number when you bought your R7,call me when you get a chance!!
Joe Cuz
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ANY FOOL CAN LEARN FROM HIS OWN MISTAKES,IT TAKES A WISE MAN TO LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF OTHERS!              

Offline airiscool

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RE: Long Island shooting spots?
« Reply #9 on: April 18, 2009, 11:32:31 PM »
It's been many years, but I used to go to the Huntington Rifle Range just off RT110. Is it still open?

Also spent alot of time at the Brookhaven range.
http://www.longislandshootingrange.com/

And.... we'd also drive way off in the fire trails out in the pine barrens in Yapank - west of Yapank Ave and North of Sunrise Highway.

Paul
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Offline raterminator

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RE: Long Island shooting spots?
« Reply #10 on: April 22, 2009, 02:49:39 PM »
No, Paul. Unfortunately, Huntington Range closed its doors two years ago. I loved that place and I enjoyed everyday I spent there. Brookhaven is too far from Queens, but I’m planning a couple of trips there this summer to check my powder burners.

Offline airiscool

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RE: Long Island shooting spots?
« Reply #11 on: April 29, 2009, 01:29:17 AM »
Sorry to hear that.

Only went there once, but it was the first range I ever went to. My brother gave me a 22lr for Christmas. We couldn't wait to try it out so we went there, climbed the fence and joined several other shooters who also couldn't wait to try thier new guns.

Paul.

Benji Trail NPXL 1100, Gamo .22 Whisper, Crosman 760 Pumpmaster, Crosman 66 Powermaster, Crosman .22 revolver, Daisy model 102, Daisy early Model 25.

Offline lillysdad621

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Re: Long Island shooting spots?
« Reply #12 on: May 12, 2009, 01:00:55 AM »
I second the google earth idea. there is no hunting allowed on any public land in Long Island. The DEC actually made it impossible to discharge our airguns as they fall in the "firearm" description. However the loophole is that it must not be able to be loaded with cartridges (pellets are not cartridges) OR it must be a smoothbore barrel (viper express or viper shadow, anyone?). The key is to not draw attention to yourself. Undeveloped private land is great, just keep it quiet (no unmuffled PCP need apply) and make sure you always shoot in a safe direction and mind where your pellets might end up. Technically you would be poaching, so it is at your own risk. where and whenever you have the chance to ask a private land owner for permission, do so. It is a million times more satisfying to shoot without looking over your shoulder all the time. Good luck.

Offline longislandhunter

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Re: Long Island shooting spots?
« Reply #13 on: May 12, 2009, 03:03:16 AM »
You are correct,, while they are officially classified as "firearms" by the DEC they are not legally classified as "rifles" since they do not use a "metallic cartridge"...... therefore it is legal to discharge an air gun in Suffolk County.  The DEC will not permit you to hunt with air guns on the DEC managed property as their policy is "shotgun only", but you can hunt on private land with them.  BTW..... the penal law of NY State clearly states that privately owned land that is "unimproved" and that is  not posted, fenced or otherwise marked to prohibit entry is considered "open to the public".   You can legally enter onto property such as this,,  however if, while on the property, you are contacted by the owner or his representative and instructed to leave then you must leave the property immediately iimmediately.  That being said it is still  always a better idea to do some research, find out the identity of the owner and get the owners permission to hunt.   I've found that most land owners, if approached in a professional, polite manner, will usually give permission.  

Jeff
\"If it was easy it wouldn\'t be hunting, it would be shopping.\"