Berkshire Valley WMA

[Livesintrees]

Anyone here hunting it for deer? I know small game guys pound it. Curious as to what guys hunting it for deer or anyone who has hunted it has to say. I'm sure it's full of bear but otherwise how is it?

[Bucksnbows]

i see tons of stands or stand sites (shooting lanes freshly cut) while small game hunting, so I'm sure it holds something for those hunters to pursue.  Lots of swamp edges which are good types of edge habitat.  

[Livesintrees]

I always drive passed the 15 south entrance. The state maps are useless. Difficult to get a decent lay of the land. Where abouts do you go in for small game? And by that I mean where do you park. I've seen cars pulled off to the side of Berkshire Valley Road before but don't want to chance it and end up getting towed.

[SxSshooter]

I haven't been there in a while, but there is a part of that WMA that is behind the fire house that gets over looked.  Go down to the end of that dead end street and it gets a little swampy there.  I used to see a lot of rubs when i hunted there.

Edited September 6, 2016 by SxSshooter

[Bucksnbows]

I always drive passed the 15 south entrance. The state maps are useless. Difficult to get a decent lay of the land. Where abouts do you go in for small game? And by that I mean where do you park. I've seen cars pulled off to the side of Berkshire Valley Road before but don't want to chance it and end up getting towed.

 

There are actually several parking lots because this WMA is a hodge-podge of properties and not all attached.  There are lots off rt. 15, Howard Blvd. and at the intersection of Minisink and Berkshire Valley Roads to name a few.  

[Haskell_Hunter]

Lot of pressure in there.  All of the EZ spots are taken, scout it and you'll see.  It's also rugged, like you'd expect in N Jersey.  Hills, cliffs, and swamps.  You're going to need to hunt the harder to reach spots.  More than likely that's where the deer are running because of all the pressure.

 

And, yes, there is a good amount of bear in there too.

 

Just be mindful of the property lines, as some of the homeowners don't appreciate hunters and have probably had some tough encounters with them during hunting season.

[Livesintrees]

The state maps are terrible. It's hard to tell Bc one map shows a continuous piece. The other shows what looks like broken parcels. I'll wait for a rainy day and get in there to look