Any NJ Pine Barrens hunters?

[turkeyfool]

Curious if there's any NJ pine barrens hunters here? I've always hunted elsewhere, but figured i'd scout around since it's 20 mins from my door. Super interesting habitat, looks like a ton of coyotes, but hopeful there's actually a hunt-able population in the pine barrens

[Ross R]

I am in FL but my father in law deer hunts up there. I don't hear great things. He said tons of coyotes.   

[JeffC]

Grew up hunting Pines, killed my fist deer and buck out there in Wharton State forest. Hunted there before Jersey had turkey season. Look at harvest reports, Z-15 low every year, sure the turkeys killed out there are near hunting club feeders. Look into Z-14 & 16. Havent been out there since the 90s, loved the pines, grew up chasing grouse and deer. Will go back but not to hunt, loved 4-wheeling out there. Have heard same things about coyotes taking over, live in Maryland, have coyotes coming thru all the time, turkeys just keep their distance. I would look at areas on edge of the pines, lot of farms and food, the scrub oaks though out the pines are only 1 of the few food choices for lot of animals. Had a friend send a picture of a Tom strutting in Pennsauken a few years ago, right near where I grew up. Good luck, let me know if you get out there.

[turkeyfool]

I've been poking around 14. There are some fire lanes/power lines and a mix of hardwood and pine edges in some places (not many, i've only identified 4 or 5 of those places). Did cut a very big buck track and a ton of coyotes. No turkey tracks as of yet. The only way I may know for sure is if I go out to listen before the season.

I do see birds along the GSP from time to time. I live by exit 69.

[Sanders153]

I've heard before of the alleged Jersey devil that supposedly lives in the Pine Barrens, is the lore about that pretty common knowledge over that way

[JeffC]

have an uncle who swears he saw it, gave up hunting because of it. Lot of folklore, some good documentary's on it, 1 had hoof prints in snow on roof of house. I was always more worried of some of the low life's who dumped bodies out there.   

[Sanders153]

have an uncle who swears he saw it, gave up hunting because of it. Lot of folklore, some good documentary's on it, 1 had hoof prints in snow on roof of house. I was always more worried of some of the low life's who dumped bodies out there.

Whoa, your uncle must have saw something that shook him up pretty bad. What did he say about it when it happened

[JeffC]

Happened before I was born, sometime in the 50s. Never heard him speak of it, heard story from my mother, it was her brother. He was Navy veteran, served on an aircraft carrier. Never even knew he hunted till I was told why. 

[turkeyfool]

It is a little spooky. Most people don't realize that most of the southern half of the state is covered with nothing but sandy pines with no topo. Kind of like something i'd see in holly springs mississippi. I think there may be pockets of birds and pockets of deer, but a lot of it is barren. Probably why it's called the pine barrens lol

[Sanders153]

Happened before I was born, sometime in the 50s. Never heard him speak of it, heard story from my mother, it was her brother. He was Navy veteran, served on an aircraft carrier. Never even knew he hunted till I was told why.

Dang.. Do you think that something could be in there then JeffC

[dirtnap]

No.

What's the deal with people that pump your gas in NJ?

I still don't fully understand the purpose of that.

[JeffC]

Happened before I was born, sometime in the 50s. Never heard him speak of it, heard story from my mother, it was her brother. He was Navy veteran, served on an aircraft carrier. Never even knew he hunted till I was told why.

Dang.. Do you think that something could be in there then JeffC

No, too much traffic out there now, someone would have trail cam pics or phone pics by now. Some of the story on how it all started seams really farfetched also. But just like Bigfoot, never know. My Uncle is now in his late 80s kind of out of it, dont see him much, kind of forgot about it till you brought it up, hopefully next time I see him I will ask. I am curious about his side of the story. 

[JeffC]

No.

What's the deal with people that pump your gas in NJ?

I still don't fully understand the purpose of that.

As a former NJ driver, would you trust half the idiots that drive in that state with a gas pump nozzle. The state would burn down with all that spilled gas. Honestly dont know laws behind that requirement. But it always funny seeing NJ plates in another state trying to figure out how to turn on a gas pump and fill their car.

[Sanders153]

Happened before I was born, sometime in the 50s. Never heard him speak of it, heard story from my mother, it was her brother. He was Navy veteran, served on an aircraft carrier. Never even knew he hunted till I was told why.

Dang.. Do you think that something could be in there then JeffC

No, too much traffic out there now, someone would have trail cam pics or phone pics by now. Some of the story on how it all started seams really farfetched also. But just like Bigfoot, never know. My Uncle is now in his late 80s kind of out of it, dont see him much, kind of forgot about it till you brought it up, hopefully next time I see him I will ask. I am curious about his side of the story.

If you ever do, please share with us his story about it. As a Christian I definitely believe in demons, but don't know about that particular one either. Sometimes though I would like to think there is still something left in the wilds of North America that we don't know about or fully understand, a piece of wilderness left out there still we haven't discovered.