Hunting around Lycoming County PA

[alloutdoors]

Looks like there's a good chance I'll be doing some work in Lycoming County during the last couple weeks of May.  I'll try to squeeze in some turkey hunting while I'm there if at all possible.  There seems to be a good bit of public land around that area, anybody got any suggestions on places to strike up a bird?  I could also potentially swap a hunt with someone if they wanted to come up to NY during the first part of May, I've got some stellar properties I can hunt in Otsego and Schoharie counties.

[paboxcall]

Lots of state forest in the northern tier of PA, and like anywhere else, those areas get hammered during the weekends.  Valet parking at some gates...

A good topo of the state forest you want to hit, a compass, and you should be able to get away from the crowds.

Good luck!  We get to hunt all day the last two weeks of the season -- and the public ground quiets down by end of season.  You should be in good shape.

[Devastator]

Looks like there's a good chance I'll be doing some work in Lycoming County during the last couple weeks of May.  I'll try to squeeze in some turkey hunting while I'm there if at all possible.  There seems to be a good bit of public land around that area, anybody got any suggestions on places to strike up a bird?  I could also potentially swap a hunt with someone if they wanted to come up to NY during the first part of May, I've got some stellar properties I can hunt in Otsego and Schoharie counties.

otesgo and schoharie county?

[tjh24]

I went to school in Williamsport PA.  There were quite a few birds around.  It does get hit pretty hard around that area.  I had the best luck in the Trout Run area.  There is plenty of state land around there as well. I found that most of the farmers were nice and a few let me on thier properties to hunt.  It doesnt hurt to knock on a few doors.  Google earth can work really well too for locating some new places. Hope this helps

[PANYHunter]

I would try to get permission on private ground.  If you can hunt on state land during the week it shouldn't be too bad but weekends are gonna be packed.  Also you can hunt in the afternoon the last 2 weeks of the season so keep that in mind.   

[Mosby]

 About 30 minutes outside Williamsport is the town of English Center. There are some good areas around there. There are some old strip mines up there with a nice combination of woods and open areas. Another area near there has 27,000 acres of state land with some nice trails and power lines. The key in that area is to find places to hunt that aren't straight up the mountain, unless you like climbing. I killed a ton of deer in that area.

You can buy maps at some of the local gun shops. One of the better gun shops in the area is Troxell's. There is a Gander Mountain outside of town but prices can be high. Awesome gun shop in Wellsboro which is up north.

Great trout fishing in the Trout Run area. North of Trout Run off of Route 15 is also some good state game lands as well but I prefer English Center.

If you like to shoot and sight in, there is also a place called Sportsman's, which is a gun club/range outside of Montoursville  which is right outside Williamsport. For about $30 bucks you can join and shoot rifle and shotgun 7 days a week. No range officer etc., just drive up, set up and shoot. Multiple ranges and some are several hundred yds. Packed the day before the season though.  Hope that helps.

[alloutdoors]

Thanks for the replies guys.  I'll try knocking on some doors when I'm down there.  I'll have to see what my schedule ends up being, but I may be able to do some hunting during the week and avoid the weekends if I'm on public ground.

Anyone else with any suggestions/comments?

otesgo and schoharie county?

Yes, those are the counties I hunt in NY.  I was saying I could put someone on some birds there if they wanted to come up to NY if they could return the favor when I'm down in PA.

[Fullfan]

Pubilc or private ground if it is in Pa it gets hunted hard. If a bird gobbles here in the western part of the state 7 guys hear it. Good luck and hunt safe.....

[Mosby]

That is a tough area to get permission to hunt on private land if you don't know people from the area.  I always found that if I hiked in a bit and got off the roads on the state game lands, I didn't run into many hunters, especially during the week.

[PANYHunter]

Awesome gun shop in Wellsboro which is up north.

Mosby- Whats the name of the gun shop in Wellsboro you are talking about?

[Mosby]

I think the shop in Wellsboro is called Nobles. The one I was really thinking about is Grice's which is in Clearfield not Wellsboro. Grice's is a big time shop. Miller's Gun Shop in Mill Hall(outside Lock Haven) is a pretty large shop and he is a gunsmith as well. Has some nice guns. He isn't cheap though. I haven't been up there in a few years.