moving to ft drum area

[Benaiah]

 So I am moving to the Ft Drum area in Oct. Wife is on orders there, so we gotta go. Can someone PLEASE enlighten me as to the gun laws up there. I read so many conflicting things about it. Some say don't even bring handguns, you'll never get a permit. Some say you can get a permit but it takes a long time. What about long guns? What can I bring/own? Can I own a rusted out old musket, or is that considered a "dangerous assault weapon"? 
 As it it now, I am keeping all of my handguns at my brother's house in Ohio until I can get this cleared up. I would greatly appreciate it if someone from that area could give me some insight and relaible info.
Thanks

[DANNY-L]

Handguns you need a nys permit which does take time and you not being a permanet resident I don't know if you could get one or not. Long guns and muzzle loaders are ok as long as your not a felon, AR type would have to be ny complient which you can look up if you need to. I think I am correct on this but if not someone will come in. Oh and welcome to the norh country,hunting season starts the end of the month.

[Bigeasy]

Well, if you are into fishing, you are near Lake Ontario, which offers great salmon, steelhead, and trout fishing.  Musky, bass, and pike in the 1000 island chain.  Hope you like snow and cold...
 
Larry

[rockledr]

I am currently stationed at Fort Drum, have been for almost 11 years. Here in Jefferson County it takes six months for a handgun permit. All of the permits issued are also CCW permits so that is a bonus. With that being said don't bring your handguns, your long guns are good to go. I am not sure about assault rifles as I don't own any. If you have specific questions PM me and I will answer them. The hunting is great here BTW.
 
Greg

[LanceR]

Benaiah, if you like to hunt, fish, trap or just enjoy the outdoors Fort Drum is a great place to be.  You can hunt waterfowl, deer and black bear on post with handguns, long guns and bows.   Look for info about on base opportunities at:

http://www.fortdrum.isportsman.net/

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for State fish and wildlife resources.  Their website is;

http://www.dec.ny.gov/

There are millions of acres and well over a thousand separate state forests, parks, wildlife management areas, permanent fishing rights areas etc for public access to lands and waters for fishing, hunting and trapping here.  Make sure you bring a copy of any hunting or trapping license you have.  NY accepts just about any state or national license for proof of training.  There are 1500 license issuing agencies in the state and you can buy the licenses on post.  Active military stationed in NY (and their dependents) are treated as residents.

Click on the Outdoor Activities link in the upper left corner and you'll find links to info on hunting, fishing, trapping, camping, rock climbing, kayaking and canoeing, skiing, snowshoeing yadda, yadda, yadda.

The isportsman site does not always keep the links to the State DEC up to date so you might want to go right to the state site.

Handgun permits are issued by each county or city so who you deal with and how long it takes will  depend on where you live.

Contact the Provost Marshall's office regarding bringing the handguns and for any post requirements for registering the other guns.  Most installations have some kind of storage available for firearms while you get settled in or will refer you to an FFL dealer who will store them for a reasonable fee.

I am a retired SMG (in 2005) and sit on both the State Fish and Wildlife Management Board and on the State Conservation Fund Advisory Board.  If you have any questions or are looking for points of contact for any further info, PM me after the weekend.  I'm dealing with flooding around our farm and will be out of town for the weekend. 

I can also put you in contact with an Environmental Conservation Officer for info and any "assault weapon" restrictions.  The En Con Officers enforce both criminal law and conservation law (which includes fish and wildlife law) so they would be your best resource for information as they work in both worlds.

Welcome to the state.  I'd like to offer my thanks for both you and your wife for her service and your support.

Lance

[Benaiah]

 Thanks all for the replies and the welcome, and for easing my worries about gun ownership. Does the military residency count as far as handgun permits go? As far as the outdoor activities, thanks to all for the good info. I am looking forward to getting settled in and get started hunting. We found a nice home in Jefferson county with 30 acres and drove up over the labor day weekend to check it out, and ended up buying it. So I'll be able to hunt on my own land, in addition to the state lands and Drum.

 LanceR- Will NY DEC accept my Tennessee archery license as proof of training? I really don't want to go to a bowhunter ed class.

Anyway, thanks again to all.

[LanceR]

I believe that the state will accept any proof of having a prior license.  Some states require proof of safety training for reciprocity but NY does not, only that you have the license.  If they don't the course is less than a day and there are usually some near Drum this time of year.

Lance

[bubba]

NY as most ststes now do not accept a licenese from a dfferen state.  it equires taking the course, which wil probably mean a hunter ed course as well as archery course. when you get there, go to Gander mountin in Watertown.  They offer classes there regularly. I have helped teach a few there

[Whitetales Bluff]

Good luck with the move;

If you plan to hunt this season, you can buy a Non-Resident hunting license. You can hunt Bow, Muzzleloading or Rifle Season. You don’t need a permit for a rifle or muzzle loader where you'll be moving to. By next season you should be a resident.  Resident licenses cost less.

Muzzleloading Deer Season opens October 15th this year.  Muzzle is always the week before Rifle Season and the last week of Bow Season. You’ll be in what they call the “Northern Zone” as far as hunting is concerned.

Once you’re a resident, you’ll need a pistol license in New York State to shoot or own a hand gun. It shouldn’t take more then 6 months after you apply. In Jefferson County (Ft. Drum) you’ll receive a “life time pistol license.”  If you’re a felon you won’t get approved. I think you can still have a misdemeanor and get one but, that might have changed this year. You should call the Jefferson County Sheriffs’ department and they should advise you or at least point you in the right direction.  Also call the Ft. Drum Town Clerk’s office and Police department, they should be able to fill you in on how to go about it.

Long arms are not a problem. I don’t know if you can legally cross state lines however, who’s going to know if you don‘t tell? Just watch your ass going through New Jersey, don’t get stopped. Their gun laws are strict, they’ll lock you up in a heartbeat even for a unloaded rifle.   In New York there’s no registration or permits required for rifles, shotguns, muzzle loaders or bows you already own.  When buying a long-arm in New York, the store will register it, you don’t have to do anything. You don’t have to register a muzzlelaoding pistol on your license unless you plan to shoot it.

Most upstate counties have the same regulations and it‘s not that bad. I’m from Long Island and it’s a little different in the Metro- New York City area as they‘re more strict. In New York City you need a permit just to have a rifle but not where you’re moving too, you’ll have no problem.

Once you’ve got your pistol license, you’ll have to have your handguns shipped from an FFL in Ohio to an FFL in New York. Then you’ll have to register them on your pistol license. The local authorities will help you with the proper guidelines and procedures. 

I’ve also heard from my friends who live up there that the Army is uptight about actually being on the fort property with a fire arm. I don’t go through the fort it’s self. I always drive around it and I’ve never had any problems. It’s the most beautiful area in the whole state. Have a good one..