[teej89]

Hey guys! Grew up in blair county and after school moved to Ohio, for the hunting. Well I had a good run here hunted private, lost private to NC out bidding my $0 lease by $10k ha!

Anywho... I'm looking at relocating back to PA but because of my job I need to be in/near a city, which sucks. However... I got a cold call from a company I talked to a while back from Scranton which is very enticing. After some research on scranton and the public around it, it sounds like the idea place, lots of public land nearby and it's a smaller town. With all that being said, does anyone have an opinion on Scranton? I'm going there next week to visit it for the first time.

I'm not looking for record book bucks, I just like access close by. Now I hunt 20k acre of public in OH and it's an hour 45 from me, so a typical morning hunt i'm getting up at 2am to go hunt. And I also miss sneaking out to listen for gobblers prior to going to class (now it'd be work).

One more thing... I have a soon to be 2 yr old choc lab that I'd be interested in meeting up with people to train, or if there's a retriever club in the area.

 

[Sojourner48]

Like you said, nice town, lots of public land, crooked judges.

 

[jimbridger]

Wilkes Barre is not Scranton. But maybe you know more judges. Waugh!

 

[jimbridger]

I don't have a high opinion of Scranton itself but the surrounding towns are a nice place to live. SGL and State Forrest about a half hour away in more than one direction. Lackawanna State Forest right up the road and SGL 127 a little more but Highways will get you there quick.
No idea of any dog clubs in the area other than beagle but there may be some. Also a few other SGL between Scranton and the state forest. Waugh!

 

[beagler]

I'm only about 20 minutes north of Scranton. Not a big fan of the city itself but the surrounding communities aren't bad .There is a lot of public hunting land around in the area. Some areas hold a decent deer population, others don't.

 

[Paderhtr]

Lots of great hunting in and around the Scranton Area. Grew up there and it's not what it once was but that's a good thing. Tons of great hunting and a decent place yet to raise a family. I live an hour and half North of there in Bradford County which arguably offers some of the best hunting in the state ...Go for it !

 

[Freytown]

Taxes,taxes and taxes

Teej, if you live in the city limits of Scranton you will pay a wage tax of 3.04% while all adjacent municipality are only 1% . You get nothing by paying a wage tax of 3.04% besides supporting bloated city DPW, police and fireman wages/pensions. Also check the school ratings for your children's education. Scranton stinks! So, choose your residence wisely. And yes, lot's of state, PGC game lands and utilities land to hunt.

 

[teej89]

thanks guys! I appreciate the responses. Also as a little more background info I'm 28 and not married so I'd be also looking at making friends and roots there. I'd like a smaller town but I don't think that'll help me branch out and meet people.

I think the company is actually outside of Scranton, Dunmore?

Good luck to you guys out there today!

 

[mrbb]

grew up near scranton and Dunmore
also hunted a lot in OH for 15-20 yrs now
hunting DEER in PA as to ohio in this area is NIGHT and day difference in quality of bucks, 120's in ohio are NOT that uncommon,m but there more rare in PA in this area, BUT been getting better, as a fact the best time to kill a 120plus buck in pa in the past 40 yrs is RIGHT NOW
tons of local public lands 30 minutes or less from scranton and dunmore, can even go more north and NE and get into even more and bigger tracks
as for turkeys, LOTS of them all over too, outside of both towns not far is farm lands, less every yr due to development, but still some about, and many border game lands(public hunting areas, many public land s also have food plots as well.

as for training your lab, I'm a Lab guy myself
what do you mean training, are you looking to make a WELL trained pet, service like dog, , or hunting dog, and if hunting for what> upland game, or waterfowl?
I trained my dog myself, but there are rules to be followed when on public grounds, so know before going,, there are some dog parks in the area too
lots of local vet's that might help meet up with groups to train
2 yrs old is a little late to be starting, but not impossible, just so you know!

NOT a ton of upland game in the area, but many small rivers ponds and lakes (most bigger places are developed so NO Hunting on them)
but can find off beat places rather easy once you get in the area
all these places and all the small towns between them are LOADED with local bars, as thats the norm for hanging out after work hours it seems i n this area
there is an offload park in Dunmore that you can PAY to ride atv';s and explore local woods there
if your into that, they rent things too, to ride, lots of places near by to fish too
be more than happy to give more detailed info if you'd like, just let me know

 

[NanookOdaNorth]

The guys in the NEPA RGS do a lot of dog training.

Scranton is surrounded by public lands...I lived in Covington Twp for 10 years, nice little town not far from Dunmore.

 

[beagler]

We run cottontail with beagles and coyote/fox with walkers.
By buddy killed a slammer buck today above the Holiday Inn in Dunmore.

 

[Lackawanna Fox]

i live in scranton lots of public land

 

[teej89]

as for training your lab, I'm a Lab guy myself
what do you mean training, are you looking to make a WELL trained pet, service like dog, , or hunting dog, and if hunting for what> upland game, or waterfowl?
I trained my dog myself, but there are rules to be followed when on public grounds, so know before going,, there are some dog parks in the area too
lots of local vet's that might help meet up with groups to train
2 yrs old is a little late to be starting, but not impossible, just so you know!

Wow thanks for the wealth of information, I appreciate it! I may be reaching out to you guys later if any more questions come to mind. May be more along the lines of where to live if I do take the job.

As far as the pup goes, he's trained, I'm talking about training for hunt tests, I was just going to get him started on his Senior Title come march but he went and tore his ACL in february and then tore his other one in october.


Thanks for the input guys! I have a feeling this may be a good match for me.

 

[Pahack]

These are my home hunting grounds, so you wanna live outside Scranton and WB. Even my hometown of Pittston is going downhill. Tons of public land, I was hunting a monster but ol boy was killed yesterday.plenty of great places to live, just stay out of the valley areas if you want quiet.

 

[mrbb]

that sucks on the ACL, my lab did his when he was 11 yrs old, , not a cheap bill there for sure
one GOOD thing about this area is, , your NOT far from two of the best vets in the easy coast, Cornell US< a and UPenn's School of Veterinary in Philly
I prefer COrnell, but both top shelf places with the latest and greatest of it all!
HOPE you never need there services, but if you do, there both about an hr and half away from the best care possible
maybe decent local vets too, but for anything big, I'd head to these two places!

as for places to live , that comes down to your income level
higher that is the more places that open up on the what you want
if your willing to drive more, the out skirts are smaller farm areas, about 20-30 minutes out, and can get you access to private land to hunt closer to home, if your a decent likable type in time, can have you very rural and big yards safe for training in the back yard deal even a few acres at times, or more!
be where I'd be looking, farther your willing to commute to work the more and better options you will have at peace and quite living!, and this is possible in 360 degree of both city's, get 30 minutes east west north or south and your in rural living, south would be the least rural I say!

want fancier living, and thats all closer to the citys and towns and can be as grand as your wallet allows
there are also a few local ski slopes not far from both city's you listed. 30-40 minutes or less and more a little farther out!
its a nice area, but like all small towns, there all growing and with growth come both good and bad

 

[11B4PT2]

Maybe moving to NE Pa

If your a liberal you will fit right in. Scranton is loaded with these brain dead sheepole!