I was wondering who all has been hunting here in PA during deer season. I was up in Potter Co. Monday and Tuesday and I didn;t see one deer in the woods, the amount of shots sounded more like turkey season than deer. I talked to several other hunters who where hunting in various parts of the state and they shared similar experiences. As far antler restrictions go, the deer i have seen on meatpoles seem to have nice racks which isn;t a bad thing, but i really doubt that is what caused the lack of shooting/sightings, I think it is related to the high number of doe tags being issued over the past few years. I am still not sure what the reason we need to kill so many doe is. What are you guys thoughts?

I haven't made it out yet, but the people I've talked to aren't seeing nearly as many deer as normal. I don't know why. :confused:

However, this past April I moved out of the city to a more rural area and have seen some VERY large bucks on or near public hunting lands. I almost hit one on my way home from work a couple days ago, but this one was running from a farm into a park where hunting is not allowed.

I was planning to take two vacation days on Monday & Tuesday, but a back injury during Sunday's Steeler game (a long story) has sidelined me. Hopefully I'll get out tomorrow. In my area-Westmoreland County- whitetails are as thick as mud. Saturday I spotted one group of 20+ while visiting the in-laws.

Like i said, the buck on the meatpoles were real nice, but the lack of shooting was just plain disturbing. seems that the woods are a whole lot colder when you aren't seeing deer

I hunted this past Monday and Tuesday and also failed to see any deer in the woods. I was hunting lycoming county near waterville. I did not hear much shooting and also did not see anyone with any dead deer on our mountain.
As I was driving home on Wednesday, I did see a camp on 44 south of Waterville with several nice bucks hanging.
The lack of deer in our area is probably due to quite a lot of logging behind our cabin. But, that doesn't explain why we didn't hear many shots. Good luck the rest of the season!
Mike

May head to the woods later this morning, depends on my mood when i wake up

I Have Been In The Woods For The Last 6 Days. I Have Seen 17 Doe Over Those Days. Last Year I Saw 54 Doe On The First Day Alone. The Pa Game Commision Needs There Back Sides Spanked For What They Are Doing! We Here Have Taken The Doe Numbers Down To Zip. How Are We Going To Have Deer When We Are Shooting The Does That Are Pregnant? Do You Remember When It Was Buck Only? It Was Shooting All Day Long And Still The Doe's Were There. The Game Commision Is Feeding Us The Line That We Are Going To See Bigger Bucks, Wellmaybe So But We Need Doe To Make Bucks......i Am Starting To Beleave The Car Insurance Co. Do Have Something To Do With This And In Years To Come It Will Come Out. We Have 2000 Acres That Have Gamelands On Three Sides And The Deer Are Just Not There Anymore. How Can People Get There Kids Into Hunting And Expect To Have A Kid Sit In The Woods And Look At Trees All Day And Not See A Deer And Expect The Kid To Want To Go Again?

I completly agree with you takdriver, a 2 year moratorium on doe season would be great or at least a 50% reduction in the number of tags issued. I want Gary Alt to come sit with me during hunting season and tell me that the herd is as big as ever, and i don't want any of this bs about not being deep enough, if i go any deeper i will be coming out the other side

Well, I must be the lucky one here..

I was out on Monday with nine others plus myself for a total of ten of us and we dropped eight deer. Two bucks, a 6 and 5 pointer, and 6 does.

We also saw many more and several missed thier shots or like my son when the came up to him they set up perfect and pick the spot and lane for the shot and try and pull the trigger and nothing happens !!! Left the safety on :eek: Two of them did that.

I am in NE PA and no shortage of deer here (3D). Can not speak for the rest of the state. Next week I go up to Tioga to see how it is. I got a pair there last year.

I did also notice that there aren't as many hunters in the woods in my area, it could be a lack of pressure that is making the difference, but i can;t think that that is the only problem, last year we got 3 out of ten, which is on the low side of our overall camp average, but still reasonable. Our camp has been in existance since 1949 and this is the first year that we have been skunked

I Also Hunt In Wmu 3d (white haven Area) And We Have 2000 Acres With 30 Members. In The Past We Would Let 6-7-8 Pointers Walk Because We Were Able To Be Pickey. Not Now. It Was Nothing To See 50 Or More Deer In A Day But If You Listen To The Shooting You Can Tell Things Are Going Bad For All Hunters. Don't Get Me Wrong I Saw More Doe On The Second Day And If I Want I Am Able To Drop 2 Doe And A Buck But I Am Thinking Of The Future Of Hunting. I Almost Feel Bad Pulling Up On A Doe At This Point. I Still Have 3 Full Days To Hunt Untill The End And I Did Get A Doe On Tuesday But I Only Shot Her Because She Was Hit In The Leg By Another Hunter. I Am All For Doe Hunting But I Think The Game Commision Is Full Of It. They Are Bringing A Sharp Shooter In After The First Of The Year To Cull The Heard In Some County Because There Are To Many (120 Per Sq. Mile) Per The Game Commision And Chnl. Wnep-16. The Meat Is Going To The Soup Kitchens. The State Forest Up Here Did Not Open Roads To Hunters This Year Due To Bad Road Conditions. Where Is All The Money Going? Kick Backs? There Is More To This Than We Know About. We Need To Go Back To 3 Day Doe Seasons And Let The Deer Breed And Stop This ''bigger Buck'' Bull. Yes There Are Bigger Bucks But Only 1/3 The Deer And Next Year Even Less.........i Am Done....thank You

I live about 15 min from the gettysburg battlefield, they have professional hunters come in and shoot the deer, in the past, they have just bulldozed a pit and buried them, i think the last round they did butcher and give to shelters

Two more cents here. I think Tak Driver hit it pretty close. Here in Erie county the general count is down also. But what I was getting at is the way the commission is manipulating things per area. Look at the NE areas where bear has become a 'problem ' so the season has been expanded. A lot of east coast folks with money crowding into Pa. to get away from it all......hmmmmm

Saturday I was standing in front of my house talking to my fiance and saw nearly a dozen deer - all doe - run through my back yard! :eek: There are woods behind my house, but there are other houses that are a little too close for comfort, so I won't hunt there.

Saturday I was standing in front of my house talking to my fiance and saw nearly a dozen deer - all doe - run through my back yard! :eek: There are woods behind my house, but there are other houses that are a little too close for comfort, so I won't hunt there.
That is what archery season is for :D

It Is Just Nice To See A Deer Or Two When Hunting. I Was Out All Day Today In Wmu 3d At Our Camp And Saw A Chipmunk ( No Horns ). I Know That Hunting Is Hunting But Is Snowed Today And I Walked Most Of Our Property And Did Not See A Track, Now That Is Sad. Two Of The Men At Work Have Given Up On Hunting Next Year.

That is what archery season is for :D

Yeah! I don't archery hunt, yet. Every year I say 'this is the year I'm going to start', but for one reason or another I still haven't yet. Maybe this is the incentive I need!

You metioned a fiance' in an earlier post, i would recommend getting into archery asap, much easier to do it now than to justify it to a wife. Also, I think that Cabela's in Hamburg is having a sale that runs to the end of the year I think. there are a few other good local shops around. I have a freind that used to live in Morgantown, he knows a few of the shops in the area if you are interesed

You metioned a fiance' in an earlier post, i would recommend getting into archery asap, much easier to do it now than to justify it to a wife. Also, I think that Cabela's in Hamburg is having a sale that runs to the end of the year I think. there are a few other good local shops around. I have a freind that used to live in Morgantown, he knows a few of the shops in the area if you are interesed
I'm a little short on cash right now (the wedding is in January and I'm paying for most of it), but, luckily, she likes to shoot archery, so I think she'll let me get a bow after we're married. :) She won't go hunting (she's not anti, it's just not her thing), but at least we can enjoy target shooting together!

wish i could get my wife to shoot with me

You should check out Lancaster Archery if you are interested in getting into archery or bowhunting. They are a top notch shop, and will not steer you wrong. Also, check out the many good ranges in Maryland...we are not too far from Quarryville and have a pretty decent number of clubs offering 3d and field archery. My home club is baltimore bowmen; our website is baltimorebowmen.com. We will be hosting the Maryland IBO state championship this coming year and also put on a big trad shoot in May each year. Byron Ferguson will be attending and shooting for us again in 2005.

One the topic of the deer numbers here in Northeast Pa, I have to agree with you guys on that. I hunted all of archery season, muzzleloader, and rifle. I didn't see nearly as many deer as I used to. Most days it was 2 or 3 deer tops. I did however see some real nice bucks. I also ended up getting a big 10 point on the opening day of rifle. So it seems to me at least that the antler restrictions are working for the bucks that are left. The issue is there are not many deer at all in the woods though.At least they are not in the traditional areas I hunt. I did see plenty closer to my home in yards and parks...nowhere really huntable with a gun though. Maybe its time everyone take matters into their own hands and dont use the doe tags in the areas that you would like to see more deer...shoot one if you see alot in a particular area but not when you only see a few.

I Agree, I Let Doe Walk All Season But Only To Hear A Shot A Few Minutes After I Let Them Walk. Only One Deer That I Let Walk Got Away Atleast I Think It Did, No Shots Fired. It Is A Shame What Is Going On Here. For Each Doe Shot , That Is Two Or Three Less Next Year. We Need A Group To Take Care Of This Somehow...........well It Is Over For Now Less Muzzleloader Season.

The Pennsylvania deer herd shows sign of less deer at least in Carbon, Monroe, Pike and others in the Northeastern section of the state. Three to four times a week I am out in the woods hunting for coyotes and other game, in the last several years the areas where I would see a good amount of deer activity has declined. The big bucks aren't any bigger than what I have seen in the past, the does don't seem to be as active and I haven't seen any young fawn to speak of.

Some of this is due to the fact that public hunting grounds are over worked, the deer have retreated to private properties where they are protected from the hunters. Just look around at how much land is posted in PA. I used to think NY was bad but we are becoming a restricted state.

Try asking for permission to hunt on private lands, and you feel as if you came from another country.
Some framers and land owners become angry that you have stopped to bother them. I have even went as far as offering an access fee, or too help with chores, but no was the answer.

Not only is the deer hunting poor, but for the small game hunters, it is absolutely frustrating. You can hunt all day and find it hard to find pheasant or rabbit.

Until the State works out a program with private land owners and formulates some sort of strong stocking program, today's hunters and future hunters will remain FRUSTRATED!

I agree with passing on does, this has been my policy ever since I started hunting some 40 years ago. A deer herd only needs one or two bucks, but it needs the doe to foster young ones.

I hunted the two saturdays early muzzleloader; The first (6) days of rifle and yesterday in the snow. In (9) days I personally saw eigth deer and managed to shoot one. My first since 1998! I managed to roust a button buck from it's bed on 12/1. It's the only deer we got at the camp. My bro in law shot one sat at his buddies farm...something needs to be done.

I have co-workers from New Jersey that want to borrow freezer space...

I'm from NE Pa and Ifeel badly for hunters that must hunt state and game lands for deer. Their numbers are reduced so drastically. Yes there are deer on private lands if you lease, own, have family or friends who own and similar scenarios. Yes, there are a few nice bucks. However I remember spots in Game lands 57 whehe my dad shot a nice Boonie in 1950 and where I saw 30-40 deer a day. Definitely end doe hunting for a year or 2, especially on state game lands and state lands. THis doesn't affect me too much because i saw the writing on the wall. My deer hunting takes place in other states, not Pa. Only hunt Pa for black bear.

Surprised to hear this. I hunted NE PA about 15 yrs ago and it was absolutely infested.

We truly had a hard time getting to the field in the dark - "Don't drive over 30mph (on a 55mph 2-lane)." "Why?" "You'll see..." 5 mins later I almost creamed 2 bucks jumping across the road. Spent 3 nights driving 30mph... Don't think I've ever seen so many 'eyes' in a field.

Montana's BMA program would fix it. Farmer's get paid when you sign the permission slip. Everyone behaves and it's a great system for all.

excessive doe hunting has knocked the population way down

I keep running into fences w/ signs explaning why the state is making 'Deer Exclusion' areas so the forrest can regenerate. Killing off the exxcess deer kinda made the fences un-necessary!

I keep running into fences w/ signs explaning why the state is making 'Deer Exclusion' areas so the forrest can regenerate. Killing off the exxcess deer kinda made the fences un-necessary!

Signs & Fences; don't get me started!
NO HUNTING, POSTED, PRIVATE PROPERTY, KEEP OUT, DO NOT ENTER THIS LAND, REGULATED AREA, NO TRESSPASSING, DON'T ASK TO HUNT, PRIVATE LAND, TRESSPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED, STAY OUT AND THE LIST GOES ON & ON.

Years ago landowners used to welcome hunters with open arms. calling them in for a cup of coffee or even breakfast as they explained where you could hunt on their property with high chances of being successful. They would even help you retrieve your game if you need it, some only asked that you cleaned up your hunting area and maybe give them a portion of your take.

It was nothing to drive along a back country road stopping from one farm to another, if not to hunt, just to say hello.
Most of the old timers have died off, our farms have been subdivided for housing developments and not many people have welcome mats out anymore.

The youth hunters coming up will never have the opportunity to experience that warm feeling of a true PA hunting season.

I live and hunt in western pa. I saw eleven bucks this year, none legal. Also I saw very few does. I did take a doe the last day. I had no intentions of shooting a doe but this one came hobbling up to me hit twice in the leg. In most areas around here, even the posted ground the deer population is way down. You have to wonder what's up.

One more try! I'm driving up to the cabin after Christmas dinner. I have Mon & Tue off to hunt w/ the flintlock. Finally a way to use those un-used buck tags...maybe I'll see something. They should have settled down some w/ two weeks of no hunters...