FACTS ABOUT THE WHITETAIL DEER

The Whitetail Deer

One of the things we strongly believe in here at Pennsylvania White Tail Hunt, is that you need to know as many facts about the whitetail deer as possible. The more you know, the better your chances for a successful hunt. So we've taken some time to put together some facts on white tail deer. It's not inclusive of everything about the whitetail here in Pennsylvania, but it's a decent start. When you get into the woods, you'll start filling in the gaps. That's one of the great things about the sport of hunting, learning how to do it.



Senses

Any hunter will tell you that hearing, sight, and smell of the whitetail is highly developed. The deer use their hearing to alert them to predators, including you, that are nearby. Sight, obviously suits the same purpose as well as keeping them in the know about where they are going. And smell caps the list. The sense of smell of the whitetail deer is among the most highly developed. While sight may not be as high on the list of survival tools the whitetail has, smell and hearing definitely are.

Food sources

Pennsylvania whitetail eat from a variety of sources. And knowing what your local herd is feeding off of will come in handy. Look for corn, wild crab apple, honeysuckle, acorns, jewel-weed, green-briar and other solid stands of miscellaneous woody plants. The area you hunt is going to dictate the food source for the heard, so scouting your area thoroughly and knowing what's abundant and what's not will help you set up or stalk. Remember, food varies with plenty of conditions, so you have to study your local area and watch closely to see what the feed source is.

Reproduction

The reproductive cycle of the whitetail in Pennsylvania starts during the rut in late fall. Typically the rut starts in mid October and runs through mid to late November. But a second rut sometimes occurs in December. Bucks will chase does for up to a week prior to mating with them. The buck and the doe will mate several times during this process and remain with her for a few days. But after the mating is complete, the buck leaves the doe in search of more mates. This is why when you see a doe, look closely for the buck. More often than not, he's standing off in the distance watching to see what's going on.

When the doe gives birth, she will typically have twins. The fawns are quickly born and adapt quickly to the surroundings. Fawn weight depends on sex, with bucks weighing in around four to fourteen pounds and does weighing in at three to eight pounds. The family group of the doe and fawns will remain together until the following spring at which time the fawns move out on their own and the doe returns to her favorite breeding area.

The Bottom Line

You need to scout your hunting area well to get the details of the herd in your area. Knowing what is feeding, where common trails are, and where rubs are located allow you to set your stand or know were to stalk. But remember this, studying the habits and life of the whitetail is part of the journey of hunting, and your knowledge will increase each year you get out in the woods.

We've been hunting Pennsylvania white tail since 1959. If you want more information about hunting white tail contact us here. And don't forget to stop by our store to check out the great deals on Game Trail Cameras and other high tech hunting gear. www.mountaintrailcams.com

The Pennsylvania White Tail Hunt Team

　

　

THE PENNSYLVANIA WHITE TAILED DEER

The white-tailed deer has been such a staple of Pennsylvania's heritage that it has become the state animal. The white-tail is so important to the economy and the biodiversity of the Pennsylvania wilds that we feel you need to pay heed to this animal and get involved in the ongoing preservation and management of the Pennsylvania white-tail deer herd.

History

The white-tailed deer is native to Pennsylvania. Before European settlers arrived, the native Indians used the white-tail as a source of clothing, food, and shelter. In these times, it is estimated that the Pennsylvania white-tail herd averaged eight to ten animals per acre. Nature kept the balance of the herd with controls of natural predators such as mountain lions and wolves, and yes, people.

When the first settlers arrived in Pennsylvania, the hunters were accustomed to the landowners owning the natural wildlife of the land. The newly arrived settlers took a different view of this set up, and instead dictated that the wildlife belonged to all citizens. It was this basis that established the open hunting of the American wilderness. Where Europeans regarded landowners as the caretakers of the wildlife, the Americans took it upon the general population to control and administer the herds.

Hunted To The Brink

With this new way of controlling the game populations, regulations and controls were lax. Plenty of wild populations within the United States were hunted to the point of extinction, and the Pennsylvania white-tailed deer was no exception.

The lack of control and unregulated hunting practices of the early settlers decimated the native populations of the white-tailed deer in Pennsylvania. It was only when regulations were enacted, and with concerted efforts of active managers that the herd was restored.

Restoration Of The Herd

Pennsylvania's white-tail herd underwent restoration projects at the turn of the twentieth century. Deer were imported from Michigan and Kentucky to repopulate the Pennsylvania lands.

The white-tail is a hearty, robust animal and soon the restoration projects began to take hold. Rapid reproduction and better management of state lands, which had be clear cut, allowed for the white-tail herd to recover. In fact, where the land had been clear cut for timber, new growth forest emerged which proved invaluable in fortifying the newly populated deer herd.

A Very Productive Species

White-tail deer are a very productive species with doe, the female, generally producing two to three fawns each year. These fawns are quick to adapt to their surroundings and will reproduce themselves within a short period.

One Michigan study indicates that ten deer, left to freely mate, could populate an 1,100 acre area with up to 200 deer. If nothing else, this study shows that the white-tailed deer are a resilient animal.

Grace And Beauty

White tail deer are graceful and beautiful animals which play an important role in the Eco-system of Pennsylvania. The future of the Pennsylvania woodlands and its deer herd are intertwined, and to expect one to survive without the other is unrealistic.

Our job as hunters is to actively participate in the management of the white-tail deer herd. You do your part by becoming an excellent hunter, knowledgeable in the health, growth, and management of the Pennsylvania white-tailed deer herd.

We've been hunting Pennsylvania white tail since 1959. If you want more information about hunting white tail contact us here. And don't forget to stop by our store to check out the great deals on Game Trail Cameras and other high tech hunting gear. www.mountaintrailcams.com
The Pennsylvania White Tail Hunt Team



　

GARY <> THE PA. WHITETAIL DEER HUNTER

Okay, so we talk about a lot of things here, but the best thing we like to talk about is hunting white-tailed deer. It's what we do, so we like to talk about it. And what we're going to start with is some basic stuff to try and get your hunt successful. Here are some tips and tricks to get prepared to hit the field.

Know Your Area

The basics of white-tails are essential to get started, and you can get some basic facts about white-tailed deer here. But even with the basics, every herd of deer is going to be just slightly different than any other. The reason is that the terrain is going to be different, the cover is going to be different, and the food source is going to be different. That means that you need to scout your hunt pretty well before you decide to set a stand.

Head out to your location before the rut and get a look at the lay of the land. Pay particular attention to trails. Try to spot where the deer are moving and what features they seem to be following. And look for natural food sources. Try to pick up on what the deer have been feeding on during the summer. Get an idea for what is coming into season for food, and figure out were these feeding patches are.

Have A Plan

You won't have much luck if you wake up the day before hunting season and just then start to plan your hunt. You need to make sure you've got enough logistics in place to be successful. That means that you have to prep your area, make sure you have permissions, get your gear in order, and do some research into the herd.

You want to know as much about what has been going on with the DCNR's management techniques last year and through the summer, and you want to find out if this is going to affect your plans. Getting successful in the hunt is like getting successful in anything. It's as much about the preparation as it is the actual doing.

Get Your Gear In Order

Make a checklist of things you need to get done for the hunt. This should include checking all your gear to make sure its in good order, lists of supplies that you'll need to replenish before you head out, making sure all your arrangements are in order before you go, and sighting in your rifle or bow.

The last place you want to find out that you're missing something that you need is in the field on opening day. Getting prepared for the hunt before hand will make sure that when you do get out in the stand you've got a good shot at getting a good shot.

We've been hunting Pennsylvania white tail since 1959. If you want more information about hunting white tail contact us here. And don't forget to stop by our store to check out the great deals on Game Trail Cameras and other high tech hunting gear.  www.mountaintrailcams.com

　

The Pennsylvania White Tail Hunt Team