A real nice whitetail buck taken with one of my game trail camera`s
Monday, September 23, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013
A 1976 DEER HUNTING SEASON FOR THE AGES
FIRST DAY 1976 DEER SEASON
This deer hunting story will bring
back memories for a lot you Pennsylvania hunters. It`s a story for the ages that
took place back in the 1976 season. The place we called “THE CABIN” was located in Northeastern Pa. known
as the Endless Mountains in Sullivan
County on a mountain called THE TYLER. It`s all family,
my father-uncles-brothers-cousins. This place we called home for hunting season
was an old farm house down in the fields and you know where we hunted, that`s
right up on top of – “THE Tyler Mountain”- a good two hour climb - sound
familiar. Lot`s of stories in that old place from deer to rabbits and plain old
everyday life. Some one always had a story, it was a great place in time.
A YEAR TO REMEMBER FOREVER
Deer season in Pa. always opens the
first Monday after Thanksgiving. Well it stared to rain Sunday night, nothing
new, any hunter can tell you that and
it was still raining Monday morning at
4:30 am. So me and my brother looked at each other and said “you ready” let`s
go. Nothing stopped us in them days. I don`t have to tell you we got soaked.
Half way up the mountain it changed over to snow. Got to our stands about 6:30
am, still snowing and getting worse, talk about die hard, that`s us. Now in
those day`s we did not have the game
trail camera`s we have today or maybe our hunting tactics`s would
have been different, especially on a day like today. Well anyway you could`t see
very far, 40 maybe 50 yards. Seen some deer around 7:am, could`t make them out.
There was some shooting here and there, some were close, not bad for the lousy
conditions, always on the first day “right,”you hunter`s know what I`am
talking about. Did`t know at the time but my brother shot at 7:00 am.
NOW THINGS STARTED TO
HAPPEN
It`s now 7:45 am, snowing harder then ever and here comes some deer.
One – two – three – four - all doe, they stopped for a bit, started walking
again, then five – six, the seventh one is a buck – scope was fogged up - snow
covered – but I shot anyway. I knew I missed, shot high, never got on the deer
but they did`t seem to run, so I put another shell in the chamber and it would`t
cock – the bolt was frozen up on my 303 British Enfield with all the rain and
snow. So now what do I do, you guested it, took a walk over to where I shot –
deer were running everywhere. Speaking of deer everywhere, that`s the way it was
in the olden day`s. Remember the trail
camera I mentioned earlier, you probably did`t need one then, not
like today with a lot less deer running around. Okay back to my story. Did`t see
the buck, I knew I missed - what a feeling - first day of deer season - deer
running around and a frozen gun. So I headed over to my brother, remember he
shot at 7:00 am. We call him “Dead Eye” because he don`t miss - figure I get his
gun. Well on the way over he shoot`s again. What was that shot for – fox –
coyote - because in those day`s you are only allowed one deer. Well I was wrong,
he did miss the first buck and got this one, a spike. I told my brother what
happened so he gave me his gun and I headed back to my
stand.
It`s now 1:30 pm: I turn around, there`s a spike buck
looking right at me at 30 yards – open shot – my gun is on my left – deer on the
right – we are staring at each other – I have no choice – went for my gun –
picked it up – turned - kneed down - he`s still standing there – “can`t believe
this” - I fired he takes off like I was shooting blanks. I said what the hell is
going on here, two bucks the first day - two misses - no deer. I was ready to
quit. I walk over where he stood – no deer – no blood – dam. Went back to my
stand thinking about what just happened. You have to be blind to miss a shot like
that. It`s now 3:00
pm, snow has let up quite a bit, so I decided to
go back and look for sign. Well guest what, I was looking in the wrong
direction. When this deer took off, he ran about 40 yards and made a 90 degree
turn. I could see where he knocked snow from the laurel bushes. Then under the
snow, what looked like brown leaves, was blood – a lot of blood – a few inches
of snow covered over any sign but I could follow it. There - maybe 70 yards or
so, laid my buck, snow covered and starting to stiffen up.
HAPPY
HUNTERS
Met my brother at the usual spot at the end of
the day, he had his deer and I had mine. We shook hands and said “let`s get
dragging” – get these deer down the mountain – have a few beers – tell our
stories of today`s hunt. These were the “REAL GOOD OLD
DAY`S” that I will never forget. We are still hunting today and
have many more deer hunting stories like this to share with you hunters. Just
one more day in the woods of a deer hunter, hope there are many more for us and
all you hunter`s a like. We are “Old Die Hard Hunters” -
me and my brother are the only two left now – we are not the modern day hunter`s
of today but if you want stories like this to continue - I guess we have to let
the high tech world of the game
trail camera`s to do the looking and scouting for us. So I say to
all of you HUNTER`S” DON~T GIVE UP <> DON~T EVER GIVE UP <> This Great
Sport Of Deer
Hunting <>
See You In
The Woods !!!!!
Monday, September 9, 2013
PA. WHITETAIL HISTORY
If your serious about hunting Pennsylvania white tail deer then you better get an understanding of what this animal is all about. The whitetail is a great game animal, and challenges hunters year in and year out with its crafty wilderness survival skills. Plenty of Pennsylvania hunters have had their hunting trips totally foiled by this excellent animal.
Pennsylvania has a great population of white tail deer. Their range is throughout the state and they are often seen on roadsides, in parks or recreation areas, and even in yards of homes backing close to wild woodland area. The whitetail has been part of Pennsylvania's heritage since the the first settlers stepped foot here. And the deer herd has provided clothing, shelter, and food for early settlers and Indians. In modern times the herd provides countless hours of recreational enjoyment for hunters and non hunters alike.
Pennsylvania White Tail History
Bucks, the male whitetail, and Does, the female whitetail, are native to Pennsylvania. But at one point they were very nearly hunted to extinction within the state. As Pennsylvania was being settled, much native habitat of the white tail was threatened and hunting of the species was unregulated. The over hunting of the Pennsylvania white tail was so severe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that between 1904 and 1923 the Pennsylvania whitetail herd was virtually non-existent.
But as management techniques and habitat preservation efforts improved, the Pennsylvania whitetail population has rebounded. Now, the whitetail is a again common sight within the state.
The Keen White Tail Senses
Survival in the wild for the whitetail requires that they be alert to predators and naturally occurring environmental dangers. And that includes you if you decide to become a whitetail hunter. Because of this need, the white tail in Pennsylvania, along with the rest of the species, have developed keen senses of sight, smell, and hearing. These senses make the whitetail a competent challenge to even the most experienced hunter. They know how to evade you, and they've been doing it a long time so they're good at it.
White Tail Habitat
Pennsylvania whitetail are woodland animals, but that doesn't mean they won't use swampy or marshy areas for cover. They prefer areas with diverse ecosystems and food supplies, and look for ranges with mixes of brush and timber stands. With the advent of farming, the whitetail has become accustomed to the plentiful food supply of farmers throughout the state. With this added advantage, the herd tends to congregate along hedgerows of farmers fields seeking out easy feed.
White Tail Deer Activity
Pennsylvania whitetail are active around the clock, but in the evening activity increases. They are not necessarily nocturnal, which allows stand and stalk hunters ample opportunity during the day to take a shot. Typically, activity increases in the rut when Bucks seek Does for mating.
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
Pennsylvania has a great population of white tail deer. Their range is throughout the state and they are often seen on roadsides, in parks or recreation areas, and even in yards of homes backing close to wild woodland area. The whitetail has been part of Pennsylvania's heritage since the the first settlers stepped foot here. And the deer herd has provided clothing, shelter, and food for early settlers and Indians. In modern times the herd provides countless hours of recreational enjoyment for hunters and non hunters alike.
Pennsylvania White Tail History
Bucks, the male whitetail, and Does, the female whitetail, are native to Pennsylvania. But at one point they were very nearly hunted to extinction within the state. As Pennsylvania was being settled, much native habitat of the white tail was threatened and hunting of the species was unregulated. The over hunting of the Pennsylvania white tail was so severe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that between 1904 and 1923 the Pennsylvania whitetail herd was virtually non-existent.
But as management techniques and habitat preservation efforts improved, the Pennsylvania whitetail population has rebounded. Now, the whitetail is a again common sight within the state.
The Keen White Tail Senses
Survival in the wild for the whitetail requires that they be alert to predators and naturally occurring environmental dangers. And that includes you if you decide to become a whitetail hunter. Because of this need, the white tail in Pennsylvania, along with the rest of the species, have developed keen senses of sight, smell, and hearing. These senses make the whitetail a competent challenge to even the most experienced hunter. They know how to evade you, and they've been doing it a long time so they're good at it.
White Tail Habitat
Pennsylvania whitetail are woodland animals, but that doesn't mean they won't use swampy or marshy areas for cover. They prefer areas with diverse ecosystems and food supplies, and look for ranges with mixes of brush and timber stands. With the advent of farming, the whitetail has become accustomed to the plentiful food supply of farmers throughout the state. With this added advantage, the herd tends to congregate along hedgerows of farmers fields seeking out easy feed.
White Tail Deer Activity
Pennsylvania whitetail are active around the clock, but in the evening activity increases. They are not necessarily nocturnal, which allows stand and stalk hunters ample opportunity during the day to take a shot. Typically, activity increases in the rut when Bucks seek Does for mating.
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
Monday, September 2, 2013
THE 2013 PENNSYLVANIA DEER SEASON
Depending on your management unit, the Pennsylvania whitetail season opens September 2nd 2013 and runs through January 25th 2014. So depending on your mode of hunting and whether you want to take a buck or a doe, you will be able to find whitetail hunting throughout the State during these dates. Here's a link to the DCNR for Pennsylvania hunting season details. That's plenty of time to find a few days and get into the woods. But is the extended season good for the herd?
A quick trip to the comment section of PennLive.com's web site will quickly tell you that there are many points of contention about the length, and harvest numbers in Pennsylvania's deer hunt. Biologist have come up with management numbers that sit better with with a lot of seasoned hunters than they do the legislators in Harrisburg. And some are saying that the legislators in Harrisburg seem to be out of touch with the reality of the herd and may be acting in the interest of the insurance companies. Ultimately, the questions are being asked if the herd is being jeopardized because of the long season and plentiful harvest numbers.
But realistically, keeping the deer season longer allows access to a lot more hunters. Comments on the site include some that say a working man doesn't have access to a heck of a lot of free time, and plenty of Pennsylvania hunters are lucky if they can get into the woods for two or three days even with the extended seasons.
Other veterans respond to these calls by saying that the herd has been thinned to the point that where when once thirty to forty deer would be seen in a day, there are now barely ten. This has alarmed some.
PennLive points out that plenty of biologists want the season to return to the traditional two week rifle season running concurrent for antlered and anterless. And while some hunters may enjoy the benefits of having a longer season, the two week season seems to be preferred by hunters 30 and younger. The veteran hunters, those over 60, seem to line up in opposition to shortening the season.
PennLive adds that some in power think shortening the season, and restricting the harvest would be beneficial to the overall hunting community. Quoting Commissioner Ronald Weaner, PennLive states "There are a whole lot of our population that are rifle-only hunters, who hunt one day a year or three days a year. I don't want to disenfranchise them by killing off half the deer before they get a chance to hunt."
Pennsylvania deer hunters remain split on the benefits or drawbacks of extending the season. Some see that giving more time to the season gives more access to hunters that otherwise would miss out. But others see it as too much hunting too fast and those who can only get into the woods late in the season would be missing out on plenty of the good whitetail action.
Regardless of the your position, it seems that it's increasingly important for you to truly understand the herd, and how to hunt in Pennsylvania.
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
Is The Deer Season Too Long?
A quick trip to the comment section of PennLive.com's web site will quickly tell you that there are many points of contention about the length, and harvest numbers in Pennsylvania's deer hunt. Biologist have come up with management numbers that sit better with with a lot of seasoned hunters than they do the legislators in Harrisburg. And some are saying that the legislators in Harrisburg seem to be out of touch with the reality of the herd and may be acting in the interest of the insurance companies. Ultimately, the questions are being asked if the herd is being jeopardized because of the long season and plentiful harvest numbers.
But realistically, keeping the deer season longer allows access to a lot more hunters. Comments on the site include some that say a working man doesn't have access to a heck of a lot of free time, and plenty of Pennsylvania hunters are lucky if they can get into the woods for two or three days even with the extended seasons.
Other veterans respond to these calls by saying that the herd has been thinned to the point that where when once thirty to forty deer would be seen in a day, there are now barely ten. This has alarmed some.
PennLive points out that plenty of biologists want the season to return to the traditional two week rifle season running concurrent for antlered and anterless. And while some hunters may enjoy the benefits of having a longer season, the two week season seems to be preferred by hunters 30 and younger. The veteran hunters, those over 60, seem to line up in opposition to shortening the season.
Is The Herd Too Thin Too early
PennLive adds that some in power think shortening the season, and restricting the harvest would be beneficial to the overall hunting community. Quoting Commissioner Ronald Weaner, PennLive states "There are a whole lot of our population that are rifle-only hunters, who hunt one day a year or three days a year. I don't want to disenfranchise them by killing off half the deer before they get a chance to hunt."
Split Seasons Splitting Pennsylvania Hunters
Pennsylvania deer hunters remain split on the benefits or drawbacks of extending the season. Some see that giving more time to the season gives more access to hunters that otherwise would miss out. But others see it as too much hunting too fast and those who can only get into the woods late in the season would be missing out on plenty of the good whitetail action.
Regardless of the your position, it seems that it's increasingly important for you to truly understand the herd, and how to hunt in Pennsylvania.
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
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