Anyone hunting the late archer/muzzle loader seasons? Need advice.

tabby · 11-19-2003, 03:24 PM

I will be hunting in north west PA durring late archery. With the new point restrictions I am going have to hunt hard to tag out. And I don' t have a doe tag. And I hope they still have the antlers.

What is the best stragity for getting a deer? I would use my friends muzzle loader, I think he would let me, but I haven' t hunted with the bow for such a long time I am dieing to. I will have about a week to hunt, and plan on hunting all day, stalking, driving, stand hunting.

Any help would be great. Thanks
steve

MikeE51848 · 11-19-2003, 04:15 PM

Public or private land? On public, hunt early, hunt late, take a nap in between as deer are nocturnal and spooked. Find a land that has other hunters and try drives. Hunt thick cover. Hope for snow. On private, non-pressured lands, your original plan wil work. Page 53 of hunting digest says you can kill a doe if you have an un-used antlered tag. Also try the DMAP program, go to PGC web site for more info. They are practically begging you to take antlerless tags on selected state lands.

tabby · 11-19-2003, 09:22 PM

I am hunting on private land.

I was not aware about harvesting a doe. I will look into that.

thanks.

MikeE51848 · 11-19-2003, 09:41 PM

That might be with a muzzeloader only and not a bow. Better check regs.

Tomster · 11-20-2003, 05:55 AM

tabby,

I hunt in the same places I normally hunt which is private property, swamps, and look for food sources, if possible.

Last year, when hunting the late muzzleloader season, in the Poconos we had 2 feet of snow on Christmas day. That made it very difficult to do much of anything in the late season. The deer were staying under cover and near any food sources available.

I don' t mind some snow but 2 feet is a bit much. The only way to get around was using snow shoes, which can get tiring.

Good luck....

Tomster