Hey there... I drove all through your area this past weekend. Man did I see a lot of deer from the roads and interstates! Hopefully you guys aren't going to get mad and yell at me like, "Shhhhhh, that's my secret hunting spot you idiot!!"
See, I am originally from NY (Poughkeepsie area) and my wife is from Buffalo, NY. We are now living in Richmond, VA. Anyway, we had to go up to Buffalo this past weekend for a wedding. We take a scenic route to Buffalo (open up mapquest if you want)....
www.mapquest.com
We leave Richmond, VA and head Northwest toWinchester, VA, and up through WV, MD, and up to the PA Turnpike. Then we pickup I-99/Route 220 and head up further, and cut over towards Phillipsburg and Clearfield to I-80. From I-80, we head to Dubois to Route 219 and take that all the way to Buffalo, NY.
PA Hunters: Look at the tiny town called Sandy Ridge on Route 350 up from Tyrone and Bald Eagle. I saw about 6 does and fawns in the woods. Then up Route 219 beyond Dubois, not quite to Ridgeway, I saw two spike bucks running (chasing each other?) along somebody's fenceline up on a ridge.
NY Hunters: Look at the town of Salamanca, NY on mapquest. Route 219 comes up from Bradford, PA and meets up with Route 17/I-86, and continues to Salamanca. Just before Salamanca, you'll see the Allegheny river running parallel with I-86. My daughter was driving and I was sitting in the passengers seat and hollered "Oh my God!" and started everyone in the car. Somewhere along I-86 and the Allegheny river, it looks as though there is an island(?) or something which "landlocked" a humongous deer herd along the river bank. I saw so many deer, it looked like a wildlife exhibit or petting zoo!!!
I told my daughter to pullover, but got outvoted in the car. I couldn't believe it... I sawcountless does and a few smaller bucks wondering around like they don't have a care in the world! I am thinking they are "landlocked" because of the Allegheny river and I think train tracks and Route 417 are on the other side. Wow!!!!
I hope I didn't devuldge someones hunting area. But you guys in PA and southern tier NY have some excellent deer!!!
Butch A.