Will PA ever change?
10-27-2016, 12:03 PM
#31
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,695
10-27-2016, 12:45 PM
#32
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: south eastern PA
Posts: 15,436
Some history on the flintlock season in PA. Two organized flintlock groups lobbied for years to get a season where they could hunt with flintlocks and dress in authentic clothing of the early days in the country. They knew it would be a hard sell so they asked for a season after all other deer seasons had closed and in the coldest most miserable time of the year to be afield. The board finally relented in the very late 70's and gave them a season on only a few gamelands in the state and no where else beginning after Christmas. The board also made it legal to take a buck or doe with the regular hunting license, or a doe with a doe tag this was back when only one deer a year was the law. Flintlock licenses had to be purchased by some time in September. Things went well for a short time until all of a sudden there was a Thompson center flintlock under almost every Christmas tree in the state and the flintlock harvest increased substantially. To counter that, the board passed a regulation that if you had a doe license you had to turn it in in order to buy a flintlock license. Next the hunt expanded to all game lands, next it expanded to state wide. In the beginning it was open sights only and only black powder, no pyrodex and patched round ball only. Eventually in the late 90's or early 2000's peep sights were allowed along with fiber optic open sights. Since the legalization of inlines the inline owners have been bellyaching that they want to hunt in the flintlock season with inlines. I hope that never happens, we have a unique season and I can't even count all the folks from other states who have told me they wish they had a flintlockock only season. I believe there have been enough concessions made and I see no reason to kick the guys who fought so hard and so long for a special season, after the herd has been picked over by archery and the regular firearms seasons and at the coldest time of the year to be outside by allowing inlines in the season. The fact is, there is in infinitesimal difference in the effectiveness between an inline and a center fire rifle. It has been over 40 years since the flintlock season started so my time line may be a little off, but not much.
10-27-2016, 01:48 PM
#33
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Near a lake with no fish
Posts: 1,077
Some history on the flintlock season in PA. Two organized flintlock groups lobbied for years to get a season where they could hunt with flintlocks and dress in authentic clothing of the early days in the country. They knew it would be a hard sell so they asked for a season after all other deer seasons had closed and in the coldest most miserable time of the year to be afield. The board finally relented in the very late 70's and gave them a season on only a few gamelands in the state and no where else beginning after Christmas. The board also made it legal to take a buck or doe with the regular hunting license, or a doe with a doe tag this was back when only one deer a year was the law. Flintlock licenses had to be purchased by some time in September. Things went well for a short time until all of a sudden there was a Thompson center flintlock under almost every Christmas tree in the state and the flintlock harvest increased substantially. To counter that, the board passed a regulation that if you had a doe license you had to turn it in in order to buy a flintlock license. Next the hunt expanded to all game lands, next it expanded to state wide. In the beginning it was open sights only and only black powder, no pyrodex and patched round ball only. Eventually in the late 90's or early 2000's peep sights were allowed along with fiber optic open sights. Since the legalization of inlines the inline owners have been bellyaching that they want to hunt in the flintlock season with inlines. I hope that never happens, we have a unique season and I can't even count all the folks from other states who have told me they wish they had a flintlockock only season. I believe there have been enough concessions made and I see no reason to kick the guys who fought so hard and so long for a special season, after the herd has been picked over by archery and the regular firearms seasons and at the coldest time of the year to be outside by allowing inlines in the season. The fact is, there is in infinitesimal difference in the effectiveness between an inline and a center fire rifle. It has been over 40 years since the flintlock season started so my time line may be a little off, but not much.
10-27-2016, 01:54 PM
#34
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 12,746
Some history on the flintlock season in PA. Two organized flintlock groups lobbied for years to get a season where they could hunt with flintlocks and dress in authentic clothing of the early days in the country. They knew it would be a hard sell so they asked for a season after all other deer seasons had closed and in the coldest most miserable time of the year to be afield. The board finally relented in the very late 70's and gave them a season on only a few gamelands in the state and no where else beginning after Christmas. The board also made it legal to take a buck or doe with the regular hunting license, or a doe with a doe tag this was back when only one deer a year was the law. Flintlock licenses had to be purchased by some time in September. Things went well for a short time until all of a sudden there was a Thompson center flintlock under almost every Christmas tree in the state and the flintlock harvest increased substantially. To counter that, the board passed a regulation that if you had a doe license you had to turn it in in order to buy a flintlock license. Next the hunt expanded to all game lands, next it expanded to state wide. In the beginning it was open sights only and only black powder, no pyrodex and patched round ball only. Eventually in the late 90's or early 2000's peep sights were allowed along with fiber optic open sights. Since the legalization of inlines the inline owners have been bellyaching that they want to hunt in the flintlock season with inlines. I hope that never happens, we have a unique season and I can't even count all the folks from other states who have told me they wish they had a flintlockock only season. I believe there have been enough concessions made and I see no reason to kick the guys who fought so hard and so long for a special season, after the herd has been picked over by archery and the regular firearms seasons and at the coldest time of the year to be outside by allowing inlines in the season. The fact is, there is in infinitesimal difference in the effectiveness between an inline and a center fire rifle. It has been over 40 years since the flintlock season started so my time line may be a little off, but not much.
But to complicate things even more there are fewer deer and those that remain have been harassed for about 3 months and are pretty reclusive. But on the plus side there aren't too many hunters braving the elements where I hunt.
10-27-2016, 04:34 PM
#35
Spike
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 56
Oldtimr:
Thanks for the info. I recall the late 70's when it started and 1 deer per year, but didn't know all of that - great learning.
It seems PA considers a firearm being all the same hunting weapon and carved out a niche for the Flintlock. That being very late in the year as to me it would be more appropriate for sometime in October when the leaves are at their peak.
Thanks
Thanks for the info. I recall the late 70's when it started and 1 deer per year, but didn't know all of that - great learning.
It seems PA considers a firearm being all the same hunting weapon and carved out a niche for the Flintlock. That being very late in the year as to me it would be more appropriate for sometime in October when the leaves are at their peak.
Thanks
10-27-2016, 11:21 PM
#36
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Penns Woods
Posts: 1,628
Bronko...you're right, it's because we like it that way.
And as far as the OP's question is concerned... I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT!!
BPS
10-29-2016, 06:04 AM
#37
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Hayes, Va.
Posts: 2,332
I dont believe there is anything to "go back to" in my state. We have special lottery hunts for firearms, all MLs and some of the best areas even offer more primitive regs. This is in addition to the normal seasons.
Our ML season is after firearms but it now includes centerfire pistols. Our bow season now includes crossbows and the archers are having a fit over it. Ohhhhh poor them, now they have to share their season with people who are not "like minded".
The hypocrisy is deafening as they hunt with their $1000+ compounds bows, tree climber stands, GPS, game cams and high tech thermal gear.
I don't believe for a second that primitive regs in many states have anything to do with hunting "old school". Its just a way to sell another tag and increase revenue but limit the success rate so they can boast about game numbers in their state.
Our ML season is after firearms but it now includes centerfire pistols. Our bow season now includes crossbows and the archers are having a fit over it. Ohhhhh poor them, now they have to share their season with people who are not "like minded".
The hypocrisy is deafening as they hunt with their $1000+ compounds bows, tree climber stands, GPS, game cams and high tech thermal gear.
I don't believe for a second that primitive regs in many states have anything to do with hunting "old school". Its just a way to sell another tag and increase revenue but limit the success rate so they can boast about game numbers in their state.
I agree whole heartedly!!!!! Somehow the bow hunters put themselves up as the only way to archery hunt!!! And now we have the FL only group that thinks this is the only way to hunt primitive!!! I'm getting sick with all this talk. I say have one season and hunt with whatever tool you want!!! Boy, that's about the simplest way out of this problem I would think.
10-29-2016, 06:33 AM
#38
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,605
Im usually tagged out by our ML season so that means i hunt the firearms season with either a ML or SML. Its never bothered me a bit i have to share the woods with the CF hunters.
I do apply for ML only draw hunts but not for the only hunting "with like minded". I do it because its a great chance to hunt restricted conservation/refuge areas and the tag does not count against my normal tags....Plus its a cheap hunt
Archery Deer and Turkey: Sept. 15 through Nov. 11, 2016, and Nov. 23, 2016, through Jan. 15, 2017
In contrast our firearms season is 10 days and another 7ish for "alternative season". Firearms are allowed 1 buck PERIOD including the alternative season and we have to buy our turkey tags separately. The archery lobby has refused to give up any part of their season/s for a "true primitive method season". Not even a recurve bow season.
They love their 4 deer 2buck/2doe limit plus turkey tags as long as you hunt "their way". Plus they can get unlimited additional doe tags.
I do apply for ML only draw hunts but not for the only hunting "with like minded". I do it because its a great chance to hunt restricted conservation/refuge areas and the tag does not count against my normal tags....Plus its a cheap hunt
Archery Deer and Turkey: Sept. 15 through Nov. 11, 2016, and Nov. 23, 2016, through Jan. 15, 2017
In contrast our firearms season is 10 days and another 7ish for "alternative season". Firearms are allowed 1 buck PERIOD including the alternative season and we have to buy our turkey tags separately. The archery lobby has refused to give up any part of their season/s for a "true primitive method season". Not even a recurve bow season.
They love their 4 deer 2buck/2doe limit plus turkey tags as long as you hunt "their way". Plus they can get unlimited additional doe tags.
Last edited by Gm54-120; 10-29-2016 at 06:52 AM.
10-29-2016, 08:05 PM
#39
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Penns Woods
Posts: 1,628
I agree whole heartedly!!!!! Somehow the bow hunters put themselves up as the only way to archery hunt!!! And now we have the FL only group that thinks this is the only way to hunt primitive!!! I'm getting sick with all this talk. I say have one season and hunt with whatever tool you want!!! Boy, that's about the simplest way out of this problem I would think.
The PA late deer season is not just a flintlock season, flintlock and late archery are open at the same time. I'm not a "flintlock only" guy, but I see no reason for the state to meddle with a season that's been in place for nearly 40 years now.
BPS
Last edited by Blackpowdersmoke; 10-29-2016 at 08:10 PM.