So there seems to be a PA bashing going on. I have made some comments myself, that there does seem to be less deer than in previous years. So why go?

Well for me rifle season is less about the hunting and more about the gathering of friends and relatives in a small camp in Clarion Pa. Although we have dwindled down to a precious 6 of us now, there were times when 10-14 were common. We had people coming in from Florida, Alabama, Wisconsin,Indiana, Ohio and otherStates.As job and family obligations moved us apart, we could always count on 1 week in late November to bring us together. Even though time passes, and with it, so must some of our loved ones, they are each remembered by the racks or thier last hunting license, adorning the walls. Tales of old are still told, and although we have heard them all a hundred times we listen and laugh as if it was the first time. So while it seems that deer numbers are changing in PA, next year, God Willing, I will be there with at least 5 others with no place i'd rather be!

When it comes to serious hunting it is a more individual pursuit, myself, my bow, and my passion!

"It's Time to Drink Beer and Get Away From the Wife!" or the song goes something like that.

Kidding aside. It givesme solitude and relaxation; is the #1 reason. Life from me would be so much different without hunting. Hunting gives me what very few other things can.

Amen brotha. Opening day of rifle and deer camp is all about tradition and time spent with good friends and family.

I agree 100%!!!!!!!! There nothing like it, except being in the big woods hidden from everything and everyone with your bow in hand! Pretty cool!!!!!!! Good post!

I go because its another day in the woods. I don't have the group hunting comraderie that many others have. Anymore it's just me.I have no traditionsto follow, or camp to go to. Gun season is my "experiment". Often times I find myself hunting new places, or using new guns(or handguns in my case). Iam serious during the archery season, but come gun time, Ijust try to relax and enjoythe day.

I look foward to every gun season because i get to hang out with my friends from back home. I dont think any of us mind if we get a deer or not it is just a reason to get together and hang out. Now that my brother and I are in college gun season is one of the very few times we get to spend any time together. There is something special about being out in the woods with a gun the same day as every other hunter. I dont think i have ever slepta wink the friday before gun season, just too excited i guess.

I must have been under a rock, what's all the PA bashing about???

A lot of Pennsylvania hunters are POed at their game commision for what they see as gross mismanagement of the deer herd , some have even organized and are suing from what I've read . The herd , especially the does , appears to have been reduced to an unacceptable level to them . Folks accustomed to seeing 50-100 deer in a single day are now devastated that they may only see 5-10 .

I personally dont have the camp/cabin group comradery thing either. It pretty much just me. My father hunts occasionally too but not much. I would love to experience this once to see how it is, but for now its just me and my bow/gun all of the time.

It's also a time to spreadthe traditionon to your youngsters and watch them develope from year to year.