Neat Statistics!!!!
 

Here are a few stitistics that I pulled from a book I am currently reading. These statistics were gathered in 2001 but I wouldn't imagine that they have changed much. I feel sorry for you guys in my native state of WV and also you guys in PA. No wonder when I hunted in WV it felt like I was always running into other people. Take them with a grain of salt. I just thought they were interesting stats. This may get long so bare with me. Just wanted to see your guys' thoughts and opinions on some of these things.

RE: Neat Statistics!!!!
 

I've read the same book (John Eberhart - Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails I believe?). Michigan, PA, WV are high pressure states. It's so bad in Mid Michigan right now that you just can't get away. I see bowhunters nearly every time I go into the woods. It doesn't matter if you're on state land or private land either. I have permission to hunt 2 private spots. One is 20 acreas and five people hunt there. The other is 80 acres and at least8 other people hunt there. Thats why you don't see too many big bucks killed around here.

And if you think its bad in bowseason, you should see Opening Morning of rifle season. The woods looks like a pumpkin patch and sounds like the fourth of July!

RE: Neat Statistics!!!!
 

It is interesting to say the least. In the areas that I hunt it would be hard to believe there were that many hunters, but there must be. I feel very lucky to have my own land

RE: Neat Statistics!!!!
 

You're not kidding! I am now lucky enough to hunt my fiances family farm. Its about 700 acres. During bow season the most hunters that will be out on it in a day is about 6 people. When gun season comes my fiances dad has to go and figure out who gave persmission for all the people that sign up to hunt. I figure there will be about 20 people on the farm tommorrow. This farm is below the shotgun/rifle line.

My parents own 50 acres of woods just north of the rifle line and I swear to god that I have heard machine guns going off on opening day. I never once saw a mature buck north of the rifle line.

RE: Neat Statistics!!!!
 

RE: Neat Statistics!!!!
 

I agree with you a 100% its gotten really bad where I hunt ever since word got out that my friend shot two big bucks last season everybody and their freaking family is there this year.
Before there was only seven bow hunters hunting 480 acres , now this year there's gotta be over 20 of them and you talk about pressure I haven't tag one yet.

RE: Neat Statistics!!!!
 

You all are preaching to the choir to a PA'ian [8D]....but I feel for ya...lol;) and that is only talking bowhunters per square mile, for PA, now add the small gamers, upland bird hunters, duck and geese hunters, earlier muzzleloader season, early senior/jr rifle doe season, turkey hunters and see where those numbers go and then wonder why PA bowhunters bitch. Taking a 2.5 year old here is like taking a 4.5 year old anywhere else...well sorta and anything older is rare and smart. Same goes for our turkeys, if you can kill a spring gobbler in PA, you can kill one anywhere in the country. You wanna talk pressure.

RE: Neat Statistics!!!!
 

on public land in ny its more like 40 people per square mile,

RE: Neat Statistics!!!!
 

rob spoke for PA......and i couldnt agree more. i think we got more hunters then deer:eek: and rob is also right...theres many bowhunters..but factor in ALL the other hunters in the woods and it makes things rough. gotta love PA....

spring turkey is redulous..its hard to find a bird that aint been called to and shot at..spooked off the roost and everything else.

gotta be thankful for the successful hunts around here thats for sure....

RE: Neat Statistics!!!!
 

That's very interesting thanks for sharing. Here in S.D. it looks like you don't need to worry about other hunters in your area.

RE: Neat Statistics!!!!
 

Reading posts like these sure make me feel blessed. I hunt public land and I've seen probably less than 20 hunter total this year. Almost never see small game hunters. I don't think I could handle hunting in Pa...I wouldn't be able to deal with it.

RE: Neat Statistics!!!!
 

Yeah PA is a treat........LOL:D

(But I did see less guys in PA this year than a certain other state right Greg?;))
So if PA has 6 bowhunters per square mile, and the area of Clinton Co. that our camp is located in has 6 deer per square mile that makes it a pretty fair fight huh!? :eek:Everybody gets a deer!

This is also exactly the reason why you will hear fly fishing guides out west say that many of their best flyfishing clients and guys they run into on the water ripping lips are from PA.
We have so many fly fishermen crowding our famous waters and the fish can be so picky that to sort of use Rob's quote..........if you can catch fish in PA on a fly you can pound the crap out of them anywhere else.;)

RE: Neat Statistics!!!!
 

If I ever move to another state I'm going to Iowa! In fact, on the drive home from Illinois we stopped at a truck stop in Indiana. We struck up a conversation with a fellow Michigander who was in the process of moving to Iowa to bowhunt during his retirement years! He said the hunting at home was no good any more.

RE: Neat Statistics!!!!
 

I just saw the forecast for opening morning of rifle season tomorrow. They are predicting fog and low visibility. Thats scary considering how many people are going to be in the woods with rifles, many of them sitting on the ground.