I've lived here since day one and admit we've always had a massive amount of local hunters in the deer woods. Though it seems as of late, (the last 3 years or so), that a larger number of non PA residents are purchasing camps / land partnerships in PA. Turkey hunting on public land the last 4 years proves almost impossible to avoid human contact, with archery season coming in a close second. Does anyone share this increase in crowded hunting grounds or is it a safe bet PA leads the pack for this land is your land - this spot is taken land. License sales go through the roof and the Game Commission keeps upping the anty. What's your thoughts on this... AND... didja ever notice how many posts here are from PA hunters? No wonder we can make some of the best shots, all we do is shoot!

I'm fortunate enough to hunt on a large tract of private land so hunting pressure is not a factor. But outside of that, yes, there are a lot of hunters in our woods each fall. Its a wonder we have any deer left by season's end. I beleive that private land saves a lot of deer each year. If we didn't have any private ground, hunters would chase the deer to the next state each fall.

I think this is one of the reasons why PA will never be a trophy producing state. Too many hunters whacking deer that are not reaching maturity.

First, let me say that I am one of those non-residents that have a hunting camp in PA and have for over 25 yrs now.

It has been said that on the 1st day of rifle season with the number of ARMED hunters in the woods in PA if they were an army it would be the the 3rd largest arm in the world.

Muzzyman88 makes mention about PA never being a trophy state.......in our area we have seen a difference in the racks since the 3pt of better started. How about your area?

I have definately seen a difference in rack size, especially this year so far. PA is an insane place to be hunting during rifle season, i like to ride around and see all of the little orange men dotting the forests........ I do agree with muzzyman88 about not being a trophy state, but i'm no trophy taker so it really doen't bother me, would be nice though[8D]

I hunt deer in Erie County and Mckean County. I hunt trukeys in Erie too, and its all on land that is not posted. I just hunt it because no one tells me not to. I have seen hunters there, but there is suffiecent number of game. Jolly archer, where at do you hunt?

A lot of people think it is not a trophy state, but the State Record and the two archery records where killed 3 miles from my house. I dont know about other Pa hunters, but I have seen some huge bucks. Last year I saw 12 bucks in a fields and the smallest was a 8 point as wide as his ears. I also saw a buck two years ago in the same general area, that I could count 18 on him as he was galloping next to are car. I bet that deer could of been in the 20's as far as points. His tines where all around the same length, 12-13 inches, and perfectly semetrical with probably a 24 inch spread.

Reflexkid...you make me ill.

As a large property owner, I will tell you that you are a big reason that people who take the time to ask permission are NOT allowed to hunt places.

Just because somebody didn't post their land does not give you the right to trapse all over it. PURCHASING the land and PAYING PROPERTY TAXES give you the right to hunt that land.

If you ask and get permission...more power to you. If you don't ask and just hunt, that simply puts hunters in a bad light. And when that property owner does finally get fed up with ALL the hunters on his/her land...the ones that asked and got written permission will lost their rights, too.

reflexkid where abouts do you live I'd like to see these bucks.

You mean Penn. residents actually hunt in PA. i thought they all came down here to WV. We get alot of Pennsylvania hunters down here in the eastern panhandle. Sounds like its pretty crowded up there during season that may be why. We always joke around about putting up a sign on the national forest land around here during buck season that says "Welcome to Pennsylvania". Seems like it has been the opposite around here the last few years, the crowds are getting smaller. I remember growing up when our little town quadrupiled in size during hunting season, there arent as many people coming up here these days. Im just joking around with you penn. boys so dont take offense, i will buy you a beer when you come down in November.

Dave

I can attest to that BeltedMag. I live in Sleepy Creek WMA, and sometimes help out with checking in some deer, and it seems there are almost 1/2 PA residents. Of course, maybe its just the PA residents that walk farther than 20 yards off the road and actually get deer.