I've been very excited with the new regs for this year, and the improved deer herd each of the last several years-higher body weights at camp, less deer, but more and bigger bucks harvested!

The Bradford area camp I attend just celebrated it's 30th year, with 167 bucks taken through the end of this season! What's been very encouraging is we havn't shot a spike in a few years(by choice), and the 3-4 pointers have been few and far between. This year we harvested 7 bucks that met the new guidelines, with 1-10 pt(a camp 1st), 1-9 point, 2 8's, and 3-6 points. My personal harvest was a 2.5 year old browtine-less 6-point, the 6th buck I saw, and 3rd legal buck, by 10:15 opening morning! We've been averaging 7 bucks each year for several years now, with 14 guys in camp this year. 4 guys left after just 1 day of hunting-no bucks taken, due to personal reasons and weather. So out of the 10 guys who hunted at least 2 days, there were 7 bucks. I was still-hunting with a friend the 2nd day when he shot the 2nd or 3rd largest buck at camp ever, a 3.5 year old beautiful 8-point, who had no fat caused by probably heavy rutting and running! My friend, also from MI, is 22 years-old, and was so excited he could hardly talk. What an awesome experience.

The guys at camp, who although remember the herds of 80 coming down the mountain with 1-2 racked bucks in the 70's and early 80's, say this is the best hunting, the past couple of years, they have had in their lives!

I am very excited about next year, and my annual trip to the beautiful PA woods!

Just a note: We hunt hard! we are out in the woods all day, know the woods like the back of our hands, and sometimes walk up to 1.5 hours into our areas before light-up to 2 miles up and down. I personally pack my deer out because I'm so far back. Our results might be a little better than others, but hey, we hunt! and it's worth the effort.

Just had to give a report on a wonderful hunt!

Jeff...U.P. of Michigan

Jeff:
congratulations on the hunt. I hunt in clinton co. & we are experiencing the same thing you are whem it comes to deer quality. The area i hunt in produced 2 awesome 8 pts this yr & i have to say that i never would have thought of seeing such nice bucks ever before in my life. I am very excited about the upcoming season as i saw 13 small shooter bucks (legal) after i got my 8 pt on wed of the 1st week & i saw at least 7 different bucks from monday thru wednesday that i passed up on. I am an out of state hunter too ,,I live in Va but the land that i hunt on in Pa has been in my family since the creation of dirt i think & i would'nt miss that 1st week of buck season for anything. Good luck this yr & i hope ya keep shootin the big boys
Mike

Congrats on some great huntin.

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congratulations on the hunt. I hunt in clinton co. & we are experiencing the same thing you are whem it comes to deer quality.

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Mike, where in Clinton County do you hunt? I live in Lock Haven and hunt near Renovo. Just curious as to where you hunt.
Matt