How did everyone dofor the first day of PA Archery season? Unfortunately I am in the middle of packing for an upcoming move so I won't be doing much hunting for a few weeks. Let me know how you did!!

***Please refrain from commenting on any PA deer management issues on this thread. Thank you!!***

I rained out in the morning and took both sons out this afternoon. I put them both on good spots and they both saw plenty of deer but no horns and no quality shot opportunities. I had posyioned myself so I wasn't likely to intercept any deer headed toward the boys and the deer wound up spending their evening between the two but not givng either a shot. Just as it got too dark, they all decided to have a community meeting under my youngest son.

Not a bad day overall

Got a doe in 5D during the special regs early season. Missed a BIG doe today in Sullivan County (3B) due to my bow string slapping my jacket sleave (34 degrees this morning). Saw 9 deer on the hunt. 4 others on my way out. Only buck was a 5-pointer which would have been a 1970s-1980s trophy but not a tag burner these days.

I got 3 does in the early season. I only got out in the evening yesterday and saw a bunch of spikes and 3pts and a couple does. Nothing worth shooting.

Opening day kill in PA today. Hooked up with a farmer for a 125 acre property next to the gamelands. Only got access 2 weeks ago so I didn't get much scouting time. This past Thurs I picked out a tree near a few runs along a ridge full of nut trees. Got in really early so I wouldn't bump them back. At around 7:20 this guy came walking up behind me through some very heavy stuff. Only 1 opp for a shot at 25 yards and he would gone after that. Drilled him with the Spitfire and he had almost no reaction. I heard the impact and he jumped ran 10 yards and then fooled around and walked back down the hill. Took me 20 minutes to find the bloodtrail and I followed drop by drop(sometimes 10 yards between drop) for 2 hours. I can not tell you how little blood there was. Lucky for me he stayed on a run. After 2 hours he was all the way down the mountain and crossed some grasses and I lost him for the 10th time. Starting doing circle after circle and all of a sudden I am standing looking at a buck staring at me 20 yds out. I was not sure if it was my deer or not. Face off for a couple minutes and he walked 5 yards and layed down. I now knew I was on the right deer. After 10 min he got up and I quickly got into position and snuck in a kill shot.

Lesson to everyone here. Search search search for blood and stick with it. Over 2 hours of trailing and I got em. This buck was so heavy I couldn't get him in the xterra. Probably #25 in PA and he certainly had the largest body size of any deer I ever shot in PA. I wrestled pulled leaned shoved him into the car.

Autopsy revealed that I missed the lungs by 2 inches and hit the edge of the liver. Reason for the long trail. Quick shots in a narrow opening can be tough.

Congrats on a nice buck and a good story

The story is a paste from my Bowcountry post. Lots of details. I am no Hemingway!!!

I can tell you one thing, I followed this guy drop by drop for a very long time. You gotta just stick to it. The satisfaction of finally finding his was better than the excitement when I saw him coming toward me. After 2 hours I was high 5'ing myself and just lovin it.

Congrats!! Nice buck and good job staying on the blood trail!!

way to go, congrats

Congrats and nice buck. Where are you from? That plan looks awfully familiar.