You said it right their! Since I don't rifle hunt. If I don't score early archery,can't wait for the second season. I've taken my second biggest buck ever on Jan. 5, a 10 point 20 inch inside spread.

Yep. Lots of those running around. Before, during and after rifle season. lmao.

(for anyone not aware because maybe they live 1000 miles away from Pa, yes that was sarcasm) lol.

Why wait for late season BP? That bow works during rifle season. You can key on the pressure if you play cards right and a helluva lot more buck are still alive first day of rifle (or any time during rifle) compared to first day of late season.

Nice Greg!

My biggest PA archery buck came on the second Monday of rifle season. I've managed to have at least one quality shot opportunity at a pope and young class deer every late archery or rifle season for the last 6 years. Two of those were on the very last day and one on the next to last. Unfortunately I was without my buck tag for two but we closed the deal on the other one! The fact that most guys give up is part of what makes the hunting get good again. The bucks needs to put weight back on after the rut and they get very little pressure by that time. They become easy to pattern again. Certainly not a walk in the park but very doable and very rewarding.

Doesnt hurt to have off limits lands within an sra either. lol.

The same reason huge majority of record book entries come from the very limited land area that are the sras is the same reason why more buck are left post-season. No access which equates to protection from the deer management program.

Everywhere else there are VERY few legal buck still alive post rifle season. I didnt say "none" but pretty danged few. lol.

Our lack of "big buck state" status (about as far from it as possible to be) also points out exactly how many legal buck we carry over from one year to the next.

You are absolutely correct,but! It was thirty years ago I decided that I just didn't want to shoot a deer with a rifle anymore and didn't want to be in the woods with all the orange pumpkins.The area's I hunt are all public and not very big. Those last couple years that I did hunt,I used a flinltock. Had a couple bad experiences that made me say,that's it! No more rifle season. Like you Corn,I will still play beagle,guide,help field dress and process deer for my friends.Sometimes,even camp cook. I have no problem waiting until after Christmas if I didn't score in the early season.

Thanks Bob! One of these days I'll have to get a new scanner so I can share a few photos of a couple real big boys I got with the bow.Just like you,remember the photo I shared on here of that big double drop tine. I saw his butt one more time second season. But even for the flintlock he was out of range. He's not the only big boy I saw over the years during the second season. The area's I hunt are public, but small. So these deer get pushed into area's you can't touch them. But second season.after things calm back down,plus the need for the deer to find food. I always have a good chance to still score on some of those deer in the late season. If they don't get poached! Ended up with a average 7pt. second to last day of the extended season this past year. But I wanted that double drop bad!

Does he still live? Got any bruisers pinpointed for this years late season?
I've got the routines and core area of a dandy somewhat figured out but I've not hit that spot yet this year. It usually gets better after Christmas and I prefer to wait and strike when the odds are better for me and worse for him.

Oh yeah, fire up that scanner! I wanna see some of those bucks

The last we heard of that buck was late January of this year. My buddy and I sat out trail cams in the area I got pictures of him last year. We got other deer but not him.
I posted a thread with the buck I got this season. In the thread, I stated seeing quite a few buck this season but no big boys. The one I shot was the biggest I seen. But right after the season.It was like all he!! broke loose. Went back in the area's the Monday after the season ended. All kind of new rubs and scrapes.Saw a big eight and a gorgeous ten point that pushed the twenty inch spread. So there is two that I know of if the don't get whacked in the next two weeks.Or poached. Believe me when I say this. A lot of outlawing goes on around me. Rotten SOB's.

Must've missed your thread while I was in the land of the giants. I'm goin lookin for it now.............

Land of the giants and some Freak Nasty,as one TV show likes to call them.

Not much to miss. Buck was your typical farm country 8pt. Since I harvested this deer in the last week of the season. The main objective of the thread was to encourage others that the season is not over until it's over. Just as camosteel and muzzyman showed by scoring on the last day.