stop complainin...start hunting
02-03-2010, 09:08 AM
#141
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SW PA USA
Posts: 7,220
20 years ago it was certainly easier to sit on any stump and and see deer. shooting the first yearling buck that came by was pretty easy too. In those days, buck monday was a shoot more than a hunt. Sightings and shooting opportunities shooting may have been more numerous 20 years ago but the hunting is much better today.
The hunting is better not only because the bucks are bigger on average but also because we have done away with the half day shootout that was buck Monday. We now have far more opportunity for hunters to really hunt the deer on their terms. Given the choice of one day where odds are excellent for shooting a deer versus several weeks where the opportunity to actually hunt for deer is still good, I'll take hunting opportunities over shooting opportunioty any time.
02-03-2010, 09:22 AM
#142
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SW PA USA
Posts: 7,220
some of you just cannot admit the habitat does not need deer densities of under 15 per sqaure mile to regenerate itself! Look at several of the mid western states whom produce some of the largest free range bucks on record some have deer densities of nearly 40 per sq mile...Look at the southern zone of Saskatchewan there it is near 75 per sq mile and still they manage to rear enough trophy bucks to appease most the horn mongers .
what the habitat does need is better management! Neither the PGC or the DNR could manage a good crap let alone the timber lands.
what the habitat does need is better management! Neither the PGC or the DNR could manage a good crap let alone the timber lands.
That comparison is basically meaningless. The average habitat in the midwest and Canadian plains is far different that the average habitat in PA
02-03-2010, 09:38 AM
#143
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location:
Posts: 2,978
"I'll take hunting opportunities over shooting opportunioty any time."
Why go to Illinois every year?
Because your chance of SHOOTING a nice buck are higher. With a lot less unsuccessful "huntin'" involved.
Last edited by Cornelius08; 02-03-2010 at 09:42 AM.
02-03-2010, 10:24 AM
#144
Fork Horn
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 171
Not exactly.....
20 years ago it was certainly easier to sit on any stump and and see deer. shooting the first yearling buck that came by was pretty easy too. In those days, buck monday was a shoot more than a hunt. Sightings and shooting opportunities shooting may have been more numerous 20 years ago but the hunting is much better today.
The hunting is better not only because the bucks are bigger on average but also because we have done away with the half day shootout that was buck Monday. We now have far more opportunity for hunters to really hunt the deer on their terms. Given the choice of one day where odds are excellent for shooting a deer versus several weeks where the opportunity to actually hunt for deer is still good, I'll take hunting opportunities over shooting opportunioty any time.
20 years ago it was certainly easier to sit on any stump and and see deer. shooting the first yearling buck that came by was pretty easy too. In those days, buck monday was a shoot more than a hunt. Sightings and shooting opportunities shooting may have been more numerous 20 years ago but the hunting is much better today.
The hunting is better not only because the bucks are bigger on average but also because we have done away with the half day shootout that was buck Monday. We now have far more opportunity for hunters to really hunt the deer on their terms. Given the choice of one day where odds are excellent for shooting a deer versus several weeks where the opportunity to actually hunt for deer is still good, I'll take hunting opportunities over shooting opportunioty any time.
02-03-2010, 10:42 AM
#145
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SW PA USA
Posts: 7,220
One has nothing to do with the other. Choosing to hunt other places as well as PA doesnt change the fact that our deer hunting overall has gotten better for most of the season as a result of our getting away from the one day deer shoot.
02-03-2010, 10:46 AM
#146
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Carbon County Pa.
Posts: 601
The only solution in his mind is to: Severely limit the doe kill, and eliminate the antler restrictions, thus farming 1.5 year old spikes and forkies by the buttload, so that 1 out of every 5 stump sitters can have their buck by 10 am on opening day.
In other words:....go back to the way it was 20 years ago.
That is the only thing that will make him happy.
In other words:....go back to the way it was 20 years ago.
That is the only thing that will make him happy.
02-03-2010, 10:51 AM
#147
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SW PA USA
Posts: 7,220
Not true at all. I also hunt with a rifle. The fact that I personally prefer a bow doesnt mean I "despise" gun hunters. I hunt the early muzzzy season, gun season and the flintlock season as well. I do sometimes carry my bow even in gun season but I hunt deer by all the legal means PA has to offer.
What I dont care for is the opening day slaughter that used to be PA's trademark. Our hunting is now a much better quality experience now that the demographics have changed and pressure is far lighter on that single day leaving the deer to be hunted more on their terms. Part of it is a few less hunters. Part of it is that hunters are spread all over the state instead of being concentrated in the northern tier. Part of it is that many hunters quit much earlier in the day either by choice or because they harvested a doe. All in all, it makes for a better quality hunt for those that choose to take advantage of it no matter what weapon they use.
02-03-2010, 11:15 AM
#148
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location:
Posts: 2,978
Btb says: "One has nothing to do with the other."
Choosing to hunt other places as well as PA doesnt change the fact that our deer hunting overall has gotten better for most of the season as a result of our getting away from the one day deer shoot.
Last edited by Cornelius08; 02-03-2010 at 11:26 AM.
02-03-2010, 11:20 AM
#149
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,262
Twenty five dpsm is a very reasonable deer density in areas where the habitat is decent .We'd have that today if the habitat wasn't alowed to get as degraded as it is in many areas.Unfortunately,we'd just as much complaining at 20-25 dpsm.Once the dd get around 20 dpsm,hunters still have alot of deerless days and claim there's no deer.
Last edited by DougE; 02-03-2010 at 11:22 AM.
02-03-2010, 11:21 AM
#150
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 175
All in all, it makes for a better quality hunt for those that choose to take advantage of it no matter what weapon they use.
Once again,just your opinion.The "quality of ones hunt " is at best left up to the individual hunter to decide,not what you,I,or some one else .Just because you or I prefer the "hunting" today does not make it better than years ago.It is just an opinion and we all know about those.Not defending them,but "stump hunters" pay the same for a license as you or I and are entitled the voice their opinions for or against the current deer management programs.
Once again,just your opinion.The "quality of ones hunt " is at best left up to the individual hunter to decide,not what you,I,or some one else .Just because you or I prefer the "hunting" today does not make it better than years ago.It is just an opinion and we all know about those.Not defending them,but "stump hunters" pay the same for a license as you or I and are entitled the voice their opinions for or against the current deer management programs.