RE: PA deer harvest down 17%
 

That sucks![:@]

RE: PA deer harvest down 17%
 

It was the weather in rifle season that was bad. I think it was a matter of fewer people out the second day as well as lots of snow for the first saturday. I saw about as many deer as I normally do. Our group of 8 usually end up with at least 6-8 deer from archery, rifle and muzzle loader this year we only harvested 3.
Chalk it up to weather and over confidence in our case we didn't hunt as hard during rifle season figuring muzzleloader would bring us at least 2 deer. Well 20 shots and a bunch of misfires later no one managed any luck with the smoke poles either. Had a hell of a time and lots of chances just no success.

Late season I saw some of the most intersting things in the last 5 years. We saw normal herd of doe 20-25, 2 bucks with them, one spike, one shooter, then on the other side of the property we had another group of 4 bucks, 3 of which were 6 or more points (one 10 pointer in the bunch that is a bruiser). It is very rare for us to see more than a buck or two let alone that many shooter bucks. We can't wait for next year and had a great time regardless of no success.

RE: PA deer harvest down 17%
 

I think Gary needs to lengthen the bow season to 4 months....

;):)

RE: PA deer harvest down 17%
 

I like it Frank!

Lets start bow season sept 1 and go till the end of February;)

And give the muzzleloaders a whack at a buck early (flintlocks only)
After all, we have seen that we shouldnt depend on a huge kill from the rifle guys who only go out a day or two if the weather is a little nasty.

BTW I saw 52 deer on the last day of the late season including 3 bucks, two of which were AR legal. Not one hunter outside of my gang! Wasnt a matter of no deer to shoot around here. Juat a matter of fair weather hunters.

RE: PA deer harvest down 17%
 

Yeah, but BT, even some "foul weather" hunters were daunted by -10 degree temps on that last day. I made it out but only for about 2 hours...before my fingers about fell off. Ofcourse, sitting 20 feet off the ground in a treestand did not help matters much....:)

For what it is worth I saw 4 deer on the walk in....:D

RE: PA deer harvest down 17%
 

I live and hunt in Bucks,and have not seen a decrease in deer pop.But have seen a decrease in hunters,even on nice days.I think the new doe tag thing is whats hurting .They say tags are unlimited but they where sold out the by the 1 week of the 2nd mailing,well thats not unlimited.And who has time to travel all around 5c and chase down tags? I think the old way was alot better.

RE: PA deer harvest down 17%
 

hey PABOWHUNTER, i hate to break it to you, but you stand a very good chance of seeing an increase in you doe tags. the best reason that i can give to you as to why, is something that i read about a good qdm plan( like there ever could be such a thing, can youtell i don't like the idea) anyway, let's say your herd is at 80% carrying capacity,, does and bucks , you have to take that number down to somewhere between 50-60%, and then maintain it at the level, with whatever means is necessary to do so, usually be an increase in your anterless harvest. and also, don't be fooled by this often neglected fact, your overall buck harvest will decrease because you are no longer shooting the 1.5 year old bucks, and will never reach what youhave seen in the past, not even close to it, and by definition, according to one qdma biologist i spoke with, never will. it can't!. don't let them tell you the drop is only temorary, if you have to, contact some bilogist in other states that currently have a qdm program, they will confirm what i wrote above,

RE: PA deer harvest down 17%
 

Experts?? We don't need no stinkin' experts, we got Dr Alt!;)

RE: PA deer harvest down 17%
 

And the problem is?????

RE: PA deer harvest down 17%
 

The amount of deer there is, is way down, and dont get to excited about seeing a lot of deer the last week of muzzleloader season, at that time of the year the deer heard up and some drives you see nothing and then you hit the motherload and there will sometimes be 25 or 30 deer in it, but they all gathered together then. You just cant keep shooting off the doe and expect to see deer,,,!!!!!Bottom line!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11