Steve, I am a marylander, now living in Pa. I have hunted both states since 1987. I have seen just the opposite. I and someother Pa fellas lease two farms that were owned by folks who were almost antis. We convinced them to lease to and put them under QDM.
We kill 15 does to every buck and try not to harvest bucks under 3yr olds. It is the locals that poach from roads, tresspass and crop damage every buck they can! They have wounded and shot at during day light and night every buck they can on our land. We do not drive or even walk around for that matter, just stand hunt. We have worked hard for years to get locals to pass 1.5 yr olds with little success (some though). While the pa guys help to keep the herd stable by taking does.

Parts of your county is a free for all, a 6 week rifle season! What MD needs to do is to enforce the laws. Lower the 6 buck per season. While Pa hunters do hunt hard, I find them more ethical and willing to change for the sake of the sport..

andesman,

You are correct on your observations. It is the locals who do the roadhunting and other forms of poaching. Yes, we do need more enforcement. I listen to the NRP frequencies during hunting season and the wardens are kept busy just chasing down trespassing complaints, they don't have time to look for other violators. In my conversations with local NRP officers it is apparent that they know who the chronic violators are, but unless they catch them in the act or have witnesses who are willing to testify, there is nothing they can do.

SteveFinMD

I was born and raised in Md, but moved into PA 7 years ago because the real estate prices are cheaper just north of the Mason Dixon. In my 7 years, I have never hunted or purchased a hunting license in PA. I totally see what Steve is saying about SOME PA hunters. Where I grew up in MD, you never saw deer drives, but in PA, it is the norm. Now, let me say this, driving is a legal method and can be a productive method. I have nothing against those who drive for deer. It's just not my cup of tea, so I decided to go ahead and purchase my non-resident MD license and i have done so faithfully for the 7 years I've been a PA resident. The land I hunt on doesn't have anyone driving for deer on or near it, so it suits me for hunting and I will continue to come to MD and pay the extra money for a license in MD for as long as I can.

I will say this, though. If the land owner wants as many deer as possible taken out, as you stated in one of your posts, Steve, and the PA guys are hunting legally, I don't see what the gripe is. It sounds like the PA guys are doing exactly what your landowner wants, and that is taking out as many deer as possible. I'm not trying to pile on you Steve, and I know you've said that you've hunted on the land for 21 years, but if what the PA guys are doing is ok with the landowner and well within MD laws, I hate to say it, but I can't see what the complaint is. The fact of the matter is, this problem you are having is a problem alot of guys are having in MD, and that is, too little land and too many hunters. The bad thing is, that problem will only get worse over time.

Slice

I really thought what his initial gripe was that the Pa driive deer, which is in contrast to Steve's hunting style. At our deer camp in PA, the neighbors start driving deer at first light on opening day, it must be a PA thing, in Delaware we drive later in the week ,quite koften on the last day if all else fails or we want to harvest more deer. but at camp we try to take advantage of thhe drives and they invite us to be standers while they drive. It has been along time since I hunted deer in Md., aguy can only afford so many licenses, Delaware is the state that needs to increase the price of non- res licenses from $80. PA cost me $101. and another $26. for a doe permit and $25 more for bear of which I don't purchase the latter two.

slicendice,

You are right. The PA guys are not doing anything wrong and they are accomplishing what the landowner wants. I was just expressing my frustration at not being able to enjoy the peaceful hunts that I am used to. Once they line up and push the farm the hunt is over for everyone because they cover every foot.

I know they are legal and ethical. If anyone would re-read my posts I even said they are friendly. Just forcing this old codger to change his ways.

SteveFinMD

Steve,

I see what you're saying and trust me, I sympatize. Would it be possible to talk to these guys and maybe you could work out something with them? Maybe you could talk them into not driving out the piece of land near your stand or maybe they could only drive certain parts of the property.


Slice

I agree. Once they push thru the property the hunt is over. We've posted and chased them off and it does no good. Soon as you turn your back they come right thru again. My only wish is that they would drive from right to left instead of left to right. Then maybe I might benefit from the drive.
The only good thing about all of this is that I now bowhunt and none of these guys do. So during early archery season I have all the woods to myself.

Steve,

Is the farm you hunt in Frederick County? I hunt a farm in Frederick County and this year out of about 8 hunters hunting pretty regularly we have only seen about 10 deer total, it has been a really bad season. Whats it been like on your farm?

Boof

Boof,

I have been seeing deer. No great numbers but at least regularly. That's pretty typical for the property I hunt. The neighboring farms have loads of deer habitat and they travel throughout the area.

SteveFinMD

This statement reminded me of somethin I read years ago in the magazine Pa. Game News. Durin WWII a group of American GI's in Europe were takin a break near a small forrest.There were about 6 GI's from Pa in the unit and were talkin about deer season back home and how good fresh venison would taste compared to C rations. To make a long story short,they put on a drive with hopes of gettin a deer.They didn't get any deer but ended up capturin a large #(can't remember the exact #) of German soldiers hidin in those woods.After bein captured one German officer supposidly said.When they heard the drive they thought it was a whole division commin through the woods.This is supposed to be a true story.I always thought it was kinda funny.