Thanks Dube, that post you were referring to was my first campfire contribution & I must admit towards the end I may have vented my point a little humorously. But, never the less, I try to be a straight shooter when i see it & I did'nt think I was that far off the mark either. Was'nt expect to get ambushed like that, but I always jump at the chance to have fun with phonics as you can see & have always been a life of the party kinda guy when it comes to social gatherings. So I saved you a seat by the fire with me, BWINTERS & now Teeder. By the way does the Dube in your DubePA stand for DuBois by any chance? That's my neck of the woods. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> Hunted the afternoon on Saturday & saw 4 doe. 2 Slipped by under a tree I was in, might have been the same 2 I jumped earlier going in. I'm still hoping the arcery buck I was going for is still in this remote area I hunt. I find more time this week to go back out. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Since I'm posting I might add that I don't see deer everytime I go out into the woods, nor do I get one every year. Partly due to trophy mentality when it comes to buck; like the smaller 8 pt I passed up in archery can haunt me more & more in the 2nd week of rifle season. But, it's the thrill of the chase in the ultimate game of Hide & Go Seek that excites me. Venison is the healthiest meat on the planet and I have a doe tag saved to go muzzleloader with my Uncle in Indiana PA after Christmas. So for now I'm all about antlers. I actually view rifle season as my form of consolation prize if I don't nail one during early archery. So if I get a good indication that a certain Buck is still on the prowl after rifle season. I can still get a chance after Christmas with a bow or muzzleloader. I will say though that the Bucks I have been seeing this year & inthe past few years have been looking more like the ones on T.V. & magazines & that suits me just fine. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> Now I'm thinking that with all the $ spent on my tags this year the next step for the game commission could be instituting a hunter assisted deer crop planting around some of these devastated hardwood areas to replenish some of the deer habitat; like clover & other browse. Normally deer use the hardwoods for safety travel corridors to & from their feeding areas as well as feeding on mast crop like acorns when in the woods. So if the mast crop is especially good that will give deer more of a reason to hang out there. If not less deer. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> There are many factors that can be attributed to less deer in certain areas. I know more doe tags do. But less deer is better if the food supply can't support them. They just opened Treasure Lake up here to hunting this year, and it's about time because over the years the place has become so over crowded with deer that some look pretty sick & mangey, just down right unhealthy. There is one factor for less deer in certain areas that nobody has mentioned yet, it's the poacher element in selected areas that can be due to wiping out deer populations for generations in some areas, usuallly poor income areas; a plant closes & strangely enough not many deer in that area for some reason. I've heard stories about a man killing over 130 deer in a year period, which blew me away. If that story is only Half accurate it is downright disgusting. Then the people that tag a buck, take it home, then go to Walmart for a replacement lost hunting liscense to go back hunting that same afternoon for another Buck. This kind of $H!T definitely factors in more than the Game Commish can handle with a management program. Then there are the hunters that know the numbers are down in their own area & yet they continue to pop off does instead of driving to a less pressured area to hunt.
But, HEY I'm done venting now...And There are some Big Whisker Biscuits out there that need my undivided attention.
So Let's finish strong. Get out there & Bag a Big one this week. The key word being ONE.
Let's do this again and you'll notice I will not write anything that personally attacks you. I will simply state what I do and offer a suggestion.
You assume I am a lazy hunter against QDM. If you read my post, I am in favor of QDM but just offered the opinion that the amount of does is on the low side and that it needs fixing. As far as lazy goes, I put a lot of miles on my boots hunting, scouting (winter, spring and summer) I also occasionally rent a Cessna and fly over my established hunting areas and look for new ones. I then put boots on the ground and walk/scout. I hunt PA, AL, GA every year and CO every other year and its mainly on public land. I will not call myself a "true hunter" or "expert" cuz that smacks of arrogance and BTW none of us are.
My oldest son is 10 and therefore ineligible to hunt in PA. He has successfully killed several deer in GA and AL so not only has he seen them, he's killed them.
If you also read, I didn't mention how I did this year. That's cuz I haven't been up there yet. I am saving myself for the late Flintlock season. I enjoy the snow (hopefully) and my favorite way to hunt is to track them. It allows for scouting and hunting at the same time.
Now for the suggestion. This is a great place but once in a while a newbie comes in full of personal attacks towards others - commonly referred to as trolls. That is how I took your first post and stated my opinion. I reread it again mainly due to dubePA's statement that he didn't see as I did. I now see it could go either way. I certainly hope that you are not a troll. Being in the military for the last 20 years and living all over this country I always miss PA this time of year. Any "connection" to my home state is welcome. I hope to read friendly informative posts written by you about our great state. The campfire is a friendly place full of opinions and I hope that's what you want too. You can click on my user name next to my post and follow the link to "read all users posts." Read through some of mine. You will not see any attack such as the one you sent my way.
Edited to add: Just read your last post just above. If that's the kind of contributions you make here then I extend my hand and welcome.
Teeder, Thanks buddy, I appreciate that & I thoroughly agree with your sentiments. I believe the harshness you were referring to was in my reponse post. I was'nt paticularly fond of getting a reply on my 1st post that addressed the whole campfire at my expense. I prefer direct responses, like yours. I still consider myself a guest here & always adhere to the house rules. Sometimes a little reposturing from the right person goes a long way in keeping the peace in the community. I know my brand of humor can be unique sometimes as can others. Introductions can be touchy at first but I'm sure we can all learn how to keep it fun. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> Mighty Obliged, Teeder & Point well taken. I'll go split a few logs all of us.
Well how did I know to save an extra spot by the fire just for you in case we became best friends. Hey, I had a round about way of making my point mixed with a little humor on my first post. And after reading it over from your point of view, I must say the aroma of arrogance could have been mistaken. But if you look close enough you'll see that I it's just my way of coping humorously with a certain mentality that runs prevalent in the face of any adversity when it comes to hunting. I see that does'nt include the real you. And it never ceases to amaze me at how certain words we use innocently can be so misunderstood by the interpeter. New Testament James tells all about it. Thanks for clearing me up on the troll thing. And I'm sorry too for coming down so hard on you humorously with the guns ablazing by getting the ammo from your previous post. But, alls fair when it comes to L&W. I've layed down the Howitzer as I see you laid down yours.
Anyways, I have an 11 yr old boy that'll be ready for hunting in 2007. And my 9 year old daughter will qualify to get a Buck in the 2007 PA Buck season accordinding to the new rules of the mentoring Program they established on to PA game Commish site. Check it out; you and your kid may qualify to hunt up here if there are no out of state restrictions. All I have to do is fill a tag out on a piece of paper for her if she gets one. With this new ruling next season I'll bet I can guess what the most said quote in the PA woods will be in 2007 to their kids under 11 years old: "YOU CAN TAG THE NEXT ONE, ALRIGHT?" & "I KNOW YOUR COLD, BUT WE"LL STAY JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER." <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> Thanks for taking the time to clear the air with your reply, AND as far as my comical rampage to your inital response, no harmful intent in anyway I just took it as an opportunity exercise some creative journalism meant to curb any future ambushes. It's the ole" Dish what you can take, Know your adversary before you go into battle & Know Your Quarry Before you Hunt type of thing. I really never had you in mind when I did my first post . Thanks RH, I know we'll get along splendidly. Remember, it's not often that we get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression. But you managed to do just that. I like your brand. And it takes one to know one. And we are one of that kind. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> PEACE
Anyway, I got a nice plump doe on Saturday, so I'm all tagged out for this year.
Just wanted to elaborate on this a bit:
To all you guys that think you need a cannon to shoot deer - It just isn't true!
My .338-06 with 225 Grand Slams did just fine! I know, I know, I was tempting fate by hunting with a pea-shooter, but I know my limitations! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
Are you hunting private or public land? If it's public is it a SGL, State Park or State Forest? Also, what county are you hunting in? Did you get a deer or see any deer?
I think it would be interesting if everyone answered the above questions.
This is gunna sound crazy to everyone here including myself, but today after work I went out for a bit before dark and I saw a freakin hog, pig whatever you want to call it or they call it in other state. But I am sure it was a pig of some sorts. I guess it coulda been a stray off some farm or somethin, but I can't think of any pig farms around where I am located. I was gunna shoot but really wasn't sure on the whole legality of it.
"If guns kill people, then I can blame misspelled words on my pencil."
There are feral pigs/boars on the loose in several parts of PA, mostly escapees from various shooting preserves. It is perfectly legal to shoot one, since they are not covered by PGC regs.
The PGC, DCNR and PA Agriculture folks are concerned, since some reports indicate these escaped boars have been successfully breeding in the wild (IIRC, Cambria County) and pose a threat to the habitat and to domestic swine (diseases, etc).
That said, I might check to make sure it ain't somebody's local pen-raised porker that ran off. They might prefer getting it back alive....or just send 'em some bacon and a ham.
If three or more people think you're a dimwit, chances are at least one of them is right.
Got a buddy that lives in Potter Co. who has taken deer with the following cartridges that I know of: 460 Wby; 375 H&H; 300 Wby and 30-378 Wby. Of course he has also dropped a few with less energetic rounds, but primarily shoots 1000 yd BR-type rifles in deer season now. Another bud was with him years ago, when he spun a doe around a sapling at several hundred yards with the 375 H&H Parker Hale. Asked him if he had "enough gun".
He's also taken elk, moose and other big things with the first three. His thinking is, that there ain't much point in owning such rifles if one only gets to use them every now and then on out of state hunts. So he sometimes uses one in PA deer season.
My longtime huntin' bud was fond of his M700 8mm Rem mag for deer, but used 150gr Sierras in it. Made a pretty reliable long range bomber that was handy to carry and shoot offhand, if need be.
If three or more people think you're a dimwit, chances are at least one of them is right.
We got that first covering of snow you like up here in PA & it made me think of you tracking in late Flintlock as I will be these last few days of rifle if it stays on the ground. Here a little something to remind you of the Great State of PA. I think this is the one that might be the World Record Bull taken here in this 2007 Pa season. This one supposedly scored 575 & they think it will dry to 530. If anyone can confirm this as the New World Record let us all know. I believe this is the first year PA could participate in the Record books with respect to Elk & the free chase rulings. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Did you look into your sons eligibility requirements for 2007 yet? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Hey DubePA, your bud I'm sure would like to exercise that M700 8mm Rem mag on a puppy like that! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> I'm definitely puttin in for that Elk tag next year, and one for my boy too!
Edited: The picture of the Elk is attached. I do not know how to display it in the copy area....if anyone can clue me in I'd appreciate it.
Ken-we hunt State Forest Land in Clearfield County between Sabula and Penfield on Boone Mountain. I wasn't able to participate this year-my accounts are from my brother and the neighbors in the camp next to our. My brother DID see 17 deer the first day this year-which is more deer than has been seen in the last 3 years combined. Hopefully, this is a good sign of things to come.
Boone mountain has had alot less hunting pressure this year because the new gas line going in along the fire tower road. Should be real good hunting for late this week and if there are any die hard flintlock hunters that know the area. I know I will be out there bright and early tomorrow.
"If guns kill people, then I can blame misspelled words on my pencil."
Shot a 6 pt this year, took the first legal one that came along as the weather was so warm and the forecast wasn't any better for the rest of the first week. Hunted the ANF along Kinzua. This week is definately better weather wise but I'm back in Florida now.
Saw a nice 8 pt in the parking lot and heard there were a couple more good bucks taken within walking distance. I also ran into a group of guys that hadn't seen a deer all day, but they were hunting where I wouldn't have.
In general, the few deer around look to be in very good shape and since the antler restrictions were implemented I've scored every year, 3 nice bucks and two 6pts. Not many does sighted but the chances of seeing a rack are much better now then ever before. You need to hunt smart and expend a lot of energy at times locating where they are hanging out. The does are very wary and are not moving during the warm weather and the hunting pressure.
The taxidermist I took my buck to said it was 3� years old, as were most of them he's received. One that came in yesterday looked 4� or 5� at first glance. it has huge burrs on the antlers, and outstanding pedicels. But when he examined it more closely he said he was sure it was only 3�.
He is getting deer from both WMU 1B farm country) and WMU 2F (big woods). He has a 160 10-point that was killed in 2F, and a 166 10-point also from 2F. I showed him a 153 9-point that came from near his shop in 1B (don't know the age). He says he is getting about the same number of bucks that he has other years, but they're running somewhat larger.
By all appearances, the antler restriction policy is producing bigger bucks, but in some areas, hunters are not satisfied with the herd reduction results. But then, the PGC has never managed the herd to get them to the exact population that will make everyone happy.
Steve
"I was a deerhunter long before I was a man." ~Gene Wensel's Come November (2000) "A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user." ~Theodore Roosevelt
