Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Pennsylvania whitetails

For many of us, a fair chase hunt, the comaderie, catching up with relatives, and some venison in the freezer adds up to a great season. 300,000 deer taken sounds like a lot of happy hunters, B&C utterly irrelevant to most of them.
While I'm on a roll, a significant number of those high scoring deer come from farmed whitetails. I have found it interesting to note the general lack of knowledge about the sheer number of whitetail farms scattered around the country.

A few years ago I was after a 170" Typical. I was keeping tabs on him before the season but during the season he stayed off the property I have permission to hunt. They killed him on the last day of Rifle on a neighboring property. He gross scored 172.
I missed one in my younger days that somebody else killed. That one scored in the 160's.The biggest we've killed here in my group was my son's 132" 11 point.

TOTALLY. I’ve nver measured a buck’s antlers; to me a trophy is about experience. Inches are awesome and I’d love a monster some day but that isn’t my measure of a hunt.

My Pa trophy from 2016 when gophergunner graciously hosted me. In the mountains stunningly gorgeous public land didn’t see a ton of orange.

Many of the big bucks live in SW Pa, including urban zones in which some are Archery only. Most of the big boys are nocturnal, and cross busy roads like they don't exist. Home work and hard scouting for deer is the same no matter where you hunt, careful stand placements early with minimal woods disturbance keeps the deer there...just so heavy cover and food is available.

I've shot a lot of book bucks in Pa, both bow and gun...but pass up 30ish legal bucks every year. Watch the deer ticks they're thick this year, and getting worse every year.

Battue those are some real big ones!!!

I know nothing of eastern whitetail hunting really. I do like those pics!! what kind of bear season do you predict??

Pa sucks when it comes to big Whitetails....

http://www.gameandfishmag.com/hunting/deer/2017-pennsylvania-trophy-bucks/










There is one I can't find that will make you curl your lip and go rub your forehead on a tree.

I think this Bear season will be excellent. It doesn't seem like we even dent the population anymore. A lot of people on the northern tier are crying there are way too many Bears.

Battue,

I meant I couldn't find an easy to express my agreement.


You and I have disagreed on this before.
My hunting in Pa. has always meant hunting private land, owned by family, friends and neighbors.
It's not the big woods, Bedford County, but it has been a destination for the city folk.
Point being, I live here, this is where I like to hunt. PGC policies, and other factors have significantly changed
something I hold dear. And I don't like any of it.

For those who hunt the northern tier, I am glad that you are having success. Those are some beautiful bucks.
My hunting is out the back door style. After work, anytime I have time. I would prefer seeing more deer, big bucks
aren't my goal. Meat, and success for my kids trump a buck I wouldn't mount, or put in the paper. (Common here in deer season.

As for posting, I am unhappy posting. It's necessary to be able to hunt your own land here. We have game lands around us, unfortunately
they bring in many of the people who trespass. They drive by that gate at the end of a little hollow, and wonder "what's it like up there?".
I have been told that. When I was talking to a guy from York, about why he was there.
On posted property. After he crossed the first1/4 mile piece of posted property.

Bear numbers should be good.
I think the herd is continually growing, and we have had a few bad seasons due to weather issues.
In my immediate area, there are not a lot of bear. But the numbers are rising.
Some in this area have a lot of bear problems. Mostly those closest to certain mountains.

My last 2, not big, but considering my health I am happy...





I used to get some decent ones, hopefully I will again.





Every once in awhile id get a chunky one

Most times id be still hunting all day. Sometimes though id sit here...



Or here...



And if theyre still ruttin, here...



And pass up a few like this...




But hunting public big woods, ya gotta be willing to "hunt the hunters". Adapt. I can guarantee if you hunt the big woods, you have a chance at a nice one every time youre out there. Theyre there, and they know their bedroom a whole lot better than you do yours.

I dont think ill ever hunt private land. The big woods is just in my blood.

we have more deer than we have had in 20 some years and the bucks are much bigger on average, literally best of both worlds. Had a 150” class buck within 20 yards last archery season, didn’t work out. There is one I have seen this year with my own eyes that will be in the mid 160”s at least( mainframe 7x7 with junk all over). I’m in nw pa, wont hear me complain.

MM

My point is posted land begets posted land. Your neighbor posts, his neighbor posts and then the one down the road posts and eventually you post also. I get it and it is the reason I'm on a lease. The Big Woods is a three hour drive, so I don't hunt there all that often. This place is an hour drive and in a county at one time I could pretty much hunt all of it. Then the posted signs slowly crept in, until pretty much all of it is posted. Oh you can ask nice, but you get tired of the same old. "No, we like to keep it for family." You know that story, right?

The 1000 acre lease is part of 2200 that got split up when a coal company went bankrupt.

Funny trespass story. I visited my own little piece one day and knowingly moved onto land owned by one who lived on it. He saw me and let out a yell for me to stay put and came walking towards me with a purpose. He arrived and wanted to know why. I told him I was hunting and I didn't think it would be a problem. "Well, it is" was the reply. I then asked if he ever hunted "over there" and the answer was yes. "Well, if this is a problem with you, then that is a problem with me." "You the Neil boy?" "Yes." "Why didn't you say so?" "I just did." We had laugh and both went on our way.

I remember hunting deer in PENN back in the 80s, getting to your stand before dawn, and as the sun came up count the orange coats around you.

That is a completely different culture. If I found another hunter on my land I'd be approaching with a leveled barrel after I had called the State Police.

Those days are long gone in most parts. Especially the Big Wood. About 6 years ago I hunted the Big Wood of the ANF on the first day. The only orange I saw was leaving the truck and on the return. After the second day, it was even less.

Arn't you the bad ass. You point one at some of the Back Woods boys from here, you best be ready to use it or have the State Police call EMS for you.

I am.