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Early PA season begins today

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westrayer

40 Cal
Joined
Nov 22, 2023
Messages
166
Reaction score
179
Location
York Co., PA
Here in PA we have a week long ML season for antlerless deer. Flints, caps, or even in-lines. I was looking forward to getting out with my new-to-me Deerstalker cap. I used this season as justification to buy the gun. In previous years I carried my flintlock, of whatever model I had at the time. Unfortunately I had to take my wife to the hospital last night. Locally the weather is supposed to be in the mid 70s for the beginning for the week, but better by Thursday. Maybe then.
If you are getting out today, be safe and have fun...
 
I have many fond memories of hunting in Pennsylvania. I was born and raised in New Jersey but crossed the Delaware to hunt in PA beginning about 1970. Got my first deer and my first bear in PA. Mostly hunted north of Stroudsburg in the east, and also northwest of Wilkes-Barre. Good times! Hunted there throughout the 1970's. I moved to Arizona in 1979 but then moved to upstate New York in 1986 and made it down to PA for a hunt then. Then I moved to Michigan from which I made it back to PA a couple of times. Haven't been back that way since my hunting pardner passed away and I retired here to Tennessee in 2000.
I used to have an aunt and uncle in Bangor, but they have passed. Still have a cousin there, south of Erie.
 
We are the only state that has a flintlock-only season as well. It is after Christmas for about 3 weeks. I love hunting in the cold and occasional snow but the deer are crazy. Many harvested, and all of them chased or shot at, so they are really on edge. I have never taken one in this season but I keep hunting it
 
Temperature in the 20's F. About a foot of snow on the ground and a light snow falling. While crossing a brook way back of beyond in Wyoming County, I slipped off a rock and went in the water up to my knees. That was over my boot tops. Immediately, I gathered some wood and built a fire. Sat down and propped my socks and boots on sticks over the fire to dry while I sat barefooted in the snow, my feet to the fire.
15-20 minutes later two does come running out of a hemlock swamp. Soon after the deer, some guy I had never seen before comes out from the frozen swamp, "Halloo the fire". He waves. I wave back. He comes over. He is about half frozen - and lost. He warms up for a half hour or so. Then I give him directions and off he goes. Never saw him again. Hope he found his way out.
 
westrayer said:
We are the only state that has a flintlock-only season as well. It is after Christmas for about 3 weeks. I love hunting in the cold and occasional snow but the deer are crazy. Many harvested, and all of them chased or shot at, so they are really on edge. I have never taken one in this season but I keep hunting it
Click to expand...
Yea, it is really tough hunting in the PA flintlock deer season after Christmas. The deer are crazy spooked by then and the weather can be a real challenge. I don’t hunt anymore but I always harvested my deer on the earlier deer seasons with my flintlock.
 
Got up at 6:30 am and drove to the SGL in Greene Co. that I was going to hunt and as I was loading up the local WCO pulled up and I had to go through the whole routine of license inspection. I guess it was meant to be because as I was sneaking along the edge of a multiflora rose thicket my vest got snagged and made just enough noise to alert a deer that was about 30 yards from where I would have been if I hadn't been delayed. I heard the snort and seen the tail waving bye! I did see a nice 9 point about an hour later working its way toward some pine trees up the hill from me. Maybe it's time I start looking for a flintlock for the late season
 
I've been out for 2 evenings this week. Very warm and tried to hunt the paths from bedding to water and acorn areas. Nothing so far, but a pleasant day in the woods is good and there's tomorrow.
 

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Rancocas said:
I have many fond memories of hunting in Pennsylvania. I was born and raised in New Jersey but crossed the Delaware to hunt in PA beginning about 1970. Got my first deer and my first bear in PA. Mostly hunted north of Stroudsburg in the east, and also northwest of Wilkes-Barre. Good times! Hunted there throughout the 1970's. I moved to Arizona in 1979 but then moved to upstate New York in 1986 and made it down to PA for a hunt then. Then I moved to Michigan from which I made it back to PA a couple of times. Haven't been back that way since my hunting pardner passed away and I retired here to Tennessee in 2000.
I used to have an aunt and uncle in Bangor, but they have passed. Still have a cousin there, south of Erie.
Click to expand...
I don't hunt, but being a lifelong PA guy, I appreciate the overall gun culture and carry laws here. It's a huge State! Imagine being GIVEN it by the King! (Penn's dad got it, then Penn inherited it, I think!)
 
Today is the last day. Great weather. Unfortunately, I never go out due to wife's medical issues and doctor appointments. But near me is Pinchot State Park. They only allow archery, ML, and shotgun slugs for regular deer season. I was able to get an antlerless tag for that area, so I am thinking that the Deerstalker may yet make a trip to the woods. The area gets a lot of pressure but it is so thick and hunters don't go far off of the trails. To see deer there you need to venture into this heavy cover area. Usually that means having to cut your way in with a pair of pruning nippers.
 
Big Tom,
Sometimes being late pays off. I used to hunt with a guy that had to be on stand an hour before daylight. Where I hunt now, I don't see any deer until about an hour after daylight. I still like to be in the stand a little before daylight though in case that ever changes.
 

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