|
Post by bake545 on Dec 2, 2022 15:10:02 GMT -5
Heading out for the afternoon hunt. Man, this has been a depressing season, except for when the girls got deer in the farm country. Actually looking forward to going home. 😡 This must have been reverse psychology lol.
|
|
|
Post by Dutch on Dec 2, 2022 15:15:30 GMT -5
One of 8 my brother bumped to me. Saw three at first, then I saw 8, I decided to shoot. A bit too much browsing for me. 6.5 Creedmoor. Dropped on the spot.
|
|
|
Post by Dutch on Dec 2, 2022 15:18:07 GMT -5
Heading out for the afternoon hunt. Man, this has been a depressing season, except for when the girls got deer in the farm country. Actually looking forward to going home. 😡 This must have been reverse psychology lol. Apparently. LOL
|
|
|
Post by dougl on Dec 2, 2022 15:44:01 GMT -5
Way to gitr done Dutch.Runnin the creedmoor I see.
|
|
|
Post by Loggy on Dec 2, 2022 16:43:49 GMT -5
CONGRATS on doe Dutch!! Mine also succumbed to a 6.5CM.
|
|
|
Post by buzz on Dec 2, 2022 16:53:22 GMT -5
Nice job, congrats Dutch
|
|
|
Post by Dutch on Dec 2, 2022 18:23:31 GMT -5
I have been reluctant to shoot does, but saw a number on cameras this year. On top of that, seeing browse pressure. Honestly, we have barely seen does in person this year. So, when I saw 8, I decided to take one. My daughter wants the meat, and I'll happy oblige her
|
|
|
Post by davet on Dec 2, 2022 18:27:13 GMT -5
I have been reluctant to shoot does, but saw a number on cameras this year. On top of that, seeing browse pressure. Honestly, we have barely seen does in person this year. So, when I saw 8, I decided to take one. My daughter wants the meat, and I'll happy oblige her Backstraps on the grill!!....YUM!!
|
|
|
Post by rusty on Dec 2, 2022 19:35:36 GMT -5
I have been reluctant to shoot does, but saw a number on cameras this year. On top of that, seeing browse pressure. Honestly, we have barely seen does in person this year. So, when I saw 8, I decided to take one. My daughter wants the meat, and I'll happy oblige her Congrats Dutch. You got to scratch that finger that's been itching. Are you not a fan of venison yourself?
|
|
|
Post by moosemike on Dec 2, 2022 20:09:15 GMT -5
Heading out for the afternoon hunt. Man, this has been a depressing season, except for when the girls got deer in the farm country. Actually looking forward to going home. 😡 Oh I was so happy to come home today. I hunted archery, inline, and a week of Rifle in Sullivan so far and have seen exactly two deer. I'm excited to be hunting Lebanon County tomorrow. No plans of hunting Sullivan again until next October. I'm sick of it
|
|
|
Post by Dutch on Dec 2, 2022 22:03:04 GMT -5
Heading out for the afternoon hunt. Man, this has been a depressing season, except for when the girls got deer in the farm country. Actually looking forward to going home. 😡 Oh I was so happy to come home today. I hunted archery, inline, and a week of Rifle in Sullivan so far and have seen exactly two deer. I'm excited to be hunting Lebanon County tomorrow. No plans of hunting Sullivan again until next October. I'm sick of it The butcher up here said his business is down more than 50% this year. Said people aren't seeing deer.
|
|
|
Post by Dutch on Dec 2, 2022 22:17:25 GMT -5
I have been reluctant to shoot does, but saw a number on cameras this year. On top of that, seeing browse pressure. Honestly, we have barely seen does in person this year. So, when I saw 8, I decided to take one. My daughter wants the meat, and I'll happy oblige her Congrats Dutch. You got to scratch that finger that's been itching. Are you not a fan of venison yourself? It's been 20 years since I shot a doe with a rifle. My land borders state forest. The hunters there had kept deer in the area in check. It's now DMAPd. So, we have not had excess does for a long time. There was no need to shoot does on my part.
|
|
|
Post by bushmaster on Dec 3, 2022 6:27:58 GMT -5
Nice Doe Dutch!
|
|
|
Post by rusty on Dec 3, 2022 7:37:47 GMT -5
Congrats Dutch. You got to scratch that finger that's been itching. Are you not a fan of venison yourself? It's been 20 years since I shot a doe with a rifle. My land borders state forest. The hunters there had kept deer in the area in check. It's now DMAPd. So, we have not had excess does for a long time. There was no need to shoot does on my part. Do you eat venison yourself, Dutch?
|
|
|
Post by moosemike on Dec 3, 2022 7:40:51 GMT -5
I'm hunting the same townships I've hunted since 1991. Fox, Hillsgrove, and Forks. And the last two years I can't find deer to save my life. And my first day spot was 1,400 yards from the truck and the last day I hunted, Thursday, I was 1,300 yards from the truck. So it's not like I'm a hundred yards from the parking lot.
|
|
|
Post by rusty on Dec 3, 2022 7:59:36 GMT -5
I've passed a few shots at does earlier this week that I would take today. I still have one doe and my buck tag left. I saw lots of deer on my trail cams and in our fields all summer and fall. A couple neighbors had their properties logged in the past couple years, probably 300+ acres, I think many of the deer are bedding there where they are pretty much unbothered since the first two days. I did hear more shooting the first day than I have heard in years. Been pretty quiet since.
I'm heading out soon now that the rain has pretty much stopped. I would hunt in any weather a few years ago....Is it less enthusiasm, or greater wisdon, that has kep me home with the coffee pot this morning?
|
|
|
Post by Dutch on Dec 3, 2022 8:07:44 GMT -5
It's been 20 years since I shot a doe with a rifle. My land borders state forest. The hunters there had kept deer in the area in check. It's now DMAPd. So, we have not had excess does for a long time. There was no need to shoot does on my part. Do you eat venison yourself, Dutch? I do, however, since CWD, my wife won't. Makes it hard. That said, before I shoot a deer, I know people that will use some of the meat.
|
|
|
Post by Dutch on Dec 3, 2022 8:11:51 GMT -5
I'm hunting the same townships I've hunted since 1991. Fox, Hillsgrove, and Forks. And the last two years I can't find deer to save my life. And my first day spot was 1,400 yards from the truck and the last day I hunted, Thursday, I was 1,300 yards from the truck. So it's not like I'm a hundred yards from the parking lot. Maybe I'm wrong, this is just an opinion, but the Saturday Sunday weekend may bring more pressure than the old Monday opener. More deer killed. Add into that DMAP, and I can see the deer population declining?
|
|
|
Post by moosemike on Dec 3, 2022 8:30:35 GMT -5
The deer population definitely declined. I didn't even come across any deer beds this week. I never remember going that many days without seeing a bed
|
|
|
Post by Loggy on Dec 3, 2022 8:40:59 GMT -5
Heading out for the afternoon hunt. Man, this has been a depressing season, except for when the girls got deer in the farm country. Actually looking forward to going home. 😡 Oh I was so happy to come home today. I hunted archery, inline, and a week of Rifle in Sullivan so far and have seen exactly two deer. I'm to be hunting Lebanon County tomorrow. No plans of hunting Sullivan again until next October. I'm sick of it Mike...deer numbers are certainly way lower vs years ago. I remember when you used to see ave 100-200 deer on a night out spotting local fields around Hillsgrove & Forksville, Now you are lucky to see even 20 even on a good night. Big change happened when they made multple doe tags available to hunters. Many locals started killing 5-10 per family which eventually with such harvest kill pressure the herd pretty much disappeared. IMO....ONE DOE TAG should be the limit(plus greatly reduce the overall allotment) especially in most of 3B areas. I buy 2 3B plus 3B DMAPS knowing upfront the most doe I will likely ever kill is one. One year I killed a 2nd but that was flintlock using leftover buck tag. I like option of hunting various areas/seasons plus enjoy Late Flintlock. That combined with the resultant drastic dwindling of hunters moving deer....pretty bleak situation for those who hope to see a lot of deer.
|
|
|
Post by moosemike on Dec 3, 2022 8:57:01 GMT -5
Anymore I just hope to see a deer. Just one. I've given up on seeing a lot. And my wife hasn't seen a deer yet this season. She's talking about this being her last year. And she's hunted 30 years now
|
|
|
Post by Loggy on Dec 3, 2022 9:22:11 GMT -5
Hang in there Mike.....sounds like you at least sure located some decent turkey hunting areas!! Truthfully....I'd sooner bag a nice turkey vs a deer(at least most PA typical deer)!!
|
|
|
Post by Dutch on Dec 3, 2022 9:43:16 GMT -5
Ten years ago I was mentoring a youth hunter. After going days and days of not seeing deer, he said to me, "you need more deer." He did actually kill one, but the lack of sightings was too much. Lost interest, and quit hunting.
I remember when hunting season was pretty much year round. We had lots of ground hogs to shoot in the summer, then dove season, then four weeks of archery followed by turkeys, then deer.
What I had prior to my 21st birthday was time, that made a difference. What also made a difference was there were plenty been of groundhogs and doves. That is no longer the case. What there are a lot of is housing developments and predators of the things we use to hunt.
I am loving the enthusiasm of the young girls we are mentoring, along with their mom. I have DennyF to thank for putting us in an area where they can be successful. That has helped beyond my wildest dreams.
|
|
|
Post by moosemike on Dec 3, 2022 9:59:37 GMT -5
Worst thing I went and did was bought a Camp in Sullivan. Last year we were doing some of our hunting in Elk County and we were seeing deer. We had hope. And we went there to escape the hunting in Sullivan so what do I do but go and buy a Camp there. SMH
|
|
|
Post by Loggy on Dec 3, 2022 10:47:30 GMT -5
My friend I was hunting in Sullivan with killed a decent 7 pt last night in WMU 5B(York County) right behind my Mom's woodland. He also got a doe in Sullivan on last Saturday's opener. Having a pretty good year!! Young family who certainly will use the meat!!
|
|