Bigger bucks getting bowhunters excited
Early hunting season got under way just over a week ago with the start of the mourning dove and resident Canada goose seasons. Hunting season will begin with greater intensity when Pennsylvania’s bowhunters head to the woods on Oct. 1.
A chat with Kevin Polish at Kevin’s Archery in Carmichaels revealed that enthusiasm is already running high.
With many hunters leaving the woods less than enthusiastic the past two seasons, I had to ask just what reports he is hearing from those out doing some early scouting.
“From what I’ve been hearing, they are not seeing lots of deer, but they are seeing some really big bucks,” Polish said.
“A few years ago, there was a really big buck running around the Kirby area and everyone was talking about it,” he said.
“It’s like that in a way, but everyone has a story to tell about the buck they are seeing. Everyone seems to see one or more big bucks as they scout around and spotlight the fields, but most report seeing very few bucks. They are not seeing bachelor groups with many bucks hanging together as they did in years past.”
Polish did note that it is either feast for famine – big bucks or spikes and four-pointers, but not that many.
Those out spotlighting also report that they are not seeing many antlerless deer.
“Many guys tell me that it is harder to find a place to hunt,” Polish said. “Now that some of the bucks are getting bigger, landowners are not as willing to give permission to hunt. More than one patron has said that they were told they couldn’t hunt the property because they (the property owner) was going to keep it for family use only.
According to Polish, those scouting the Game Lands and private property that is always open to the public are still seeing fewer deer than in years past, while those who scout on posted, private property often report seeing many deer.
I know a couple of landowners in my area, whose property is open for public hunting, who say they are seeing some deer, but far fewer than in years past.
“I would say that 25 percent of the guys that come into the shop say they are looking for a trophy buck, but many would be happy to just see a legal buck after not seeing one for the past two seasons,” Polish said.
Polish said that he feels that the law will change and antlerless deer season will be cut to one week or even three days as it was in the past.
Why do we need two weeks of concurrent deer season?
We now have plenty of opportunity to kill a deer with the archery seasons (early and late) the junior and senior early antlerless hunt Oct. 20-22 and the antlerless muzzleloader season Oct. 15-22.
I like the early antlerless muzzleloader season.
It is a just a great time to be outdoors, and you don’t have to dress for arctic conditions.
For that same reason, seniors who don’t want to use a muzzleloader should head out and try to bag an antlerless deer. Kill one early and sit home tie trout flies while everyone else plows through the snow in late November and early December.
Another way to bag a deer is to hunt the “Red Tag” farms, which are open until the end of the month. Call the district office in Ligonier for a list of participating farms in your area.
Interest in deer hunting was nil until the weather broke, making way for cooler daytime temperatures.
Cool weather has everyone more interested
With the interest up, Polish said he has been selling a lot of new bows.
“What prompts most people to buy a new bow, since they are fairly pricey items?” I asked.
Polish said, “Most new bow sales are based on solid advertisement by the manufacturers.
“They come out with new innovations and features, which lure the buyers in.
“I find that most guys buy a new bow every three or four years.
“Statistics show that 50 percent of the bowhunters buy a new bow every five years, 25 percent every five to 15 years, and 25 percent buy a new bow every year, because they feel it will make them shoot better.”
Polish also said that he is selling more tree stands and scents than ever before.
I asked if the new “Scent Lock” clothing is gaining in popularity.
He said that they don’t handle it at the shop, but at his recent four-day “Big Bow” event, vendors and various factory representatives sold quite a bit of it.
Once again, Kevin’s archery will hold its one-day Big Doe Contest on the opening day of the archery deer season.
This year, the contest will be open statewide with cash prizes awarded to the hunters bagging the heaviest does. Spike bucks do not count.
The payout will be 50 percent for first place, 25 percent for second, 15 percent for third and 10 percent for fourth.
To beat out a close rival, a deer must weigh a full two pounds more than the nearest competitor. With anything less, a tie is declared.
Last year’s winner was a 112-pound doe, which was one of the largest killed in a few years.
Kevin’s will also hold a free big buck contest. The winner will receive a free mount. Last year’s winner was a three-pointer with a 23-inch spread.
Big doe entry fees must be paid prior to the start of the season, and big buck entrants must also sign up prior to opening day.
With the long dry spell we had this summer, a good place to scout is near streams and farm ponds.
Many deer were pushed off higher elevations due to the lack of rainfall, but hopefully they will return as the streams and water holes fill up again.
My bowhunting days are over, but I still plan to make my annual scouting trips with camera in hand.
While you’re scouting, take time to practice, too. And, if you plan to hunt from a tree stand (especially for the first time) set it up in the yard and practice on your McKenzie target. If you don’t have a tree that is big enough, try shooting from a deck or even your roof, if it is not too steep to stand on.
ANTLERLESS DEER LICENSES: As of Friday, only seven Wildlife Management Units still had antlerless deer licenses remaining. They include: 2A (Greene County, 11,157) and 2B in the west, 4E in central Pa. and 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D out east.
BEATING A DEAD HORSE: To say the least, I’m still not overjoyed with the results of Dr. Gary’s Alt’s deer management program, but I’m even more unhappy with the fact that the Game Commission still fails to show respect for our senior hunters – many of which are giving hunting out of sheer frustration – by not allowing them to take any buck during the antlered deer seasons. These hunters, through the purchase of a hunting license, have paid the salaries and bills of the Game Commission since they were old enough to hunt, which is well over half a century in most cases. It is a shame that their contributions are not recognized and appreciated.
Rod Schoener is the Herald-Standard outdoors editor.