Fall Deer Outlook Great

Fall Deer Outlook great – Especially For archery Hunters

By Karl J. Power

The first Saturday in October marks the premier of the 2003 archery-hunting season in the Keystone State -- and the deer situation is looking just fine.

For the first time in 80 years, wildlife management units are being followed for antlerless deer hunting licenses -- as opposed to the traditional county borders marking the territory. Antlerless deer are in good supply - with this year's crop of fawns being in good supply for those wanting 'tender' venison for the freezer. Adult’s too, are at the usual high mark, giving antlerless deer hunters somewhat easy opportunities to fill tags.

The Board of Game Commissioners approved the 2003-2004 antlerless deer license allocation of 973,000, which is a decrease from last year's allocation of 1,029,350.

Last year, hunters purchased 1,010,693 antlerless deer licenses, which resulted in a harvest of 352,113 antlerless deer.

All reports indicate ample numbers of antlered bucks -- with this year having antler restrictions statewide -- with either a four-point -- or three-point per one side minimum for bucks depending on the wildlife management unit. Unlike last year, when Special Regulations Counties had no antler restrictions, each of the 67 counties within the management units have restrictions for buck hunters beginning in the archery season -- and running through the winter seasons for whitetailed deer.

As usual, the archery hunters will have 'the first shot' at filling a back-tag on a buck. Contrary to some opinions, the first-chance archers don't always have that great of an advantage in filling a tag. Very heavy foliage this year combined with that ever present "Luck Factor" will continue to play a roll in this year's archery deer harvest. Of course there are no guarantees in the firearms seasons either.

The game commission says that there are a lot more antlered bucks this year that will meet the antler restriction criteria in each management zone. The strict restrictions on antler selection last season definitely saved some bucks, but what lies ahead for this year's buck harvest is still anybody's guess. With more bucks available after last hunting season, many more may fall to hunters this year. Pennsylvania may have put itself in an "every other year" large/small buck harvest situation. The jury is still out -- and the verdict won’t be in on the actual results of the regulations until the last shot is fired in the late season that takes place after Christmas.

In the meantime, anticipation is running high, with all hopes of a very good deer hunt this year. Most archery hunters hold out for the trophy-sized bucks -- and this year should provide more opportunities than ever before. Summertime sightings of bucks in the velvet were promising in most areas -- with some extremely big bucks hanging out in the southern tier counties -- and especially in the southwest region. Allegheny County, for example, has some huge bucks roaming the woodlands. This is much in part to the restricted hunting areas -- but the 50-yard safety zone regulation for archery hunters does give them a slight edge on taking the "big boys."

With the wet and rainy spring and early summer this year, food sources are extremely abundant across the state. The apple and crabapple crop is very heavy; as are wild cherries, grapes, mast nut crops -- and the usual vegetation food sources. A few years ago in Pennsylvania, the mast crop of acorns and beech were so heavy that archers had a problem taking shots at deer that roamed 'everywhere' instead of following usual trails. I was out there -- and yes, it was very frustrating at times! This year, with the ample food sources may echo that previous hunting situation.

On the good side of the heavy food source scenario, the deer are plump and healthy -- and the extra nutrition available through heavy food amounts this year also helped in antler growth in the healthy bucks.

If you have not been spending time scouting out the deer situation in your favorite woodlands, it's time to get out there. At the very least, spend time watching fields in the evening hours to see what bucks, and how many deer slip into the grassy areas to feed. Also, pay close attention to the locations where deer trails consistently are used as travel routes to these fields -- as they will give you a valuable clue as to where to set up a tree stand when the archery season is open.

Naturally, trips into the woods to check closer for deer sign, trails, rub lines and scrapes also is very important. All public hunting areas, such as state game land tracts, federal flood control areas and state forest lands -- and of course, cooperative farms enrolled in the game commission's public hunting access programs hold plenty of deer. The majority of the deer however, are taken on privately owned properties -- and now is the best time to secure permission to hunt these grounds from the landowners.

The 2003-04 deer-hunting season should be exceptional. Hunt safe, hunt hard, and good luck!