Local News

Deer season remains a tradition in Pennsylvania

A long-standing Pennsylvania tradition remains as the opening day of the deer rifle season approaches.

For some, it is simply a day off work in search of the elusive antlered buck. For others, it is a trip to a hunting camp to rekindle friendship forged over the years. It is a family affair as a new son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter join the family unit on their first deer hunt. It is about bagging that trophy buck, while others are simply seeking meat for the freezer. Whatever the reason, it is definitely a highlight of the year.

It is strange that, although hunting is a solitary sport, it has a social connection. For years, before the cellphone, the busiest day of the year for the phone companies was the evening of the first day of Pennsylvania deer season as family and friends contacted each other to pass on or seek the latest information on the other parties' hunting success or failure.

Overall, the Pennsylvania deer herd is stable and even growing slightly in some areas with five wildlife management units showing deer herd increases.

This year found an abundance of mast crops, such as oaks, in the woods for the second year in a row. Joined with a mild winter last year, the results are fat and healthy deer. It also means the food supply is spread over a wide area. Preseason scouting indicates there is a good number of mature bucks with some real trophies on hand.

While the deer herd is stable and in good condition, the number of hunters has been in steady decline with some small upticks every few years. Pennsylvania's peak hunting numbers occurred in 1982, when 1.3 million hunters headed afield. Last year, those numbers were down to 914,244. Although the decline can be attributed to several reasons, one of the main contributors is that the hunter population is aging and younger hunters are not joining the ranks at an equal pace. Demands on personal time and the increase of single-family households are also contributing factors.

Although the number of hunters has dropped, the number of women, especially young women and teenagers, is sharply on the increase. While some of that may be family-related, small groups of women have been attending hunter safety education classes.

The appearance of chronic wasting disease in Pennsylvania several years ago has caused concerns. At this time, the Game Commission has information on its website -- www.pgc.pa.gov -- concerning CWD as well as a list of cooperating deer processors, taxidermists and the location of CWD drop-off boxes for hunters who wish to confirm if their harvested animal had CWD. Hunters dropping off a buck at a CWD drop-off box can remove the antlers and skull plate before dropping off the head.

Any hunter encountering what appears to be a sick deer in the field is encouraged to report the location to a local conservation officer. Hunters should not attempt to handle the animal, and it is not legal to simply shoot it.

Although the number of hunters is declining, the number of poachers is increasing. Hunters are urged to report poachers.

While everyone looks forward to the opening day, good hunting opportunities remain throughout the season. The number of hunters drops off drastically after the first day.

One important tip hunters should take with them on Monday: If an opportunity for a shot presents itself, a properly placed first shot is much more important than a quick second shot. Be sure of your target, take only ethical and responsible shots, and most important, enjoy the day, for we never know when it might be our last first day.