Deer hunters prep for PA firearms season
Deer hunters prep for PA firearms season
By Tyler Frantz
To many, the first day of deer season is sacred. In fact, the Monday after Thanksgiving is probably responsible for more scheduled vacation days than any other calendar date beyond official holidays.
Schools close, knowing students would “call in sick” regardless, and motorists need not drive far to observe one of the estimated 740,000 orange-clad figures dotting the landscape. In short, deer hunting is a Pennsylvania tradition. It is certainly a time of excitement and anticipation. Trying to sleep the night before the season is similar to how a kid feels on Christmas eve- impatient yet overjoyed to discover what gifts the following morning might bestow. As we grow older, sleep comes easier, but that magical little twinkle of hope still permeates.
Prepping gear ahead of time is not only an annual rite of passage, but it’s also an essential component to a well-hatched opening day action plan. Without overdoing it, there are several items every deer hunter should possess to ensure a comfortable, efficient hunt. For convenience sake, I’ve included a checklist of the gear I usually carry with me each time I enter the whitetail woods.
While my list may seem a bit extensive, it is important to note that most items are small, lightweight and stow easily in my hunting pack for comfortable transport and convenient access. I follow the mantra that it’s better to have more than you need than not enough when you need it. This detailed checklist should serve most hunters well. Layering clothing is key to regulating body temperature effectively. Hunters planning to still-hunt, participate in organized drives or cover ground while hiking to their spot should wear lighter clothing than those with a short walk followed by and an all day sit.
Heavy insulated outer layers can always be rolled up and strapped to a pack for the walk in, and then pulled on as core body temps cool down after arrival. Removing gloves, unbuttoning the upper neck of one’s hunting top, and wearing a mesh-backed hat while moving will allow heat to escape easily.
Once stationary, hunters will want to keep neck, head and hands covered with a quality fleece material to trap in warmth around extremities. A foam seat pad and chemical hand-warmers can help with this in cold weather.
Arriving early to the area one plans to hunt is a great strategy for taking advantage of the hunting pressure one can expect on opening day. Seek out transitional areas where one type of cover meets another, providing fair visibility with the added bonus of an escape sanctuary.
This may be found on a high mountain saddle where most hunters approach from low-lying fields, along pine thickets transitioning from open hardwoods, or deep in a swamp when pressure occurs mostly along the fringes. Draws running from deep hollows also serve as prime travel hubs for bumped whitetails. Stake out these locations early and let other hunters push the deer to you.
If a change in location is warranted as the day wears on, consider a move to a south facing sunny-side slope where cool season fescue and forbs or hard mast are available. Even better, take post along a trail leading to standing agricultural crops to guarantee you’re in position for intercepting deer as they head to feed.
If good fortune graces your favor, be sure to have a solid plan for removing your deer from the woods. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, especially if your drag is of considerable distance or up a steep incline. A wheeled game cart can really alleviate the struggle from longer transport, but either way, be prepared for some good old-fashioned manual labor.
Always hunt with a partner or make sure someone knows your anticipated location and when you plan to return. If that return includes a fresh haul of venison, please do your part and remember to report your harvest. It’s a shame to hear less than half the deer taken by hunters each year are actually reported to the Game Commission. With reporting now available online, via phone or through convenient post cards included in every hunting digest, it really can’t get much easier. There’s no excuse for hunters not to follow through with this incredibly simple process to help maintain accurate harvest records in the name of wildlife conservation. It is our responsibility as sportsmen to help manage the game we love to pursue.
As you venture afield this season, take a moment to enjoy every aspect of the hunt. From the preparations, the restless sleep, and stand selection to the hunt, the harvest, and hard work to follow, deer season has finally arrived. Make the most of this beloved Pennsylvania tradition, and you’ll forge memories to last a lifetime!
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