do you remember when there use to people in the woods after the first week hunted game lands 57 in 3B second Monday and Saturday lots of land almost no people and no deer I think those remember when days are gone forever
I always said that when they combined doe season with buck season, it was the worst thing that ever happened. After the first 2 days of buck season, the woods were basically empty. Now theres hunters out for the 2 weeks, and they are able to shoot whatever they see. In my area the deer numbers took a big hit, like most other places. When doe season was on its own, it definitely was a lot tougher and you had to hunt hard to find the does, and I think the numbers always stayed pretty good. Now theres just too many chances to deplete the deer population which is very evident these days.
I don't believe they were getting the kill they needed for that to be effective.
As a youngster, it was first day of buck off, the two Saturdays, and first day of doe. And that was if I did not get a buck. How many people can take off the beginning 3 days of a week?
There was also chance at not getting a tag so anticipation was high.Now it's I just need to pick where I want one in most cases.You had to apply early back then.It was cold and snowy and drives were common.
yes you where not guaranteed a permit but growing up in Lackawanna County if you knew people all you had to do was give them to that person. I know that from personal experience oh yes THE GOOD OLD DAYS
I used to look forward to doe season more than buck. I had a better chance to score as a kid in doe season. At the hunting club I used to belong to (near Dushore), maybe 4 or 5 out of the 12 members would get a tag.
Now I don't think I could take the time off of work. Too many other obligations now.
Remember when nobody you knew ever "tagged out" in archery? Nobody even bow hunted in the 1970s and 1980s. October and November was for squirrel hunting.
Really? At that time it was not a problem to see deer in the forests. Now some areas you are lucky to see a deer in 2 weeks. Only areas I've been hearing of any numbers seen are by those hunting the areas close to cities or suburbia.
I am not sure the point about not getting the harvest back then holds water. They barely handed out any tags in Crawford county back in the day, I remember the days of 3,300 doe tags and one and done. All they have ever had to do was issue more tags, and that is what they do now, issue tags and cha ching $$$. The WMU system allows them to massage the numbers a little so you can't see so clearly how many tags get used per county. Don't get me wrong, I am not against the PGC, but don't pee on my pant leg and tell me it is raining, you could kill more deer and more precisely control the numbers in a county by county system than the WMU system.
As someone mentioned in another thread, having a two or three day doe season after the buck hunt made it feel like a second opening day, which I guess it was. That was kinda nice as it gave everyone who had a doe tag another excuse to head for camp. We'd hunt the last Saturday for buck and then just kick back and hang out on Sunday and then hit the woods on Monday. I also miss those days!
I felt that way about doe season also. In fact my traditional dinner for buck season first day is beef roast, potates, and noodles in crock pot. Doe season opener was the same meal. Seems like you was rewarded the doe season after hunting hard for buck 2 weeks. I loved that tradition but our smart people are saying it was wrong now is the correct way. Guess we all have our opinions.
I remember the days in the 70s hunting the ANF down by East fork (?) Pulling up the old dirt mouintan road to our camping spot on the Friday after thanksgiving. Back then it was ARMEY-NAVEY game on Saturday and Steelers on Sunday on the battery radio ,with the smell of Colman fuel from the lantern . Roaming the mountians looking for sign and maybe a squirrel or 2. Almost always had snow for buck opener. To trek deep into the forest way before light wanting to get to Holmes Hollow or Schoolhouse or maybe Conover hollows. Lota deer, lota hunters, lota shooting. These are day I never forget with my father and grandpa...oh to go back in time..Those are some of my greatest memories. As a nonresident we were never issued any doe tags..ever..we applied every year and every year they sent them back...unopened......
I remember those days and would rather have 2 full weeks to hunt. Shouldn't make a difference if the season is 90 days or 3...just change doe tag allocations. If you want to save deer camps add Sunday hunting.
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