I took the flintlock for a walk yesterday after we parked alongside 25 other vehicles in one of Berks Co.'s favorite public hunting spots. My son and my grandson headed uphill into the Blue Mts. about 2 and a half miles. I managed to make the top of the mountain about 7:30 to hunt an area that normally holds a few deer.
The two sets of fresh tracks in the crusted snow indicated that the deer on top had been pushed pretty hard for two weeks. Thirty-five years of hunting this public land whispered that I needed to check some of the tough areas seldom searched by the rifle hunters,looking for some 100 yard shooting lanes.
Bad knees meant taking it slow, but I found what I was looking for with surprising fresh sign in abundance. I backed out of the area in hopes that the deer will settle there more by Dec. 26. Will the deer still be holding in this areas of laurel, white pine, and rocks for the flintlock season? We hope, and that's where we'll be for a couple of flintlock hunts.
It is tough hunting, but that is what the flintlock season is about. If it was easy, there would be 25 vehicles in the parking lot on Dec. 26! Maybe 5, tops!