DarDys
Hunters have changed -- speculate why, but they have.

The hard core are still hard core, but many have switched to archery.

The serious hunters have become aberage hunters.

Average hunters have become casual hunters.

Casual hunters have quit.

I sat on a spot of very private land surrounded by other agricultural private land and listened to the number of shots on the two open to hunting mountains on either side. Monday there were 12 shots and Wednesday there were zero. Keep in mind that this in a CWD zone where everything except less than three to a side bucks were legal.

Sorry, had to post and run without finishing.

Not only is this a CWD zone, but the entire valley, except for a handful of farms is Amish and Mennonite that hunt hard.

This points to A) no hunters, B) no deer, or C) some combination of both.

Now, for the record, there were no shots on Monday on the private ground either. I did see plenty of deer though -- 5 different bucks, 2 buttons, 9 antlerless, and 14 "other" deer. None of the bucks were AR legal, let alone property rule acceptable (8-point or bigger at least 16" wide or bigger than anything else you have shot, whichever is bigger) that has been in place for 10 years -- so much for AR working even under ideal conditions. None of the antlerless provided a good opportunity.

Wednesday I saw a different non legal buck, 4 antlerless, and 9 others. The only 2 shots anywhere were the two that removed two CWD threats -- LOL.

But back to hunters changing. On Monday there was one other hunter on the three private properties that equal close to 2000 acres. Wednesday I was alone. Not even those with access were out in not bad, slightly rainy, coole but not cold weather.

Talking to guys at work, while some of the archery guys gave it a good go, some taking off from Halloween on, there those that scuttled half of all of the first day of rifle, even with CWD tags, because of the weather. No one took Tuesday off. Most were playing wait and see for the weather on Saturday. It rained all day, so I doubt many ventured out.

It seems that deer season, for many, is now more anticipation than action.

When I dropped deer off at the processor on Wednesday evening, no other deer were there (they usually do 300-500 the first week if antlerless are involved). But there was one guy picking up from Monday, something that used to take more than a week. I got a call around noon on Thursday to pick up my Wednesday deer.

I have talked to a few people that have yet to see a deer, including one fairly prominent outdoor writer who has spent everyday out and saw one live deer.

I don't know the answers or maybe even the questions, but deer season, particularly firearms season is, in my mind, officially gone from what it once was.

S-10
PS--On 500 acres, assuming it is not posted property, with todays DPSM you likely would only have 2 bucks 2yo or older living here. 

We have quite a few more than that but the dpsm in 2A is higher than much of the state. 

Hit some new turf today, about 30 acre wooded plot containing about a 2 acre marsh all surrounded by farm fields.  Walked in under dark skies; set my climber and, up the tree I went.  Sat there, as still as could be, until about 8:00 pm when I had to stretch and what, to my surprise did appear but, a orange coat wrapped around a tree, a ground blind with a orange top and, some guy standing outside whizzzzing in the weeds!
 
 
I'm sorry I just couldn't refuse after reading Drod's great story.(lol)
 
DRod I would say your son learned some valuable lessons from a very wise father about hunting the PA. Wilds.  The memories your boy has of hunting with his dad can never be made in a classroom.
 
I did try some new turf today and in doing so, I felt it wise to dress from head to toe in 'hunter orange' as, this week will certainly bring out the 'IF IT'S BROWN; I'M SHOOTING AT IT' gang.  I was so orange today Charlie Brown would of thought I was 'The Great Pumpkin' looking for his pumpkin patch.
 
Wind was out of the southeast at 10 mph gusting to 18 mph with the OAT hovering around 35.  Skies were partly cloudy to sunny with the sun low in the southern sky.  Not exactly the type of sky I was hoping for as I would be 'still hunting' the area, seeking both a whitetail and, more info about this new area itself.  In order to stay downwind of any possible deer I would need to walk facing directly toward the sun.  Believe me when the sun came out, my orange suit lit up like a neon sign announcing my arrival.  My plan, stay in the shadows of the trees as I moved slowly and quietly into the wind, constantly scanning the woods.
 
Things were moving along smoothly as I put my left foot forward, a few feet and planting it softly, next moving my right foot just far enough as to maintain a good shooting stance.  Waiting until I scanned as far as my eye could see (look at the trees in front of you and that's what you will see; look at the farthermost trees and you'll see what moves between you and those trees.) I moved my left foot another few feet and so on.  I try to make my way to the closest tree regardless of the size and there, I will remain for several minutes scanning those farthermost trees. 
 
Wasn't long (maybe two hours) when I felt my legs becoming stiff and my boots feeling like they were made of lead.  Guess who isn't conditioned to walking and standing on this type of terrain; heck this wasn't my first time at 'still hunting' this year but, it sure was the longest.  (My how time flies when your having fun).  Saw a fairly high knoll ahead so I set my course in hopes of making it there to rest a spell.  I think I know the true meaning to 'one step forward; two steps back',  no matter how slow I tried to go and how easy I tried to plant my feet each step made me look like the first round loser on Dancing With The Stars as I stumbled, slipped, tripped and, Bi_ched the last 50 yards.  Well I made it, just in time to see three doe split to the right and the north end of a south bound deer going to the left.  What ever it was disappeared in to the red brush and undergrowth along a stream edge and the other three disappeared down the other side of the brush.  Been in this situation many times and have had deer split up, come back into the area looking for each other (one of these days I'm gonna buy a bleat/grunt call) so, I pulled up a stump and made myself at home.  Just my luck, this wouldn't be one of those times when the deer wanted to come back or even circle me trying to get down wind. 1:45 pm back on my feet, I made my way around the brush stepping gingerly on the soft ground along the small stream, up a small bank and onto solid ground with dry feet no less.  Didn't take too many steps to reveal which way the lone deer was headed or the fact it was 'pedal to the metal' getting to the next swamp. The leaves were ruffled every place it touched ground before lifting off into the next jump.  No doubt this deer has an idea why I was there and it wasn't sticking around to ask questions. 
 
Now, knowing this deer split from the other three, taking a different route and,  made no attempt to slow down getting to other cover better than a 100 yds. away, might I be correct in thinking this one is a buck?
 
Hold all my calls I'll be out, of the office tomorrow morning, sitting on a knoll somewhere in the PA. Wilds, before sunup. 
 
 
 

Yeah buddy

Live to play another day

Years ago, while archery hunting with my son, a squirrel hunter who just passed us began shooting into the tree tops. No squirrels were visible anywhere. When I tried to get the idiots license number he became very belligerent . I backed off and returned to my son who was quite shaken up. Not because the idiot was shooting in the trees but, out of fear the POS would shoot me.

That was 18 years ago and that is one memory I wish he could forget!

 
 
 
 

 
Listened to the weather dude forecasting 1 to 3'' of snow in my area for tomorrow so, I didn't hunt today thinking snow carpeted forest floors would be waiting for me come Wednesday morning.  Turns out that ain't happening and the weather dude says snow is now forecast for Thursday.  Seeing (3) 'antler-less', (1) 'couldn't tell' yesterday and, getting this picture from last night plus, a report of snow had me feeling like a kid on the eve of opening day.  What a let down, and now, I feel like the kid who just got a sled for Christmas and no snow.
 
Oh well, better days are coming and I'll be out tomorrow hunting for something I didn't lose.
 
Good luck to those still looking; Hunt safely.

Finally, success for my son this evening.  
 
Picked him up after school, and settled into our spot and ready to go at 4:20.  Had a good feeling about tonight.  Field edge loaded with red oak acorns, and winter wheat and freshly cut corn a few hundred yards away.  
 
Set up 5 yards from where he shot his first buck 2 years ago tomorrow.  Don't know why, but we never got around to hunting this spot in archery.  And I wanted to wait for a decent weather day to catch some natural movement of deer moving towards food.  
 
At 4:35, I looked up and saw tails running through the thick stuff, just out of shooting range.  Looked like little skippers, which I thought was a bit odd.  Looked back to where they came from, and here he came. Apparently, the late rut is on where we were.  He was after one of dem little buggers.  They stopped in some thick stuff, and I thought they were heading away from us, but for whatever reason, they came right past us at about 7 yards and just into the field.  He followed suit, and at 10 yards, I gave him a bleat with my mouth, and POW! right in the wheelhouse.  He dropped but wasn't dead.  After a little chaos of this guy trying to get back up and chase that doe again, got a second shot in his neck and dat was it.  10 yards from where his first buck fell.  
 
He's got about a 1 1/2" G4 on the left that was busted off, and hard to see in the pic.  Spike 2 years ago.  9 point next year.  Can't wait to see what he does next!
 

 
 

That is one great picture and story!

Congratulations Drod; to your son and, to you.

Early experiences last a lifetime- congrats

That looks like a nice fat dude! Nice job!

Good deal. Congrats to the young man.

Congrats Drod!! Great buck foe the kiddo!

Congrats to the successful hunters.    Nothing like taking out a youth, or a lady huntress and having success.  

Coyote I could feel the excitement just reading your post and that it is a NICE deer.  Congratulations to you and yours from me and mine.

I did not hear a shot fired all week but today I heard more than any other day this season.
I have not hunted just working,neighbor called at 3:30 today could you make a short drive?- SURE- 15 minutes later I strolled out didn't even take the rifle(still have a doe tag but it can go unfilled)heard 2 shots in wrong directions and he and 2 other guys saw 10 BOLT by them in 3 groups no shot all does.
This is a 10 ac area I pushed but it has been undisturbed for most of season.
The deer are where the hunters are not and there are less hunters over all in PA.
As hunters we just need to adjust to changing conditions some natural but it can be as simple as paying attention to what the hunters around you are doing or not...
BTDT- Keep at it still got the late season-GOOD LUCK!...WCW
 

Interesting, I spent 4-5 times the hours on stand in archery and saw 1/3 the doe you did. I did see 4 legal bucks and 5-6 small ones. None of the legal ones were bigger than what I was seeing before AR. I did spent too much of my time time hunting in the apples given the amount of acorns available. Old habits are hard to break I guess.