What happened?

To the many regular members that used to post on the hunting forums? I don't frequent the others forums much on this board as I am not much of a fisherman. Is traffic down on the fishing forums too? Used to be able to come here and have many active hunting discussions going on at the same time. 
 

Yes dpms, the other "PA" boards are down too.

I leave town for a couple months, and see what happens? lmao

Keep your stories comin, people do read and enjoy them.

The few boards I am on are all down with the exception of a few 'regulars'. 
The regs seem to be, for the most part, VERY committed to their sports.
Seasonal folks seem to come and go during the peak seasons of their choice.
IMHO many come in around the start of their favored time and leave right after the closing.
It a computer thing.
Folks use it for last minute info like water levels and weather where they intend to go.
Only some of us are year round multisports folks.
Also the occasional fighting and rudeness that happens chases people who are posting for info and fun OUT.

treesparrow
I believe it is the battle lines that form that turn so many off. Over time you just get weary of hearing dissenting arguments on subjects that you care about.

Don't know. To me it seemed posts and traffic were the highest when there were many hot topic issues being discussed. Now, the same topics get just a few posts form the regulars that remain. 

Facebook and Instagram make it possible to post your pictures, stories and opinions among friends - as small or as large an audience as you want - without a lot of the drama.

No fish handling police to tell you you’re gill blasting; no antler police to complain that you shot a basket rack instead of a P & Y buck, etc.

The good old days on here were pretty entertaining for sure. The characters, the arguments/discussion, the stories, the photoshop skills. All of it was great and the knowledge I gained about steelhead fishing specifically and fishing in general on here, especially through sending PM’s to different guys, was great.

I lurk on huntingpa and it seems like those boards are pretty active but I’ve only been on there a few years so I don’t know what it used to be like. But it’s also a much broader focus across the entire state. Although this forum offers lots of other opportunities it was built around steelhead and that’s a pretty narrow focus.

rsquared
Facebook and Instagram make it possible to post your pictures, stories and opinions among friends - as small or as large an audience as you want - without a lot of the drama.

No fish handling police to tell you you’re gill blasting; no antler police to complain that you shot a basket rack instead of a P & Y buck, etc.

The good old days on here were pretty entertaining for sure. The characters, the arguments/discussion, the stories, the photoshop skills. All of it was great and the knowledge I gained about steelhead fishing specifically and fishing in general on here, especially through sending PM’s to different guys, was great.

I lurk on huntingpa and it seems like those boards are pretty active but I’ve only been on there a few years so I don’t know what it used to be like. But it’s also a much broader focus across the entire state. Although this forum offers lots of other opportunities it was built around steelhead and that’s a pretty narrow focus.

 
HPA WAY down compared to what it used to be.  More so since it was sold by the last PA Owner.
 
 

I think a lot of what happened to the hunting forum is a reflection of what has happened to hunting in PA. The interest just isn’t there like it was before.

eyesandgillz
 
HPA WAY down compared to what it used to be.  More so since it was sold by the last PA Owner.
 

Yeah, I've only had an account there a few years.  Mostly just to lurk on the hunting dog and waterfowl forums.  Some really nice photo threads on there in the trout fishing section too, from the guys from central and eastern PA.  

Just us old farts still here .....lol....but we got some good old stories to tell you young bucks !....lol

Anybody remember Griffon that used to post here? The guy usually killed a good buck every year. S-10 was always good for some back and forth discussion on some topics. 

CAPTAIN HOOK
Just us old farts still here .....lol....but we got some good old stories to tell you young bucks !....lol

Brock, I love your stories and picture threads on here!  Was even better hearing them in person!  
 

Thanks Dave, I always enjoy sharing stories and outdoor photos ....and I enjoy listening to them too ! Your boys remind of when mine were learning the joys of outdoor sports at a young age ....and it don't get any better than that !

Didn't see one orange hat or dog box even drive by the house this past yr. for sm. game let alone hunting the fields while driving around. None of my friends around here (Lake Arthur) even bought a license this yr. They all hunted when moved here in 1985. 2 of my sons bought lice. this season but never even went out. Heard 2--3 shots during all rifle season with plenty of deer & some very large bucks hanging 'round the hood. Might get back into it & might not. If not for archery, Bear & Turkey hunters the game com. would be washed up.
 
crappy

crappiefisher
Trailer plates went up from $6 too $11 a yr. for Butler county. With 11 plates to buy for might downsize on that.
 
 

Your wonderful county commissioners voted for the $5 tax....
 
 
The Butler County commissioners unanimously voted during a meeting on Wednesday morning to implement a $5 vehicle tax that they say will bring thousands of dollars into our county to fix our roads and bridges.
 
Commissioner Leslie Osche says the board has been hearing from constituents for years that transportation issues are one of the county’s biggest problems.
 
“As we traveled around all the municipalities when we first took office, we learned that everyone was struggling with transportation issues– getting roads paved, fixed, expanded…and also they were struggling with their bridges,” Osche said in an interview on Monday.
The $5 fee itself will be added to residents’ vehicle registrations. You now have an option to renew your registration for two years at a time, and you’d only have to pay the $5 fee once (so it’s essentially $2.50/year).
 
The big project that could get done with these extra funds would be the Route 228 project in southern Butler County, but Commissioner Kim Geyer says that’s not all.
 
“It’s not all about Rt. 228,” Geyer said Monday. “Upon the inception of the $5 fee, the county will immediately be able to address three bridges– two in Clearfield Township and one in Oakland Township– as well as road improvements (including resurfacing and widening) in 8-11 different municipalities.”
 
Commissioner Kevin Boozel says there are several safeguards surrounding the fee, including the exemption of those who are retired and bring in less than $19,200 per year.
 
Despite somewhat of a public outcry surrounding the $5 vehicle fee, no one showed up at Wednesday’s Butler County commissioners meeting to speak against the move.
 
The commissioners said they were somewhat surprised, but also said it could be because they already spoke with numerous county residents over the phone or in-person leading up to the vote. All three of the commissioners also appeared on WISR’s ‘It’s Your Turn’ talk show on Monday to explain the fee.
 
Board chairman Commissioner Leslie Osche said she appreciated hearing from county residents about their individual concerns, which was echoed by commissioners Kim Geyer and Kevin Boozel.
 
“We have enjoyed and appreciated the conversations,” Osche said Wednesday. “We learned a lot.”
 
The $5 vehicle fee will allow the county to address several road and bridge projects immediately, but the Butler County commissioners say it could also open the county up to a substantial federal grant.
 
The $25 million BUILD Grant, or Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development, was created under the Trump administration. Applications for the grant are due Thursday.
 
 
The commissioners said they were told by federal officials that their grant application would look more desirable if they showed all other local revenue streams for transportation had been exhausted, which they say the implementation of the $5 fee does.
 
 
“It shows we have ‘skin in the game’,” Commissioner Kim Geyer said at a meeting last week.
The board hopes to learn if they were chosen in December.
 
Commissioner Kim Geyer said she received several letters from local businesses, school districts, townships and trucking companies in the last week voicing their support for the $5 fee and potential grant, specifically because it could address the transportation problems on Route 228 in southern Butler County.
 
“The companies that use the Rt. 228 corridor on a daily basis are excited about the potential for all of this federal funding,” Geyer said Wednesday. “They are wholeheartedly lending their support.”
 
The commissioners said their letters will be included with the county’s BUILD grant application.
 
According to the board, more than 11,600 businesses along the Route 228 corridor- stretching from Cranberry Township (at the Interstate 79 interchange) onto Route 228 east the whole way to Route 356 and into Freeport and onto the Allegheny River- which move $27 billion in goods and commodities annually.
 
“On that road alone,” Osche said. “That’s a huge impact.”

Rattle snake permit !  Ever catch any ? I've never seen one yet in Pa. but others have where we hunted in Tionesta years ago.