BeenThereDoneThat.
No way, unless on posted property, does any buck have chance of getting by 2.5 years of age, in areas of Mercer County, PA.

 
A good friend of mine takes 3.5 and older bucks quite regularly on unposted properties in Mercer County. He has a stud he plans to chase this year on unposted property. 

You did say "areas" of Mercer County so you were not making a blanket statement. Mercer County has some great deer hunting. Hunted there a few times recently and the buck sign has been great. 

Kinda of a shame, at first I thought you a "hunter" interested in sharing a good hunting story dpms

Welp only goes to show, I can be wrong.... once in a while.

But after your comment, I'm not so sure I'm wrong, you post "only" to create argument.

Yes.... "Areas" of Mercer county.

PS. I too know people who get older deer in Mercer County. They set their stands & cameras just feet from posted land they can easily access by ATV.

Enjoy your style of "hunting", good luck, be safe and thanks for reading my 'rants'.

Don't forget to hit the like 👍 button 😊

Ok ok I hunt mercer county my entire like umm 17 years now since I was 12 is say the past 5-6 years iv really been concentrating on big deer I'll say this , I believe 90% of the bucks are 3.5 or younger you can really tell quite easy if it's a "mature " deer by body size alone but there's not many , sure most probably don't be seen or known about but there rare yes there here but there smart, alot of "typical 8s" I'd say 80-100" deer and lotta does I never hunted back in the day because I wasn't born yet but my opinion is this..... everyone seen 50 60 100 deer but maby 1 buck probably a spike or basket rack they shot it and where happy , now there is far less deer but the buck doe ratio is far better "still far from perfect " I get and kill 3 does every year and pretty much have my entire life so really there's not a shortage of deer just better quality deer I see 140-160in deer locally every year spotting driving whatever and a few years ago there was a 190+ killed about 4 miles from my house so they are here just smart , now the Amish they kill everything and anything big small shoot em all but if there killing some "culls" is it really a bad thing? Legal no probably not but if your eating it and jebadi has a tag???? I think ar is working and I'm happy to shoot as many doe tags as pgc will gimme ....end rant

I believe if people really worked hard got into some wet stuff marshes swamps they would be amazed at what they might see , or even in anf the big timber find the saddles on beds near food there's big bucks but once again there smart and wary, I believe your best chance is your first chance stay mobile don't over hunt a spot and watch the wind , not only yours but the deers

BeenThereDoneThat.
But after your comment, I'm not so sure I'm wrong, you post "only" to create argument.

Nope. Nothing in my post was argumentative. Only another opinion on deer hunting in Mercer County. Maybe you have a chip on your shoulder and are looking for stuff that isn't there. 
 
The great majority of my thousands of posts are congratulatory, informative, discussive, and positive. Heck, if it weren't for me, and just a few others posting about hunting experiences, there would be hardly any good discussion on the hunting boards. 
 
With that said, debate often happens on message boards. One can choose to partake or not. If one chooses to partake, it should be expected that positions will be challenged. That is what debate is. 

thunderpole
I believe if people really worked hard got into some wet stuff marshes swamps they would be amazed at what they might see , or even in anf the big timber find the saddles on beds near food there's big bucks but once again there smart and wary, I believe your best chance is your first chance stay mobile don't over hunt a spot and watch the wind , not only yours but the deers

Yep. My buddy uses this tactic often.
 
I would add that some people also need to continually adjust from what they have always done if they expect reasonable success. What worked 80 years ago didn't necessarily work 50 years ago. 30 years ago like 10 years ago. Etc........... I hunt much different now and in different areas than I did in the 80s and 90s. I see as good success or better now as I did back then. Success rates here in Pa prove that deer hunters are doing very well, despite the gloom and doom that is often presented. 

I have to say the internet has so much useful information it's crazy, people are willing to share information

dpms

BeenThereDoneThat.
But after your comment, I'm not so sure I'm wrong, you post "only" to create argument.

Nope. Nothing in my post was argumentative. Only another opinion on deer hunting in Mercer County. Maybe you have a chip on your shoulder and are looking for stuff that isn't there. 
 
The great majority of my thousands of posts are congratulatory, informative, discussive, and positive. Heck, if it weren't for me, and just a few others posting about hunting experiences, there would be hardly any good discussion on the hunting boards. 
 
With that said, debate often happens on message boards. One can choose to partake or not. If one chooses to partake, it should be expected that positions will be challenged. That is what debate is. 

 
 
I believe that's my point. 
 
 
 
debate

[dəˈbāt] 



NOUN

• a formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward.
  "last night's debate on the Education Bill"
  synonyms:
  discussion · exchange of views · discourse · parley · argument · dispute ·[more]
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  VERB
  
  
• argue about (a subject), especially in a formal manner.
  "the board debated his proposal" ·[more]
  
  synonyms:
  discuss · confer about · talk over · talk through · talk about ·[more]
  
  
  
  
  
  

Perfect morning shaping up tomorrow for the general opener. I plan to be out there in the morning. Can't hunt the evening tomorrow, unfortunately. 

Unfortunately it is shaping up to be a great dog training day too. And that is where I’ll put my time.

Shot the first bird off Dextros point yesterday and he also retrieved it to hand.

Wintres had solid points, but he is not to the stage of being able to shoot a bird over him yet.

Good luck to all that venture out for deer.