PA Rifle Opener

[tddeangelo]

Today was an historic day in Pennsylvania.

Since the early 1960's, PA's rifle deer season opened on the Monday after Thanksgiving.

Today it opened on obviously the Saturday after Thanksgiving, to much controversy among hunters. Opinions are very mixed.

Be that as it may, we saw little deer movement out of the gate. At about 9:15 or so, I caught movement on the hillside I was watching and bino's confirmed I'd caught the flick of a tail. In total, 7 whitetail does carefully came into view.

Eventually, a larger adult doe came into the opening I was watching and was broadside. I had the Model 70 ready for her, and the 250gr Nosler Partition (35 Whelen) took flight.

That doe literally never knew what hit her. She was put down exactly where she stood, legs flinging dirt from her hard and fast drop.

I've come to really enjoy the 35 Whelen for PA whitetail hunting. Is it more than I need? Sure. But I enjoy it never the less!

 

[whit]

What wmu were you hunting? We didn't see any legal buck and antlerless isn't open. Hopefully Monday will be better.

Chris

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[tddeangelo]

5C....

Didn't see an antler all day here. Only one of the 5 of us saw any antlers and there was no way the hunter could tell if the deer was legal.

Back at it on Monday...hoping to tip one over with a rack on its head.

 

[salmonchaser]

Good start, well done.


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[JD338]

Congratulations on your doe.

JD338

 

[wvbuckbuster]

What is the point restriction in PA now? Here in WV in the older age management areas it is 14 ins wide. Have been asking the DNR to change to points like you guys have. Dan.

 

[whit]

3 points on a side in the eastern part of the state and 3 up not including a brow tine in the western part.

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[gerry]

Congrats on the deer, nice to hear of another Whelen being put into action.

 

[NYDAN]

Congratulations on the doe. Hopefully you will see some bucks soon. Good luck to your daughter also.

Dan

 

[tddeangelo]

There's talk of dropping our point restrictions soon, especially in the CWD designated Disease Management Areas. They are specifically discussing the need to target the young bucks in those areas because whitetail bucks tend to disperse at 1.5 yrs old, potentially carrying the disease some distance away with them.

So far it's just discussion, but I wouldn't be shocked to see antler point restrictions dropped in the DMA's soon.

 

[whit]

Very quiet today in Juniata county. I don't know if the 2" snow scared the hunters or if the deer just aren't moving. I have only heard a couple of shots since 7 am and have only seen 1 doe 400 yards away.

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[tddeangelo]

I saw none at all today. Heard far less shooting than on Saturday. My daughter had a shot and didn't quite make it happen. She'll be back at it Saturday. I have off tomorrow for one more try, but it was very dead in the woods today here in Berks.

 

[diverdown]

My buddy got a nice fat 8 pointer in the Youngsville area opening morning. Didn't hear much shooting but did see two bears. From what he has been hearing it sounds like there is a surplus of bears running around.

 

[tddeangelo]

Nothing moving but the treetops this morning. Man did it get windy.

Hoping it lays down at dark and they get hungry.... I'm hungry for some tenderloins.

 

[truck driver]

Good luck Tom.
I'm not hunting this year and is the first time in a long time I didn't chase Bambi.