RidgeFACTOR

Why does Pennsylvania Game Commission take the archery hunting out when it starts to get good and then bring it back the day after Christmas? Why can't Pennsylvania be more like surrounding states and let archery season run concurrent up til rifle season? Certain counties in PA have different antler restrictions and having a split season and archery season opens back up a day after Christmas when a majority of bucks have lost their horns, makes no sense.

bronko22000

Well Ridge that's the way it's always been. But I as well as many others don't think it sucks. I've taken 8 nice buck in the past nine years during archery season. The only year I didn't was last season when I was holding out for a monster 10 point with 3 sticker points. I could have shot 3 other 8 points.
Man you guys out in Greene county should be hammering huge buck every year.

quebechunter

thats why i hunt pa and maryland archery comes in around sept 10th and goes out the end of jan

bronko22000

PA archery comes in either the last weekend in Sept or first weekend in Oct and goes out the second Saturday in Nov.

Bocajnala

Ohio runs end of Sept until the first week of February. No breaks.....


-Jake

bronko22000

We are really going to need to talk next week!!!!

RidgeFACTOR

That's how Pennsylvania should be, it's time they wake up.

RidgeFACTOR

But I and MANY, MANY of my hunting buddies wish they would change it, now we have 2 weeks to do nothing when we could still be bowhunting if the archery season would run up to rifle season. 2 weeks wasted when the rut is going on.

mrbb

believe it or not, yrs back archery season was even shorter, and you were able to use your main lic tag to tag a buck or a doe any where in the state with it, NO units for anterless deer! also NO antler restrictions,
SO< it CAN be changed if they wanted
I personally think they have it like they do, for several reasons, they want to ensure bucks breed does,a nd "X" number of them at that
its LESS work on the wardens having a SLIGHT break in things
I love Ohio and there rules and there wardens and how they handle there game there
BUT Ohio doesn't have as many hunters, so, I think that also is a part in things, as with larger hunter numbers, bucks being a little easier to kill, numbers would drop way faster if season ran for 3+ months like in Ohio, here in PA
I'm not PRO or con a Slightly longer archery season, been OK with how it is now
but I was lucky enough to have the entire archery season off for the past 30 yrs, so I don't have the limits on some to hunt as many others have, so I can see there side as well
same goes then for Sunday hunting too,pro's con's
harder to swallow when you have limited time to hunt(only weekend)
BUT that is also a very hard sale here in PA, doubt it will change any time soon!

Bocajnala

It's difficult to find access where I am in Ohio now. Every where is leased. My ohio hunting is all public land now. There's deer, but lots of pressure. I've been out only a few times this year (busy with work and family) and have seen a handful of deer.


I've had public land success here years past. But haven't put the time in to really be successfull the past few years here.


The long season and the big bucks are nice though.


To compare: In PA if I see 10 bucks it'll likely be two spike, two 4 points, three six points, two basket rack 8 points, and maybe one "good" buck...


In Ohio if I see 10 buck the smallest might be a four point, maybe two 6 points, four nice 8s and three really good bucks.


I had never even seen a spike in Ohio until last year. The quality of deer, including their weights, is just higher IMO...Most of the Ohio doe that I have shot have gone over 100 lbs dressed. One went 130 lbs. I've helped drag two bucks over 215lbs dressed(not my deer, hunting buddies).


Ohio is a great place to archery hunt if you have land access. The long season, amount of deer, and quality of deer are really good.


Did I mention Ohio deer seem to taste better than PA mountain deer? I guess it's from eating that sweet corn all summer and not having to climb the hills lol.


All that being said, I've always been a meat hunter, and the biggest bucks I've shot in Ohio were just average 8 pointers. But the big boys are here.


They are in PA too, but I don't think they are as plentiful in PA based on my own sighting over the years and the numbers recorded in my little hunting journal


-Jake