Greetings from Pennsylvania...

[GreenMtnBoy708]

Hello all,

I've lived in a bunch of places but now reside in Bucks County, PA. For several years prior to the move we lived in Colorado and I'm still collecting preference points for elk, mulies, and pronghorn with the goal to return there for some good hunts someday. In the meantime, I still hunt whitetail with my Dad in upstate NY and plan to continue that tradition each year so long as we are able. I'm eager to get the lay of the land here in PA and hopefully find good folks to hunt with. Nice to meet y'all here and thanks!

Eric

 

[pabearhunter]

Welcome aboard.

 

[Lmartin5]

Welcome from Texas!

 

[Schutzhund]

Welcome from Chester County Pa

 

[pwrwgn57]

Welcome. I’m just to the north of you in the Lehigh Valley.

 

[Keep on]

Welcome from York county PA

 

[ElkHT]

Welcome aboard.

 

[deer_shooter]

Welcome from the SW corner

 

[jdf]

Welcome. SW side

 

[GreenMtnBoy708]

A question for the PA hunters who kindly greeted me here: I'm starting to research the WMUs and potentially worthwhile SGLs for deer season, to figure out which WMU to apply for an antlerless tag. I'm looking at 4C (or maybe southern part of 4E) since I want to stay within reasonable drive of home for a day trip. Any advice for me on how to approach this research? I plan on trying to meet other local hunters here, but results may vary... so looking here for advice.

Not asking for anyone to disclose their favorite spots, just hoping to get some tips on what I might want to look for (or look to avoid) as I begin to e-scout PA public. Thanks!

 

[pabearhunter]

I just looked at 5c they have a ton of doe permits and that would be in your backdoor.

 

[GreenMtnBoy708]

I just looked at 5c they have a ton of doe permits and that would be in your backdoor.

Thanks for this heads up. Within 5C, it looks like SGL 56 and 157 are both fairly large and promising. Any experience with those areas or in 5C generally? Trying to do as much research online as possible to narrow down the places I'd want to do boots-on-the-ground scouting since I have three young kids and not as much time to devote to the woods as I'd sometimes prefer. I plan to hunt regular rifle and extended antlerless (rifle) if it helps. Thanks!

 

[pwrwgn57]

PGC hands out a lot of doe tags in 5C but public land is limited and there’s a lot of hunters. Less crowded during archery but still busy with other users and small game hunters.
A lot of public land to the north in the Poconos. Both SGL and State Forest. Zone 3D.

 

[Keep on]

My advice is check the amount of public vs population concentration in a given WMU you're interested in.
PA has several rounds of antlerless tags, if I was new and just starting to look, I'd apply to several around you and then you can scout through the summer and try different spots in season to see what hunting pressure and deer density is like.
The Eastern side of the state has lots of people. My experience with gamelands has been early season, archery and muzzleloader, and weekdays are often the best time to hunt. The two weeks of rifle are pretty busy.

 

[pwrwgn57]

Also, both SGL’s you listed are in the Special Regulations area, so be sure to read the regs. Straight wall cartridges or shotguns only.

 

[GreenMtnBoy708]

Also, both SGL’s you listed are in the Special Regulations area, so be sure to read the regs. Straight wall cartridges or shotguns only.

Good catch. I didn't realize this, so I checked the "Special Regulations Areas" box in ArcGIS and you're spot on. I prefer to stick with my existing rifle, so those areas are out. I'll look more at 3D as you suggest. Much appreciated!

 

[pwrwgn57]

Let me know if you have other questions, happy to help if I can.