My neck of the forest: today is the day | art & life

Will we see deer? Any of us get a chance? Time will tell but I’m sure we’ll definitely share some laughs and good times with this great group of guys and gals. Well I’ve gotten to a point in my life where I almost enjoy our midday chili and coffee break and swapping stories with the rest of the crew as much as I enjoy the hunt itself.

Where is the best place to find deer this season? That is a difficult question.

Years ago, Pennsylvania state forests were often a good bet, but today the best hunting, let alone the largest deer, is often found in agricultural areas. With that in mind I would suggest you find the food and you will likely find the deer. As the season progresses, look for secluded, secluded gaps in cover that other hunters are likely to miss. A deer can hide in a surprisingly small cover patch.

Years ago, when my dad was still alive, I stopped to check on him mid-season. After asking if he had seen deer, he pointed to this garden. My answer was “what?” He told me to keep looking. After a while a deer twitched its ear. I could then not only make out the big hind, but also a yearling. He told me that they had been hiding there among some weeds and dying tomato plants for the past two days.

Another season I passed a fallen tree three times during a weekday hunt—twice within no more than three or fifteen feet. After passing the third time I was preparing to leave when something looked out of place. A closer look revealed a young buck lying perfectly still next to the tree trunk. One shot and there was fresh venison for dinner that night.

The best advice I can give my fellow hunters is to be patient and be prepared to put in as much time as you can if you’re looking to get out this season. Also remember that you can have a successful hunting season without firing a shot. All you have to do is enjoy yourself and those around you. Simply spending the day away from work or other worries and watching nature at work makes a hunt a success in my eyes. If you enjoyed watching those squirrels play, that woodpecker slashing away and those tiny songbirds hopping from branch to branch, that sounds like a successful hunt to me. What if you don’t bring home a deer? Doing this will just make the experience all the more rewarding when it happens.

A final reminder to all my valued readers. Hunting or not, please wear bright orange or other highly visible colors in rural areas. Hunters do their best to be safe and positively identify their targets and what lies behind and around them. Let’s not make it harder than it has to be. A little common sense goes a long way.

Fellow hunters, remember, if you bag a deer, you’re invited to enter the Standard-Journal/Valley Outdoors Big Game Contest.

All of the tasteful photos will be included in a future issue of Valley Outdoors – Central Pennsylvania’s free sports newspaper. To enter, simply email a photo of your buck, doe, turkey or bear taken during the fall 2022 season to [email protected] Please include your name, address, phone number, age and any other information you know about the photo. This is a random draw and not a sweepstakes.

All legally caught Pennsylvania deer (buck or doe) as well as turkey and bear qualify for participation. Animals must be admitted in this license year.

The closing date for entries is Tuesday 21st December.