CLARION CO., Pa. — Weather seems to have kept the number of harvested deer on the first day of rifle season down across the area with some places reporting fewer kills than others.
(Photo above submitted by Denise Rhoades — 10-point with a 22.5-inch spread)
According to Chip Brunst, a spokesperson for the Franklin office of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, his gut feeling is it’s been a slow day.
“Not one of my Game Commission officer has come in today to report anything,” Brunst said. “I suspect it is less than average.”
Brunst did say his office has received a number of calls on mistake kills and unfit for consumption kills, but he said those are about average.
A quick check with local deer processing facilities showed a downtick in the number of deer that had been brought in my 4 p.m.
Hepler’s Meat Processing in Emlenton reported they had about 35 deer that had been brought in by 4:30 p.m.
“It’s a little slower than normal,” a representative of the company said. “We usually have about 50 or so in my now, but we still have four hours to go. Things really seem to pick up between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.”
O’Neil’s Quality Foods in Shippenville wasn’t seeing much business.
Around 4:00 p.m., the store had just 15 deer brought in — when normally by that time around 80 are the norm.
“The deer are winning today,” a person at the store said. “I suspect it is the weather.”
Deer waiting to be processed at O’Neil’s
The weather was also cited by Brunst as a reason why the harvest seemed down.
“The driving rain plays a role,” Brunst said.
At Alderton’s Meat Market between Corsica and Brookville, a representative said the day had been “unbusy” up through 4:30 p.m.
“Our numbers are down. Hopefully, after the season close, they will bring it in heavy, but people are not seeing the deer today.”
Despite the slow day, Brunst doesn’t suspect the rest of the week will be any better.
“I am guessing you won’t see a lot more hunting this week because people had already taken their vacations,” Brunst said. “I do think we might see some guys taking Friday off and hunting Friday and Saturday. But, I don’t think next Monday will be much different.”
The representative at O’Neil’s said he would suspect things to pick up if the weather turned colder and snow came.
An unscientific Twitter survey on D9Sports.com saw a lot of the same thoughts.
Seventy-eight percent of respondents said the first day went “bad” (44 percent) or “not quite as I hoped” (34 percent) for them, compared to just 10 percent who said it went “very well,” and 12 percent who said it went “okay.”
Most of the respondents cited the weather as the contributing factor, with 66 percent saying the weather “hampered” the hunt, while 21 percent said “ah, it’s only weather,” and 13 percent said the weather didn’t have an effect.
Deer hanging at O’Neil’s after being skinned
While most of the anecdotal evidence points to a down day on the first day, not everyone went home unhappy or empty-handed.
Some photos shared with EYT Media included this 10-point shot by 12-year-old Nathaniel Boyle of Richland Township, Venango County.
Gary Matus was also one of the lucky ones Monday recording his first deer kill.
Sal Mazzocchi of Clarion got this 10-point buck in Limestone Township.
Deanna Sintonbin of Clarion County shot this deer on Monday.
Dustin Wyant shot a 10-point with an 18-inch spread.
In Rimersburg, David Proper shot this 9-point.
Another 12-year old, Devin Dulaney, recorded his first-ever deer, a 6-point.
In Jefferson County, Billie Joe MacDonald submitted this photo of an 8-point.
Kandi Blake shot the 9-point below.
Xavier Alderton got this deer in Brookville.
A 125-pound, 8-point was shot by Angie Rearick in Redbank Township.
Bryan Kriebel took this deer in Perry Township, Clarion County.
Adalynn Hartzell of Clarion snagged this deer.
Sheila Hughes of Venango County shot her first deer.
HUNTERS REMINDED ABOUT TAGGING/REPORTING REGULATIONS
Hunters are reminded that a valid tag must be affixed to the ear of each deer harvested before that deer is moved. The tag must be filled out with a ball-point pen by the hunter.
Within 10 days of a harvest, a successful hunter is required to make a report to the Game Commission.
Harvests can be reported online at the Game Commission’s website – www.pgc.pa.gov – by clicking on the “Report a Harvest” button on the home page. Reporting online not only is the quickest way to report a harvest, but it’s the most cost-effective for the Game Commission.
Harvests also can be reported by mailing in the postage-paid cards that are provided when licenses are purchased, or successful hunters can call 1-855-PAHUNT1 (1-855-724-8681) to report by phone. Those reporting by phone are asked to have their license number and other information about the harvest ready at the time they call.
Mentored youth hunters are required to report deer harvests within five days. And, hunters with DMAP or Disease Management Area 2 permits must report on their hunting success, regardless of whether they harvest deer.
By reporting their deer harvests, hunters play a key role in providing information used to estimate harvests and the deer population within each WMU. Estimates are key to managing deer populations, and hunters are asked to do their part in this important process.
The statewide general firearms season runs until December 8.
In most areas, hunters may take only antlered deer during the season’s first five days, with the antlerless and antlered seasons then running concurrently from the first Saturday, December 1, to the season’s close.
In WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D, however, properly licensed hunters may take either antlered or antlerless deer at any time during the season.
