Haven't got a real good look at the adopted rules, but looks like I'll be spending an extra 16.70 on lic fees this year. Archery hunters get a whole week of bow bear.....and then for the first time, Bear season (rifle) starts on a Saturday. Never could get that Mon, Tues, or Weds off for bear season. I'm kinda excited. Doe tags are down in my main two areas, mixed feelings on that. MGH, if they drop 2G down anymore, I hear they are gonna have a BINGO event at the fire hall for the couple of doe tags they issue up there. Can't kill does in the second week of rifle in 4E, where my main hunting grounds reside, that makes me grin. Gonna be an interesting year.
Yeah, almost a 50% reduction in doe license allocation numbers this year in 2G I better not slack and wait until August to put my application in. 4E is no antlerless during the FIRST week, I believe. That's how it's been here in 2G the past three seasons, and it's very nice. Most people hunt hard the first two days of the season, and fizzle out, which makes for the antlered/antlerless second week to be a little more "calm." You will also be able to hunt spring gobbler all day during the second half of the season I'm happy with the bear season change, because like you, I have a difficult time getting off for any days during that week. I still would like to see archery extend into the following week when the new archery bear season takes effect. Overall, some interesting changes, that's for sure.
Yeah, you are right, even better. The Spring Gobbler thing isn't huge for me, usually I have tons of stuff to do and I have no patience. If they ain't screaming at dawn, you'll likely find me hunkered over some eggs and blueberry pancakes by 8.
Just curious, can you shoot a Sow or just a Male? Cause im jealous as hell Bring back Bears in Indiana :D
I'm gonna miss flinging arrows at turkeys in the fall. Atleast i'll be able to take the .22 hornet a walk the following week and not miss out on being in a treestand.
I don't know the full extent of them, but if I have it right I pretty much don't like any of the regs except that I can hunt bears one day this year. And even that I'm not too keen on the typical big drives done for bears. IF I go out I'm just going to still hunt my way around and take my chances. I HATE the no doe the opening week. IMO it puts too much emphasis on bucks and it robs me of a day to hunt does. I also think it has hurt our older buck populations. My unit was one of hte 1st to do that and quality buck sightings dropped ever since. I will be bummed if I can shoot a turkey in archery, but I will get out after them during the time they are in.
Well I think it's interesting of the changes. I find the Bear season interesting bringing it on Saturday, but to then break on Sunday ?? It will get some guys in the woods, but until the Sunday rule is lifted, not a big bonus. For me, I that is the opener of the NY Regular Season, so I will be hunting deer, not bear. I do think the week long archery season is nice, but I prefer NY's rule... It will benefit some, so for that I am in favor. As far as the extra $16.70, so be it, cheaper than two movies at Tinsletown.
To be honest, this may be the first year in 15 years that I don't buy a PA license. It's too far of a drive, and too much $$$ to only hunt Saturdays. For the non-residents that don't own a honey hole.........I have no idea how they can justify it anymore. If I shoot a nice buck in NY early I may buy a PA tag just to shoot a buck, but otherwise I think I'll be hunting in NY only this year. I hope they eventually rethink the Sundays rules.........otherwise I'm unlikely to buy another tag in the future unless my NY season ends early.
New regs don't do anything for me, except to restrict me to buck only the first week in 4D. I don't get it, first the PGC decimates the bulk of the herd by selling 40k plus doe tags then restrict it when they finally realize they screwed the pooch in the first place. All things being equal though it's still better than hunting in the PRNJ.
I like the changes for bear on all fronts. Hopefully I'll be able to get out for bear this year with these changes. It looks like they are starting to listen to the people who have been saying there are no deer in the woods in parts of PA so they are restricting the antlerless harvest to increase or at least stabilize the population density. Probably not something that will be immediately popular, but if more deer are seen as time goes on it will be a win.
That's the irony of it. I live and hunt in 2G which has historically had a large doe license allocation, and we're almost always the first unit to sell out). People COMPLAIN year in and year out about the deer numbers, yet they're still lining up to buy doe tags in hoards. Now with an almost 50% decrease in allocation, I'm wondering if we'll hear more complaining or cheering.
I wish they'd used tag allocations to control numbers instead of season length. I'm in 2D where there is no shortage of deer and they STILL shortened the doe season.
Its not a honey hole but your welcome to hunt the properties that i do!!! might be closer to home for you???????? Save a few bucks in gas instead going further south into PA for you!!!!!!!
I like the Saturday bear opener. I like the changes to the bobcat season, but wish it was open in 4c.
I doubt there will be much cheering. Guys want to see more deer, but they don't want to do it at their own expense. As long as the other guy can't shoot any more deer they are happy, when it affects them...not so much.
Exactly, the NorthEast forum on HNI will cheer for the reduction but ***** about themselves not getting a deer.
