THP PUBLIC HUNTING CHALLENGE PA

[DB4x4]

I loved the 3rd episode. It was the perfect summary of hunting public land in PA. They inadvertently touched on all of the major points:

- Crappy weather.
- Walk for miles in tough terrain, find no deer sign.
- Finally find lots of sign, but no deer show up when you hunt it.
- When the deer finally DO show up, they are does, fawns, and crappy little bucks.
- You finally find a good spot, only to have someone else show up and try to claim it as theirs because "they've been hunting there for 40 years".
- Hey there's a legal buck, but he's so small I can't bring myself to shoot him.
- You come home, tired, exhausted, frustrated... Only to find out you have a tick buried in you...

Hahaha it was perfect. Bravo fellas, bravo...

 

[Hossmiller]

I was confused on Jeff’s decision to use the blind. I’ve always been under the impression that a blind needs to be set up for several weeks before you use it, in order for the deer to get acclimated to it. The one spike that came out into the cut acted super nervous, I believe due to the blind. Also it didn’t seem like it was brushed in much. Unless I’m missing something, kind of seems like a rookie thing to do. I think Jeff is more at home on a nice managed piece of private land.

 

[7mmremmag]

I may of missed it in this thread but I think they were somewhere near brookville in the anf. One guy commented on a fb video that it was nice talking to them so I did some internet sleuthing and found out where he was from

 

[MattMan81]

I was confused on Jeff’s decision to use the blind. I’ve always been under the impression that a blind needs to be set up for several weeks before you use it, in order for the deer to get acclimated to it. The one spike that came out into the cut acted super nervous, I believe due to the blind. Also it didn’t seem like it wasn’t brushed in much. Unless I’m missing something, kind of seems like a rookie thing to do. I think Jeff is more at home on a nice managed piece of private land.

I kinda thought maybe he was using it as an observation spot... He was next to an opening. Glassing the area at night?
I have watched a number of his videos. I found it strange he did it.

 

[Bigterp]

I would have to say that blind looked killer! Anyone know the model? I can’t get the wife off of the ground

Looked like a double bull, but I’d have to go back & watch

 

[GCTerpfan]

I think Jeff hunts out of a blind a lot, especially when he's hunting public. On one of his videos he was talking about hunting his PA public spots in the snow/cold and he was showing blind set ups.

I think he was using the blind in this case specifically because of the rain. If you would ask my dad, that makes him the smartest one in the group. Lol

 

[1simplemann]

I may of missed it in this thread but I think they were somewhere near brookville in the anf. One guy commented on a fb video that it was nice talking to them so I did some internet sleuthing and found out where he was from

Another clue as to where they are hunting, Zach mentioned having to check to see if they were in "the big boy area" He wanted to make sure he was allowed to shoot a big old mature 6pt. I grew up NJ so I not familiar where borderline is of the 2 managements zones.

 

[mike7tcu]

Another clue as to where they are hunting, Zach mentioned having to check to see if they were in "the big boy area" He wanted to make sure he was allowed to shoot a big old mature 6pt. I grew up NJ so I not familiar where borderline is of the 2 managements zones.

Has to be ANF.

 

[Art_Vandelay]

Looks like they’re in or near the Bald Eagle state forrest in central PA, based on their Instagram posts. Surprised they’re not wearing orange, bear muzzleloader started last Sat.

def not

 

[BuffaloBill]

I think Jeff hunts out of a blind a lot, especially when he's hunting public. On one of his videos he was talking about hunting his PA public spots in the snow/cold and he was showing blind set ups.

I think he was using the blind in this case specifically because of the rain. If you would ask my dad, that makes him the smartest one in the group. Lol

Yeah I can't blame the dude for wanting to stay warm and dry. I was thinking recently I'd like a blind to throw up occasionally. But not sure which one would be light but also big enough to draw a bow back in.

 

[7mmremmag]

Has to be ANF.

Yeah, I live in the heart of it. I kept saying watching it, 'man that looks like ANF'

 

[jhunter13]

I loved the 3rd episode. It was the perfect summary of hunting public land in PA. They inadvertently touched on all of the major points:

- Crappy weather.
- Walk for miles in tough terrain, find no deer sign.
- Finally find lots of sign, but no deer show up when you hunt it.
- When the deer finally DO show up, they are does, fawns, and crappy little bucks.
- You finally find a good spot, only to have someone else show up and try to claim it as theirs because "they've been hunting there for 40 years".
- Hey there's a legal buck, but he's so small I can't bring myself to shoot him.
- You come home, tired, exhausted, frustrated... Only to find out you have a tick buried in you...

Hahaha it was perfect. Bravo fellas, bravo...

I moved to NE Pa 6 years ago. This is the best description I've ever read.

 

[Noonespecial]

Jeff strikes me as a guy who hunts the same spots on his private land over and over and doesn’t really go out of his comfort zone. I think he was the first one to pack up camp and leave the challenge.

 

[MattMan81]

Jeff says he hunts PA every year. I think during rifle season. He has had some sucess there. In the beginning he mentioned he hunts an 1.5hr from where they were. He dosent hunt as much public as those other guys. Maybe he had prior commitment to be back for. I don't think he would have thrown in the towel if he didn't have to.
We should NOT criticism him for being there. It's another view and option for hunting a new area. He is an ethical hunter who does a good job of representing the hunting community. If he would have killed one, no one would be saying anything. But they are all having a ruff go. So don't turn this into a pile on Jeff.

 

[Noonespecial]

Jeff says he hunts PA every year. I think during rifle season. He has had some sucess there. In the beginning he mentioned he hunts an 1.5hr from where they were. He dosent hunt as much public as those other guys. Maybe he had prior commitment to be back for. I don't think he would have thrown in the towel if he didn't have to.
We should NOT criticism him for being there. It's another view and option for hunting a new area. He is an ethical hunter who does a good job of representing the hunting community. If he would have killed one, no one would be saying anything. But they are all having a ruff go. So don't turn this into a pile on Jeff.

That was hardly “criticism” and no one has “piled” on him.

 

[Bwhana]

I moved to NE Pa 6 years ago. This is the best description I've ever read.

Playing devil's advocate, but if that truly describes the areas you (or anyone) hunt, why do you even go? I understand the desire to hunt and I used to hunt areas like that, but quit and pursued other areas until I found better and I am at least in the game for a mature buck each time I hunt. @Nutterbuster has posted the chart from Dr. Sheppard many time that points out the priorities for hunting, and "Access to quality whitetail habitat" is number one on the list, and I agree with him 100% on that one.

 

[woodsdog2]

Dan preaches terrain based bedding and he hasn't left a creek bottom. Not trying to slam the guy, he's likeable. But old deer do not bed in the kinda places he is hunting. He's easy to pick on because he is so vocal in his strategy but his crew is onto some deer and most likely to kill a 2 year old.

Zack is a total wildcard. I can't relate to his ground pound skills. I am consistently annoyed and amazed by him.

Sturgis literally looks like doublebull dropped him off in the middle of now where and told him to talk about dumbbells as a talking point.

You summed it up perfect Yinzer...... But the Beast Guys have certainly been into the deer. I am surprised at how clueless Sturgis seems out there. He's a knowledgeable hunter though I just think he never commits enough time to these challenges. Its just great to see how we all stack up and I think most of us on here could go head to head with these guys and I believe we would do ok. I just want to stress that I'm not nocking this group of guys at all they are all excellent woodsmen and hunters and I really respect all of their channels. I am just pleased that it isn't as easy as IOWA.

 

[Nutterbuster]

Playing devil's advocate, but if that truly describes the areas you (or anyone) hunt, why do you even go? I understand the desire to hunt and I used to hunt areas like that, but quit and pursued other areas until I found better and I am at least in the game for a mature buck each time I hunt. @Nutterbuster has posted the chart from Dr. Sheppard many time that points out the priorities for hunting, and "Access to quality whitetail habitat" is number one on the list, and I agree with him 100% on that one.

Gotta hunt the areas that make you look like a better hunter than you are. THP's challenges show what happens when good hunters hunt bad woods. Same thing that happens when bad hunters hunt them for the most part

 

[BigAl]

All I will say is that....everyone is different. Deer react to their surroundings......food, terrain and Pressure. Each area is unique and if you watch carefully on the challenge, the guys choose areas and scout.....it can be hit or miss.....for anyone! Very few hunt like Zack and the young guys for whitetail that I know of. No way to really make a good decision on these men on a 5 day hunt until you develop a pattern......the young guns are doing this all the time. The old guys are accepting the challenge and are holding their own. Sometimes it's just a matter of opinion and other times it takes.....well ...time to see more info. As far as Jeff is concerned, we don't know enough information in my opinion.

 

[mattsteg]

Playing devil's advocate, but if that truly describes the areas you (or anyone) hunt, why do you even go? I understand the desire to hunt and I used to hunt areas like that, but quit and pursued other areas until I found better and I am at least in the game for a mature buck each time I hunt. @Nutterbuster has posted the chart from Dr. Sheppard many time that points out the priorities for hunting, and "Access to quality whitetail habitat" is number one on the list, and I agree with him 100% on that one.

I think a lot depends on your priorities and situation. Every year I'll pack up, drive 4-5 hours, and end up in one of the lowest deer-density permit areas of the state, right during the middle of the rut. Is it the optimal big buck move? No. Is it a chance to hunt with my Dad and gather with extended family? Yes. Do we still bring in some mature deer? Yes. Is there quality (for the area) habitat there? Absolutely.

The existence of this tradition goes back to the first assumption - you have a good reason to live where you live, and proximity matters. Hunting these lands goes back to hunting out the back door when I was growing up. If you're at where you're at for a reason, the best habitat that you can hunt when you can hunt has a potentially greater value (or at a minimum fills a different niche) than better habitat hours away.

In short - there's a spot for "good enough" habitat if it delivers in other ways. I wouldn't go out of my way to hunt areas as described, but if they're "good enough" and either close enough to hunt them more/better or bring some other value...then they're fine areas to hunt