2023 PA Firearms Opener Report Thread

[DB4x4]

Tell us about your opening day experience:

Did you hunt local/private or out of a camp? What did you see? Did you get anything? Let's see some pics and hear stories...

 

[sconnieVLP]

I was driving back to VA on Saturday after hunting WI rifle season and stopped off in PA for gas. It was about 10am and there were already plenty of blaze-clad dudes out of the woods and loading up with more beer. I was amused and not surprised to see the similarity with WI rifle season.

 

[AttackMode]

I chose to take my bow instead of my .308. First thing in the morning I hear leaves rustling, as gray light faded I could see one of my target bucks about 85-90yds out. He was lingering behind a doe group. I threw just about everything at him in hopes he would break off and get close enough for a shot. He didn't budge. I watched him walk off and got pics of him about 300 yds away on one of my cams. It took him about 1 1/2 hrs to cover that distance. Tough morning but I knew the risks associated with bowhunting during firearms season. I'll get after him again and I'll do it with my bow too.

 

[Marmuzz]

Hunted northern PA public yesterday and today. Never saw as many hunters as I did yesterday, felt like I was hunting 5B. I think I saw somebody every half hour. Had a dude basically sit on me less than a 100 yards away, without enough orange… seriously people.

Tag soup. Probably will be all the hunting I have this season, too busy with college. Saw a doe bumped at about 100 yards yesterday morning, could’ve had a quick shot from the saddle if I had a doe tag. Don’t even think the clown right beside me knew it was there. Today I went to another area and bumped a few in a ravine, saw tails running so I stopped and climbed a tree there, later saw a doe run about 10 yards below me going the way I came.

I hunted with my wife’s family. Very blessed to be invited. Two guys in our camp shot a buck and doe respectively on lease ground.

 

[thedutchtouch]

I didn't hunt but I was in PA for the weekend. saw about 2 dozen does all by the roadside or in town areas where they can't be hunted. Went for an early afternoon hike with the extended family (against my advice to stay on our private property and not bother the hunters) and saw quite a few members of the orange army looking like they were finishing up deer drives with minimal success. Saw even more randos like my family out hiking the road/path we were on though so didn't feel too bad about potentially messing some thing up.

 

[Blacksmith]

I hunted the PA opener yrs ago and it was the most frightening thing I've ever done, and I ain't skeered of anything....

 

[TK161BOONER]

I hunt public only for archery and rifle, seen lots of guys yesterday…I had a guy setup 100 yards away and he’s shot a spike and a dinky 8 pt, after that I passed a 16” 8 and seen a couple doe but nothing big enough to pull the trigger.

 

[TK161BOONER]

I hunt public only for archery and rifle, seen lots of guys yesterday…I had a guy setup 100 yards away and he’s shot a spike and a dinky 8 pt, after that I passed a 16” 8 and seen a couple doe but nothing big enough to pull the trigger.

 

[GreginPA]

Public - no deer, just people

 

[Marmuzz]

I hunt public only for archery and rifle, seen lots of guys yesterday…I had a guy setup 100 yards away and he’s shot a spike and a dinky 8 pt, after that I passed a 16” 8 and seen a couple doe but nothing big enough to pull the trigger.

Wait, he shot a spike (illegal unless on junior license) and an 8 point (but there’s only one buck tag in PA)?

 

[bigmike23]

All these except mine were taken on private. This is a private club in NEPA. We always stay up the first 3 days at deer camp. About 1k acres. I hunted the public right next to our private. Banner year for us. Out of 18 guys we usually get about 4-7 a year. We're at 10 so far. Couple kids got them so I was real happy for them. Private guys adjacent to ours killed two big 10s. Both were on my cams. Sucks to see them go but they weren't mine to kill and at least I have closure on them to not expect them next year. Mines 4th from the left.

 

[Marmuzz]

All these except mine were taken on private. This is a private club in NEPA. We always stay up the first 3 days at deer camp. About 1k acres. I hunted the public right next to our private. Banner year for us. Out of 18 guys we usually get about 4-7 a year. We're at 10 so far. Couple kids got them so I was real happy for them. Private guys adjacent to ours killed two big 10s. Both were on my cams. Sucks to see them go but they weren't mine to kill and at least I have closure on them to not expect them next year. Mines 4th from the left. View attachment 95844View attachment 95846View attachment 95847

I love this man. Reminds me of old school deer camp photos from the Woolrich days.

 

[bigmike23]

I love this man. Reminds me of old school deer camp photos from the Woolrich days.

The cabin has been here since the mid 30s. Top photo was the founders, one of which was my great grandfather. All looking like Elmer Fudd. It's tradition to take a picture of all the deer every single year going back to the 50s.
I'm a hardcore archery hunter, but my real passion will always be rifle because of the fun of family and friends at camp. It's so fun to all get in stand, wait for the first crack of a 270 Win, then start debating who shot who got what etc. It's a shame so many hunters don't have this experience. Beyond lucky to be born into this.

 

[TK161BOONER]

Wait, he shot a spike (illegal unless on junior license) and an 8 point (but there’s only one buck tag in PA)?

Well I figured since he was to stupid to see me 100 yards away while he walked in on me after light, he was to stupid to see it was an illegal spike at 40 yards through his scope. It was some 30-40 year old dude so definitely not a junior.

 

[JC3]

Hunted Sugar Run PA Sat. & Sun. dark till dark in the JX3.
Saw the same 4 sub legal bucks (2 spikes, 4 pt. and piss poor 6 pt.) both days and tons of does.
A lot of shooting because of doe tags, great weather still got some time, maybe the big boys (legal) will show up.

 

[DB4x4]

Hunted Sugar Run PA Sat. & Sun. dark till dark in the JX3.
Saw the same 4 sub legal bucks (2 spikes, 4 pt. and piss poor 6 pt.) both days and tons of does.
A lot of shooting because of doe tags, great weather still got some time, maybe the big boys (legal) will show up.

So, the bucks did NOT come to the light...?

 

[JC3]

So, the bucks did NOT come to the light...?

Not yet........

 

[HeavyD]

I hunted 2f public with my dad Saturday through Monday morning. I filled my doe tag at 10:00 Saturday morning. Ending up seeing 7 deer on Saturday and 7 on Sunday at a different location. My dad saw one and it was the one I shot. No legal bucks seen and I’m still trying to fill my buck tag.

Most camps had at least one deer hanging up driving around. Some spots either had a lot of pressure or none at all. Good luck all!

 

[DB4x4]

I hunted 2F public on Saturday and counted 180 shots.

 

[GreginPA]

I hunted 2F public on Saturday and counted 180 shots.

Man - that guy needs to go to the range more often!!!