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Big bucks most likely to be taken during archery season
That has not been the case as the top typical buck was taken in Bradford County in 1943.
This huge buck scored 189-0. Even Ivan Perry's big Greene County buck, which held the top spot for a few years, was taken in 1974. Both of those record bucks have been around for a while.
Strangely, the top non-typical Pennsylvania buck was taken in the World War II era. Edward Dodge downed the big buck, which scored 238-6/8, in Erie County.
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Even more strange is that both of those bucks were taken a year apart. There must have been some decent trophy hunting back then.
In fact, of the top 10 typical Pennsylvania bucks in the record book, seven were taken before 1950.
It is in archery season that you'll find an increase in record-book bucks after 1990. I am sure that I am not the only person who scores deer who has found a marked increase in big archery bucks over those taken with a firearm.
Why is this so?
Remember that Pennsylvania did not have an archery deer season before World War II. Furthermore, as the years have gone by, archery season has grown longer. There was a definite jump in the quality of deer taken in archery season when it was extended into the November rut.
Before that, archers had to quit and watch as bucks ran around chasing does. This has no doubt had an effect on archery season.
The improvements made in archery equipment are also a factor. We went from recurve bows to compounds with pulleys and wheels. Now, there are bows with cams that increase the speed dramatically.
Over the last 20 years, bows have gained the ability to release arrows much faster, thus increasing their range. An archer from the 1930s would hardly recognize today's bows.
There have been many more improvements to bow hunting than there have been to firearm hunting.
Today's bows can be equipped with scope sights and dot sights. Cammoflague clothing is offered in a wide range of patterns and material. Range finders have also added to the success of bow hunters, taking the guesswork out of distance when shooting.
Treestands of varying height are also available and trail cams can be set up to show a hunter exactly what animals are using a certain trail.
Aside from the longer season and equipment improvements, there is another reason why the next state record will be set during archery season - land accessibility.
Archers can go where rifle hunters are banned. The largest bucks are often found in residential neighborhoods.
The sound of a rifle shot would send a landowner into a tizzy but he is often unaware of an archer in the backyard.
n Sometimes it seems that life throws more at a person than can handle. So it has been with a friend of mine who faces surgery in the middle of hunting season.
On top of that, he has also been having problems catching fish. Since he usually catches fish all the time, this is a major problem.
On the other side of the coin, I saw a familiar name in the paper last week as Aaron Margaria caught the game-winning touchdown pass for Avella in rare victory over Fort Cherry.
Before the victory, Margaria was also crowned Homecoming King.
My experience with Aaron involves fishing. He is the grandson of my friend "Deathwind."
The elder Margaria is a muskie-catching legend and lands a few muskies over 48 inches every year - an unheard of feat.
Aaron, however, landed a 49-inch muskie this year. When I asked him which was a bigger thrill, the muskie or game-winning catch, he said without hesitation that it was the touchdown.
Archery hunting : 10/19/2009
George --- Indians and early settlers used camo, (even animal skins) tree hunting was commonplace, animals were not nearly as survival savy until heavy hunting pressure "post" WWII.
Archery view : 10/19/2009
Your view of archery leaves out that, in general, archers themselves are "more" dedicated and more skillful.
Ugh, Archery : 10/19/2009
That doesn't take into consideration how many are just wounded and die in some deep cover. Contrary to the poster above, most archery hunters are not that good. they take too many chances and you can't swing the proverbial dead kat without hitting some loser who "stuck an arrow in him but I couldn't find it". It gets worse every year. The season is way too long. And frankly, the game commission has everything so messed up anymore that there are fewer and fewer decent bucks no matter where you are. And yes, i'm still mad some low life slob stole my tree stand from my own property!!
