PA late season tips?

I was wondering if anyone had any late season tips for us college student hunters that weren't in the woods the first week of our PA season. Any tips would be appreciated. Todd

That's a big question since Pa has such diverse areas and you didn't mention where you are located. I'll give you my 2 cents for two areas I am familiar with.

Near my home in suburban Phila. area there is such low density of hunters and so much land restricted from hunters I'd just hunt any good cover near farms which had lots of sign. You won't find much impact from hunters after the middle of the first week. (Also people hunting these areas tend to hunt only Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday of opening week.)

In central Pa near my cabin (Union and Centre counties) the deer are now scattered and harder to hunt. This area has a lot of valleys with farms bordered by wooded ridges. The ridges are often state forest or state game land. I'd hunt the first and second ridge areas near draws. There will be quite a few hunters moving deer the second week and the deer tend to get pushed through the draws from one valley to

I'm from Pa and my best suggestion is to find the thickest nastiest piece of ground around and wait patiently

Hi Todd.

Much depends on where you're hunting. If you're on or near public hunting land, I'd suggest finding a spot near heavy cover and standing (sitting) still all day long. With the increase in hunting pressure, the deer will either hunker down in inaccessible cover or someone will move them. If they stay still, you've got a better chance finding a needle in the proverbial haystack, but if they move, it will be from one batch of cover to another. If you have a climbing treestand, use it!

If you're on unpressured private ground, take a stand during the first 2-3 hours, then stillhunt (slow-moving walk with 30-second stops every 10 steps or so) during the middle portion of the day, then go back on stand for the last 2 hours.

Above assumes you're hunting alone. If you're hunting with a group

Todd, I didn't make it out the first day, but I did manage to make it out the first weekend. Fortunately for me, I shot my buck during archery season, but since the county I live in, Allegheny (Pittsburgh area), is a high deer density, special regulation area, it is permissible to shoot does during buck season. My total gun season strategy is too always hunt excape trails. Although I may hunt a buck I patterned during archery season on opening day, if I'm not successful on that day, I always head toward thick cover where most hunters are reluctant to enter. Crabapple thickets tight to a creek, thick cover along an extremely steep hillside that makes travel difficult for the stalker, thick cattail bottoms, and other dense overgrown habitat are prime areas for bucks to burrow in and bury their antlers until just before dark. Several times I have gotten into areas such as these, climbed up in my treestand, sat all day, and right before dark, bucks stand up and shake out those stiff muscles, and I'm right there to fill my tag. Yes, it seems boring, takes a lot of waiting, but over the last decade this strategy has always paid off. You don't state what area of PA you're in, so I can't narrow down one particular area for you to try, only a general description of strategies and terrain types. I hope you are successful, and you fill your tag. Remember to hang in there, don't give up, and when you least expect it, your buck will show up. Follow the Boy Scout creed, and be prepared. Good luck. What area of the state are you hunting? If you're close by, I'll hook you up.

My advice is find an area that is being hunted moderatly and find the highest and thickest of escape routes and funnel area's Be sure to be on stand ALL day. Remember, those hunters that go to lunch a pushing deer and this I have found is one of the best ways. Also, I sometime take an old sleeping bag or comforter in the woods so if a chill comes on I won't haave to leave!! it fits rolled on an army issue pack. i take my food in too, Remember Battleship grey, Green, and Hot pink are the colors deer can hardly distiguish. But I don't think Hot pink will go over with you fellow hunters!!! Good lUCK!!! fARNORTH