PA trip journal

[treeroot]

For the first time I'm heading out of NY to hunt out of state. I figured I would document the journey here.

I'm not an expert deer hunter by any means. But I do enjoy challenging myself. I've never been able to take a hunting trip due to work. This year getting my NY tag filled early leaves me with 3-4 weekends I can make a short day trips to hunt someplace new. PA is the closest out of state opportunity I have, so that is where I'm heading. I planned on leaving tonight but evidently my wife has other plans for me lol.

I've been aerial scouting, looking for possible bedding, funnels, low pressure areas so we will see. The area is all winding creek bottom, which I have little to no experience with. If it strikes out I might head to the hills where I'm more familiar with the terrain type. If I have a chance on anything better than a basket rack I will be thrilled.

I'll be packing the truck tonight and hitting the road in the early am. Flying solo see how it goes.

[BackCoverBowHunter]

Good Luck!! You may find it more beneficial to scout most of the day Saturday and Sunday before actually hunting. Get to know the area then throw some quality hunts at those areas.

[treeroot]

All packed and ready to go. I can't believe how much crap I am bringing, but I'd rather have it and not need it. Completely forgot in the race to get pumpkins to get my release back I loaned to a friend yesterday. Of course at 11pm they don't answer their phone lol. I'll be heading out with one of the backups. Feels like the night before Christmas, probably not much sleeping tonight.

[bigredneck61088]

Good luck! I’ll be traveling to PA for my rut as well

[treeroot]

After some waiting for the place to open I have my license to kill. I got side tracked on the way down watching a nice 8 point and spike chasing around a doe.

[treeroot]

This place is crawling with small game hunters. I'm going to sit a on the escape side if a small point for a little bit incase they bump something. Then I'm going to drive a little deeper but I'm thinking i might have to jump ship. I'm a touch over a mile deep but from here on in I'm getting closer to the other access.

[treeroot]

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Thought Dan might like these plungers lol.

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Found a bed.

[Bowhuntercoop]

Good luck! What part of pa? You get into the central or north central part of the state and you prolly won’t run into a single soul. Big woods and some big deer! Enjoy the trip.

[treeroot]

North just west of central.

[rfickes87]

North just west of central.

Awesome man! Welcome to PA!!

[treeroot]

Finally back home.

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First property was amazing on paper. Once on it it appeared to have great habitat plenty of everything a deer would need. The problem was access, lots of access. I originally thought the creeks would detour other people, I was wrong. I counted 18 hunters seen and countless others judging from the gun shots. I'm assuming there was a youth group there. There wasn't much for deer sign, I found the bed above that was the total highlight. Traveled 2.4 miles by the time I was back to the truck.

[treeroot]

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First property gave me this fine gift.

Unfortunately I spent my time throughly aerial scouting the first place, but didn't give anywhere else a real look. So I jumped on my phone and located the next closest public.

This piece is more mini mountain country than hill country. Huge chunk with only one real access road. I drove almost to the top up the access since I didn't see a single vehicle track going up there.

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[treeroot]

I slowly worked my way around the top 1/3 trying to keep the wind in my favor. I figured with the wind they'd bed on one of the smaller points overlooking the valley. Down in the valley are some small fields one of which wad still standing corn.

As I rounded the point I came across a small bench loaded with historical rubs. Looked like a stanging area for when they dropped down off the point. There were a few fresh rubs I could see leading down to it also. By this time it was around 4:30 I had to decide to keep scouting through or throw a sit at it. My gut wouldn't let me walk past.

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Looking down to the valley. Great view.

[treeroot]

Turns out I was right.

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Not quite big enough even for me even for this trip. He came in and staged like I figured one might. The wind would switch and he would stand up, browse and lay a touch different all within a 10 yard radius. Once it was just past shooting light he made his way down to the valley. Total traveled distance 3.1 miles. My fatness is tired!

[treeroot]

Made a mistake on the way home. Regretted it for the next 45 minutes lol.

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All in all great trip. Although it wasn't good for me, I'm glad to see so many young guys out there stomping around after small game.

I'll be heading back in a week or two for another one day hunt. The bucks are there, it just might take a bit to find them. I'll continue this on the next trip. Maybe by then I'll snag a friend to help me drag one up the mountain.