Pennsylvania Game News - September 2019 - 54

GO ON BREAK

An extended midseason deer drought
can grind your hunting edge duller than
a rusty broadhead.
It's the perfect time to take a few days
off to recharge your batteries.
Since your hunting availability is influenced by a combination of work, family
and social obligations, use the midseason
for scheduling events, appointments and
vacations. Save the first and last two
weeks of the season to hunt.
It takes some foresight and planning,
but it can pay dividends later.

DIAL UP A DOE

Some of my bowhunting buddies
don't fill their antlerless tags until they've
bagged their buck.
But if you're still buck-less by midseason and anticipating better days ahead
when the rut starts up, why not focus on
taking that antlerless deer at the halfway
point to help break things up?
Of course, if you're strictly a meat
hunter, there's a good chance you already
filled those antlerless tags that first week.

MENTOR A NEWBIE

Maybe you're holding out for that
elusive wall-hanger you've captured in a
few murky trail cam pics, and you'll settle
for nothing less. Unlike less-educated,
immature bucks, odds are the big guy's
not going to come by your stand during
the midseason.
But when it comes to shooter bucks,
young bow-benders tend to be far less
discriminating than grizzled veterans;
most would be thrilled to fill their tag with
any legal buck - like the ones you've been
letting slide.
Why not invite a beginner to partner
with you on a few midseason bowhunting
forays, and show him or her the ropes?
54

The satisfaction you'll feel in sharing
the experience when a bowhunter downs
his or her first deer likely will equal or surpass that of harvesting your own trophy.

MAKE A MOVE

Don't be like my bowhunting buddy
Harley, who's addicted to playing the
Daily Number.
Back in the day, his number came up
and he won a cool $500 for his $1 bet.
He's been handcuffed to those three
digits ever since, playing them every day.
Harley fears that the one time he fails
to play his number, it will hit. It's the same
mind-set that keeps him loyal to a specific tree stand: one where he arrowed a
bruiser buck 15 years ago. He's convinced
another braggin' buck will drop by his
favorite stand that one time he decides to
hunt somewhere else.
But when deer inactivity starts to cause
bowhunter burnout, a change of scenery
will serve you - and Harley - well.
Set up a trail camera or two to gauge
deer activity in other locations, then
restore your vigilance with a change of
scenery, and perhaps your chances of
spotting a buck and discovering a new
hotspot.

TAKE A WALK

While we all know patience on stand
is often key to filling your tag, spending
too many midseason days without seeing
deer can create monotony.
So, why not try a different approach
and give still-hunting a try?
While it's more challenging than sitting
in a stand, it nonetheless can reap rewards.
Full camouflage- including face mask or
paint - is a must here, as is an awareness
of wind direction, use of a cover scent, and
a determination to slowly work through
cover.
Pennsylvania Game News - September 2019

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