JUMPSTART THE SEASON BY P.J. REILLY M OST PENNSYLVANIA bowhunters wait all year for early October, when the statewide archery deer season typically opens. But in three of the state's 23 Wildlife Management Units, bowhunters have been in the woods for two weeks by that time. And that early start can provide some of the best hunting all year. Pennsylvania's earliest archery deer seasons in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D open this year on Sept. 18, with the statewide opener following on Oct. 2. The earlier start in those three units helps to meet deer-management needs. These WMUs are densely populated with people. WMU 2B surrounds Pittsburgh, and WMUs 5C and 5D cover the Philadelphia suburbs. And there are a lot of deer among all those people. It's true, access to hunting lands in these WMUs generally is more difficult to secure than in other parts of Pennsylvania, but there are plenty of opportunities EARLY OPENERS IN SUBURBAN AREAS AUGUST 2021 57 Jacob Dingel