Archery season on target for this weekend

On Saturday, October 2, the 2004 Pennsylvania Archery Season for white-tailed deer will officially begin. During this season, archers carrying appropriate licenses will be able to harvest both buck and doe deer throughout the six-week period, which concludes on November 13. Archery hunting has been a continually growing sport throughout the country. In Pennsylvania, there were 283,055 archery licenses sold in 2003. In contrast, there were less than 200,000 archery licenses purchased just 10 years ago. In total, 65,400 deer were harvested during archery season in 2003, which included 30,960 antlered deer and 34,440 antlerless deer.

Today's archery hunters use a variety of equipment ranging in styles and efficiency. Most hunters choose to use a compound bow, which is complete with cables, strings and limbs designed to project an arrow up to 300 feet per second. Other, more basic bows, such as long bows and recurve bows are the choice of many traditionalists who desire an even stiffer challenge.

Regardless of what type of equipment archers use today, all will tell you that they most look forward to hunting the rut, which is the white-tailed deer's peak breeding time. The rut usually occurs in Pennsylvania during the first two weeks of November. During this time, mature bucks become more vulnerable due to their preoccupation, and therefore provide archers with their best opportunity to harvest one.

SAFETY: Archery deer season is generally safer than the rifle deer season; however, other outdoor enthusiasts should be aware that archers will be spread across the state, and it is useful to note that most archers hunt from tree-stands.

Today's photo was taken by WPC Senior Director of Watershed Programs, Nick Pinizzotto.

For more information about archery hunting in Pennsylvania, please visit the PA Game Commission website at www.pgc.state.pa.us.

Play Know Your Western Pennsylvania Birds

E-mail Today's WPC Daily to a Friend!

Sign Up for WPC Daily