Although numbers are continuing to come in, and bear hunting remains open through Saturday in some of the state’s Wildlife Management Units (WMUs), as of Monday morning, the 2019 preliminary bear harvest sat at 4,577.

The Commonwealth’s previous record bear harvest occurred in 2011, when hunters took 4,350 through a slate of bear seasons. Hunters also harvested 4,164 in 2005.

Expanded hunting opportunities provided by new special-firearms and muzzleloader bear seasons and an expanded archery bear season have helped push the 2019 bear harvest. Record bear license sales also have contributed: license sales currently exceed 200,000; previously they have held at highs between 170,000 and 175,000. And the statewide bear population at the start of the bear-hunting seasons was about 20,000 bears.

“Our goal was to offer more hunting opportunities and prevent Pennsylvania’s bear population from increasing,” noted Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans. “The response from hunters to the expanded seasons and the success they enjoyed afield were exciting to see.” Read more

COLUMBUS, GA– Some mornings in the turkey woods are cool, and these gloves are perfect for keeping your hands warm without losing dexterity. They sport comfortable Lycra cuffs and a Dynamax palm that creates a second-skin feel.

Features

• Shell: Weathershield
• Palm: Dynamax with silicone print

MSRP: $29.99

Buy now: TNT Shooter Glove Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

There I was, totally involved in the comfort of a portable blind with only a few days left in the regular firearms deer season. I had yet to tag either a buck or a doe, although both tags were in my pocket with numerous opportunities already behind me.

A silhouette deer decoy was positioned in the field about 80 yards from the blind in an effort to divert attention of any whitetails that may appear. As two groups of deer entered the field, none of them noticed my devious accomplice; they were too busy nibbling on the whitetail clover afoot.

The group of seven deer included at least two adults and one alert doe finally saw what appeared to her as a stranger in the vicinity. It was game on! The decoy was performing its magic and the matriarch pointed its long nose toward the unwelcome intruder. Step by step, with its neck stretched as far as possible, the group’s leader was on high alert. Soon, a second mature doe got the message and joined in the stare-down – both about 40 yards in front of me without a clue as to my existence or intention.

This wouldn’t have been a chip shot; rather it was a gimmie, plain and simple. The more inquisitive deer kept up their deliberate pace until they were within mere feet of the decoy, where I had placed a bit of scent to fool them, if they got too close. The strategy paid off. and as the curtain of darkness descended upon the scene, the entire group was there feeding alongside the great pretender.

Sometime afterward, I questioned myself as to why I held fire. After all, the deer had fully cooperated and were in my lap. The answer was simple: I did not want the excitement to end. And, that may be the difference between those that must bait or quit and me.

And, then I thought about the politicians that have voted in favor of House Bill 4687, which would bring back baiting in spite of years of research by wildlife biologists; the hasty maneuver would certainly contradict what we have come to know and believe. And, I thought of how we citizens bought into granting authority to experts by overwhelmingly voting to authorize the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) to make decisions about hunting in year 1996 by a 2/3 majority.

I am not alone. Representative Gary Howell (R) of North Branch agrees: “We are now on the edge of violating the spirit of that proposal. The truth is we ought to let the proper authorities make these decisions. We as politicians really are not particularly qualified to make these scientific decisions.”

Governor Whitmer has indicated she will veto the bill that would not take effect this season anyway. This is not only a matter of principle but a matter of the future of deer hunting in Michigan. Yet, I’ve not heard from one politician, who has staked his or her position on the shifting sands of politics, as to why we were all so naïve back in 1996. Just how did the NRC become so stupid, while the politicians became so smart?

More hunting days could help local communities manage urban deer conflicts

Hunters still seeking to take deer this season can plan to bowhunt through the end of January in southeastern Michigan. This extended archery deer season in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties – an urban deer management zone – is available through the third and final year of a Department of Natural Resources pilot program announced in December 2017.

Chad Stewart, the DNR’s deer, elk and moose program leader, said that the extended hunt is both a chance for hunters to pursue some high-quality deer and an opportunity for local officials to manage urban deer conflicts in their communities.

“Archery hunters can take advantage of some excellent hunting in January,” Stewart said. “This longer season also is a fairly low-cost first attempt for municipalities to help reduce the conflicts that arise when deer numbers rise in more populated, urban areas.” Read more

Introducing the Roughneck from Lucky Duck Predator Calls, a brand new call designed for the run and gun hunter. The Roughneck is the most recent release in Lucky Duck’s ground-breaking game call lineup. This remote controlled e-caller features extreme volume, one-of-a-kind sound library, and a brand new LD3X remote.

The Roughneck is extremely portable and compact without sacrificing loudness or clarity. The silicone cover adds a layer of protection, dampens accidental sounds from hard plastic housings, and increases speaker clarity. The new LD3X remote has an industry leading screen size, includes 10 levels of brightness, and backlit buttons for night hunters. This call comes with 150 preloaded exclusive sounds created by Rick Paillet and has a capacity of 2,000. The call runs on 10 AA batteries and the remote runs on 3 AA’s (not included). The Roughneck is compatible with Lucky Duck’s rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack.
MSRP for the Roughneck is $499.99 and it is available on luckyduck.com, or through a partnered retailer: http://www.luckyduck.com/dealers/.

COLUMBUS, Georgia — Get cold feet? The Boot Insulators from ArcticShield might be the answer. Their heat-retention technology has been developed and honed over many years, so it’s of the highest quality. These sport a polyester outer shell and liner, and are windproof, water resistant, lightweight and packable. Simply roll them up and slide them into your pocket or backpack.

MSRP: $64.00

Buy Now: ArcticShield Boot Insulators Read more

COLUMBUS, Georgia — They’ve nicknamed it the Hand Refuge, and for good reason. It’s like a sauna for your hands on a cold, crisp, wintery day. Using this reduces the need for heavy gloves, which can get in the way of shooting and other in-the-field tasks. It accomplishes this with a combined 800 grams of insulation. This includes 500 grams of Thinsulate and 300 grams of high-loft lining. It even has an external pocket for additional gear accessories. Just strap it around the waist, and you’re ready to go.

MSRP: $39.99

Buy Now: Thiessens V1 Whitetail Heavyweight Handwarmer Muff