Keystone State Thread

More of a lurker here, post sometimes. try to read posts everyday but miss a day or two and end up reading many, many pages. Started the 60+ thread 11 years ago and must be nap time there most of the time because it will be days before any one posts .

 

Not an issue around here. We have the highest concentration of hunters of any WMU. We also have a ton of Amish that have moved in over the last 10 years. They keep the deer and coyote population in control. Bears are still an issue, but there are groups that hunt them pretty hard.

 

Thank you all.
Didn't realize there was a Loosenut also.Thats how it used to be painted on my bug gaurd 25 years ago.But when i got my vanity tag it would not fit so i dropped the e.

 

I've accidentally tagged that other username.

 

Happy Birthday @loosnut ...

 

@loosnut
OH Hell I almost forgot YOU GET TO EAT CAKE TODAY !!

 

There's not much tillable right where I live, also really close to state forest. Not many Amish here but tons in Loganton and all over the place in the general area. They're still not keeping them in check. All of the critters are everywhere around here.

I firmly believe that wolves should be reintroduced to the forests of PA.

 

It is all tillable here. That is why the Amish are moving in so quickly. Many old family farms aren't able to make a go and are selling the land off at ridiculous prices. It will lead to a hunting crisis eventually as I have lost about half of the properties I used to hunt already. Not to mention the million times I have kicked them off the property I manage for hunting.

I actually read a lot about Bald Eagle in "The Deer Forest Blog" Penn State has been conducting a study of deer in Rothrock and Bald Eagle for some time. Some really interesting articles, some extremely boring as well. I understand your want for a beefy bumper though knowing the type of commute you have.

Honestly the biggest issue I see in my area is people are lazy and don't hunt anymore. They just build a shack 15' in the air and hope something walks by eventually. It works well for a lot, but there aren't groups driving deer like when I was a kid. I have a group of older guys I hunt the late muzzleloader season with that still hunt that way. It is amazing the difference in amounts of deer seen opposed to rifle season.

As someone that walks miles into areas to hunt, I wouldn't want to contend with wolves. I see the value in the argument though. Look at what they did for Yellowstone.

 

Why ?

 

Lack of apex predators leads to an overall overpopulation of prey animals. It also leads to an overall weakening of the gene pool due to a lack of selective pressures, including the survival of weakened animals to breeding age. It's also one of the reasons that chronic wasting disease is a thing. Nothing is out there eating the sick animals. It's pretty well proven science.

 

My father and I hunt up in clearfield county. Well I haven't in a few years I know for a fact they still put drives on for deer. About 5 years ago he got his first bear. And I say about 10 years ago me and my uncle were driving back to camp from town and seen a mountain lion bedded down not even like 15' off the road. Which to my surprise when we got back to camp some of the guys that lived there their whole lives never seen one before so i guess i can i was lucky to see that lion that day

 

Happy Birthday @loosnut ! Hope you have a great day!

 

Cool
Is that why the majority of deer in the North Maine Woods Region are so much fewer but so much bigger and healthier ?

 

I'd say Maine is more a product of the climate, a weak deer isn't going to make it through the winter. Larger animals also tend to maintain their body heat better than smaller ones.

 

"There are no mountain lions in Pennsylvania"
P.G.C.
@WBF610 any thoughts on this ?

 

When he remounted my tires on the second set of trd wheels, I straight up got a case of beer and handed it to him first thing. I got yelled at that I didn't have to do that..

I'm glad she did or else a lot of us may still be in a sticky situation! Thank you for all your help over the years!!! Happy Birthday Bud!

 

They say that lotsa places.

No reason for DNR to acknowledge them, as it's more work for them and less land use for us.

 

Happy birthday Jerry! I've only been around for a few months and already @loosnut has Loaned me tools and helped me at the mess that is my house on a Sunday.

One of the most generous people I've met in quite a while.

And quick with a joke too.

 

I honestly doubt there are any mountain lions in PA. Someone probably would have shot one (by gun or camera) by now.

And if there are, certainly not a breeding population.

 

There is one that gets spotted every few years running the Neshaminy Creek, DCNR said it wasn't, Zoologist said it was. Runs from the lower end of Tyler State park down into Middletown and Feasterville/Trevose area.