Indoor leagues, 3D courses and backyard targets have consumed months of spare time for bowhunters who today begin the final six-day countdown to the opening of Pennsylvania’s statewide archery deer season Saturday, Oct. 3.
By now treestands are in place, decisions on broadheads and shafts have been finalized and optics sighted in and fine tuned. And yes, there has also — in most cases — been hours of scouting either in person or reviewing photos and videos from trail cameras.
With all that perparation, there is nothing that should go wrong when bowhunters climb their stands or get into their blinds in the predawn darkness Saturday. Well, not exactly.
According to Ron Koch of Koch’s Archery and Taxidermy in Auburn, he often finds himself having to deal with 11th-hour problems because some detail has been overlooked. He also often helps bowhunters deal with these problems when shooting hunting videos at various locations for his “Outdoor Buddies” television program on Comcast.
“One of the biggest mistakes a bowhunter can make is taking last-minute advice from a friend and deciding to change his setup,” Koch said. “Any change made to a bow after it is tuned can affect the flight of an arrow for the worse.
“Probably the most common mistake is that after weeks of shooting practice a hunter decides they can handle an increased draw weight and crank their bow up a few pounds. This will most definitely change the impact point of an arrow the same as adding or changing to a different quiver, changing the stabilizer and switching to a different brand of broadhead, no matter if fixed or expandable.
“No matter what friends say or what someone on TV is doing, don’t make changes unless a problem develops. That includes making changes to crossbows, such as switching bolts, broadheads or a scope unless there is time to practice and get sighted-in.”
One of the most overlooked details by bowhunters when going afield is that, despite spending hours of practice time, they may have done so in cutoffs and their favorite Ted Nugent T-shirt. Take time this final week of the preseason to shoot a few practice rounds wearing the hunting clothing that will be worn opening day.
Even lightweight clothing can produce a different point of aim, and factors such as a baggy sleeve, an open pocket flap and draw strings on a hoodie can interfere with the flight of an arrow. Hunters should also resist the temptation of wearing or hanging binoculars around their neck — as well as rangefinders and grunt tubes — unless they have done so during practice sessions.
Far and away the most important detail is to make a “dry run” with a climbing treestand if for no other reason than safety. Fumbling, bumbling and stumbling in the dark is frustrating when attempting to quietly ascent a tree in the darkness, but an overlooked unbuckled strap or loose bolt that causes a screw to be lost are dangerous situations that can result in serious injury.
Another detail to remember with treestands and blinds this year is that for the first time the Pennsylvania Game Commission requires those that remain in place on State Game Lands and State Forest Lands be tagged to identify the owner. Stands and blinds must be removed no later than two weeks after the close of the late deer seasons in January.
Two final details are to make sure cellular telephone batteries are fully charged and a full-body harness or restraint system is packed if hunting from a treestand. Cell phones can literally make the difference between life or death in the case of an emergency, and the use of a restraint system can prevent injury or death.
Archery deer seasons
Antlered and Antlerless — Statewide: Saturday, Oct. 3-Saturday, Nov. 14, and Friday, Dec. 26-Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016. One antlered deer is permitted per hunting license year; one antlerless deer is permitted with each required antlerless license.
Antlered and Antlerless — WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Under way through Saturday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Dec. 26-Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. One antlered deer is permitted per hunting license year; one antlerless deer is permitted with each required antlerless license.