In Pennsylvania, today is the traditional opening day of buck season. Sitting in a tree stand, a 4x8 platform 25 ft in the air that I built 12 years ago with a little help from my aging father, I am gazing out over the head of a wooded ravine on land settled by my ancestors in the late 1700s. When my great-grandparents died young almost 100 years ago leaving 6 daughters, the farm was abandoned and has reverted to forest. This land, now owned by me and 3 other family members, has been used by my family for camping, hiking, family reunions, and especially hunting. Some of my most treasured memories are of being here first with my Dad and brother, then teaching my son and daughter about hunting and the outdoors here. Today is an unusual opening day, I am here by myself. Being here gives me an opportunity to connect with nature, to commune with God, to reflect on life and family, and to think about how this wonderful place, my ancestors, and my experiences here with my family have impacted my life. Don't get me wrong, I hope to fill my tag and provide for my family. But that is just a small part of why I am out in the woods today.

Growing up in PA spent many a rainy, warm, cold, windy, snowy first days just as you describe.  Many may not know that in PA the first day of buck season is an event.....it is actually a school holiday.  

Now quit posting and get busy scanning those woods:)  

When I was growing up in ND is was sort of the same for deer and pheasant opener both. It wasn't a holiday, but most of the boys were out hunting.

Knock'm dead Ed!

good hunting Ed and thanks for telling us the interesting history.

for me, hunting, gardening, fishin,g etc., is "dirt therapy"
Good luck!

Good luck......there's nothing better than the outdoors and being one with nature. Hunting and fishing are two of the things I enjoy doing very much.

My family and friends just came back yesterday from a 2 week stay at the property upstate, NY.  We spend Thanksgivings up there together and do a lot of hunting.  I was blessed to take a big doe.  My wife spent a lot of time in the stand and saw plenty of deer but passed on everything.  The oldest son missed a buck and the youngest watched everyone joyfully; he's only 4 and his time will come.  Others in the family either missed their shot or passed.  We enrolled our property in the Quality Deer Management program a few years ago and have watched the deer populations explode this year.  I've hunted for most of my life and this is the first year that I passed on multiple 4's and 6's.  It's a great feeling!

My wife's family is from PA and we trade hunting stories frequently.  Hunters from PA hold some of the strongest traditions that I've ever seen and it's fantastic that the state recognizes and holds those traditions dear.

Be safe in your stand and good luck!

Good read, thanks.  I am not a hunter, but an avid fisherman and I know all those feelings very well.  I think any sportsman can relate. 

Great story, good luck on getting your buck, I didn't do too well this year but that's fine because all I wanted to see was my 18 year old  son get a nice buck which he did. A nice 6 pointer that he grunted in , shot, and field dressed all by himself in new york. Yes I am a very proud father, thanks for listening.

Wow great hunting stories.  One of the things I miss about living in Flemington was our neighbors farmed and had over a 100 acres that was loaded with deer.  I would place my order and in a day or two I would have a lovely field dressed doe left in the back of my pickup truck.  So good..

Really great stories. Being a city girl, hunting is totally foreign to me. I hope all of you have great time hunting.

Norhayati