Last day of the season nad I hiked the area I hunted the first week and the snow told the story.

Under a grop of Pine tress ( 30 or more in this group ) at least 15 beds where deer were. Along a bench up against rocks and oaks
another group deer beds.Foud three good trails used by the deer, Turkey tracks, and of course a lot of coyote tracks

I know, I KNOW< your saying there are no coyote in eastern PA     I too was shocked to see their tracks next to or on top of the turkey and Deer tracks.

My son in law walked on top of the same mountain near the Applachian Trail and said it was tore up with intersecting deer trails.

I along with others need to give this deer reduction its full 10 years before we can past judgement. I think as I said in my previous post we as hunters my have to change our tactics and do some still hunting  along with stand hunting to get our trophy.

Yes its frustrating, yes I shot a Doe in Early muzzle loader season but I think we as hunters have to be more patient in our quest for a tropy deer instead of "getting in the woods early, leave early" and complain we saw no deer. ( That was statements I heard from co workers at work. They went back to camp for lunch and just hung out at camp the rest of the day.)

Thats my take on whats going on in my neck of the woods because the Snow Knows and shared with me her tracks of the trail.

I hunted yesterday morning at an Erie co gamelands.  Probably the first time hunting for deer in Erie Co in years.  There were deer trails everywhere in the snow.  I did not see any actual deer, but I only saw two other hunters and passed no other hunter's footprints in the snow.  It was a crusty snow and no wind so it was hard to still hunt quietly.  Without hunters in the woods the deer do not move.  I know they are there.
Also, it might be my imagination, but there seems to be a lot more brush in the woods.   dd

No imagination dd, I too am seeing more brush and 2-1/2 ft seedlings of oak, and pine trees

No imagination dd, I too am seeing more brush and 2-1/2 ft seedlings of oak, and pine trees