Spring dispersal of yearling bucks is in full swing here in SW Pa.  Have seen alot of carnage on the local highways as of late.  Mostly all young bucks unfortunately.  Passed a pair of brothers this morning laying on the berm with about 3 inches of growth on each.

In the "hot zone" (EHD) area of 2A, I have seen some impressive looking bucks already with good mass and beginnings of forks.  I predict some very large racks with all of the extra nutrition from much lower deer densities in some areas.

Also in the hard hit EHD areas, I expect yearling bucks numbers to be high as a result of spring dispersal.  Seems like good habitat for the taking for these young to take up home residence with lower densities and fewer resident bucks to compete with.  Maybe they may be actually more bucks than does because of spring dispersal in these areas.

Now lets hope that that darn bug doesn't hitchhike again this year on a railcar going to the local mine and start an outbreak in the exact same spot that it has the last two times.

Oh, I forgot, that is just same baseless theory that the locals have about this.

Frank,

I am talking very isolated pockets in 2A were EHD put a hurting in the poulation.  One farm I hunt, we had about a 75% kill.

Contrary to what many believe about SW Pa, there are still too many deer in most areas.  Thank god the deer have birdfeeders and shrubs to browse on.  Many areas have a significant browse lines evident as well.  

Based on the amount of feed I saw in the woods last fall remaining and the looks of the bucks I have seen in this EHD area, it will be a good year for the antler hunters in certain areas.  Again, I am not talking 2A as a whole.

Today I drove I80 from exit 64 to the ohio line, I counted nine fresh kills on the westbound side,  Many were bucks. Seems like an awful lot of roadkills for this time of the year.