Nsghunter
Well-Known Member
Hey guys, every pre-season I have the same question in my head: will I hunt in Pennsylvania this year or go to West TN? I figured I would ask you guys for your input because you are my hunting buddies.
Here are the summaries of the two choices:
PA:
I have family in South East Pa where I can stay. Free lodging, cheap food but also have to deal with family while trying to be on a hunting trip ( this can slow you down). I would probably be hunting archery only Nov. 1-15'ish maybe late season jan1-28 and possibly early archery. I don't care for their firearm season dates, they conflict with my home schedule a lot, plus I'm sure the pressure is really high. I would have to purchase a license for pa for my son and I, plus antlerless tags. That would be roughly $300. It is a 12 hour drive one way and then about 30-60 min drive to the areas that I hunt. I always see loads of deer while I am there hunting or visiting, but I have to travel. I love the idea of traveling to hunt and the family that I stay with is elderly, I know that eventually they will pass and I will not be able to ever spend time with them, it is nice to stay with them and see them while I am hunting. Also, because of the family, I can leave my 9 year old home with them if he doesn't hunt. I also enjoy hunting in areas with such high deer densities. They even have hunts in some of the town parks the deer density is so high. The travel time is tough and that is an expense within itself.
TN:
I have some private land I can hunt, that's two hours away but I do not want to overhunt it. I also don't want to over harvest the deer and I do not want to hunt it so often that the locals realize that there is good hunting there and "join me". I have very limited lodging options if I hunt there, so driving is the only real option. I hunt public in my area (1 hour away) with some success and I typically like to go to west tn (4 -6 hour drive) once a year and hunt with some success. I already have my TN license so there is no expense for that, but If I travel to West TN I always have to pay something for lodging and food( I would typically say $70/per day average) . I try to hunt in the quota hunts here but I work every weekend and I can't always get vacation during the time of the quota hunt. I have actually missed three or four hunts in the last six years due to not being able to get off work. For Tn. I like the lower drive times and the fact that I am close to my wife and kiddos even if I am out of town hunting.
I would like you fellas to chime in with any input or suggestions that you may have related to all of this. I am confident that you all have spent time hunting out of town, out of state and or close to home and can help me see other benefits/drawbacks.
Here are the summaries of the two choices:
PA:
I have family in South East Pa where I can stay. Free lodging, cheap food but also have to deal with family while trying to be on a hunting trip ( this can slow you down). I would probably be hunting archery only Nov. 1-15'ish maybe late season jan1-28 and possibly early archery. I don't care for their firearm season dates, they conflict with my home schedule a lot, plus I'm sure the pressure is really high. I would have to purchase a license for pa for my son and I, plus antlerless tags. That would be roughly $300. It is a 12 hour drive one way and then about 30-60 min drive to the areas that I hunt. I always see loads of deer while I am there hunting or visiting, but I have to travel. I love the idea of traveling to hunt and the family that I stay with is elderly, I know that eventually they will pass and I will not be able to ever spend time with them, it is nice to stay with them and see them while I am hunting. Also, because of the family, I can leave my 9 year old home with them if he doesn't hunt. I also enjoy hunting in areas with such high deer densities. They even have hunts in some of the town parks the deer density is so high. The travel time is tough and that is an expense within itself.
TN:
I have some private land I can hunt, that's two hours away but I do not want to overhunt it. I also don't want to over harvest the deer and I do not want to hunt it so often that the locals realize that there is good hunting there and "join me". I have very limited lodging options if I hunt there, so driving is the only real option. I hunt public in my area (1 hour away) with some success and I typically like to go to west tn (4 -6 hour drive) once a year and hunt with some success. I already have my TN license so there is no expense for that, but If I travel to West TN I always have to pay something for lodging and food( I would typically say $70/per day average) . I try to hunt in the quota hunts here but I work every weekend and I can't always get vacation during the time of the quota hunt. I have actually missed three or four hunts in the last six years due to not being able to get off work. For Tn. I like the lower drive times and the fact that I am close to my wife and kiddos even if I am out of town hunting.
I would like you fellas to chime in with any input or suggestions that you may have related to all of this. I am confident that you all have spent time hunting out of town, out of state and or close to home and can help me see other benefits/drawbacks.