The 2015 Accessible Hunter Patch

I am ordering the new 2015 Accessible Hunter Morale Patch's this week. It will be a more tactical model than last year's patch.  Made up with OD Green and Black.  I like to give these out when I'm hunting to individuals who clearly demonstrate the values and characteristic's associated with accessible hunting.

PROPOSED PA 2015-16 HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS

PROPOSED 2015-16 HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS 

SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license, and mentored youth – Oct. 10-16 (6 daily, 18 in possession limit after first day). 

SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Oct. 17-Nov. 28; Dec. 14-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 20 (6 daily, 18 possession). 

RUFFED GROUSE: Oct. 17–Nov. 28, Dec. 14-24 and Dec. 26-Jan. 23 (2 daily, 6 possession). 

RABBIT (Cottontail) Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license: Oct. 10-17 (4 daily, 12 possession). 

RABBIT (Cottontail): Oct. 24-Nov. 28, Dec. 14-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 20 (4 daily, 12 possession). 

PHEASANT: Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license – Oct. 10-17 (2 daily, 6 in possession). Male pheasants only in WMUs 2A, 2C, 4C, 4E, 5A and 5B. Male and female pheasants may be taken in all other WMUs. There is no open season for the taking of pheasants in any Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas in any WMU. 

PHEASANT: Male only in WMUs 2A, 2C, 4C, 4E, 5A and 5B. Male and female may be taken in all other WMUs – Oct. 24-Nov. 28, Dec. 14-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 20 (2 daily, 6 in possession). There is no open season for the taking of pheasants in any Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas in any WMU. 

BOBWHITE QUAIL: Oct. 24-Nov. 28 (4 daily, 12 possession). (Closed in 5A, Open in all other WMUs.) 

HARES (SNOWSHOE RABBITS) OR VARYING HARES: Dec. 26–Jan.1, in all WMUs except WMUs 3B, 3C and 3D, where season will run from Dec. 26-29 (1 daily, 3 possession). 

WOODCHUCKS (GROUNDHOGS): No closed season, except on Sundays and during the regular firearms deer seasons. No limit. 

PORCUPINES: Sept. 1-March 31, except during overlap with the regular firearms deer season. (3 daily, season limit of 10).

CROWS: July 3-April 10, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. No limit. 

STARLINGS AND ENGLISH SPARROWS: No closed season, except during the antlered and antlerless deer season. No limit. 

WILD TURKEY (Male or Female): WMU 1B – Oct. 31-Nov. 7 and Nov. 26-28; WMU 2B (Shotgun and bow and arrow) – Oct. 31-Nov. 20 and Nov. 26-28; WMUs 1A, 2A, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B and 4D– Oct. 31-Nov. 14 and Nov. 26-28; WMUs 2C, 4C and 4E– Oct. 31-Nov. 20  and Nov. 26-28; WMU 5A – Nov. 5-7; WMUs 5B, 5C and 5D – CLOSED TO FALL TURKEY HUNTING. 

SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license, and mentored youth – April 23, 2016. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt. 

SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): April 30-May 31, 2016. Daily limit 1, season limit 2. (Second spring gobbler may be only taken by persons who possess a valid special wild turkey license.) From April 30-May 14, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon; from May 16-31, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. 

BLACK BEAR (Statewide) Archery: Nov. 16-20. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 

BLACK BEAR (Statewide): Nov. 21-25. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2C, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E): Dec. 2-5. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D): Nov. 30-Dec. 12. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D): Nov. 30-Dec. 5. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D) archery: Sept. 19-Nov. 14. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 

BLACK BEAR (WMU 5B) archery: Oct. 3-Nov. 14. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D) muzzleloader: Oct. 17-24. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D) special firearms: Oct. 22-24, for junior and senior license holders, disabled hunters with a permit to use a vehicle as a blind and resident active duty military. 

ELK (Antlered or Antlerless): Nov. 2-7. Only one elk may be taken during the license year. 

ELK, EXTENDED (Antlered and Antlerless): Nov. 9-14. Only one elk may be taken during the license year. Eligible elk license recipients who haven’t harvested an elk by Nov. 8, in designated areas. 

DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Sept. 19- Nov. 28 and Dec. 26-Jan. 23, 2016. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. One antlered deer per hunting license year.

DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Oct. 3-Nov. 14 and Dec. 26-Jan. 9. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 

DEER (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2B, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D: Nov. 30-Dec. 12. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 

DEER (Antlered Only) WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E: Nov. 30-Dec. 4. One antlered deer per hunting license year. (Holders of valid DMAP antlerless deer permits may harvest antlerless deer on DMAP properties during this period.) 

DEER (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E:  Dec. 5-12. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 

DEER, ANTLERLESS (Statewide): Oct. 22-24. Junior and Senior License Holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) Holders, and Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in 

U.S. Armed Services or in the U.S. Coast Guard only, with required antlerless license. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for a license and hold a valid adult license, or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 

DEER, ANTLERLESS MUZZLELOADER (Statewide): Oct. 17-24. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 

DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (Statewide): Dec. 26-Jan. 9. One antlered deer per hunting license year, or one antlerless deer and an additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 

DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D): Dec. 26-Jan. 23. One antlered deer per hunting license year, or one antlerless deer and an additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 

DEER, ANTLERLESS EXTENDED REGULAR FIREARMS: (Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties): Dec. 26-Jan. 23. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 

DEER, ANTLERLESS (Military Bases): Hunting permitted on days established by the U.S. Department of the Army at Letterkenny Army Depot, Franklin County; New Cumberland Army Depot, York County; and Fort Detrick, Raven Rock Site, Adams County. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 

Recoil Charts

I have had a few people with disabilities ask me about recoil and how I handle it. I thought it would be a good idea to post a couple of recoil charts so that you could match the right rifle or shotgun load to your ability and adapted setup.

Fortunately the brace I have absorbs a great deal of the recoil from a shotgun or rifle. I receive no impact on my shoulder at all. The front of the weapon does rise up with a shot because I'm unable to hold the weapon. When I shoot my crossbow there is no recoil at all.

The shotguns that I use I limit to two and three-quarter inch shells. I do not shoot 3 inch or 3 1/2 inch magnum loads.  I prefer a .243 rifle or .223, but I do shoot a .270 occasionally. For target shooting I still enjoy the air rifle and the 22 LR.

It's up to every hunter to ensure a quick and clean kill. Able bodied individuals or a para may have the ability to hold a rifle or shotgun, better than myself. Being a c4/c5 quad my weapon sits in a brace. My preferred method of hunting is my crossbow. But when I rifle hunt I do it mostly with a .243 and I have been very fortunate that I have not lost a deer with that rifle.

A well-placed shot will bring down a deer every time and a marginal shot may lead to a lost deer no matter what caliber or broadhead you are using. I posted the chart so that everyone has the right information to make a decision on their own. If you want to use a larger caliber I think that's great, if you prefer something a little lighter that's great too. The important thing is we shoot within our abilities, we owe it to the game we pursue to ensure a ethical clean kill. Shoot straight and good luck in all you do.

Recoil By Caliber

Recoil by Recoil Energy

Savage A-17 Rifle

I cannot wait to try this new Savage A-17 Rifle.  It would be so much fun to take this out this summer and take down a few varmints (Groundhogs, Coyotes).  What are your thoughts on the .17 HMR


It's better than a.22 Long rifle in my opinion because it's semi automatic, ten round magazine, its faster and much more accurate.  A little expensive to shoot compared to the .22 but I always say you get what you pay for.

End of the Season

It's getting near the end of the season, just a few day's left here in Pennsylvania. This has been one of the best hunting seasons I can remember. I was successful in harvesting a Wildboar, pheasants, Whitetail deer (doe) and a very nice Whitetail buck (eight point).

I am looking forward to the upcoming spring turkey season in May.  I would really love to harvest a mature gobbler with my crossbow or shotgun. For now, I will have to concentrate on organizing my gear and doing some planning for the next hunt.

How was your season? Did you tag out? What are you looking forward to in the upcoming season?