In the field

I received the following account from a hunter friend about his experiences on the final day of deer-hunting season near Cochranville:
"The last day was difficult and unproductive. Four of our group hunted for about 4 hours and saw few deer, never close enough or safe to shoot at. The snow made it a real workout and the deer were apparently off into the small thick refuges they find in such conditions. Very few shots were heard during the day and it appeared that few other hunters were as crazy as our group. Walking a couple miles in the snow, often uphill, while carrying a good 20-25 lbs. was a real workout.
This year the Game Commission, in its wisdom, eliminated the last two weeks of December antlerless (doe) hunting. Our group still kept its numbers up and helped keep the population under control. Many of the deer are given to others, neighbors and acquaintances who appreciate the healthy benefits of grain-fed venison. It was my first chance to get out since late December."