The statewide archery season for deer hunters begins this weekend in Pennsylvania.

This is the beginning of the entire cycle of hunting opportunities afforded to Pennsylvania deer hunters and one of the most popular. The PA Game Commission reports that over 350,000 bow hunters will go afield in pursuit of whitetails in Pennsylvania.

That’s about one in two hunters being archery hunters, using compound bows, long bows, recurves and crossbows. PA is credited with the largest number of archery hunters in the country, about 10% according to the Archery Trade Association.

The PGC archives stated that the first archery season hunt in Pennsylvania was in 1951. The first hunt had about 5,500 bow hunters purchasing the $2 license and they took a whopping 33 bucks in the inaugural season. In the 2022-23 season, the archery harvest was 145,640 deer.

Considering that the fall season in Pennsylvania is one of the most beautiful times to be in Penn’s Woods, it is no wonder that it is so popular. This year’s season will run from Saturday through Nov.17 and comes back in for the late season from Dec. 26 through Jan. 15.

Remember there are special regulation areas that do offer extended hunting opportunities, especially around Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

This year appears to be promising with the population of whitetail deer strong across the state, which with some effort afield and practicing with your equipment should result in some deer harvest opportunities.

Hunters need to be ethical when taking their shots at deer, limiting their shots to an effective range and at a deer broadside or quartering away shots. Wounding a deer and not retrieving the animal is bad for the deer and the sport. The minimum draw weight of crossbows is at 125 pounds and for all other bows, it is at 35 pounds.

Many archers use tree stands and this can cause some tricky legal issues for hunters. Tree stands that cause damage to the bark of a tree are unlawful to use or occupy unless the user has permission of the landowner.

Don’t use any equipment that damages trees in the state game lands, state forests or state parks. You may end up with a hefty fine and the restitution of a tree! If you hang a portable tree stand on public property, it must be marked with your CID number or your unique Sportsmen’s Equipment ID number.

Carry written permission from the landowner when hunting on private property that you are a guest on, especially on the Sunday hunting dates.

There are plenty of safety tips bowhunters should remember when afield. Many of the safety tips are the same for all hunters. Make sure that you let someone know where you are hunting and when you can be expected to return to home or camp.

Cell phones can be a lifesaver, but cell reception can be spotty in those deep valleys and isolated areas. The use of a fall restraint device and hoist rope to pull up your bow and equipment is a wise move. Don’t try to climb a tree with your hands full of equipment or packs. Have a charged flashlight and whistle to signal other hunters in case of an emergency.

Local hunting and big woods hunting can be a lot different and can require much more equipment, such as a compass, GPS unit, water proof matches or a first aid kit.

Last but not least is the care of a deer if you harvest one. The beautiful fall weather is great to be out in the woods, but not so great for your venison care if the temperature is above 40 degrees.

The venison you have in your possession must be tagged and field dressed promptly. Cooling down a deer is very important for the quality of the venison. Poor planning will result in the spoiling of the meat, which is a waste of a deer and your hunting effort.

Packing your deer carcass with ice, hanging meat in a refrigerated area, or quartering the meat for an ice chest is a best practice.

In my personal experiences, I have had to deal with all of the pitfalls and problems associated with archery hunting. However, my most celebrated hunt for harvesting a whitetail buck was also in archery season.

The bucks that you see afield in archery will get your blood pumping … but remember to be safe, shoot straight and know your target for a wonderful outdoor experience.

Jay Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle