The statewide Pennsylvania Archery Season started this past weekend with thousands of archery enthusiasts entering Penn's Woods in search of a buck or doe.

The Archery Season continues through Nov. 13 and is highly popular due to the seasonal weather and relatively relaxed atmosphere of the season. This is an outdoor activity that has attracted thousands of female hunters over the past decade or so. Many different skill sets are required to be a proficient archer as well as an outdoors-oriented person.

Some of the skill sets that are required include: archery accuracy and proficiency, orienteering, reading wildlife habitat and sign, tracking skills, setting up stand locations and processing your game once you are successful. Many hunters start in the archery business as a mentored hunter who learns from a more experienced hunter. There is no better way to learn than by observing and practicing the proper skill sets offered by a seasoned hunter/archer.

Archery equipment has really changed over the years, when I was a kid you really only had two choices in equipment. You could choose from a long bow or a recurve bow to hunt with in Pennsylvania. My first serious bow hunting was done with a Browning recurve bow and cedar arrows.

The arrows were tipped with a 100-grain fixed blade razor head hunting broadhead. I had a cardboard lined leather quiver that hung over my shoulder which you needed to be very careful with lest your arrow pierced the quiver.

There were no sights or aids to mark your target, just practiced shot placement and experience with your ranges from an arrow rest.

Back in those days you really didn't need any special targets to stop your arrows, we usually used hay bales and paper targets. With today's high tech archery equipment using compound bows and crossbows rocketing arrows and bolts, you really need specialized targets that can be easily 40–50-yard shots or more.

We discuss what is an ethical shot distance and that needs to be determined by your shot accuracy and energy when an arrow hits the intended target. Also, keep in mind that we all need to ensure a clean kill on game and never leave an animal wounded because of poor decision making.

Many if not most archery hunters rely on elevated stands to hunt out of in the deer season. The choices can be climber stands, ladder stands, blinds and natural advantage points.

I am not good sitting in a stand all day waiting for a deer to walk past me. I prefer to walk and stalk when hunting. I will find a feeding area or a heavily used trail and post up near the travel ways. There is something about being able to be in the deer's environment and be up close and personal.

One time I chose a grove of oaks that were dropping acorns like candy at a Butler City parade. It wasn't long before a nice sized doe came feeding in my area and offered me a great shot and I was successful. However, it doesn't always work out as I had a wary buck do the same thing on another hunt and my miscue with brushing my broadhead on a twig tipped off the buck and away he went.

Remember that archery requires scent control as deer really can pick up odors as good or bad quite easily. Clothing has to be camouflaged and comfortable without being too tight or baggy.

Deer can see ultraviolet light differences especially when clothing becomes worn. Boots need to be light and quiet and preferably rubber soled to control scent. Some hunters use scent pads on their boots to disguise their odor. Pennsylvania allows scent lures and masks for deer hunting; watch using urine-based lures as there is some thought that it may carry the possibility of chronic wasting disease.

Do not ever use food products as a form of bait to hunt with including: apples, corn, grains, beets or other natural deer foods that are placed in an area that they do not naturally occur. The penalty for hunting over baited areas can be quite significant. It's not only illegal, it's just plain unethical and cheats everyone from a fair chase hunt including the game.

Archery hunters are required to possess a general hunting license as well as an archery tag. You are allowed one buck per year and one doe for each tag you possess … good luck and straight shooting!

Jay Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.