Dec. 01–JOHNSTOWN — Hunters have been busy sighting their rifles and buying gear in anticipation of opening day of buck season Monday.
“It’s pretty busy,” said Marty Zearing, owner of Ebensburg Fishing and Hunting, 3657 Admiral Peary Highway.
Hunters are buying rifles, scopes and ammunition, he said.
Although ammunition currently is in short supply, Zearing said that thanks to a shipment he had received earlier, he has been able to meet the needs of customers.
Zearing said from his observations while hunting this past fall and from comments made by archery hunters who patronize his business, there are more deer than in recent years.
Justin Krone, a sales clerk at Sporting Goods Discounters, 1449 Scalp Ave., Richland Township, said customers have been preparing for hunting season. They are buying hunting accessories at about the same pace as every deer season, he said.
Sales of rifles are down slighty from last year, he said. Hunters are using the rifles that they already own instead of buying new ones, he said.
The store owner said stocking ammunition this year has been the most difficult time that the store has ever seen.
The store normally has a large enough supply that it doesn’t sell out until just before buck season, Krone said.
With the limited supplies available from the manufacturers this year, the store either sold out early or was not able to get a supply of some calibers, he said.
At Gander Mountain, manager Tyler Todd said customers are buying everything from from hunting apparel to rifles and ammunition.
“There is a major shortage of ammunition,” he said. “It’s not available from the manufacturers.”
“Most hunters have some ammunition, but they’re coming in to get more to make sure that they have enough.”
Sales of rifles are about the same as every other hunting season, he said.
Seth Mesoras, wildlife conservation officer for the Southern Cambria County District of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, said hunter safety is of the utmost importance.
“We do not want to see any hunting accidents,” he said.
Hunters should wear the correct amount of fluorescent orange and properly identify their target and what is beyond the target, he said.
Hunters also should dress for the weather and not overestimate their physical capabilites, he said.
Hunters using tree stands should check their equipment for loose or missing bolts and should always wear a safety harness, Mesoras said.
Hunter success is related to being prepared for the season, he said.
“Hunters who have been in the woods scouting will be more successful than ones who have not,” Mesoras said.
“We don’t have the deer that we had in the 1990s, but the deer are there.”
“To be successful, you have to be in the woods. I don’t know of anyone who has ever harvested a deer from their living room.”
From Monday through Friday, only antlered deer are in season. From Saturday to the following Saturday, either sex is in season.
Ed Pudliner, owner of the deer-processing department at Pudliner Packing, 167 Norton Road, Johnstown, expects to be busy the next two weeks.
He said a good omen is that he processed about 50 more deer than usual during archery season, plus he had five big bears this past week.
“I had at least 10 really big bucks. I think it’s going to be a pretty good year,” he said.
Randy Adams, owner of Ridge Meat market, 1966 Ridge Road, Hooversville, likewise saw an increase in the number of deer that were bought in during archery and muzzleloader season.
He said he did not notice an increase in the size of the bucks as did Pudliner.
Adams said he charges $60 to processs and freezer-wrap a deer.
Customers also can have their deer processed into smoked meats such as bologna and sausage, he said.
The store also has a full line of smoked beef and pork products.
Frank Sojak is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/FrankNews10.