Pennsylvania Game News - August 2014 - 55

or 10 days, depending on my schedule of satin spray enamel to touch up any
and find capturing deer images is not chips or places with raw metal showonly informative, it's fun as well. Who ing through. This keeps my equipment
doesn't want to know how many bucks in top shape and ensures it will last as
long as I do.
frequent a hunting area?
Surveys and research have shown
Each summer, depending on the
rep eated l y th at
weather, farmers in
climbing trees
our area make two
cuttings of hay and Don't wait until the without a full-body
in August the new week before deer season harness or fall-redevice is algrowth of tender
opens to learn the oaks straint risky propoways a
grass becomes a
magnet for deer. you are counting on are sition because so
many tangibles afAugust is when I barren of acorns.
fect your ability to
like spending evestay on the stand,
ning hours traveling back roads looking for deer feeding including weather and fatique. I've
in farm fields and I always have a pair long since given up climbing trees to
of binoculars with me. The information hunt or to place a tree stand without
I gather through late-summer scouting the use of a full-body safety harness and
trips gives me a good place to start as tether rope. This is the time of year I
check the integrity of my climbing harbow season approaches.
Keep in mind, spotting bucks feed- ness and vest and the ropes and knots
ing in open fields in late summer is I depend on to keep me safe. I want to
relatively common, but their reclusive be certain they aren't ripped, torn or
behavior may soon return as food frayed and, if they are compromised in
sources change. When acorns start to any way, I replace them. Many types
drop, deer will usually abandon tender of tree stands attach to the tree with
alfalfa or clover fields to feed on the straps, so it's a good idea to carefully
falling mast. If the property you plan inspect these as well. If any need to be
to hunt is new to you, it's a good idea replaced, there's plenty of time to do it.
I believe far too many hunters still
to know where the oaks are and to
determine beforehand if there will be climb into a tree stand without being
a good fall acorn crop. Don't wait until securely attached to the tree with a
the week before deer season opens to safety harness and this is foolish. If
learn the oaks you are counting on are you are one of those hunters who don't
have a full-body harness, seriously conbarren of acorns.
Early-season scouting is one thing, sider purchasing one for this coming
but this is the time of year I go over my season. Just about all tree stands sold
hunting equipment and make any nec- today come with a safety harness so, if
essary repairs. My tree stands often take you do have one, this is a good time of
a beating by being carried in the back year to familiarize yourself with its use.
of my pickup, so the warm weather of A safety harness is of no value if it's left
August is ideal for touching up any at home or in your truck. Personally, I
nicks or chips in the paint. I use a can like the simplicity of using a safety vest.
AUGUST 2014

Pennsylvania Game News - August 2014

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