With deer becoming increasingly active due to their current rut season, a time when bucks are chasing does to breed and daylight-saving time puts more vehicles on the road during times and when deer move most, it’s the period when most deer-vehicle accidents occur. As such, the Pennsylvania Game Commission advises motorists to stay alert and slow down, especially when driving past wooded tracts on either side of the roadways, especially at dusk and dawn – the peak hours for deer activity. 

Data from around the country indicate Pennsylvania drivers face some of the highest risks of a vehicle collision with deer or other large animals like coyotes, even a bear. A recent report shows Pennsylvania leads the nation in animal-collision insurance claims in fiscal year 2024-25. According to the PGC, the national average for animal collisions is 1-in-139, while Pennsylvania drivers have a 1-in-62 chance. Drivers in only West Virginia (1-in-40), Montana (1-in-54), and Michigan (1-in-59), Wisconsin (1-in-63), strike big game animals with greater frequency. 

Another serious fact is that deer-vehicle collisions cause 59,000 injuries annually and 440 human deaths across the country. 

Keep in mind that if you encounter one deer crossing the road in front of you, there could be others behind it as deer often travel in groups and walk single file. So it doesn’t mean the threat is over as other ones could be right behind the lead deer. 

A few weeks ago, I was driving down Columbia Street in Stiles when a large doe popped out from a wooded section on my left and momentarily behind it were two fawns that followed her to a soybean field on the other side of the road. Fortunately, I was able to quickly hit the brakes as I watched the trio run a car length distance past me. It’s also important to pay attention to “Deer Crossing” signs as that area has a high probability of deer encounters. 

A driver who hits a deer with their vehicle is not required to report the accident to the PGC (only to your insurance carrier). If the deer dies, Pennsylvania residents may claim the carcass. To do so, they can call the PGC (within 24 hours of taking possession of the deer) at 833-PGC-HUNT or 833-PGC-WILD and an agency dispatcher will collect the information needed to provide a free permit number, which the caller should write down. A passing resident motorist also may claim the deer and reporting it with the same procedure.

As a precaution, the PGC says that if a deer is struck but not killed, drivers should maintain their distance because some deer might recover and move on, or attack you especially if it’s a buck that could gore you with its antlers. 
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To report a dead deer for removal from state roads, motorists can all PennDOT at 800-FIX-ROAD. 

Pennsylvania hunters have an added species to pursue since the fall turkey season kicked off Nov. 1 in most WMU’s of the state with the exception of WMUs 5C and 5D.

The remaining units, the season lengths are as follows: WMUs 1A, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B, and 4D which are Nov. 1-Nov. 15; WMUs 1B, 3D, 4C, and 4E – Nov. 1-Nov. 8; WMUs 2A, 2F, 3B and 3C that run Nov. 1-Nov. 1 and Nov. 26-28; WMUs 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E Nov. 1-Nov. 21 and Nov. 26-28; and WMU 5A and 5B – Nov. 1-Nov. 4. Hunters should be aware that the three-day Thanksgiving season will again run Wednesday, Thursday and Friday only in applicable WMUs 

In addition, for this fall, Sunday hunting is open for turkey if they fall within the established season dates for an WMU. 

During the fall season, both male and female turkeys can be harvested. 

As for the prospects, Pennsylvania wild turkey biologist Reina Tyl said hunters could find more challenging conditions compared to last season. This is due to below-average turkey poult recruitment per a turkey sighting survey, likely due in part to wet spring conditions which can compromise nest success. 

The survey in July and August showed 2.7 poults per all hens observed compared to the previous five-year average of 3.0 poults per hen. At the WMU level, the numbers ranged from a low of 1.7 to a high of 4.8 poults. 

Reproductive success varies due to many factors, particularly spring and summer rainfall, temperature, habitat conditions, predators, insect abundance and hen condition. Tyl explained that this is an index of reproductive success over time. 

If taking a mentored hunter turkey hunting, the PGC says a mentored hunter with a mentored permit, allows hunters ages 7 and older receive their own tags whereas hunters under 7 must receive a tag from their mentor. 

Turkey hunters should keep in mind that you must report your turkey harvest within 10 days of harvest either by reporting it online at www.Hunt.Fish.PA.gov, or by calling the PGC toll free at 800-838-4431 or mailing with the prepaid postcard that comes with the 2025-26 Hunting and Trapping Digest when purchasing your hunting license. 

If phoning in your report, hunters need to provide their license and harvest tag information, and to write down the confirmation number you’ll get when completing the harvest report. All hunters reporting harvests are asked to identify the WMU, county and township the bird was taken. And if the turkey had been leg-banded or equipped with a transmitter for research purposes and to follow the instructions on the band or transmitter. 

Last winter the PGC leg-banded almost 950 turkeys (over 4,000 since 2020) and placed backpack-style transmitters on 142 of them (over 700 since 2022) in an effort to track turkey populations. 

As a precaution, the agency recommends not handling harvested birds that appear sick or are found dead from disease. Any sick or dead wild turkeys should be reported to the PGC at 833-PGC-WILD. 
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The Pennsylvania Game Commission predicts a great upcoming bear hunting season. It’s basing this on last year’s take of 2,642 bears with the traditional season contributing 823 while the archery season added 756, the extended season 425, and the muzzleloader and special firearms season contributing 634. Hunters got another four bears in the early archery season in select WMUs. 

As in past years, the overall bear harvest was spread across the state as 56 counties gave up at least one bear as did 21 of 22 WMUs. 

“The sustainability of bears and bear hunting in Pennsylvania is tied to the early breeding success and large litter sizes,” said PGC bear biologist Brandon Snavely. He adds that even with 13 million people in the state, we still have great bear habitat. 

Pennsylvania’s archery bear season in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D runs from Sept 20-Nov. 28, in 5B from Oct. 18-25 and in 18 of the remaining WMUs.

Upcoming is the statewide regular firearms bear season the runs Nov. 22-25 while the extended bear season goes from Nov. 29-Dec. 6 in WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C and 5A and from Nov. 29-Dec. 13 in WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D. Included are Sundays from Sept. 14-Dec. 7 that fall within the established opening and closing dates of any bear season. According to the PGC, that’s every Sunday from Sept. 21-Nov. 23 and in the archery bear season and WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D; every Sunday from Oct. 5-Nov. 16 in the archery bear season in WMU 5B; Oct. 19 in the statewide archery season; Nov. 23 in the statewide regular firearms season; Nov. 30 in the extended season in WMUs 3A, 3C, 3D, 4C and 5A; and Nov. 30-Dec. 7 in the extended season in WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 4C, 4E and 5A and Nov. 30-Dec. 7 and in the extended season in WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C, and 5D
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Interestingly, Pennsylvania bear hunters face long odds in taking a bear. Fewer than two percent of bear hunters harvest a bear in any given year. In addition, the average bear harvested in Pennsylvania is about three years old. Males that age typically weigh about 200 pounds, while females generally go 160. But bears, especially males, can get larger. 

Last season, Scott Price of Madison Township, Lackawanna County, took a Monroe County bear that weighed 774 pounds. That was the largest in 2024. The next nine heaviest bears included two others exceeding 700 pounds, six exceeding 600 and one that hit 597. 

As to what WMUs consistently produce more bears than others they include 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3D, 4C, and 4E. WMUs 2D, 3C, and 4A, made the list three times in that span. 

Among the top counties it was Tioga (163 bears), Clinton (157), Lycoming (148), Bradford (133), Potter (109), Luzerne (95), Monroe (93), Pike (85), McKean (78), Sullivan (75) all rounded out the top 10. 

Final local county harvests in the Southeast, with the 2023 harvest in parentheses, are as follows: Schuylkill, 167 (159); Dauphin, 45 (42); Northampton, 28 (21); Berks, 18 (16); Lebanon, 9 (10); and Lehigh, 3 (5). 

The final bear harvest locally in 5C were 17 (15); and 5D, 0 (0). 
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The PGC says to increase hunting success hunters should try to hunt areas with good acorn, beechnut and the like crops, as these are bears’ rich fall food preferences. 
 

Fresh from the Salmon River in Pulaski New York, my friend Tom Marchetto from Easton, sent me this latest fishing report. 

His recent trip found low water levels due to a lack of rain and river flow was 265 fps but reduced to 185 a few days later. The salmon were congregating in the estuary making them hesitant to run up the river. The water temp at the time was 59 degrees. 

The weekend action was slow as there were only a few hook-ups with our group and only one King Salmon landed. Every imaginable bait was used from plastic eggs, various flies, egg sacks ad colored sponges, but not many fish hooked.  

Finally, the rains came later on in the week and it was enough to get the fish moving. All fishing was done down river at the popular Staircase Hole area. The run included a mix of King and Coho salmon and a few Steelhead were spotted. Five salmon were landed on Tuesday amongst two of our crew. 

This year will go down in the books as very lean. What was needed was more water flow and colder temperatures. But we’ll be back. 
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Although we’re at the beginning of the small and large game hunting seasons, trout anglers don’t despair as the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission has begun their fall trout stockings. 

The PFBC says they will be stocking approximately 116,500 adult Rainbow, Brown and Brook Trout in 188 stream sections and lakes. In October alone, the PFBC will have stocked approximately 89,000 trout into 93 waters that includes 53 lakes. And 40 stream sections, including 16 Keystone Select Trout Waters. An additional 25 lakes will be stocked with approximately 28,500 trout during November and December in preparation for ice fishing.  
The agency warns that as warm weather continues which often results in low and warm water conditions, there may be delays in the stocking operations. 

Anglers are to be reminded that since Sept. 2, 2025, the state trout fishery is under Extended Trout Season Regulations that lasts through Feb. 16, 2026. During this period, the daily creel limit is three trout of combined species with a minimum size of seven inches. And if you’re in a boat, anglers in boats less than 16 feet in length are required to wear a life jacket. This also includes canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. Children ages 12 and under must always wear a life jacket while paddling. 

Here in Lehigh County, the Little Lehigh will be stocked with about 900-1,000 trout on Oct. 14 in the Lehigh Parkway section only. Last week, a small section was stocked for handicapped anglers with trout from the Lil-Le-Hi Trout Nursery. So, there should be some added trout available in addition to what the state will stock. 

Unfortunately, Leaser Lake in upper Lehigh County will not be stocked but Lake Minsi in Northampton County will receive a fall stocking. 

NY SALMON FISHING

Reports from anglers visiting New York State’s famous Salmon River in Pulaski, NY, have experienced either feast or famine depending on when they fish it. Low water conditions because of a lack of rain is the culprit why the action isn’t better. 

And the most frequented fishing hotspot is the Staircase, located on the Salmon River at the Long Bridge Road Pool accessible via South Jefferson Street in Pulaski. This spot is also known for excellent steelhead and of course salmon fishing. 
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From the 1880 House Lodge in Pulaski, they report moderate angling success with multiple Kings and Coho salmon being reported moving upriver. The lower section of the river also reported moderate density along with a mix of Kings, Coho and Brown Trout. Most of the fish were seen holding in pools with a few moving upriver. There were also a few Steelhead’s mixed in. 

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As prey animals, deer are well equipped to detect and avoid predators, and one of their primary tools of defense is their vision. As such, deer hunters can be more successful when they understand the strengths and weaknesses of deer eyes, according to the National Deer Association who bases this information on research from University of Georgia Deer Lab. 

Here are some interesting facts derived from this research with the first one being the 20/60 factor. As many successful hunters know, deer eyes have pupils that are wide, horizontal slits. This shape allows them to let in more light than human pupils can, especially as they open wider in low-light. It’s important for them to detect movement across a wide, horizontal view where danger is most likely to appear. While this pupil shape helps them monitor a broader area, they sacrifice sharpness. Normal human eyesight is 20/20 whereas deer have a normal daylight eyesight of about 20/60. This means they see three times less clearly than humans. If you make eye contact with a deer for what felt like an eternity, it’s likely because they’re trying to figure out exactly what they’re looking at. 

With the 20x factor, deer and humans have photoreceptors in their eyes called rods and cones. Rods are responsible for light absorption and are what animals use to see in low light, while cones are responsible for color vision and distinguishing fine details. Deer have fewer cones but more rods than humans. Thus, deer see better in low light than we do, but they see with less clarity. 

The Blue factor takes in the question can deer see blaze orange? The short answer is no, not in the same way humans see it. Deer see oranges and reds as brown or gray. This is the reason deer have a distinct advantage when moving to and from cover. Therefore, deer can see blue nearly 20 times better than humans so don’t wear blue jeans when going hunting. 

The 18x factor shows that deer have a layer in the back of their eyes that act as a mirror. Any light that is not absorbed when it first enters the eye is reflected back across the rods. This allows deer to use the same light twice, while humans only get to use it once. But the shape and location of this reflective layer is adapted to  light coming from the horizon, which is strongest at dawn and dusk. Contrary to popular belief, deer are not nocturnal. However, they see about 18 times better at twilight than we do. 

As for the 4x factor, and even though deer have lower image sharpness, deer receive and process images nearly four times faster than humans at dawn and dusk. This means they are extremely good at detecting even the slightest movement in their visual field. It’s almost like they perceive the world around them in slow motion. So, distorted patterns in camo can help you blend into your surroundings due to a deer’s poor visual acuity – but only as long as you remain still. 

And lastly, the 300-degree rule points out that because deer eyes are positioned to the side of the head, deer have a large field of vision which is about 300 degrees, leaving only a 60-degree blind spot in the back of the head. So, unless you are directly behind a deer, they can see you. Humans only have a 180-degree field of view, but we have greater binocular overlap, which also helps with focus. Deer sacrifice clarity and focus for the ability to detect danger in almost every direction at once. Even if deer have their heads to the ground to feed, their pupils align with the horizon and maintain a wide field of view although their nose is pointed downward. They can still see you move. 

Hope these deer vision facts provide some insight to a deer’s good vision. 
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​EHD, a viral disease that’s often fatal to white-tailed deer, has hit some parts of the country extremely hard this year. Reports of EHD have come from nearby Ohio where 1,000 have been found so far. Even some Michigan deer have contacted the disease.

Here in Pennsylvania, EHD has been confirmed in a handful of counties in the northwestern part of the state reports the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC). In fact, the PGC has investigated reports of dead deer in southwestern and southeastern Pennsylvania where test results are pending. 

The PGC is asking the public to report sick or dead deer, especially if several are found dead in the same area and the cause of death is not apparent such as if a hunting arrow is protruding from it. The PGC can be contacted, 24/7 at 833-742-9453.

Public reports allow the PGC to further investigate and track EHD outbreaks. EHD, or epizootic hemorrhagic disease, is spreading to deer when they are bitten by infected midges, small insects often called “no-see-ums.”

Because EHD is spread by midges, the PGC says it emerges in late summer and remains a threat to deer until temperatures drop and the midges die-off, usually at the first hard frost. But in local areas where EHD is present, deer mortality can be severe. 

So far this year, the PGC says EHD has been detected in the following areas:

*Butler County, Muddy Creek Township
*Erie County, Mill Creek Township
*Lawrence County, Slippery Rock Township
*Mercer County, Liberty and Shenango townships

But EHD is not the only the only deer disease spread by biting midges. The related bluetongue virus (BT), which historically has been less common in Pennsylvania, has similar impacts. Infected deer often develop clinical signs about seven days after infection and die off soon after. Signs include swelling of the face or neck, loss of appetite, lethargy, weakness, lameness, respiratory distress, fever and excessive salivation. Some deer survive the initial infection and can develop chronic signs like hoof cracks or overgrowth. 

There is currently no treatment for EHD or BT infections in wild deer, and for diseases spread by insects, wildlife management options are limited. However, local deer populations often rebound within two to three years following an outbreak. 

Fortunately, neither EHD or BT virus has been detected in Pennsylvania elk, as elk are considered less susceptible to infection. 

Both EHD and BT can infect domestic livestock. Reports of sick livestock should be directed to Pennsylvania Dept of Agriculture at 717-772-2852. 
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