Backyard bucks poised to usher in another hunting season

With September just around the corner and a hint of autumn in the crisp morning air, it’s not too early for our local hunting fraternity to start gearing up for the upcoming seasons. As usual, much of that preparation will focus on the whitetail deer, especially here in Wildlife Management Units (WMU) 5C and 5D where the archery season on both antlered and antlerless deer opens on Sept. 17 (statewide archery season opens on Saturday, Oct. 1). Helping to usher in those seasons, once again, are the folks at Backyard Bucks, the Chester County Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited, when they host their 7th Annual event, a “Freedom Dinner,” on September 10 at the Wagontown Fire Hall, 412 West Kings Highway in Wagontown.

Since the formation of Whitetails Unlimited (WTU) in June of 1982, the organization’s stated mission has been to raise funds in support of educational programs, wildlife habitat enhancement and acquisition, and the preservation of the hunting tradition and shooting sports for future generations.

Funds generated at WTU events are awarded as grants to support approved local projects that foster WTU’s mission. To date, over $70.3 million has been expended on projects including scholarships, assistance to wildlife agencies, research, habitat enhancement and acquisitions, public education, hunter safety, anti-poaching measures, and cooperative projects with other conservation organizations

Using funds generated from their annual sportsman’s event held each year at the Wagontown Firehouse, Backyard Bucks donates to the Chester County Conservation Camp and helps allow two youngsters to attend the camp that otherwise might not be able to afford it. Other profits go to purchasing archery equipment, funding conservation projects, mentoring children, and donating to other non-profit children organizations such as One Wish Foundation.

“We are very happy to have such a great non-profit youth camp to donate to,” said WTU Chapter President Art Lyle, “and teach archery to some really awesome kids. We’ve been donating and teaching at this camp for approximately five years now. This past July we had about 44 kids, 22 boys and 22 girls, attend the Archery course at camp. The kids at camp ranged from ages 11 to 14 and they all had a great time.”

Lyle characterizes his organization as a dedicated group of men and women determined to make a difference in the community by introducing kids to the great outdoors, sponsoring local hunter safety programs, and involving themselves in conservation projects and the preservation of habitat for white-tailed deer and other wildlife.

“Our mission relies on the fundraising provided by our Freedom Dinner,” said Lyle. “This would not be possible without the help of Whitetails Unlimited, our many local businesses and other sponsors, and all those who attend the event and make it a huge success. We thank everyone for their support.”

“So come on out to the Wagontown Firehouse and the Freedom Dinner on September 10 and help celebrate our hunting heritage with friends,” Lyle urged. “Enjoy an awesome buffet, auction, and prizes with a wide array of products including firearms, outfitter packages, hunting and outdoor-related equipment, artwork, and collectibles only available at WTU events. You’ll also be supporting a great cause.”

Freedom Dinner doors open at 4:00 p.m. followed by games of chance, raffles, auctions and more with buffet dinner at 6:00 p.m. Tickets for the event are $40 single and $30 for spouse and kids under 15. A ticket purchase also includes a year-long Whitetails Unlimited membership. All ticket sales are in advance and will not be sold at the door. For more info contact Art Lyle at 484643-6132, Andy White at 610-505-6676, or stop in at Buck’s Guns, Ammo, and Training in Oxford (610467-0802). Information is also available online at http://www.whitetailsunlimited.com.

Antlerless tags sold out

Last Tuesday I stopped by the Chester County Treasurer’s Office to purchase my 2016-2017 hunting licenses along with an antlerless permit for WMU 5D. The folks there told me that all 70,000 permits allotted to WMU 5C had sold out to long lines of hunters on Monday, shortly after the over-the-county sales began, and that only a few hundred of the 30,000 tags allotted to WMU 5D were still available. I bought my 5D antlerless license in the nick of time. By the next day they were sold out too.

Dove, goose seasons

The official opening guns signaling the start Pennsylvania’s hunting seasons are set to go off this Thursday, Sept. 1, when both our resident goose season and dove season come into play. Canada goose hunters can be huddled in their blinds before sunup. Dove hunting begins at noon through Sept. 24. For goose hunters here in our Atlantic Population Zone, there’s a generous daily limit of 8 geese each day. Dove hunters may bag a daily limit of 15 birds. Early goose season runs through Sept. 24. The first installment of the three part dove season runs through Oct. 8. In any case, if you head afield in quest of our largest migratory game bird (the Canada goose) or our smallest (the mourning dove) on Thursday, shoot straight, hunt safe, and always respect the rights of property owners.

Archery was the main course this summer at the Chester County Conservation Camp held at Paradise Farms in Downingtown where these youngsters and instructors enjoyed bow bending activities courtesy of Backyard Bucks.