Dec 27, 2018 4 min read

With the decline in hunting license sales, it would seem logical that efforts would be made to increase sales. Instead, a recent move by the commission would seem to discourage that direction. Because of a requirement of high-speed internet, I know of at least two sporting goods stores that have dropped the sale of hunting licenses.

Way back in the 1980s, there were lines formed to get a hunting license. I know for I was there waiting steadily for hours on end on the Friday and Saturday before the season. There is no doubt the computer system has made sales quicker and easier. As I look at today’s sales, it seems far more casual with customers trickling in to the store. The previous rush seems a thing of the past.

So, why worry? The present system seems to work well and the more license vendors there are the better. The sports stores that don’t sell licenses always gave one excuse for not doing so – they lose money on license sales. Is the commission’s new requirements a move backward?

• There is another move by at least one commissioner to add a week to the now-long archery season. Today, almost 40 percent of the bucks are taken with a bow and arrow. If the archers want more, then let them use their bows in the short rifle season.

Are we doomed to becoming a strictly archery state? When the archery season was initiated, the difficulty of taking a deer with the bow was a consideration. Today, we find bows that shoot to a 100 yards. I am sure back in the 1950s, when I archery hunted, I never dreamed of bows that shoot so far. I hunted with a recurve bow made of wood. The pride in what we downed was measured in its difficulty. Now, an argument could be made for extending the season in both Allegheny and Philadelphia counties but leave the rest of the state alone or cut the archery season back.

While statewide the percentage of bucks taken during archery season hovers close to 40 percent it is much higher within unit 2-B, and most of those bucks are above the state average in size.

• Just a few days ago, I had a call from Fred Carper the gunsmith whose business is on West Chestnut Street in Washington. Fred mentioned that in my article on cleaning the rifle I had advised soaking the barrel with solvent and leaving it over a longer period of time. He reminded me that there are some solvents that can damage the barrel if left in too long.

Fred is right and I have known what he was saying. The ammonia in some harsh cleaners will leave the inside of a barrel looking like a dry lake bed when left in too long. Those utilizing high ammonia levels to remove the copper should be used only in extreme cases and only left in the barrel for a few minutes. A solvent like Hoppes No. 9 can be left in place for hours without harm. I have often thought if some wise lady placed a bit of Hoppes behind her ear instead of perfume, then she would attract a man like me who loves Hoppes No. 9.

Summing things up, my thanks to Fred for helping me with his expertise. Just remember, high amounts of ammonia might be hard on the barrel but it has one advantage – it sure will keep one awake while cleaning the barrel.