Earlier start to firearm deer season keeps hunters, processors busy

Nov. 26—Curtis Johnson of Indiana Township has big plans for the buck he bagged Saturday morning.

"I'll get a pound of the deer jerky, and bologna as well — I love the bologna you guys do," Johnson told the staff at Wright's Deer Processing in Clinton Township.

Since the state's decision several years ago to open up firearm deer season on Saturday instead of the Monday after Thanksgiving, venison processors are honing their knives a little earlier and keeping plenty busy.

Johnson typically hunts on 187 acres used by the Rosedale Sportsmen's Association. He said he has been bringing his deer to Wright's for several years.

"They have a really smooth, clean operation," he said.

Wright's employees said they likely will process 1,000 deer before hunting season is over.

Farther south, in New Alexandria, Melinda Weimer said Weimer Meats processed 800 deer last year, and they are shooting for 1,000 this season.

There was a slow, steady stream of hunters at Weimer Meats about 10 a.m., but the small gravel lot began to fill quickly with pickup trucks about 11 a.m., many pulling in with antler tines peeking from one side of the fender.

Diane Branthoover of New Alexandria shot a five-point buck that she and her husband brought to Weimer's for processing.

"I've been hunting for 40 years," Branthoover said. "We hunt at a local farm."

Branthoover said she appreciates seeing more women hunting.

"For years, you'd go out and wouldn't see many other women at all," she said. "But the last few years, I've seen a lot. It's a great feeling to be able to take a deer with a nice, clean shot."

Bill Campana of Greensburg and his father, George, were dropping off two does they shot Saturday morning at privately owned property off Route 819 in Salem.

Campana, Branthoover and others all said it is getting more difficult to find private land to hunt.

"There's a lot fewer places now," Campana said. "I lease the property where my dad and I hunt."

Frank Stackiewicz of Murrysville was dropping off a doe and a buck with his son Ryan, 20. They hunt with their cousins in the Slickville area.

"We've hunted down near Conemaugh Dam a well. There's just not as many places as there used to be, though," Stackiewicz said.

Almost every hunter who spoke with the Tribune-Review praised the state's decision to open Saturday and Sunday for deer hunting.

"It's a lot easier for Ryan, because he's in college," Stackiewicz said.

"I normally work Saturdays, but now I'll take it off to hunt," Campana said.

And while Johnson said he wouldn't mind seeing every Sunday open during the season, Mike Heitzer of Saxonburg said he likes the current structure.

"Especially because I shoot archery, I really like these three Sundays they've opened up," he said. "I wouldn't want it to be every Sunday. I think this is an amicable way to do things."

It certainly isn't hurting the folks in the processing business.

"This time of year is really busy for us," said Dominic Ciafre, 22, whose parents own Ciafre Deer Processing in Middlesex Township." We had a really busy archery season as well. Last year and this year, with the first day on Saturday, and the ability to shoot doe, we were overwhelmed, and it was great."

The Ciafres' operation maxes out at between 200 and 250 deer. Last year, they had to turn away hunters for lack of space.

"That was the only issue we had," he said. "Our skinners will start around 9 a.m., and we'll be doing that all day until they stop coming, or until we're full."

Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Patrick by email at pvarine@triblive.com or via Twitter .