After Monday's general deer season opener when 750,000 orange clad hunters took to Penn's Woods, there will have been some successful hunters and not so successful ones. If the former, hunter numbers will decline somewhat, however, so will buck numbers, which makes scoring on one a lot tougher.

Deer have a way to become scarce when hunters invade their home turf. They'll either go underground or move elsewhere when the going gets tough.

Case in point, most Lehigh County deer hunters know about the large herd of deer that inhabit the Tercha land on old Route 22 outside Fogelsville where hunting is not allowed. Every year when the general deer season starts, that herd seems to increase in numbers. And it's presumably because deer migrate there from other areas of surrounding townships since they must somehow know Tercha's is a safe haven.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has always noted, according to information derived from harvest reports, that the best days of the rifle deer season are the first day followed by the first Saturday (when unsuccessful hunters are out and moving deer) followed by the last Saturday of the season which is Dec. 8, in most Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) of the state.

For us who hunt in WMU 5C, we have it a bit easier than hunters in WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B and 2D where they can only shoot a buck with three antler points, not including the brow tine which 5C hunters and others in the Southeast Region can count.

The statewide exception to this is that all junior license holders, mentored youth hunters, disabled hunters with a permit to use a vehicle and resident active-duty military personnel need only identify one antler with at least two points or one antler three or more inches in length.

If you're strictly a bowhunter, you may have access to places gun hunters can't. Keep in mind archers may hunt on the Lehigh County land in Scheresville adjacent to the soccer fields on Lehnert Road in Whitehall and the north slope of the Lehigh County Zoo (formerly Trexler Game Preserve).

And as a reminder for those who may have forgot, hunters need not display their hunting licenses on an outer garment. Licenses need only be on the person preferably in a wallet with a driver's license as another form of I.D.. Despite this, I'll continue to wear mine on my back if for no other reasons than it's been a long-standing tradition and the holder is a convenient place to keep a small pen for, hopefully, filling out an ear tag.

Also, hunters who have an unfilled bear tag may take a bear during all or portions of the first week of deer season, but only in certain WMUs as listed on pages 36-38 of the Hunting/Trapping Digest that comes with every hunting license.

TREESTAND

SAFETY

Every deer season there are always a few hunters who fall out of treestands. The Treestand Manufacturer's Association (TMA) says that one out of three hunters will fall from a treestand during their lifetime and require medical treatment. And 75 percent of treestand falls happen to hunters between the ages of 30-60 years old.

The TMA strongly recommends never using a homemade stand and to use a stand that is TMA certified. And to use a full-body safety harness (or jacket), which is included with every TMA certified stand.

When erecting a treestand, follow the directions to a "T" as newer stands have devices and new developments that may need special attention.

TMA says to use a pull rope to hoist your empty gun or bow and attach it to the opposite side of your climbing aid, after you are secured in the stand. Fastening on the opposite side ensures that you won't become entangled on your ascent/descent.

You should always choose healthy, straight trees. This is especially important after Hurricane Sandy that uprooted and weakened many trees or ones that may be diseased. TMA says to not rely on a branch for support as they can break without warning.

TMA's statistics show that most accidents occur when getting into or out of stands. They recommend placing your climbing aid at least two feet above the level of the stand so that you can step down into the stand and have a secure handle when you exit. Take extra precaution if there is ice or frost present on cold days.

Above all, take your cell phone and keep it in your more easily accessible breast pocket.