Travis Welch shot an 8-point Nov. 27 at 4:15 p.m. in Waterford Township. The buck had a 17-inch outside spread to its rack.

Buck 2012

Ben Weaver, 9, of Millcreek Township, shot a 4-point while hunting with his father Tim on Dec. 1. He used a .243 Remington. It was Ben’s second buck in two years of hunting.

Hunters who want to take part in the annual deer hunt on Presque Isle State Park this week have until Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. to apply.

Applications are being accepted at the park office in the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, 301 Peninsula Drive.

Hunters must present a valid Pennsylvania hunting license with an unused Erie County antlerless tag. Individuals without a tag will only be able to hunt antlered deer, officials said. Holders of Deer Management Assistance Program permits also have to register to participate, officials said.

Hunters also can sign up by phone by calling the park office at 833-7424. Callers must have their hunting license number.

The combined antlered and antlerless deer hunt will take place Dec. 5-7. Each day, 85 people will be allowed to hunt using shotguns with slugs, black-powder muzzleloaders or archery equipment, officials said.

The park east of the Stull Interpretive Center will be closed to the public on hunt days from 5 a.m. until about 2 p.m., officials said.

Hunting partners at Wrinkle Ranch camp in Spring Creek, Warren County, had a big opening day of deer season. From left to right: Bruce McChesney with his 8-point; Pat Brown with his 8-point; Rick Bird with his 9-point, and Jay McChesney wit his 8-point.

Great Opening Day!

Your trophy buck could become the NWPA Outdoors 2012 Deer of the Year.

Enter your deer in the contest at goerie.com/deeroftheyear between Nov. 26 and Dec. 10 at 11:59 p.m. After a public voting period from Dec. 12-31, the Deer of the Year will be announced Jan. 6 in the Erie Times-News and on www.GoErie.com, along with an Editor’s Choice pick.

Deer legally harvested during any 2012-13 seasons are eligible. If you’ve already submitted a photo to the Times-News or to the GoErie Hunting and Fishing gallery, you’ll need to enter your photo again for contest purposes.

The contest is open only to individuals who are 18 years or older at time of entry. Entrants must have either harvested their deer in the Northwest Region or reside in the Northwest Region and have harvested their deer in Pennsylvania.

Nick Brink, 13, shot an 11-point on the first day of Pennsylvania’s general deer season.

First Day of Buck Season

Kala Prindle, of Greene Township, shot a 6-point at 8:15 a.m. on the first day of the general deer season. She followed in the footsteps of her mom, Heidi Prindle, who shot a 7-point on the first day of the archery season.

DAUGHTER LIKE MOTHER

Kyle Weixlmann, 18, of Millcreek Township, shot a 9-point in Erie County with a 12-gauge. It was his first buck. The deer weighed 158 pounds field-dressed.

Joshua Luce, left, shot his buck while hunting with his grandfather, Robert Wisener, of Erie, on the first day of deer season. Luce’s 8-point had a 16-inch outside spread; Wisener’s 8-point had a 15-inch outside spread.

Your trophy buck could become the NWPA Outdoors 2012 Deer of the Year.

Enter your deer in the contest at goerie.com/deeroftheyear between Nov. 26 and Dec. 10 at 11:59 p.m. After a public voting period from Dec. 12-31, the Deer of the Year will be announced Jan. 6 in the Erie Times-News and on www.GoErie.com, along with an Editor’s Choice pick.

Deer legally harvested during any 2012-13 seasons are eligible. If you’ve already submitted a photo to the Times-News or to the GoErie Hunting and Fishing gallery, you’ll need to enter your photo again for contest purposes.

The contest is open only to individuals who are 18 years or older at time of entry. Entrants must have either harvested their deer in the Northwest Region or reside in the Northwest Region and have harvested their deer in Pennsylvania.

Trevor Conn went to North East on opening day to shoot his trophy 10-point.

Big Buck

Your trophy buck could become the NWPA Outdoors 2012 Deer of the Year.

Enter your deer in the contest at goerie.com/deeroftheyear between Nov. 26 and Dec. 10 at 11:59 p.m. After a public voting period from Dec. 12-31, the Deer of the Year will be announced Jan. 6 in the Erie Times-News and on www.GoErie.com, along with an Editor’s Choice pick.

Deer legally harvested during any 2012-13 seasons are eligible. If you’ve already submitted a photo to the Times-News or to the GoErie Hunting and Fishing gallery, you’ll need to enter your photo again for contest purposes.

The contest is open only to individuals who are 18 years or older at time of entry. Entrants must have either harvested their deer in the Northwest Region or reside in the Northwest Region and have harvested their deer in Pennsylvania.

Opening day of Pennsylvania deer season Nov. 26 was good to Scott Johnson, who shot a 14-point. The buck had a 19-inch antler spread and weighed 157 pounds.

Scott Johnson

Your trophy buck could become the NWPA Outdoors 2012 Deer of the Year.

Enter your deer in the contest at goerie.com/deeroftheyear between Nov. 26 and Dec. 10 at 11:59 p.m. After a public voting period from Dec. 12-31, the Deer of the Year will be announced Jan. 6 in the Erie Times-News and on www.GoErie.com, along with an Editor’s Choice pick.

Deer legally harvested during any 2012-13 seasons are eligible. If you’ve already submitted a photo to the Times-News or to the GoErie Hunting and Fishing gallery, you’ll need to enter your photo again for contest purposes.

The contest is open only to individuals who are 18 years or older at time of entry. Entrants must have either harvested their deer in the Northwest Region or reside in the Northwest Region and have harvested their deer in Pennsylvania.