Are you interested in becoming a better informed deer hunter?

If yes, then you do not want to miss the 2nd Annual KQDC Deer Season Kick-Off, this Sunday, October 30, at the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford. Doors open at 12:30 p.m., and the first seminar starts at 1:00 p.m. It will take place in the University Room.

The event is sponsored by the Pitt-Bradford Environmental Studies and Biology Club, the Pitt-Bradford Energy Science and Technology Program and the KQDC .

The KQDC covers nearly 75,000 acres in western McKean County. It is a partnership of the Sand County Foundation, Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau, Collins Pine Company- Kane Hardwoods, Bradford Municipal Water Authority, RAM Forest Products, Forest Investment Associated, the Allegheny National Forest, scientists and hunters.

The first speaker at 1:00 p.m. will be Matt Lovallo, Game Mammals Section Supervisor for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Lovallo earned his M.S. in Wildlife Management from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and his Ph.D. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Penn State. He started with the Game Commission in 1999 as a Furbearer Biologist.

An avid bass tournament angler, including fishing at the Allegheny Reservoir, he is a member of B.A.S.S. and the Pennsylvania Trappers Association, so he relates well with sportsmen.

Lovallo’s topic is ‘Success of the Eastern Coyote’. Probably all deer hunters would like to look into the relationship between coyotes and deer.

‘Predestined’ is a video that recorded actual deer and black bear hunting on the Allegheny National Forest by the Wild at Heart Outdoors movie crew. It will start at 2:00 p.m. The focus is on hunting remote areas, and displays the love of adventure, thrill and challenge they seek in hunting.

A different video from the same movie makers was a big hit last year.

The movie crew will be on hand to answer questions. Crew members are Jameson Curtis, Kelly McGraw and Nathaniel Blick.

Starting at 3:00 p.m., your jaw will drop during ‘Big Bucks of McKean County’, by John Dzemyan.

Dzemyan retired from the Pennsylvania Game Commission. In addition to his vast knowledge of deer, other wildlife and habitat, he is a hunter and an historian. His presentation will show why McKean County is such an appropriate place for the KQDC project. Take the opportunity to ask Dzemyan questions. There may be no more authoritative source on this information.

McKean County leads all other Pennsylvania counties for typical whitetail bucks scoring at least 170-0 points, or more, in the Boone & Crockett records. Check out the photos of these bucks.

The Littlefield buck, an 11-point which scored 170-4 points, was taken in 1933 near Ormsby.

The Helander buck, a 10-point which also scored 170-4 points, was taken during the 1950s from an oil and gas development. Significantly, that area had been timbered.

The Dunn buck, taken in 1930, scored 172-4 points.

Way back in 1830 the awesome Arthur Young buck was taken in McKean County. It scored 175-4 points.

Are you thinking that huge bucks are just history in McKean County?

Then you will be pleasantly surprised to learn about more recent kills. Last year KQDC deer check stations registered several absolutely huge bucks. And from the deer rack measuring session held last year at the KQDC Deer Season Kick-Off a couple additions could be made to the B&C records.

Then look through trail camera photos of bucks currently inhabiting the KQDC. Some of these appeared on my own trail cameras as part of a study. There will also be photos of bucks taken to KQDC deer check stations.

Agencies and organizations will be staffing information booths during the Deer Season Kick-Off. The Allegheny National Forest and Collins Pine will have free maps available showing recently timbered areas, deer densities over last winter and how open KQDC roads are marked.