Under Misty Mountain Quality Deer Management guidelines, we harvest only mature bucks with an inside spread of 16 inches or more, preferably three year and older. We also harvest does to improve our buck/doe ratio on a regular basis. All hunters are encouraged to harvest does, but they must be successful in receiving one or more antlerless deer licenses for our wildlife unit (4D). To do this, hunters must book early to be eligible to apply for antlerless deer tags beginning the first Monday in August each year. We cannot stress early booking enough to take advantage of antlerless application deadlines. They are usually successful if applied for early. (Click here to open a separate window to the Pennsylvania Game Commission's licensing page to apply online.)
Black bears roam throughout the MISTY MOUNTAIN property. Daily sightings are common most of the year. Several bears in the 300-pound class have been harvested over the past four years. During the 2006 archery season, hunters saw bears nearly every morning and evening, with the highest total being eight different bears seen in one evening. Two of these bears were over 500 pounds, one of which was estimated to top 650. None of these bears were harvested. One bear was harvested in 2006, one was missed, and three more were passed on as being only in the 100-165 weight class. Not bad for three hunters. Two more bears weighing 165 pounds and 415 pounds were harvested on the adjoining property.
Bears thrive on the many MISTY MOUNTAIN feed plots, with corn, soybeans, sunflowers and turnips a few of their favorites. A wide diversity of natural foods abound due to the large amount of white oak acorns, apple trees, wild grapes, devil's club, and berries on the property.
Literally hundreds of turkeys make MISTY MOUNTAIN their home. It's common to see flocks of 30-75 turkeys during archery season and 8-12 mature gobblers together. March brings the sound of dozens and dozens of gobblers from every hollow and hillside, truly making it one of the most exciting times of the year. We've been very successful in calling birds in for hunters and our experienced guides are masters at getting hunters into position. Gobblers in the 20-24 pound class have been harvested regularly over the past ten years. Spring gobbler makes for a wonderful hunting experience here at MISTY MOUNTAIN, and fall turkey hunts team up with archery deer hunts creating an unbeatable combo. Hunters can harvest one fall turkey of either sex and two Spring gobblers with the proper second tag. One of the biggest benefits under a Quality Deer Management Program (Q.D.M.) is an abundance of these classic birds. We have turkeys and lots of them.
Predator control is a constant job here at MISTY MOUNTAIN, but fun and challenging to those who wish to hunt the elusive Eastern Coyote. They're plentiful and are often sighted during deer, bear, and turkey hunts. We offer coyote and fox hunts by themselves or as a combo hunt to add some mid-day or evening fun and challenge. Many coyotes have been taken here at MISTY MOUNTAIN over the years. These hunts are always exciting and usually have you on the edge.
We look forward to having you book a hunt with us at MISTY MOUNTAIN. We have excellent property, good populations of quality game, experienced guides, and friendly family hospitality waiting for you. Feel free to call us at (814) 687-4327 or email us with any questions you may have.
Pennsylvania Whitetail Hunts
MISTY MOUNTAIN offers four different wild deer seasons: archery, rifle, in-line black powder (for does only) and the late flintlock black powder/archery season. All deer hunts range from 2 1/2 to 5 full days. All hunts are guided hunts. Hunters will be transported to and from their stand locations. All stands consist of either ground blinds, elevated ladder stands, lock-on stands, or elevated box blinds. Once in a stand, hunters are not permitted to leave their stand or walk about the property so as not to compromise the integrity of other hunters, hunts or deer movement throughout the property. This is serious business to us. One mistake could cost a hunter a chance at a buck of a lifetime or, worse yet, force deer off the property. Big bucks don't tolerate mistakes. They just become nocturnal or leave altogether.
One buck over 16 inches and up to two does may be harvested, provided timely and antlerless applications are made and licenses obtained. All antlerless applications must be made by the first Monday in August for Pennsylvania residents and the second Monday in August for non-residents. Therefore, early booking of hunts is encouraged in order to take advantage of antlerless deer application deadlines.
Our one-week, in-line black powder antlerless deer season runs concurrent with the third week of our archery season and is a ton of fun, not to mention an incredibly beautiful week in the Allegheny Mountains with fall foliage colors at their peak. It's a great time to choose a combo hunt package to hunt archery in the morning and evening and blackpowder in between. Deer sightings are plentiful, and mature older does in excess of 185 pounds are harvested every year.
The combination late flintlock black powder/archery season at MISTY MOUNTAIN usually finds the weather cold and snowy. This season typically begins the day after Christmas and continues through mid-January.
The biggest bucks of the year are usually sighted at this time of the year for several reasons. First, MISTY MOUNTAIN has always been a wintering area for deer with our hidden hollows, hemlock bottoms and swamp and natural food supplies. Second, with over 135 acres of food plots dotting the property, deer travel into our property from the surrounding mountains to feed. And lastly, many deer are pushed into our property from the surrounding State Game Lands, where they have been hunted for almost three months. It is common to see 15-40 deer from a stand and often 3-8 bucks. Flintlock black powder shooting can be very frustrating if the gun only fizzles when you pull the trigger or watch that big buck look back at you then walk away while it takes you 2-3 minutes to reload after a miss.
It can also be the thrill of a lifetime to bag even a doe using this primitive weapon especially for first time flint lockers. Often times a hunter brings both his bow and flintlock so each day there is an option.
Turkey Hunts
Misty Mountain has been practicing Quality Deer Management (QDM) going on ten years now. The bonus of QDM is turkeys and plenty of them. We have resident flocks of turkeys consistently numbering from 12-60 birds per flock and might have over 250 turkeys on the property most of the time. Double-bearded spring gobblers in excess of 23 pounds have been harvested and bigger birds are seen every day. One turkey may be harvested in the fall (gobbler or hen) and up to two gobblers during the spring season with the appropriate tag.
All Turkey hunts are guided, one-on-one or two-on-one, with hunts primarily consisting of setting up and calling using decoys. Spring hunts can be particularly challenging and fun as these big ol' toms are in search of hens.
Fall hunts for Turkeys can be done as a hunt by itself or a combo hunt the last two weeks of the early archery season. Several hunters have even bagged their birds from their archery stands.
Black Bear Hunts
The Pennsylvania Black Bear seasons consists of a three-day archery season and a three-day rifle season, typically in the third week in November. Hunters for both hunts are set up in stands overlooking bear trails and/or feed plots such as turnip, corn, soybean or sunflower fields.
Bears regularly roam through or live on MISTY MOUNTAIN primarily because of our feed plots and large acorn crop year after year. Our guides are always checking for bear signs, trails, and checking trail cameras to help determine bear travel patterns. Although success rates are not high, we've had a number of bears taken at the property and dozens of sightings.
Coyote Hunts
The Eastern Coyote is ever-present here at MISTY MOUNTAIN, and the overall population throughout the state is growing. Numerous coyotes have been harvested on the property, some by chance while hunting deer, turkey or bear, and most by calling and set-ups during early morning, afternoon and evening hunts. These hunts are exciting and sometimes hair-raising when a whole pack starts to yip and howl just yards away from you or one darts into the field coming on a dead run to your call or decoy.
Our guides are excellent callers and successful coyote hunters and will bend over backwards to give you a quality hunt. Like turkey hunts, coyote hunts can be booked alone or in combination with another hunt to add some variety and fill some down time from a stand.
Family Hunts
MISTY MOUNTAIN is a family operation. We have younger children and often take them afield with us. We encourage family hunts such as husband/wife or parent/child. We are set up such that we can accommodate an entire family. There's nothing more memorable than a great family hunt together. Past father/son hunts qualify as memories-of-a-lifetime, and all have been successful. Non-hunting family members are also encouraged to come and enjoy the fresh mountain air, breath-taking scenery and regional attractions. Downtown Altoona, PA is only 30 minutes away, with State College, PA (home of Penn State University) just a 45-minute drive. Both cities offer numerous shopping and sightseeing opportunities.
(back to top)Wounded-Animal Policy
All hunters are counseled prior to their hunts to take only high percentage shots. We expect hunters to only take shots (bow or gun) that are highly likely to put the animal down and keep it down. We cannot and will not tolerate sloppy or hap-hazard shooting. We're very proud of the quality of game we have here at Misty Mountain and have therefore incorporated the following wild free-range wounded-animal policy:
A hunter will not be permitted to attempt to harvest anther animal until the first animal is recovered and tagged or the owners at Misty Mountain are convinced the wounded animal cannot or will not be recovered. No exceptions to this policy will be made.
License and Tags
All wild free-range hunts are subject to Pennsylvania Game Commision rules and regulations. Since we are an agent of the Commission through our General Store, we'll be glad to service all of your necessary hunting, furtaker and fishing license needs as well as be sure you have the necessary applications for antlerless deer. Antlerless applications must be applied for no later than the first Monday of August each year. The staff at MISTY MOUNTAIN can help you with these and the after-hunt reporting procedures. We cannot emphasize enough for interested clients to book your hunts early to take advantage of antlerless application deadlines. Once the deadlines are past, we can do nothing to help you secure an antlerless license. So book early! (Click here to open a separate window to the Pennsylvania Game Commission's licensing page to apply online.)
(back to top)2010 HUNTING DATES/FEES
Wild Free Range Hunts on 2500+ Acres
PENNSYLVANIA WHITETAIL - ARCHERY
| October 4-8, 2010 | 5 Days | $1,250 |
| October 11-15, 2010 | 5 Days | $1,250 |
| October 18-22, 2010 | 5 Days | $1,250 |
| October 25-29, 2010 | 5 Days | $1,400 |
| *N ovember 1-5, 20 10 | 5 Days | $1,400 |
| *November 8-12, 2010 | 5 Days | $1,400 |
| Extra Days—$200 Day |
*Fall turkey hunts can be added to these archery hunts for $200/day or $400 for the entire week.
PENNSYLVANIA WHITETAIL - Early In-Line Blackpowder Season
(Antlerless deer only with proper antlerless license.)
| October 18-20, 2010 | 3 Days | $850 |
| October 21-23, 2010 | 3 Days | $850 |
| Extra Days | Daily | $200 |
In combination with archery booking for same week above additional $400.
(A great combo with archery Oct. 19-24...total package $2,250.)
PENNSYLVANIA WHITETAIL - Firearms Season
| *November 29-December 3,2010 | 5 Days | $1,950 |
| December 6-10, 20 10 | 5 Days | $1,950 |
| *Bear Trophy Fee If Harvested | $400 | |
| Extra Days | $300 |
PENNSYLVANIA WHITETAIL - Late Flintlock Blackpowder & Archery Season
| December 29-31 , 2010 | 3 Day | $900 |
| January 3-5, 2011 | 3 Day | $900 |
| January 6-8, 2011 | 3 Day | $900 |
| January 10- 12, 2011 | 3 Day | $900 |
| January 13-15, 2011 | 3 Day | $900 |
| Extra Days | Daily | $200 |
BEAR HUNTING DATES/FEES (Limit 1 bear annually)
| November 17-18, 20 I 0 (Archery) | 2 Day | $800 |
| November 22-24, 20 I 0 (Firearms) | 3 Day | $1,100 |
TURKEY HUNTING DATES/FEES (Limit 1 turkey per fall season)
Fall season—$250 Daily
SPRING GOBBLER HUNTS/FEES (Limit 2 gobblers with proper 2nd tag)
April 25-May 25, 2009...hunting permitted until noon daily.
3 Day fully guided 1 on 1 or 2 on 1 hunts.
| April 27-April 29, 2009 | $950 |
| April 30-May 2, 2009 | $950 |
| May 4-6, 2009 | $950 |
| May 7-9, 2009 | $950 |
| May 11-13, 2009 | $950 |
| May 14-16, 2009 | $950 |
| May 18-20, 2009 | $950 |
| May 21-23, 2009 | $950 |
NOTE:Evening coyote hunts can be added to spring gobbler hunts for $275 day. A few 1 and 2 day hunts may be offered during Spring 2009. Cost: $400/Day. Each day includes 1 night lodging, meals, and guide.
COYOTE/FOX HUNTS/FEES (No limit)
Mid January-Mid September
$400/Day includes meals, lodging, and guide (2 on 1)
$450/Day includes meals, lodging, and guide (1 on 1)
*Foxes are legal to harvest late October through mid February.
FAMILY HUNTING PLANS/FEES (WILD FREE-RANGE HUNTS ONLY)
25% off any hunt price for each adult immediate family member after one full price hunt.
50% off any hunting child ages 9-15 after one full price parent/legal guardian hunt.
All non-hunting guests $100/Day when accompanying a hunter.
Call and ask about our Preserve Hunts
(back to top)*50% deposit due at time of booking. Remainder due upon arrival. All deposits and hunts are non-refundable. Prices do not include gratuities, tips or license fees. All pricing subject to change without notice.