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Pennsylvania’s firearm deer season is a long-lived tradition that draws over 600,000 residents annually. Across the state, cabins and camps fill with friends and family who share in this institution. Most hunters here share the belief that it’s not just about hunting or harvesting a trophy, but also about culture, provisioning food, and the conservation of wildlife. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) shares these values with our hunting public and, in partnership with the National Deer Association and the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC), presented 12 interested individuals a unique and first-time opportunity to try hunting and experience the culture and atmosphere of a traditional deer camp at the Cherry Valley NWR Field to Fork-Mentored Rifle Hunt (Field to Fork).
The Field to Fork event was held on the weekend of December 14th, 2024, at the Cherry Valley NWR in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. The refuge hosts mentored hunts as part of its wildlife management efforts, aiming to control the deer population while providing valuable learning experiences for novice hunters. The program’s focus is to break down the barriers to hunting, providing the guidance and resources needed to help newcomers confidently take their first steps into this way of life. Participants had the opportunity to connect with experienced hunters, wildlife professionals, landowners, and others, creating a supportive community that encourages recruitment and retainment of new hunters after they have completed the mentored hunt program.
To further prioritize hunter retention and ensure that the participants have the skills to succeed while hunting on their own, a strong emphasis is placed on some of the more overwhelming barriers of entry to hunting, including field dressing and processing of harvested game. The Lenape National Wildlife Refuge Complex game processing trailer was used to help teach the hunters how to fully process a harvested deer and prepare the venison for later consumption. A module on advanced processing for jerky was included and presented by a novice hunter who had been a mentee in the program last year.
The mentees had the opportunity to take their hunter safety education course with the PGC at the Cherry Valley NWR, and all mentees attended an in-depth orientation session to learn and practice safe and successful hunting skills. Some of the topics covered at orientation include ethical shot placement, firearm safety and mechanics, tree stand safety, and range time to become proficient with the rifles.
Well-below freezing temperatures during the mentored hunt weekend tested the resolve of mentees and mentors alike. The unusually cold weather and surrounding hunting pressure seemed to condense natural deer movement, creating only short windows of opportunity to successfully observe and harvest a deer for the mentees. Mentees and their mentors pushed through, with every mentee observing deer while hunting, gaining a better understanding of deer behavior and ecology, even if they were not yet ready to harvest a deer. The hunt concluded with a total of 6 doe and 1 buck harvested! Mentee Brian Wargo, who was lucky enough to harvest a doe on the first morning, had signed up for the mentored hunt with the goal of learning the correct way to hunt and gaining confidence in his abilities through asking a lot of “newbie” questions. His mentor, refuge staff member Collin Seip, was eager to assist a brand-new hunter, stating “as someone that was introduced to hunting at a young age, being able to mentor someone and see them have success on their first hunt was such an amazing experience. I think I was just as excited as Bryan!”
The Field to Fork program is a food-focused hunter recruitment program for those adults that are interested in sourcing their own protein. To assist in this aspect of the program, Service staff prepared delicious venison meals that participants enjoyed throughout the event, offering them the opportunity to sample a variety of meals that they could possibly prepare on their own at home with their family and friends. The mentors and mentees swapped stories about their hunting experiences over the venison meals, similar to what you might find in a traditional deer hunting camp, building camaraderie and creating lasting memories for the participants. For mentor and refuge manager Mike Horne, the bond shared among the hunters regardless of hunting experience level is one of the most enjoyable parts of the hunt; “as I’ve gotten older, the thrill of the hunt is no longer about harvesting animals but teaching others how to become involved in the sport.”
The Cherry Valley NWR Field to Fork Mentored Rifle Hunt exemplifies how Pennsylvania's cherished hunting tradition continues to thrive by welcoming new generations of hunters into the fold. By combining hands-on education, mentorship, and an emphasis on ethical hunting practices, the event not only fosters a deeper appreciation for the culture and conservation efforts tied to hunting, but helps break down barriers for newcomers. Participants left with not just the skills and confidence to continue hunting on their own, but also a sense of community and respect for the role hunting plays in wildlife management. Several participants commented that they hope to pass on the hunting and processing skills that they learned during the program to their friends and family members. Mentee Adam signed up for the program so that he can teach his teenage daughter, who had expressed an interest in learning how to hunt. Events like these ensure that the legacy of Pennsylvania’s firearm deer season will endure for generations to come and would not have been possible absent the diverse partnership that helped to make it happen.
