Of all the members of Pennsylvania's deer-hunting fraternity, flintlock hunters are perhaps the least affected by any drop in deer density.

These hearty souls are accustomed to facing challenges merely by having chosen to hunt with flintlock rifles. And since the flintlock season opens after all the other deer-hunting seasons have closed, our few remaining whitetails are as skittish as they're going to get.

And then of course, there's the weather to contend with . . !

Not intimidated yet? Then grab your favorite flintlock and head for the following proven hotspots in the Keystone State for late-season deer:

KINZUA QUALITY DEER COOPERATIVE
Why not start with a hunt in western McKean County on the Kinzua Quality Deer Cooperative, totaling about 74,000 acres? This cooperative is a groundbreaking 10-year project between the Allegheny National Forest, a watershed authority, sportsmen and a few private timber-resource companies. Its goal has been to balance the habitat and the deer population for the benefit of all involved.

When the project began, deer densities on the KQDC area averaged about 28 animals per square mile. By 2007, that had been brought down to fewer than 12 deer per square mile.

As a result, forest managers were no longer erecting deer-exclosure fences around timber-harvest areas. Sportsmen were getting better access to the land because forest managers kept forest roads open throughout the hunting seasons.

This year, deer densities on certain parts of the KQDC have risen. These areas should provide fine hunting during this flintlock season.

"Most of the KQDC hasn't experienced that much pressure," said Ken Kane, a Pennsylvania state forester.

"Last year, I hunted on the Bradford Water Authority property. On the first day, most hunters stayed close to the road -- and that's on a 12,000-acre watershed! I was hunting on an 8,000-acre section of it. There just wasn't much pressure."

Kane assures hunters that there are always plenty of good bucks remaining for the flintlock season.

"The deer density has increased significantly on the KQDC between Route 346 and Route 59," he added. "That's where we're finding the heaviest concentrations of deer -- and where the population seems to be growing the fastest." (Continued)

Route 59 can be reached from the intersection of U.S. Route 6 at Warren or the intersection of U.S. Route 219 south from Bradford. Or to approach from the western side, take Route 346 south from Bradford.

In that area, the landowners are mostly Collins Pine and the Bradford Water Authority, along with some of the Allegheny National Forest. All of it is open to public hunting.

Deer populations on the national forest land aren't growing nearly as much as on the private lands because there's not as much timber harvesting going on.

"We've seen densities that are 100 percent higher -- actually double -- in cutover areas," Kane said.

Find specific areas to hunt by driving the back roads in this area. Turn off state Route 321 or Route 346 to look for timber-harvest areas. Obtain maps of the area at the Bradford Ranger Station at the intersection of state Route 59 and state Route 321.

Interested hunters can get information about local services from the Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau, Bradford Visitor Center, 80 East Corydon Street, Suite 114, P.O. Box 371, Bradford, PA 16701.

Or call 1-800-473-9370, or visit their Web site, www.visitanf.com.

STATE GAME LANDS NO. 159
On a state road map, State Game Lands No. 159 would appear to be anything but out-of-the-way.

As the crow flies, it's only about 10 miles northeast from the suburbs of Scranton. But there's no major highway running through it.

"Dyberry Creek runs right through the area," said Tim Conway, Information and Education supervisor for the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Northeast Region. "Routes 6 and 191 out of Honesville provide access.