LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — It was around 9 a.m. when the hunters came to Naugle's Custom Butchering in Luzerne County after a lucky first day of rifle deer season.
"At 7:10 a.m. I saw a doe, three doe, and this buck following about 50 yards. Let it have it," said Thomas Austin, Pringle.
"Weather's been great. It was chilly, 22 degrees, crisp snow on the ground. Perfect weather," said Bob Schmidt, Bucks County.
Making the small business owners in Lehman Township feel lucky as well, "The next two weeks are really, you know, important to us. It's a great family-owned business. As you can see, we have a lot of local high school kids and young kids that are looking for extra money out around the holidays," said Jennifer Naugle.
And Naugle's, with the help of some hunters who bring their harvest here, pay it forward.
"One of the butchers in Luzerne County that are part of Hunter Sharing the Harvest. And we get a lot of these hunters in here donating the deer. It goes down to the Wilkes-Barre CEO Food Bank right before Christmas. So it's kind of a win-win for us, the hunters, the needy, kind of all around," Jennifer explained.
"Give to the less fortunate. You know, share a little meat. There's people having a tough out there, said Austin.
That's why many hope the crowds here continue for the next couple of weeks.
"So I think hunting season is going to be great this year. From what I see going on here, it seems like it's promising," said Schmidt.
Rifle deer season continues through December 14th with the exception of Sunday, December 8th.
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