A LOCAL HUNTER'S Quest for The Elusive White-Tail Deer and Black Bear from South to North and Beyond
Sunday, June 01, 2025
William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews
CNBNews had the pleasure of speaking with Gary Devine about his hunting adventures. Gary is a former resident of Gloucester City who has passionately embraced the world of hunting for many years. With extensive travels under his belt, Gary has focused primarily on hunting white-tailed deer and black bears throughout his exploits.
Some of Devine's trophy mounts (photos provided by Gary Devine)
**What inspired your passion for hunting? Was it influenced by your father?**
Interestingly, Gary shared that his father didn’t actually hunt himself, but he introduced his eight children to the great outdoors through camping. Family camping trips to beautiful spots like Ontario, Crane’s Pond in New York, Lake George in New Jersey, High Point State Park, and the Delaware Water Gap created lasting memories that sparked development in all of them.
Gary mentioned that his cousin, Harry Williams Jr., was instrumental in igniting the hunting spirit within the family. Harry, a talented longbow archer, took Gary’s oldest brother, Rich, bow hunting in the Princeton area. While his brother Paul (a heartfelt memory as he has since passed) chose not to hunt, Bill, another brother, followed in Rich's footsteps and took up bow hunting as well. It was during his junior year in high school that Gary embarked on his first hunting experience alongside Bill.
An unforgettable memory was made during the New Jersey shotgun buck season when ex-Gloucester City resident Lawrence Kaminski led them to the picturesque Delaware Water Gap. Meeting in the Route 80 parking lot at dawn, the group hiked together for an exhilarating hour and fifteen minutes, making their way to the top of Mount Tammany. They brought along tents, sleeping bags, food, water, hunting clothes, and their trusty shotguns, all packed in soft gun cases.
Gary was just 17 years old during that adventure. He and Bill divided their paths, with Bill walking along the ridge and Gary moving parallel along the top. Suddenly, two orange-clad hunters appeared on the trail about 50 yards away. It was an adrenaline-filled moment when Bill flushed out a nine-point buck, shooting and shouting, “Gary, Buck! Gary, Buck!” The buck dashed between Gary and the two hunters, who rushed to take their shots with buckshot whizzing past on either side. Thankfully, Gary’s safety was preserved, and he humorously reflects, “I felt like I had a guardian angel watching over me that day!”
Afterward, Bill came over and asked if he had managed to get a shot off, to which Gary replied, “No, those two were in the background.” It was fortunate they decided to call it a day.
Throughout his hunting journey, Gary has enjoyed incredible success. He has harvested deer with both bow and arrow in Maine and taken down a black bear as well. In Pennsylvania, he continues to pursue deer during the gun season, while in North Carolina, he was thrilled to bag two wild boars in a cornfield using his bow.
CNBNews video taken in Austin, PA, September 2024
Gary’s adventures took him to the majestic mountains of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where he successfully shot two bull elk with his bow. Later, he harvested a remarkable five-by-five mule deer buck with a Remington 30-06 in Rifle, Colorado.
In Idaho, excitement and anticipation filled the air when a friend shot a small bull elk. Gary remembered passing up that opportunity, holding out for something larger. The outfitters and his friend took pack horses up the mountain to carry the elk meat back; meanwhile, they encouraged Gary and two hunters from New York to explore on foot. With eight inches of snow blanketing the ground, Gary approached his hunt with caution. After an hour of stealth, he successfully bagged a beautiful five-by-five whitetail buck and dragged him back to camp. The outfitter and his friend saw Gary's drag mark in the snow and marveled, “Somebody in camp got a big deer.” Surprisingly, efforts from four hunters resulted in just those two elk!
His hunting expertise also extended to Wisconsin, where he enjoyed bow hunting deer while staying at his Uncle Ed Williams' home in Wisconsin Dells. Gary was immensely supportive of his uncle's three sons, especially the older two, who were eager to bow hunt. He took the time to build tree stands for them and shared valuable hunting tips to help them succeed.
Gary fondly recalls bow hunting for black bears in Ontario, while his brothers Bill and Joe opted for rifles. Despite some good-natured laughter from other hunters at his choice of weapon, Gary confidently declared his skill with a bow. On the second day, persistence paid off, as he harvested his first black bear. By the third day, brother Joe had also secured one, though brother Bill didn’t have any luck that time.
Returning to Saskatchewan multiple times for deer hunting with his rifle became a cherished tradition for Gary. His first hunt took place on an Indian Reservation where he successfully shot a stunning 24-inch spread four-by-four whitetail buck. The following year, he repeated his success on the same reservation, harvesting a five-by-four buck. On his third trip, guided by Kevin Tourant at White Fox Forest, he celebrated shooting a remarkable five-by-five whitetail buck that scored 147.5 Boone and Crockett and weighed in at an impressive 260 pounds—making it his largest whitetail to date.
Gary also fondly recalls hunting trips with Bill Yeager, another Gloucester City native and the owner of a Volkswagen parts store on King Street. They journeyed with Bob Creek Outfitters to Missouri and Montana, which included an exhilarating 11-hour horseback trek into the heart of Idaho. In a thrilling early morning ride, through fog as thick as pea soup, they encountered a majestic bull elk in a meadow. Their rifles were securely fastened in scabbards on the horses, ensuring they were prepared for the excitement that lay ahead with six eager hunters in their spike camp.
One unforgettable day, while exploring the beautiful Rocky Mountains on horseback, I found myself in a bit of a wild adventure! As I removed my small backpack, it accidentally nudged my horse’s hindquarters, and before I knew it, the horse took off at a gallop! To my surprise, my hands were nestled inside the backpack's shoulder straps, leaving me dangling alongside the spirited horse, bouncing in midair. In a moment of sheer determination, I managed to free my boot and landed softly on a grassy patch below. It was quite the thrill, reminding me that sometimes our guardian angels are watching over us, especially during my hunting escapades!
During my time hunting black bears and deer in the gorgeous woodlands of New Brunswick, Canada, I was part of a fantastic group of 15 enthusiastic members from the USANA gun club in Elmer, New Jersey. I was excited to get started with my black powder rifle and, to my delight, I successfully bagged my bear on the very first day! A couple of my fellow hunters joined in the fun and also brought home their own bears. What an exciting start to the trip!
The following year was a little rougher but still filled with adventure. While quietly stalking deer in a dense thicket, a rogue sapling unexpectedly sprang back and scratched my eye! Thankfully, my two companions quickly helped me get to a hospital. I ended up with a scratched retina and wore a stylish black eyepatch for the rest of the week. Although it was challenging to hunt with one eye, I didn’t let it stop me. Instead, I spent the week sitting against a tree, soaking in the beautiful valley landscape and waiting for deer to wander into view. Sometimes a different perspective offers wonderful new experiences!
Back home in New Jersey, I've enjoyed the thrill of hunting various game, including deer, turkeys, ducks, rabbits, and game birds. In 2011, I had the opportunity to hunt black bears again. On the opening morning of the shotgun season, I spotted an injured bear limping by. It was heart-wrenching to see, and I decided to let it pass, hoping a larger bear would come my way. My brother Dave texted back, suggesting I could have done a mercy killing to help it.
Sure enough, on Thursday, I encountered that same bear again. This time, I made the tough decision to take it down. I later learned from the NJ Fish and Game tagging station that the bear had been previously caught in a snare, which unfortunately damaged its leg. I’m not a fan of using snares for trapping, as they can pose serious dangers to these majestic creatures.
When I checked in with the game employee, I was thrilled to hear that my bear weighed in at 223 pounds, which was considered above average given the bears being tagged that season. What a rewarding experience after all the challenges I faced!
Gary’s hunting journey is filled with stories of adventure, camaraderie, and the thrill of the chase. His experiences not only demonstrate his deep-rooted passion for the sport but also his eagerness to share knowledge and inspire others in the hunting community. It’s clear from his stories that each hunt leaves him with lasting memories and a love for the outdoors that continues to flourish.
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