(Statewide) — West Virginia deer hunters killed 66,570 bucks during the recently concluded 2007 bucks only gun hunting season.
"That’s up slightly from last years figures and about what we expected,” said Paul Johansen, Game Management Supervisor at the West Virginia DNR.
Biologist say there were no real surprises in the season and credited a number of factors for the success. Weather played a key role early in the season as mild temperatures on the first three days of the season probably kept hunters in the field longer.
Good mast conditions in the last two years also contributed to a larger number of deer that were available and those that were killed showed tremendous physical health.
"We had biologists and managers operating check stations in a number of different counties. All of those have reported good overall health and overall antler development seemed to be right on target with some really nice racks showing up,” Johansen said.
Biologist have been telling hunters for the past several years that the liberalization of antlerless hunting regulations would translate to better racks and bigger deer. Johansen says that’s borne out in this year’s numbers and quality.
Hunters in a number of counties, who were on private land, were allowed to kill does as well provided they were properly permitted. The number of antlerless deer killed during the season is yet to be compiled.