The preliminary statewide deer harvest for 2019 is 13,921 – the second highest harvest on record, 629 fewer than the 2018 record.
The preliminary harvest figures for 2019 include Youth Deer Hunt Day: 89; Paraplegic Deer Hunt: 5; Archery Season: 6,149; Shotgun Season: 4,984; and Primitive Firearms Season: 2,694.
Deep snow that covered much of the state during the shotgun season appears to have caused a drop in hunter effort and deer harvest during that time, especially on the opening day. However, it appears deer taken during the archery season and primitive season made up for that short-term drop.
While total harvest by zone can be informative, it doesn’t provide the complete picture. It is important to assess harvest data and monitor trends by Wildlife Management Zone.
Total harvest is influenced by deer density and the number of antlerless deer permits allocated in each zone, as well as annual changes in hunter effort, harvest-rates, success-rates, weather, etc. The Deer Project Leader will spend the next few months thoroughly analyzing the deer harvest and biological data as well as assessing deer population trends in each zone.
The results and recommendations for the 2020 season will take place at the annual deer management review presented at a Fisheries and Wildlife Board meeting in late spring. A complete harvest summary will be posted on the website after the deer review, so please check back here in early summer.