Electronic game checking system data indicates deer hunters harvested 45,871 bucks during the two-week buck firearms season from Nov. 21 to Dec. 3. The results show the buck harvest is down 25 percent from last year’s harvest of 60,814.
The top 10 counties for buck harvest were Preston (1,769), Randolph (1,610), Jackson (1,482), Greenbrier (1,445), Ritchie (1,414), Upshur (1,392), Mason (1,266), Lewis (1,238), Hampshire (1,183) and Wood (1,182).
The buck harvest decreased in all six DNR districts, and was predicted to decrease in the Mast Survey and Hunting Outlook brochure. This was primarily because of an increased number of acorns in 2016 compared to acorn crop production in 2015. High winds across much of the state also limited deer activity and decreased success rates during the first two days of the season.
Muzzleloader season remains open through Dec. 10. The traditional antlerless deer season in selected counties on public and private land opens Dec. 15 and runs through Dec. 17. The Youth, Class Q/QQ and Class XS deer season for antlerless deer are Dec. 26 and 27 in any county with a firearms deer season.
Class N/NN antlerless deer season reopens Dec. 28 to 31 in specified counties or portions of counties. For more information, check the 2016 - 2017 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary online.