Local News
Deer Hunting Opening Weekend Sees Impressive Numbers
The DNR is releasing preliminary harvest numbers from
opening weekend of gun-deer season, and
hunters saw an impressive start. 118,670 deer were registered statewide this
opening weekend – which is up from just over 105,000 – a nearly 13-percent
jump. That also shows about five-thousand more bucks registered, with 65,388
over the weekend. The higher totals come despite fewer hunters buying licenses
this year – with the 547,500 licensed hunters being an estimated 2.5 percent
drop from 2017. DNR officials credit the higher numbers to excellent
conditions, including snow cover in some areas.
saw a 32-percent increase, with 1,434 bucks and does bagged – a total of 347
more than last year.
taken, which is 22-percent higher than 2017. And
from last season, with 1,425 deer killed on opening weekend.
Reports also show
two hunters were shot in the state on Sunday – with one being hit in the foot
and another man being hit in the arm as he was working on his downed deer. That
man was reportedly not wearing blaze orange.