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An early count of the deer kill deer in WV indicates the numbers for the recent two-week buck season was down. Roane County had the biggest harvest - 2,477 bucks.
The kill is down 12% from 2003, after a DNR biologist predicted a big harvest.
Requests to the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources in Parkersburg from the Herald regarding the local deer kill has yet to produce a response.
State hunters killed 65,547 bucks in the two-week season. Roane being first, followed by Hampshire County with 2,336, followed by Jackson, Hardy, Preston, Ritchie, Tyler, Wetzel, and Wood Counties.
"Wildlife Biologists had predicted an increase in the buck harvest this year, but larger than expected population declines in response to the record antlerless harvest of 2002, three previous years of poor acorn production, and inclement weather conditions in some regions of the state during the first three days of season may have contributed to the missed forecast," according to DNR Director Ed Hamrick.
The six-day regular antlerless season concluded today in West Virginia. A youth and Class Q antlerless season for private land is set for December 27-28 and a reopening of the antlerless season December 29-31 on private land will wrap up the 2004 season.
Muzzleloader season opens Monday and runs for five days.
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