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The 2009 deer kill was down about 7% from 2008, and this year's kill is expected to be down even lower.
The first two days of season, at least according to local reports, was way down, between 35%-40%, mostly because of hot weather.
Hunters are also saying the herd has diminished since last winter took its toll because of a poor mast crop.
The overall participation could be off because of the recession, fewer hunters hitting the woods.
Hunters have this week to play catch-up.
2009 STATISTICS
Preliminary data collected from game checking stations across the state indicate deer hunters in West Virginia harvested 62,491 bucks during the two-week buck firearms season, which ran from Nov. 23 through Dec. 5, according to Division of Natural Resources Director Frank Jezioro.
The 2009 buck harvest was 7 percent less than the 2008 harvest of 67,365.
The top ten counties for buck harvest were: Jackson (2,493), Lewis (2,215), Preston (2,123), Roane (2,116), Mason (2,105), Ritchie (1,979), Braxton (1,896), Randolph (1,896), Greenbrier (1,896) and Wood (1,853).
Calhoun 859 (2005), 1,039 (2006), 1,163 (2007), 1,252 (2008), 1,147 (2009)
Braxton 1,244 (2005), 1,308 (2006), 2,005 (2007), 1,731 (2008), 1,896 (2009)
Clay 370 (2005), 399 (2006), 551 (2007), 540 (2008), 528 (2009)
Gilmer 981 (2005), 1,182 (2006), 1,401 (2007), 1,585 (2008), 1,319 (2009)
Ritchie 1,495 (2005), 2,147 (2006), 1,564 (2007), 2,369 (2008), 1,979 (2009)
Roane 1,616 (2005), 1,691 (2006), 1,873 (2007), 2,010 (2008), 2,116 (2009)
Wirt 928 (2005), 919 (2006), 1,006 (2007), 1,186 (2008), 1,272 (2009)
STATE TOTALS
56,901 (2005), 66,115 (2006), 67,213 (2007), 67,365 (2008), 62,491 (2009)
According to data provided every five years by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 460,000 resident and 137,000 nonresident hunters and anglers spent over 10.8 million days collectively each year hunting and fishing in West Virginia. Money spent by these sportsmen and women impacts our economy by over $1.2 billion annually and supports over 16,000 jobs
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