| Calhoun's buck kill during the two week 2010 season was nearly 50% down from 2009, according to DNR numbers released yesterday.
The 2008 kill was down about 8% in the county.
Calhoun hunters said the deer just weren't there, after WV-DNR predicted the 2010 kill would be about the same as last year. The hunt was slowed for a couple days because of high temperatures.
The lack of a decent mast crop last winter, described as the worst in many years, caused some of the herd to die from starvation, according to local hunters.
Preliminary data collected from game checking stations across the state indicate West Virginia hunters harvested 43,226 bucks during the two-week buck firearms season, which ran from Nov. 22 through Dec. 4.
Frank Jezioro, Director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, said the 2010 buck harvest was 31 percent less than the 2009 harvest of 62,986.
The top ten counties for buck harvest were: Preston (2,030), Randolph (1,817), Hardy (1,350), Greenbrier (1,348), Mason (1,264), Hampshire (1,261), Ritchie (1,236), Jackson (1,216), Lewis (1,141) and Wood (1,113).
The WV-DNR said this year's buck harvest is significantly lower than last year, with declines occurring across all DNR Districts.
The largest percent decreases occurred in the western and central counties of the state.
BUCK KILL BY COUNTY: 2006-2010 (left to right):
Calhoun
1039
1163
1252
1124
565
Braxton
1308
2005
1731
1891
992
Clay
399
551
540
552
355
Gilmer
1182
1401
1585
1398
670
Ritchie
2147
1564
2369
2010
1236
Roane
1691
1873
2010
2112
1066
Wirt
919
1006
1186
1265
693
WV-DNR PRESS RELEASE - White-tailed deer are a product of the environment. Too many deer on a given tract of land will result in loss of body weight, reduction in antler development, decrease in reproduction and sometimes death due to starvation during winter months.
The cumulative effects of too many deer over time causes a decline in herd condition, which actually reduces the deer herd's resiliency to years of poor mast conditions and harsh winter weather.
The below-average acorn crops in 2008 and 2009 (acorn mast in 2009 was the lowest in 40 years) and last year's unusually severe winter had a significant impact on the deer population and the overall 2010 buck firearms season harvest.
Fortunately, 2010 has been a banner year for mast and overall, deer are in good physical condition entering the winter months.
Wildlife Biologists will analyze data from the combined 2010 deer seasons (i.e., buck, antlerless, archery and muzzleloader) before making appropriate recommendations for next year's deer seasons.
These recommendations will be available for public review at 12 regulations meetings scheduled for March 14 and 15, 2011.
Director Jezioro reminds hunters that the traditional six-day antlerless deer season in selected counties on both public and private land ends December 11.
Muzzleloader deer season begins Dec. 13 and runs through Dec.r 18. The Youth and Class Q/QQ antlerless deer season will be open on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 27 and 28 in any county with a firearms deer season, and will be followed by a three-day reopening of antlerless deer season (Dec. 29 - 31) in 46 counties or portions of counties (see 2010 - 2011 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary or visit the DNR website at www.wvdnr.gov for county and area listings).
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