Good weather sends many deer hunters into the field

Encouraged by nearly perfect weather, hunters have been successful in their quest for deer this year.

Missouri hunters bagged 111,002 during the first week of firearms hunting season, up about 5 percent over the same period a year ago.

"I got a 10-point buck," said McKinley James of Scott City, Mo., who was hunting in the Glen Allen/ Marble Hill area the second day of the Missouri season. "I'm going to have the horns mounted."

Hunters bagged a total of 981 deer in Bollinger County, the highest total bagged in the 16-county region of Southeast Missouri. Wayne County, Perry County and Butler County had some big numbers the first week. Wayne County was second in the region with a reported harvest of 903, and was followed by Butler at 720 and Perry at 854.

Cape Girardeau County reported 523 the first week, and the region recorded 7,685, up from the first half of last year by 58.

"The weather has been ideal, the hunters were out, and the deer were on the move," said Ken West, protection supervisor in the 16-county Southeast Missouri area. "Statewide, we had as many as 500,000 hunters afield the first week."

Missouri's deer herd, which has grown over the past few years, is estimated from 1.2 million to 3 million, said West.

More than 500,000 hunters are expected to hunt during the 2001 firearms season. The Missouri Conservation Department sold about 425,000 permits. Another 65,000 to 70,000 people can hunt under landowner deer-hunting permits.

Violations during the first half of the season were down slightly, 85 compared with 89 a year ago. And accidents were down, with only two accidents, none fatal.

Illinois deer hunters went afield for the first time Friday, for a three-day firearms season. But some passed up the first day of shotgun season because the weather was just too good.

"I went fishing," said Gary Greene, of the Olive Branch, Ill., area.

But after returning from Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee, Greene went into the field the next day.

"I had a great two days in the outdoors," Greene said. "We came away from Reelfoot Friday with more than 100 fish -- crappie and bluegill. And Saturday, I found a deer the first hour out."

rowen@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133