Hunters should prepare for promising deer hunt

Deer hunting in Pierce and Thurston counties should be improved this year based on recent surveys, said wildlife biologist Michelle Trihi. The number of black-tailed branched antler, spike, doe and fawn have increased significantly from previous years. Tirhi also said in a district report that fawn recruitment was similar to 2008.

Commercial and state timberlands will provide the best opportunities for deer hunting, Tirhi said.

The number of deer taken the last two seasons has been lower than expected because of warm weather, particularly on weekends. Last year, hunters killed 339 antlerless and 1,761 antlered deer, a total of 2,099 deer. The total included 73 deer with five or more antler points. In 2007, hunters took 250 antlerless and 1,893 antlered deer, a total of 2,143 animals.

Across the state during the various 2008 deer seasons, hunters took 35,118 deer overall, down 7.3 percent from 2007. That number also marks the lowest statewide harvest since 1998 when hunters killed 30,253 deer.

GENERAL MODERN FIREARM DEER SEASONS

Western Washington black-tailed deer: Saturday-Oct. 31

Eastern Washington white-tailed deer: Saturday-Oct. 25 or Oct. 30, depending on the game management unit

Eastern Washington mule deer: Saturday-Oct. 25 or Oct. 30, depending on the game management unit

The News Tribune