J.R. Hill, District VI wildlife management biologist for the DNR out of the Parkersburg office, told me that the agency has harvest data dating back to 1946. Biologists will peruse those years of records in order to make the best decisions they possibly can concerning the antlerless season and its regulations. As Hall noted, these recommendations go into the five-year plan.

Obviously, after all that data is analyzed, biologists will come up with recommendations for the archery, bucks-only, antlerless and muzzleloader seasons. If deer numbers appear to be down, the antlerless regulations will likely be more conservative; if numbers are on the upswing, the regs likely will be more liberal in terms of harvest allowance.

Of course, many factors besides the deer population in a given county can affect the harvest. For example, during one consecutive three-year stretch this decade, Hill said that mast production was poor. When such is the case, deer often congregate in fields more and the harvest rises. When mast is abundant, especially hard mast like acorns, the deer harvest can drop because deer are not as likely to frequent open areas.

In addition to the mast situation, other factors can affect the harvest. Hill related that poor weather during the two-week buck season could have a major impact on the kill tally. Traditionally, many West Virginians have taken off work on opening day or even the entire opening week. High winds or heavy rainfall on opening day or on the first Saturday can cause a number of hunters to remain at home, for instance.

Hill said that even the high gas prices of the past few years can have an impact. I know that I had second thoughts on visiting some counties in districts V and VI that are far away from southern West Virginia where I do much of my hunting.

Even the opportunity to shoot an antlerless deer or not to shoot one can affect hunting pressure. Hill states that many West Virginia sportsmen are very happy to target does, and I count myself in that group.

For example, this past season, a Greenbrier County landowner invited me to come to his land and hunt during the two-week buck season or muzzleloader season. The gentleman related that on a recent swing through his property, he had spotted several bucks. I turned down his generous offer, saying that I wanted to go to some county where I would have the chance to kill an antlerless whitetail.

If a fairly large number of people go elsewhere, that factor can affect deer harvest and decrease hunting pressure on the bucks. Conversely, some state hunters are trophy oriented.

“A portion of our hunters are trophy hunters,” Hill confirmed. “But these individuals are certainly not in the majority. The DNR tries to accommodate the desires and goals of as many hunters as possible. For example, we have set up wildlife management areas where we are trying to have older-age bucks.”

Those older-aged deer management areas include Beech Fork Lake, Bluestone Lake, Burnsville Lake, the McClintic Wildlife Management Area and Coopers Rock State Forest. All antlered deer taken on these public lands must have a minimum outside antler spread of 14 inches (ear tip to ear tip). The annual antlered bag limit is one for archery and firearm seasons combined. Check the hunting regulations for more information.

Hill added that people will have to be more careful on some public lands concerning whether they can take an antlerless deer or not. Paul Johansen, assistant chief in charge of game management for the DNR, told me there are, however, “a large number of WMAs open to antlerless deer hunting that hunters may wish to explore.” Again, consult the hunting regulations.

One aspect that is indisputable is that the era of hunters being excited about record harvests taking place is over.

“The DNR is not trying to have record harvests year after year,” Hill said. “The long-term goal is to have our state’s deer herd in balance with the habitat. Currently, we are in a time when we are setting more conservative antlerless harvests for the first time in close to 20 years. We have harvest levels in each county. And the antlerless season is tied in to buck harvest as it rises or decreases.

“Of course, we get complaints about what we are trying to accomplish. But I think for the most part, the public supports what we are trying to do.”