Chris Ryan, a wildlife biologist for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR), comments on these figures.

"The DNR was pleased with the 2004 muzzleloader harvest," Ryan said. "The muzzleloader season has become very popular with Mountain State hunters. The deer have settled back down from the buck gun seasons, and most have returned to normal movement patterns. In addition, the season provides an extra opportunity and unique method that normally intrigues many hunters."

This year, the season is tentatively slated to run from Dec. 12-17. As has traditionally been the case, Wyoming, McDowell, Logan and Mingo counties are closed to all firearms hunting. Some counties feature either-sex hunting, while others offer bucks-only seasons. Some counties that were open to either-sex hunting last year may not be this year. Be sure to check the 2005 West Virginia Hunting & Trapping Regulations Summary or go online to www.wvdnr.gov for more information. But, generally, the muzzleloader season has become a useful tool for deer management through the harvest of antlerless deer.

"Over two-thirds of the 2004 muzzleloader harvest were does," Ryan said. "The additional female harvest will help bring counties in line with their respective management objective."

Of course, the number of deer that Mountain State sportsmen check in during the muzzleloader season is relatively small, especially when compared with the high harvests that take place during the buck and antlerless seasons and even the lengthy bow season. The thing that I have always enjoyed most about the December season has nothing to do with killing a deer. I just enjoy going afield with a gun for deer one last time before winter sets in for the duration.

Like many, if not most West Virginia hunters, I have harvested fewer deer during the late muzzleloader season than during any of the other seasons. But, again, there is something to be said about the joys of trudging through the snows and enduring the cold, meanwhile toting a primitive weapon. Chris Ryan agrees.

"The muzzleloader season primarily provides additional recreation for hunters in the late season, and that recreation provides unique opportunities," he said. "However, in areas above their management objective, the season always helps to control the deer herd by allowing hunters the opportunity to harvest additional adult females."

PUBLIC LANDS
Public-land hunting for whitetails has a long tradition in the Mountain State. So it's not surprising that some sportsmen may want to take advantage of this resource. Hunters might be surprised to learn that during the December smokepole season, the national forests and state WMAs receive fairly light hunting pressure. So what are some national forest and state lands worth checking out for this December? Chris Ryan maintains that three stand out.

"Stonewall Jackson led the state. Burnsville was up there, also. McClintic WMA in Mason County is good," he said.

Let's take a closer look at those public lands and the counties they lie within. As Ryan notes, Stonewall Jackson WMA (18,289 acres in Lewis County) led all public lands with 107 whitetails checked in. I found it fascinating that 94 of those animals were does -- indicative that many sportsmen afield there last December were probably just looking to tag one more whitetail for the freezer, instead of trophy hunting.

I have been afield on the Stonewall Jackson WMA, which lies in District III, and the diversity of habitat there is outstanding. This public land lacks the mountains that so many other WMAs do; instead, rolling hills and gentle slopes characterize Stonewall. Also, you should look to take stands at overgrown old farms, hardwood forests, creek bottoms and the odd wildlife opening. Much of Lewis County features this same type of habitat, a reason why it was ninth in the smokepole harvest figures in 2004.