West Virginia landowners and hunters will have 22 days to harvest antlerless deer on private lands during the 2011 antlerless deer season, according to Curtis Taylor, chief of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Section.

A total of 51 counties have opened antlerless deer hunting this fall and will have the antlerless deer season running concurrently with the two-week buck gun season.

“Seventy-six percent of the counties are still above the buck harvest objective outlined in the DNR plan and further reduction in the deer population is needed,” Taylor said. “With the 22- day antlerless deer season, along with changes in the bag limits for this fall, hunters should help to meet county buck harvest objectives.”

The DNR reminds hunters that only one deer may be taken per day. Therefore, a buck and an antlerless deer may not be taken on the same day. However, hunters may take two antlerless deer per day in selected counties on private land, during the antlerless deer season. But, they must be checked in on separate days.

In Wetzel County, the first day totals of deer season were down slightly, although large numbers of deer were recorded. With 12 licensed agents reporting, 729 deer were checked in at the following stations:

The County Cupboard, 25; Green Acres Gas, 110; Morris Grocery, 69; Mason Filling Station, 52; New Martinsville Sunoco, 126; Richmond’s Sporting Goods, 40; Simon’s Market, 116; Tom’s One-Stop, 41; Morris’ Variety Center, 22; B & C’s Deli, 40; Smith’s Grocery, 78; and Alta’s Bait Shop 10. There were no numbers available for Rt. 20 Gas and Diesel.

Some of the largest bucks were turned in at Smith’s Grocery, Smithfield, with an 11-point buck harvested by Pricetown resident Allen Haught. Rob Carter and Sue Stout, along with two other hunters, turned in 10-pointers. Four local hunters also turned in nine pointers and a bunch of eight pointers were also turned in at Smith’s Grocery.

Mark Stackpole of Paden City killed a nice 10-pointer with a 17-inch spread, checked at Tom’s One Stop. Todd Palmer, also from Paden City, checked in an 11-pointer at Alta’s Bait Shop. Morris Grocery had a 12-pointer checked in, as well as several nine point and a few eight-pointers.

Bradley Bragg of Union Bank shot his first big buck, a nine-pointer, with a huge 18-inch spread with very thick horns, that was tuned in at Green Acres Gas. At the New Martinsville Sunoco several eight-pointers were checked and nice 10-pointers were recorded at Simon’s Market and Morris Variety Center. Tracy Thomas killed a nine-point deer and checked it in at Mason Filling Station. The VHS Travel Club sold soup, corn bread, and other food at Mason’s to raise funds for a European trip to be taken in 2013.

*****

“Hunters are reminded to secure permission from landowners before hunting and to show respect for the landowners’ property,” urged Paul Johanasen, assistant chief in charge of game management for the West Virginia DNR.

Hunters should be reminded that it is illegal to hunt on the fenced, enclosed or posted land of another person without getting the landowner’s written permission to do so.

DNR regulations also require deer hunters to wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange as an outer garment for visibility and safety.

Although private lands comprise 90 percent of the acreage in West Virginia, there are more than 1.4 million acres of land open to public hunting. Hunters who may have difficulty locating a place to hunt can contact the DNR Operations Center in Elkins or any district office to obtain information on where hunting is permissible.

Approximately 350,000 licensed hunters will be in West Virginia’s woods during the season, generating $248 million in revenue.

All deer must be tagged and checked in within 72 hours of the time of the kill or within 24 hours of the season, whichever comes first.