Deer Harvest Up 20% Over Last Year for First Weekend of Muzzleloader Season

The Fredericksburg Free Lance Star reports that muzzleloader hunters found a lot of deer during the first weekend of muzzleloader season this year:

The first weekend of Virginia’s early muzzleloader season opened with a lot of smoke as the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ early harvest numbers for deer and turkey show nearly a 20 percent increase in deer taken compared to last year.

Hunters were able to hunt on private land on Sunday this year, which certainly helped fuel the increase.

DGIF Director Bob Duncan told the Star that he was very happy to see hunters taking advantage of the additional opportunities opened to them with the new Sunday hunting law and noted that the numbers from both the archery season and the first week of muzzleloader season look really promising for a great season this year.

Hat tip to Legalize Sunday Hunting for All.