Mar 11, 2007 By Rod Schoener 3 min read

This past hunting season, many hunters bagged trophy bucks – many with antlers larger on average than they have been in many years. However, one thing I found out when talking with some successful hunters was that their trophy bucks were the only buck they saw in three or four days afield.

I would have to say that I, too, was disappointed. While I saw small bucks that did not measure up under current antler restrictions, on a couple of days they were the only deer I saw. I did not see a single doe.

For every happy hunter I’ve encountered, I’ve spoken with at least five whose comments on the deer seasons were not printable.

I know many hunters were disappointed, but Fayette County WCO Steve Leiendecker related that he, too, was not too excited by the county’s deer or bear harvests.

“I was really disappointed this past deer season,” he said. “I didn’t see nearly the number of deer killed I thought I would.

“I don’t think this year’s harvest results will indicate any big change from last year by raising the total. In fact, I believe the numbers will be down.

“It seemed like there were a lot fewer deer around, but there were some massive antlers that turned up.”

Leiendecker was surprised that some deer escaped hunters for so long.

“I’m sure some get passed up and survive another year,” he said. “Some of them are definitely getting some age on them. Overall, I was still disappointed. I expected a lot more to be killed than what I saw, but I did see some nice bucks.”

He believes hunters are starting to accept antler restrictions, but he still hears a lot of complaints about the combined buck and doe season.

“Many conservation officers recommended shortening antlerless deer season by a week, but nothing was done about it.

“Carl Roe, executive director of the Game Commission, wanted that to happen, but the commissioners did not want that.”

Leiendecker was also disappointed with the bear harvest.

“I was hoping to see them break 100,” he said. “We had half of that.

“We handled 35 bears through the summer. The most we ever moved in the county before that was eight.

“The weather was nice, but the bears weren’t out on the first day of the season. There were hunters everywhere in Quebec, but nobody was shooting. Bears were hibernating on the first day. That’s what one hunter told me.

“All the big game seasons were disappointing last year.”

There haven’t been any bear complaints during the winter months.

Leiendecker said that they are still hibernating and should not be active for a couple of months.

Herald-Standard outdoor writer Rod Schoener can be reached on line at begin rschoener@heraldstandard.com rschoener@heraldstandard.com end

.