Clint Smith, Manager on TWRA's Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area says the harvest was down this year on the non-quota gun hunt (held Nov. 5 - 7).
Smith said, "This weekend last year, we saw the bucks on Prentice Cooper hitting high gear in the rut department. That just wasn't the case this year. A few hunters commented on seeing some rut behavior but not many. So maybe we have something to look forward to on future hunts."
Smith said 31 bucks were taken, which is about normal the 3-day hunt
"We had several mature standouts as is the normal on this particular hunt," siad Smith. "I’m starting to equate this segment as our 'big buck' hunt."
He says so far the total harvest on Prentice Cooper is running neck-and-neck with last year's total and right in the 10-year average.
"We had a very good turnout on the first two days with our hunters braving weather that felt more like December than early November," said Smith. "We actually had a few patches of snow on Saturday morning."
Prentice Cooper’s next hunt will begin Saturday, Nov. 27 through Dec. 2. It’s a non-quota hunt with a limit of 2 bucks. For more information call (423) 658-0298.