Tennessee’s 2014-15 gun season for deer is underway and inclement weather, especially on the second day with rain across most of the state, had an impact on the harvest numbers for the opening weekend.
There were 12,737 deer harvested the opening weekend as numbers continue to trickle in to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. There were 16,097 harvested over the opening weekend in 2013.
“There is no reason to believe that when the season comes to an end, the harvest figures will be consistent with the harvest range we have had recently,” said Chuck Yoest, TWRA Deer Program coordinator. “The weather certainly was a factor this year for the opening weekend.”
More than 168,000 deer were harvested in Tennessee during all the 2013-14 seasons. The 2012-13 total was more than 176,600 while the 2011-12 total was slightly less than 168,000.
During the 2014 muzzleloader/archery season from Nov. 9-22, there was a harvest of 44,897. The figure is an increase from the 40,201 harvested during the 2013 muzzleloader season.
Roane County had the top harvest during the season with 1,124 deer harvested. Rounding out the top five counties were Montgomery 1,104, Cumberland 1,096, Henry 1,079, and Stewart 998.
The gun season for deer will continue through Jan. 4, 2015. Archery and muzzleloader equipment are legal during gun season. The second Young Sportsman Hunt will be held the weekend of Jan. 10-11, 2015.
For more information about Tennessee’s deer hunting seasons, refer to the 2014-15 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide available at all license agents, TWRA regional offices in Jackson, Nashville, Crossville, and Morristown or on the TWRA website at www.tnwildlife.org.