The state DNR's preliminary numbers show a deer harvest of almost 134,000 which is way down from last year's total of 172,000 in the gun season's first two days.
Keith Warnke, DNR big game specialist, attributes the 20% decrease to a late opening weekend in which the mating season was over in most of the state. He also says the rough winter likely reduced deer population and the cold temperatures Saturday morning led to less deer being spotted. Warnke says weather forecasts for the rest of the week will be typical for this time of year, which Warnke calls a "good thing" for hunting.
The gun season runs through next Sunday.
Audio: Brian Moon reports (MP3 :67)
