This weekend marked the opening of deer firearm season in Washington. Units 117 and 121 were once the most productive units in the state. With opening weekend though the numbers of hunters were down by half, along with the deer being taken out.

The economy can be blamed a bit maybe, but there was also a change in antler restrictions. A four point minimum restriction may have changed some hunter's minds. The Washington Fish and Wildlife Department had a check stand at Deer Park, and this weekend was a record low for hunters and deer harvest for opening firearm weekend.

Altogether 117 hunters were interviewed with 7 deer (antlered bucks only) including 6 whitetails and 1 mule deer. Hunter success on whitetails was 5.9%. Last year’s numbers were 226 hunters and 15 white-tailed bucks checked for a success rate of 6.6%. From The Spokesman-Review [2].