Deer Harvest Summary for 2004-2005

Archery Harvest (including crossbow)*

Thirty-three percent (33%) of deer hunters hunted with archery equipment. Twenty-seven percent (27%) of these were succesful in harvesting a deer. It took the average archery deer hunter about 24 days to harvest a deer and the average archery deer hunter spent 11 days hunting deer. Does made up about 80% of the archery deer harvest. The table belows provides additional information.

* Number of hunters using a crossbow - 22,738;
Crossbow harvest - 9,380 (22% of archery harvest; 3% of total harvest)

Muzzleloader Harvest

Twenty percent (20%) of deer hunters hunted with muzzleloading firearms. Slightly more than 1 out of every 5 muzzleloader hunters were succesful in harvesting a deer (21%). It took the average muzzleloader hunter 15 days to harvest a deer and the average muzzleoader hunter spent 4 days hunting deer with a muzzleloader. Does made up about 79% of the muzzleloading firearm deer harvest. The table belows provides additional information.

Modern Firearms Harvest

Ninety-six percent (96%) of deer hunters hunted with modern firearms. Forty-nine percent (49%) were successful in harvesting a deer. It took the average firearm deer hunter about 15 days to harvest a deer and the average firearm deer hunter spent almost 17 days hunting deer. Does made up almost 59% of the modern firearm deer harvest. The table belows provides additional information.

Statewide Summary

There were 304,310 deer hunters that hunted deer in 2003-2004. This was a 8.7% increase in deer hunters from 2002-2003. About 80% or 243,215 were licensed resident deer hunters. Almost 10% or 30,207 were honorary deer hunters and about 10% or 30,888 were non-resident deer hunters. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of deer hunters were successful in harvesting a deer. The average deer hunter hunted 21 days and it took the average deer hunter about 13 days to harvest a deer. Does made up close to 61% of the total deer harvest.

Hunter Success Summary for All Deer Harvested

Hunter Success Summary for All Bucks Harvested

Hunter Success Summary for All Does Harvested