For the roughly half-million deer hunters who head into the woods this fall in the Lone Star State, this season will be one sprinkled with good and bad news.

First, the good news: Increased bag limits and hunting opportunities across much of the state and lower hunter turnout last season should set the stage for more hunters to put more venison in their freezers.

Now, the bad news: Widespread drought dating back to 2007 has affected fawn production and overall deer numbers, and deer that may have reached their genetic potential in wet years simply won't this year.

This season's forecast is shaping up to be average at best by most accounts from land managers and biologists. However, in our state, with the nation's highest whitetail population at more than 4 million, that isn't necessarily a "downer" prediction.

In dry years, when natural forage sources are scarce, deer are more apt to hit feeders and food plots. This season certainly is shaping up to be one of those.

EAST TEXAS
Gary Calkins, district biologist for the Pineywoods region, is one of the few state biologists who had positive things to say about a number of deer-related subjects in his neck of the woods, and for good reason -- that part of the state has been less affected by drought than elsewhere.

"Deer populations appear to be relatively stable across the Pineywoods," he said. "From our age, weight and antler data collection efforts, the harvest last year appeared to be down some so there should be a good carryover of bucks into older age-classes for this year. The northern portion of the district just completed the third year of antler restrictions and the results seem to be showing. Our data is showing harvest of younger deer has dropped off, as hoped, and that the restrictions are indeed working as desired in that part of the district. That area should continue to see an increase in older age-class deer in the upcoming season."

Calkins noted that hunter numbers were down in some places last season and so carryover numbers for this season should be up.

"The southern portion of the district will now have the antler restriction regulation hich was newly passed by the commission," he said. "This area seems to have had the greatest reduction in harvest during the 2008-09 season, so expectations are that there will already be a carryover in buck age-classes. This drop in harvest is possibly a result of decreased hunter activity following Hurricane Ike."

Calkins noted that at least one natural forage source was affected by hurricane activity.