Reports from this year’s general rifle buck deer hunt are overwhelmingly positive. According to DWR Assistant Wildlife Manager Randall Thacker, this has been an excellent year for the hunt. “I’ve been with the agency for 21 years,” says Thacker, “and I’ve never seen anything like this. The number of big, mature deer hunters are taking is phenomenal.” Thacker has helped man the deer check stations in northeastern Utah and he reports that on opening day, 33 deer came through the check station and only 3 of those were yearlings. That group included many 4-point bucks with 2- to 22 inch antler spreads and one 4-point buck with “an astounding 33-inch antler spread” taken by a female hunter in her 20s. By the time the check station closed on day 2 of the hunt, 130 deer had been checked and again, most were mature bucks. The DWR is encouraging anyone interested to get out and enjoy the hunt this great fall before the season ends on
October 30th
.
