Deer Harvest Summary for 2002-2003

Archery Harvest (including crossbow)*

Thirty-five percent (35%) of deer hunters hunted with archery equipment. Twenty-four percent (24%) of these were succesful in harvesting a deer.  It took the average archery deer hunter about 30 days to harvest a deer and the average archery deer hunter spent 12 days hunting deer. Does made up  83% of the archery deer harvest. The table belows provides additional information.

* Crossbow hunters - 17,322; Crossbow harvest - 4,429 (12% of archery harvest; 1% of total harvest)

Muzzleloader Harvest

Twenty-three percent (23%) of deer hunters hunted with muzzleloading firearms. About 1 out of every 4 muzzleloader hunters were succesful in harvesting a deer (26%).  It took the average muzzleloader hunter almost 12 days to harvest a deer and the average muzzleoader hunter spent 5 days hunting deer with a muzzleloader.  Does made up 71% of the muzzleloading firearm deer harvest.  The table belows provides additional information.

Modern Firearms Harvest

Almost 97% of deer hunters hunted with modern firearms. Fifty-three percent (53%) of these deer hunters were successful in harvesting a deer. It took the average firearm deer hunter about 13.5 days to harvest a deer and the average firearm deer hunter spent 18 days hunting deer. Does made up almost 60% of the modern firearm deer harvest. The table belows provides additional information.

Statewide Summary

There were 279,863 deer hunters that hunted deer in 2002-2003. This is a 4.2% decline in hunters from 2001-2002. About 82% or 229,836 were licensed resident deer hunters. Almost 12% (31,868) were honorary deer hunters and about 6% (17,734) were non-resident deer hunters. Fifty-six percent (56%) of deer hunters were successful in harvesting a deer. The average deer hunter hunted 21 days and it took the average deer hunter about 14 days to harvest a deer. Does made up almost 63% of the total deer harvest.

Hunter Success Summary for All Deer Harvested