State wildlife officials are in a position for a high season if deer hunters follow the example set in the spring by turkey hunters.
The hunters flocked to the forest in the spring when business closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which left others without paints and nothing to do.
The pandemic still occurs and officials from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency may occur a similar situation when the deer season opens in the state on August 28.
The first hunt lasts 3 days and is reserved for archery of wooden deer on personal lands.
“The pandemic is still happening and we think other people still have a lot of free time,” TWRA spokesman Barry Cross said. “If things happen like they did in the summer, other people are looking for something to do. If they’ve hunted before, there’s a smart chance they’ll come back. If you have hunted and have not returned for a while, you may simply return and look forward to presenting other people with deer hunting for the first time.”
More: more and more people are hunting and fishing in Tennessee for the coronavirus pandemic
The number of other people in the state who purchased hunting and fishing licenses was higher by nearly 20% during the spring turkey hunting season (April 4 to May 17) compared to 2019.
By the end of the hunt, a total of 729,972 hunting and fishing licences had been sold, according to TWRA. That 113580 more than sold at the same time in 2019 and 152430 more than in 2018.
License sales revenue increased to $3 million for the same time in 2019.
Another increase in permit sales is expected this month, as deer hunting in many parts of Tennessee is even more popular than turkey hunting.
“Needless to say, we’ll see a lot of enthusiasm because deer hunting is king when it comes to big game in Tennessee,” Cross said. “The turkey hunt is a very close moment. But the deer triumphs over turkey hunting because deer hunting has been around for a little longer than turkey.”
Read more: Turkey hunting in Tennessee is affected by the coronavirus pandemic; crop greater than the last two years
Having more hunters in the forest in the spring has led to a large crop of turkeys.
A total of 38,222 turkeys died in the state, according to TWRA. That’s 8195 more than the death toll in 2019 and 10881 more than in 2018.
A total of 134,460 deer were killed in 2019, 9472 fewer than in 2018. The chronic debilitating disease, which affected the state last year, explains some of the decline in the harvest, Cross said.
The disease affects deer, moose and other members of the deer family. Prion proteins ab damage the proteins in the animal’s brain and spinal cord, forming small holes that give the brain a sponge-like appearance. The disease is still deadly.
“Deer hunting in Tennessee is growing,” Cross said. “Of course, we had a debilitating chronic disease last year and that reduced our number in southwest Tennessee just because hunters didn’t harvest as much as they did in the past. It’s worth noticing what we’re going to do with that. This year and how it’s going to play.”
The time of bowed deer hunting will take place from September 26 to October. 30 and 3 november 2-6.
Rifle hunting, archery and oral loading takes place from November 7 to January 7. 3 2021.
Two firearms, archery and snouted hunting (ages 6 to 16) will run from October 31 to November 31. 1-9-10 January 2021.
Contact Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.