Opening weekend trend continues through 2022 firearm deer season

    As expected, final deer check-in numbers for the 2022 firearm season are down to the lowest numbers in at least a decade.
    Ron Schoenberger with Laker’s Bait and Tackle provided a list with check-in totals up to 2012. The lowest total in those years was 490 in 2013.
    Between Laker’s Bait and Tackle and Wauneta Crossroads, hunters checked in 398 deer this firearm season.
    Wauneta Crossroads finished with a total of 187 deer and Laker’s Bait and Tackle saw 211 all together.
    Schoenberger said he had heard from numerous hunters that the season would be tough, especially after archery hunters didn’t find a lot of deer.
    “It didn’t look good going in,” he said, adding, it turned out better than he had expected.
    Angie West with Wauneta Crossroads said the final weekend of the Nov. 12-20 season was pretty slow, with only 22 deer checked in.
    West said there were some nice deer turned in over the last couple days of the season and some hunters ended up settling for the deer they got. More white tail were brought in late in the season.
    Schoenberger said he saw hunters tickled to get a 4x4 or 5x5 this year.
    His totals showed 158 bucks taken to 53 doe and 32 shot on public land, while 19 were taken around Enders Lake. Laker’s Bait and Tackle also saw 136 mule deer to 75 white tail.