CONCORD — New Hampshire Fish and Game is predicting a strong deer-hunting season based on early archery results and last year’s mild winter and spring.

Opening day for New Hampshire deer hunters using regular firearms is Nov. 14. Muzzleloader season begins two weeks before that on Nov. 3.

Archery season began Sept. 15 and as of last week, a preliminary count of 1,943 deer had been taken by archers.

According to Fish and Game, New Hampshire’s deer population has recovered from severe winters starting in 2007-08. Food sources last fall like beechnuts, apples and acorns were plentiful, helping deer enter last winter in good shape.

Kent Gustafson, wildlife programs supervisor for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, said the mild winter temperatures also helped and the spring mortality rate was low.

.

For more information:

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/Hunt_species/hunt_deer.htm