White-Tail deer harvest one of the best

November 27, 2012, 9:00 pm by Lyn Odom

Rifle season is in full swing and Llano County offers up some of the best hunting in the state. White-Tail deer season opened Nov. 3, and the regular season closes Jan. 6.

Bryan Miiller of Miiller's Smokehouse says the harvest numbers are up this year.

"White-Tail deer body weights and antlers are above average this year," Miiller said. "They are exceptional and this is one of the best years in several."

Miiller said because of the drought last year there were less hunters in Llano County last season. "The deer we are seeing this year are bigger because they lived another year by not being shot last year."

And with the exceptional harvest, Miiller and his staff are working extended hours this rifle season to keep up with processing.

Texas has more White-Tail deer than any other state, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. Recent population estimates suggest in upwards of 3- to -4 million just in Texas. And hunters harvest anywhere from 430,000 to half a million White-Tail annually.

For more of this story, see Wednesday's Llano County Journal.