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Sam Penrod ReportingThousands of hunters are preparing for tomorrow's opening of the deer hunt. Hunters heading to their camps are finding the weather is not what they expected. Snow has hit the high elevations in recent days and many favorite deer camps are snowed in.
Duane Johnson/Deer Hunter: "If weather holds up we'll get out early in the morning and hope for the best and find some deer, that's it. So hopefully we can get one, at least, this weekend."
Duane Johnson and his family have been hunting together for years, brothers and cousins bringing their families for the annual deer hunt.
Robby Johnson, Deer Hunter: "We're just coming up for the trip. We do it every year for as long as I can remember."
Near the Skyline Drive, the Jensens, who are campground hosts in the summer, are handing out information for hunters who seem to be asking them the same questions.
Carolyn Jensen, Camp Host: "Where are the deer, how are the roads, is it going to snow?"
Overall, the biologists with the division of wildlife resources say deer numbers this year are up again, to just under 300-thousand statewide, with a good ratio of bucks to does. They expect hunters to have good success.
Craig McLaughlin/DWR Big Game Coordinator: "Deer we expect to be scattered, plenty of them, but scattered because there is so much water and vegetation available to them from high elevations to low elevations."
All of the deer permits sold out for the entire state weeks ago, meaning the hills will be full with a lot of orange in the morning. For most hunters, though, just getting out for the hunt is why they are here.
Duane Johnson, Deer Hunter: "Biggest thrill is just getting out in the mountains and the campfire sitting around, staying up all night and having a good time and enjoying the day and the night."
