
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, October 25, 1993                   TAG: 9310270055
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

HUNTING OUTLOOK

DEER: Hunting regulations are liberal and herds are abundant, but deer won't be as easy to find as they were last year. Mast has them scattered. This could lower the kill, but it favors the experienced sportsman. Antler development won't be impressive.

BEAR: The kill should bounce back from last year's low take of 483, which was a 26 percent drop. But don't expect a record season.

TURKEYS: Numbers appear to be down, and improved food conditions have the birds scattered. They won't have to move about as much in their feeding efforts.

GROUSE: Don't expect much improvement over the past three seasons, when hunters have languished thorough a one-flush-per-hour average, which is below the long-term rate. The best action will be found in the coalfields of the Southwest.

RABBITS: Look for good sport as this species continues to rebound, but don't expect it to be quite as exciting as last year. Reproduction was brisk early on, but appeared to fizzle as the summer progressed.

QUAIL: It will be one of the poorest seasons on record. The hot, dry summer robbed any chance of seeing this declining species make a comeback this year.

by CNB