Deer count looks good for season

Hunters should have pretty good pickings when they hit the fields for opening day Saturday.

Information from a survey by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife shows the mild winter left enough forage to keep deer populations high. Warm weather into September, however, has officials concerned about the potential for outbreaks of disease.

Bird hunters appear to be hauling in a pretty good count this year, reported Howard Ferguson, WDFW biologist for the region. While the wet, cool spring took a hard toll on pheasants, quail and partridge populations, which hatch later, are faring well.

Fergu...