Yep, it looks like “rifles” (PCR) accounted for 19 percent of the 2015 deer harvest. And, preliminary information looks like “rifles” (PCR and HPR combined) accounted for about 20 percent of the 2016 deer harvest. So, a terribly devastating additional slaughter due to allowing HPRs simply did not happen. The sky did not fall. I do not know how many deer were taken with HPRs in 2016. However, it could very well be that nearly the same number of deer would have been taken anyway by the same hunters using PCR rifles, shotguns, or other legal equipment allowed in 2015 and before.

IDNR can still easily make adjustments to overall deer population by county by changing the number of bonus antlerless deer that hunters may take in any given county. Also, if that number is 3 or less then the Late Antlerless Firearm Season would not be open in that county. And, IDNR does not have to go to the General Assembly or through the time-consuming, rule-making process to make those adjustments.