The preliminary numbers are in for this past season’s deer harvest in states around the Mid-West. Some states report a better 2014 – 2015 harvest than the 2013 – 14 season while others report being up yet still under their five year average. Some states report another decline.

  Here’s a sampling.

  In Missouri for example, the Missouri Department of Conservation reports a total deer harvest for all seasons, youth, firearm, alternative methods and the recently concluded archery at 260,552. That’s 7,978 more than the 252,574 deer checked during the previous season.

  Missouri’s top county for archery was Jefferson with 1080 taken. The top county for Alternative Methods where hunters can use muzzle-loading firearms, center-fire pistols, air-powered guns, bows, crossbows, or atlatls was Oregon with 269 deer harvested.

  In Oklahoma hunters took more than 98,500 deer not counting deer harvested during controlled hunts or by participants in the Deer Management Assistance Program. During the 2013-14 season hunters harvested 88,009 deer in all seasons. That’s almost a 10% increase although the increase wasn’t spread evenly around the state.

  Alan Peoples, Wildlife Division chief for the Wildlife Department, said he hunts deer exclusively in northwestern Oklahoma. "My family, friends and contacts in the northwest agree this is the slowest year we have seen in many years.

  "An area where in an average year we would see 25 to 30 deer in a morning, we saw maybe five or fewer. We saw more coyotes than deer, and that is unusual."

  The southwestern part of the state also lagged behind.

  Rod Smith, Wildlife Division southwest region supervisor, said depressed deer numbers there are thought to be a result of poor reproduction in 2011 and 2012. "The drought and extreme summer conditions in those years greatly affected fawn survival," he said.

  Missouri’s neighbor to the east, Illinois saw another decline in their harvest from the previous season with a 145,804 deer counted so far compared to 148,614 in 2013 -14. Hunters took 47 percent does and 53 percent bucks this season.

  Bow hunters concluded their season on January 18 with a preliminary total of 56,083 taken compared with 57,364 in the 2013-14 archery season.

  Firearm hunters saw a slight increase in their harvest in their seven day season with 76,729 deer taken compared to 74,318 during the 2013 season when bad weather plagued the state.

  Illinois muzzleloader hunters contributed 3,478 deer to the total down from 3,536 in 2013. The Youth hunters also saw a decline taking 2,768 deer in three days compared to 3,016 the previous year.

  And the Late-Winter Antlerless Only and Special CWD deer seasons concluded with 6,746 deer harvested compared to 10,380 in 2013-14.

  Iowa saw a slight increase taking about 101,500 deer this past season which is an increase from 99,414 harvested in 2013. Although this is a slight increase, it is still 33 percent lower than the peak harvest of 150,552 reported in 2006.

  Hunters took 47,079 does, a six percent decrease and 44,495 bucks, a fifteen percent increase. Also fewer button bucks and shed antlered deer were taken than the previous year. The reduction in doe harvest is part of the management plan to allow the herd to stabilize.

  This past deer season proves once again that you have to be in the right place at the right time no matter which state you hunt and have a little bit of luck on your side.

  Here in Illinois we’re looking for some changes to the deer hunting regulations. It might not be a bad thing to go back to one firearm permit per hunter like in the “old days” eliminating the bonus antler-less only permit at least for a couple of seasons to help bring the herd numbers up. One and done might make a comeback. The coming months will tell.

  The tall middle-aged man stood with the tall old man in front of the gun safe as the door swung open. The old man was the younger man's mentor, his best friend, and to the young man's great fortune, his grandpa.

  "I wanting you to take your pick of my guns," the old man said, peering into the safe as the younger man smiled a whimsical smile, one both happy and sad at the same time.

  "Grandpa, whatever you want me to have is fine with me," the younger man said, his voice strong and deep, yet soft.

  His grandpa picked up an old lever action rifle. "This was your great uncle's from the turn of the century. It’s a model 94 Winchester and it’s been used but it’s probably worth enough to buy two new ones now."

  "It’s a nice rifle," the younger man said, taking it in his hands, working the lever and raising it to his shoulder. "I've always admired it."

  "So has your dad," the old man said. "You might have to fight him over that one!"

  The grandson laughed along with the old man's chuckling as he put the gun back in the safe, bringing out a 1890's model Winchester pump .22 rifle.

  "This little gun belonged to your uncle too. It shoots good." The old man handed it to the younger one.

  The younger man took a moment figuring out how to pump the rifle, then working the action gently, checking the chamber and closing it before handing the gun back to the older man.

  The old man said, "Your uncle killed many a gray squirrel with that rifle."

  The younger man knew that was easier said than done for most because grays don't slow down for much and getting a shot at them with a .22 takes some luck and skill as well as an accurate gun.

  The old man put the gun back in the gun safe and pulled out a beautiful silver inlaid double barrel shotgun. He hefted it to his shoulder in a natural swing, both eyes open as the gun came up as though a quail had taken flight.

  "That's the gun you got in that dog trade," the grandson said, recognizing the double immediately.

  "Yep, this old gun was worth a $1000.00 back in 1984 and I bet its worth two or three times that now," the old man commented. "It shoots good too. I shot a few birds with it but didn't want to scratch it up carrying it in the field."

  The gun went back in the safe and he brought out a new Browning A5 Lightweight 20 gauge. "I got this one at a Quail Unlimited Banquet. Your Uncle won it and gave it to me."

  The young man held it. "It looks brand new."

  "I've shot one box of shells through it."

  He put the gun back in its place and looked at the younger man. "There is some other guns in there son, but those are some of the more expensive ones."

  The younger man took a deep breath. "Can I see that old lightweight A5 20 gauge there in the back?"

  The old man reached in and got it out. "Son this old gun has seen better days. I had to replace the forearm on it cause the original got cracked and it doesn't match the other wood. Most of the bluing is gone and the vent rib is nicked." He handed it to the younger man. "The old gun still shoots though."

  The younger man held the gun respectfully in his hands. Treating it much like one would an old friend. "This is your gun," he said in a tone leaving no doubt it was a statement. "This is the gun that you taught me how to shoot a semi-auto shotgun with."

  He looked in his grandpa's eyes, his own eyes no longer dry. "This is the gun you killed the bird shooting it one handed because I flushed the birds and you still had your hand on the top wire of the fence."

  He pulled back the loading lever and the old gun locked back. "This is the gun you knocked down five quail with five shots on LB Lowe's land on a covey rise. It’s the gun you let me use to kill my first turkey when I was 11 years old."

  He let the receiver forward. "This is the gun you were shooting that time I knocked down every bird you were going to shoot at when we had such a good day hunting on Camp Gruber.

  He looked his grandpa in the eyes again. "This was your gun grandpa and it holds a million memories. And of all the guns you have this one means the most to me. I don't have a million dollars grandpa, but I would not take a million or even two million for it. "

  The old man nodded in understanding, his eyes no longer dry either.

  "It will be yours son," he finally said.

  The younger man smiled. "I don't want to collect it anytime soon, Grandpa."

  "I'll do my best," the old man said.

   As we reported last month one of the founding members of the Backwoods Bound team, Kenny Settle passed away in December. As a tribute to him we are re-running some of the stories he wrote for The Bullet called Kenny’s Corner. This one is from the February 2001 issue. Enjoy!

  Kenny's Corner: An editorial view of the Backwoods Bound experience!

  It's February and I know you're sitting there thinking to yourself, "it's just too darn cold to go fishing". Well, do I have some good news for you! The place to go in February, or March for that matter, is Lake Taneycomo.

  Lake Taneycomo is located in Branson, Missouri. It's a 22-mile long lake that begins below the dam at Table Rock Lake, and ends going over the dam into Bull Shoals Lake. When fishing Lake Taneycomo, the name of the game is trout. Both brown and rainbow trout are abundant and you have a fair chance to catch a trophy.

  I have been going to Lake Taneycomo for the past 12 years, and every time it's been great. Along its 22-mile span, there are numerous lodges that offer a pleasant stay, boats, bait, etc. at reasonable prices. After a great day of fishing you may want to wander into Branson for dinner or a show.

  I fished 2 days at Lake Taneycomo in late January, and once again, I wasn't disappointed. We caught a lot of trout. (No trophies this trip, but what the heck!)

  It's easy to get information and accommodations on Lake Taneycomo. Just get on the old computer and look up Branson, Lake Taneycomo, or trout fishing in Missouri. You guys are good at this; you get the picture.

  So there you have it. Stop thinking about the bass, crappie, and bluegill that will tug on your lines come spring, and head to Lake Taneycomo for trout fishing at its best!

  I'm Kenny and I hope I have all of you in my corner.