Opening Day Successful For Hunters
Staff ReportArticle Photos
Even with the rain pouring down most of the day Monday, area hunters still had luck for the opening day of buck season.
This deer season has been a good opportunity for Bruce Riffle and his son, Alexander, to spend quality time together. On Monday, 18-year-old Alexander killed a 10-point on their property in Bowden. He said he didn't think he would ever kill a deer that big.
"It was real nice," Alexander Riffle said. "I was talking on the phone to my dad because nothing was moving. He called me to see what was I was doing. I said nothing was stirring too much, then I looked up and said, 'there's a big buck, I gotta go.' I laid the phone down and went to shoot him.
"My safety was jammed and I had to mess with the bolt action a little bit. He looked up at me, because I was making a lot of noise," Alexander Riffle said. "I had to shoot him right in the neck. He was facing toward me. I had to do whatever I had to do to get him down then."
Bruce Riffle, who has been hunting for more than 50 years, said the deer was bigger than any he has ever killed.
"I'm very proud," Bruce Riffle said. "I've killed several bucks, but he's already out done me. It's such a great opportunity to spend family time with my son out in the woods. It's what we love to do to be together, to hunt and fish and camp. It was a great time and I am proud of him."
In Barbour County, hunters were sharing their stories at Butch's Pub-N-Grub. Kim Alexander an employee at the bar that also serves as a check-in station, said more than 60 deer were brought in Monday. She said the number is on par with previous hunting seasons.
"It seems like things are going really well," Alexander said. "The biggest deer we've had so far was a nine-point. We've had lots of hunters come to check in a deer and grab a beer. They stop by and hang out to talk with other hunters. It seems like everyone is having a good time."
Although light rain showers damped some of the region Monday, Amanda Triplett of Nestorville Service Center said the weather hasn't affected the hunters in Barbour County.
"We've been busy all day," Triplett said. "We've had close to 100 deer checked in so far. We are one of the only places in our area to check deer in. We've had a few 10 points, but nothing over 10, yet."
Each year Elkins High School FFA members help check in bucks at Par Mar in Elkins because it's one of the most active checkpoints in the county, explained FFA President Valeria Groves. One man checked in an 11 point that was killed in Tucker County and seemed excited about his kill, according to Tyler Fehrenbach, who assisted Groves with the check-ins. Within about two hours on Monday, the two had checked in 21 bucks at the location.
One unusual buck was checked in at Middle Mountain Sporting Goods. According to owner Matt Higgins, a four-point albino buck killed near Chenoweth Creek came in Monday. Killing an albino deer is supposed to be unlucky, Higgins said. But Ralph Pingley Jr., who shot the albino, says he's not superstitious.
"I wasn't expecting it," Pingley said of shooting the albino.
He plans to have the head of the albino deer mounted and keep the meat.
Buck season isn't over for Pingley, he planned to go back into the woods today around 7 a.m. Although it probably won't be an albino, Pingley said he should be able to kill another buck this week.
Other than the albino, a 10 point, an eight point and several spikes were also checked in at Middle Mountain Sporting Goods.
The Canaan Valley Store in Davis has had a slower start to the hunting season. By this time in years past, Buc Hammer said that they have checked between 50 and 60 deer. This year they have only checked 35.
"I think if the weather stays bad people will stay out of the woods," Hammer predicted. On Monday, Hammer said that there were many hunters discussing the season and drinking coffee in the store.
The first day of deer season in Upshur County proved to be a good one for hunters as check-in stations reported more than 700 deer. The total number of deer checked in is:
Arlington Mini-Mart, 100; Lazy Acres Mart, 40; Mountaineer Mart, 200; Sayre Store, 28; and The General Store, 333, for a total of 701. Of the eight checking stations in the county, five were contacted for the total deer count and the other three were unable to be contacted.
According to those checking stations, the count seemed to be a little higher than last year.
Estimates from game check-in stations across Pocahontas County as to the number and size of deer bagged this year in comparison to last year's figures varied during opening day. While some said the bucks only hunting season seems a bit busier, others said the numbers are down from previous years. The size of bucks also seemed a bit small to those tagging Monday's kills.
Tommy Ryder of Ryder's Chevron said her station checked in 22 deer Monday, with the largest being a seven-point buck.
Ryder said she thought the numbers were up a little over last year.
Taylor's Grocery in Hillsboro reported 22 deer were checked in Monday, with two nine-point bucks.
"It's better than last year," a Taylor's spokesperson said.
Trent's in Bartow reported checking in seven deer Monday, with the largest being a six-point buck.
Trent's in Arbovale checked in 20 deer and estimated the number was about the same as last year. They also said the deer seemed bigger this year.
Trish's Place in Marlinton reported checking in three deer, the largest being a four-point.
Wayne's Stop and Shop in Arbovale checked in four deer Monday.
"It's not average and the deer seemed unusually small this year," owner Wayne Galford said.
Why Not Shop and Route 66 in Slaty Fork estimated they had seen fewer hunters than last year and had only checked in seven deer, the largest being a six-point.
Appalachian Sport Inc. in Marlinton reported checking in 15 deer.
Edray Kwik Stop had 25 check-ins, the largest an eight-point, and estimated the numbers were greater than last year.
H&C Country Mart in Dunmore had 11 check-ins with the largest being eight-point bucks.
"This year's numbers seem to be up a little," said Mike O'Brien of Henry's Quick Stop in Green Bank. "The deer kill was better." The largest deer they checked in was a six-point.
Other numbers include Johnny's Garage in Marlinton, which checked in four deer, the largest an eight-point; McCall's Market in Marlinton checked in 12 deer, the largest an eight-point; and McCoy's Market in Hillsboro reported 19 deer, with the largest was being an eight-point. They estimated the numbers were down from last year.
