White-tailed deer hunting season is drawing to a close, which has allowed the Iowa Department of Natural Resources the opportunity to evaluate the current deer harvest. According to the DNR, there have been a reported total of 1,423 deer harvested in Washington County as of Monday. That number includes 667 does, 602 antlered bucks, 151 button bucks, and three shed-antler bucks. Button bucks are male fawns aged six months or younger. They’re called button bucks because though their antlers haven’t yet grown, two bumps, or “buttons,” have emerged on top of their heads. Shed-antler bucks are male deer that have recently shed their old antlers and have yet to regrow new ones.

According to Wesley Gould, Law Enforcement Officer for the Iowa DNR for Washington and Keokuk Counties, the unseasonably warm weather the area has had since hunting season kicked off has likely been a detriment for hunters. He said, “We all enjoy the nice weather, but it makes for tough hunting. These warms days and lots of wind makes it tough to harvest deer.” Statewide, there have been 42,178 does, 43,064 antlered bucks, 8,536 button bucks, and 431 shed-antler bucks harvested this hunting season, for a total of 94,209 white-tailed deer. The bow-hunting and late muzzleloader seasons will conclude January 10th. Find information about the deer harvest in other area counties below.

As of Monday, January 2nd:
County – Does – Antlered Bucks – Button Bucks – Shed-Antler Bucks – Total
Washington – 667 – 602 – 151 – 3 – 1423
Henry – 515 – 490 – 137 – 9 – 1144
Iowa – 608 – 599 – 137 – 9 – 1353
Jefferson – 521 – 455 – 128 – 2 – 1106
Johnson – 796 – 655 – 139 – 12 – 1602
Keokuk – 417 – 490 – 96 – 2 – 1005
Louisa – 446 – 465 – 113 – 3 – 1423
Statewide – 42,178 – 43,064 – 8,536 – 431 – 94,209