HUNTINGTON -- Reported deer kills were down Thanksgiving Day, although it could spike Friday as the number of check stations increases. Many were closed Thursday for the holiday.

But some hunters still checked their deer in at the few stations that were open. In Cabell County, DBA FasChek Grocery in Salt Rock checked in seven, while JC's Market on Route 2 had 14. The Guyandotte fire station checked in five.

In Wayne County, five of the 14 check stations reported numbers Thursday afternoon. Beech Fork Lake Marina checked in two, the Kenova Police Department checked four, and Vernick's Country Store in East Lynn had six. At least 19 were checked in Thursday.

Deer hunting season runs through Saturday, Dec. 5, and is open in all counties except Logan, Mingo, McDowell and Wyoming. Sunday hunting on private land is allowed on Sunday, Nov. 29, only in Boone, Brooke, Clay, Hancock, Jefferson, Lincoln, Logan McDowell, Marshall, Mingo, Ohio, Wayne, Wetzel and Wyoming counties.

Each hunter has a bag limit of two bucks.

All deer must be field tagged and checked in within 72 hours of the time of kill or within 24 hours of the close of the season, whichever comes first.

A list of deer check stations in West Virginia can be found online at www.wvdnr.gov/hunting/check_stations.asp.

Hunters who wish to donate deer meat or dollars to the Hunters Helping the Hungry program, which distributes deer meat through the Mountaineer Food Bank and the Huntington Food Bank, should call 304-558-2771 or visit www.wvdnr.gov to find a participating meat processor.

Ohio's deer hunting season starts Monday, Nov. 30, and runs to Sunday, Dec. 6.

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