CHARLESTON -- Two more hunters have died of heart attacks during the state's buck gun season, the Division of Natural Resources said Tuesday.

The agency initially had reported one hunting-related fatal heart attack. All three deaths occurred Monday.

Cumberland, Md., resident Charles Wilkinson, 67, was stricken while dragging a deer with a four-wheeler in the Germany Valley-North Mountain area in Pendleton County, the DNR said. According to the agency, another hunter tried to revive Wilkinson for an hour.

The DNR said a family member found Moorefield resident Randall Whetzel, 45, dead in his vehicle about 6 p.m. Monday in Hardy County.

Earlier, DNR had reported that Berkeley Springs resident Curtis Lane Walker, 73, died while hunting in Morgan County.

A fourth hunter was listed in stable condition after he slipped and shot himself in the ankle, DNR said.

The deaths marred a promising start to the state's main hunting season.

"We've had two nice days," DNR biologist Jeff McCrady said. "There's been quite a few deer brought in."

On Tuesday, 206 deer were checked into Cabell County deer check stations and 112 were checked into Wayne County stations. The number of deer checked in Tuesday more than doubled the amount brought in on Monday, according to Cabell and Wayne stations.

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.

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