SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Winter's first blast is a shock to the system that's been accustomed to mid-sixty degree days, but East River Deer hunters couldn't have asked for better conditions in tomorrow's opener.
Conservation Officer Nick Cochrane says until recently the deer have been moving at night avoiding the warm daytime weather.
Cochran says the rut is on now too. He says with the snow the deer should be moving earlier in the day to feed. Cooler temperatures enable the deer to move around more frequently. He says the only drawback is that hunters will have to bundle-up a little more.
Cochrane says deer numbers have risen providing hunters with plenty of opportunities.
He says the deer were spread out more when it was warm and didn't have to worry about finding shelter. But with colder weather moving in "they're definitely going to be in those cattail sloughs or in those bigger tree belts for protection."
There won't be as many out-of-state deer hunters as there are for the pheasant season but some residents will hunt other parts of the state.
Cochrane says parts of southeast South Dakota, especially around the Yankton area, were hit hard by deer diseases and the herd hasn't recovered. He says many of those hunters are hoping to get left over tags from Game, Fish and Parks to hunt other part of the state
East River deer season runs through December 4th.