"It's unlikely what storms we've had will start moving deer. That won't happen until we get substantial snow in the higher elevations."

The deer he checked on the archery hunt in August, he added, were in good conditions.

The large fires this past summer occurred on lower-elevation winter range. Those areas tend to get little snow but did get some growth, even on the cheat grass, which was available to deer.

In the more critical areas, revegetation programs have already begun.

As far as where to hunt, Aoude said most of the deer, especially the larger bucks, should still be at higher elevations. If it remains dry, then deer will be in cover during the day and out feeding at night. If the weather is bad, "hunters may be able to catch deer out feeding during the day. It all depends on the weather."

The deer hunt will last for nine days in the Northern, Northeaster and Central regions, and for five days in the Southern and Southeastern regions.

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