ADDISON COUNTY — A Saturday and Sunday with fair but cold weather saw Vermont’s deer rifle season get off to a solid, but not spectacular, start in the area.
During the first two days of the state’s 16-day rifle season, local hunters shot 154 deer and then took them to one of Addison County’s official weighing stations.
That opening weekend total dropped from the 200 killed in 2013’s first two days, but overall fell in line with numbers from the past four years’ opening weekends.
 In 2012, 148 bucks were shot in the first two days of rifle season, and the numbers in 2011 and 2010 were 122 and 192, respectively.
The opening weekend count does not necessarily predict the final rifle season total. In 2013, those 200 first-weekend deer proved to be almost half of the final total of 421, while in 2012 hunters killed 148 deer in the first two days, but the total grew to 405 by the time the last deer tipped the scales.
The best rifle season in the past five came in 2010, when 428 deer were weighed locally after an opening weekend total of 192.
That year also proved to be the most fruitful overall for local hunters. Counting bow, muzzleloader and rifle seasons and Youth Hunting Weekend, the 2010 total came to 1,021.
Since 2009, Addison’s grand total has otherwise ranged from 671 in 2011, when poor weather plagued hunters and a tough previous winter thinned the deer herd, to 875 in 2012.
During the Nov. 8 and 9 Youth Hunting Weekend this year, young hunters brought 107 deer to be weighed locally, a total comparable with that in recent years — youth numbers have ranged from 95 to 125 since 2010. (See story in Nov. 17 edition of the Independent.)
The Independent has begun collecting bow season results and will publish bow and muzzleloader results and the overall results after the muzzleloader season concludes in December. Full rifle season results will be published after the season ends on Nov. 30.
Weigh station operators were at least cautiously optimistic earlier this week after the opening rifle weekend. Dick Phillips, owner of Vermont Field Sports in Middlebury, said hunters were happy.
“They’re seeing deer,” Phillips said.
In an Oct. 29 press release, Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists estimated the size of the state’s deer herd at 135,000, larger than in some recent years.
Local weigh station operators also reported evidence of a healthy herd.
“Most of them looked big,” said Melissa Germond of Buxton’s Store in Orwell, where three bucks weighed in at more then 190 pounds and another two topped 180.
Somewhat surprisingly, however, none taken locally in either Youth Hunting Weekend or rifle season’s opening weekend topped 200 pounds.
In all, four hunters took down 190-pound-plus deer, including the three taken to Buxton’s: Casey Fyles shot a 192-pounder with an 8-point antler rack in Shoreham; Jesse Disorda brought down a 191-pound, 7-pointer in Orwell; and Andre Fletcher killed a 190-pound, 4-pointer in Shoreham.
New Haven’s Village Green Market handled the fourth large buck, a 197-pound, 6-pointer that James Foley shot in New Haven.
Three hunters also shot deer with trophy antler racks. Robert Leggett had an 11-point, 160-pound buck killed in Middlebury and weighed at Vermont Field Sports, where also Justin Maheu brought a 10-point, 164-pound animal taken in Salisbury. Lincoln General Store weighed a 10-point, 171-pound deer that Jay Leduc shot in Bristol.
The county’s other weigh stations are Green Mountain Trails End LLC in Bristol, Jerusalem Corners Country Store in Starksboro, West Addison General Store, Rack and Reel in New Haven, Panton General Store, and C&S Hunting Supply in East Middlebury.
Hunters’ names were not immediately available at the Jerusalem store, although a total was. The Independent plans to print names in the rifle season wrap-up. C&S was briefly closed during the beginning of rifle season, but will reopen; its results will also be included in the wrap-up.
The following hunters found success during the first two days of rifle season; they are listed by weigh station, name, town of kill, pounds and antler points.
VERMONT FIELD SPORTS
Nathan Gebo, Salisbury, 177 pounds-8 points; Levi Doria, Ripton, 171-8; Glenn Terk, Ripton, 165-7; Justin Maheu, Salisbury, 164-10; Stephen Pratt, Whiting, 163-4; Ronald Berthiaume, Salisbury, 162-7; Robert Leggett, Middlebury, 160-11; Matthew Stevers, Middlebury, 158-6; Lyle Webb, Ripton, 158-3; Clyde Lemay, Bridport, 155-6; Bryon Bishop, Goshen, 155-9; Troy LaPell, Middlebury, 149-8; and David Wimett, Brandon, 145-8.
Also, Morris Lackey, Shoreham, 144-5; Charles Sargent, Ripton, 140-5; Bruce Payne, Bridport, 140-8; Terry Aldrich, Benson, 138-8; Wayne Rainey, Salisbury, 137-8; Robert Cameron, Goshen, 137-4; Timothy Little, Orwell, 135-5; Michael Palmer, Salisbury, 133-4; Justin Malzac, Middlebury, 133-4; Philip Cyr, Bridport, 133-7; Daniel Donohue, Brandon, 132-6; Thomas Fitzpatrick, Goshen, 129-6; Shane Ellis, Salisbury, 122-3; and James Whitley, Weybridge, 120-4.
BUXTON’S STORE
Brian Kemp, Orwell, 150-6; Lauren Crossman, Orwell, 169-6; Russell Nickerson, Orwell, 120-5; Annie Audet, Orwell, 180-6; Ken Robbins, Orwell, 134-3; Dennis Mical, Orwell, 138-5; Alyssa Potter, Orwell, 156-7; Tracy Tupper, Orwell, 129-6; Brittany Stoneberg, Fair Haven, 145-4; Heath Genier, Fair Haven, 161-8; Beau Genier, Fair Haven, 164-5; Andre Fletcher, Shoreham, 190-4; Jesse Disorda, Orwell, 191-7; Jeff Bishop, Bridport, 133-5; and Trey Lee, Orwell, 173-6.
Also, Ed Lanpher, Shoreham, 150-6; Dylan Lanpher, Shoreham, 111-5; Louis Hall, Orwell, 143-4; John Williams, Sudbury, 124-6; Steve Brileya, Shoreham, 157-8; Casey Fyles, Shoreham, 192-8; Alyth Hescock, Shoreham, 163-8; Randy Alger, Shoreham, 161-5; Jesse Wing, Shoreham, 158-7; Craig Hansen, Shoreham, 133-4; Garrett Tupper, Orwell, 141-6; Christopher Davis, Shoreham, 135-4; Jeff Williams, Whiting, 135-4; and Darren Ouellette, Shoreham, 159-8.
Also, Travis Leggett, Bridport, 137-4; Gage Slater, Benson, 126-4; Casey Barry, Bridport, 165-6; Brian Ketcham, Sudbury, 137-4; Roger Bougor, Orwell, 170-8; Ronald Allen, Castleton, 96-3; Mark Chapman, Shoreham, 163-5; Jonathan Steffon, Shoreham, 136-4; Kevin Eddy, Rupert, 163-7; James Hanson, Shoreham, 172-5; Tony Genelli, Shoreham, 167-6; Mike Matot, Shoreham, 145-4; Jonathan Ryan, Orwell, 184-4; Steve Manning, Orwell, 142-8.
LINCOLN GENERAL STORE
Jay Leduc, Bristol, 171-10; Michael Sears, Lincoln, 170-8; Ryan Donnelly, Lincoln, 160-6; Ralph Bushey, Lincoln, 159-4; Matt Elder, Starksboro, 155-4; Shawn Gokey, Jericho, 148-5; Adam Donnelly, Lincoln, 140-5; Matt Atkins, Lincoln, 138-5; Tony Myrick, Huntington, 135-6; Adam Whitcomb, Bristol, 134-6; John Chamberlain, Lincoln, 129-6; Michael Murphy, Bristol, 123-5; Aaron Thomas, Starksboro, 121-8; and Bruce Perlee, Bristol, 99-3.
PANTON GENERAL STORE
Randy Cameron, Ferrisburgh, 158-6; and Alvin Lanpher, Addison, 167-3.
WEST ADDISON GENERAL
David Gratton, Charleston, 157-4; Roger Bienvenue, Addison, 153-3; Dale Bushey, Addison, 122-2; Gary Grant, Bridport, 152-5; Tim Soucy, Addison, 114-3; and James Anderson, Addison, 118-5.
VILLAGE GREEN MARKET
Michael Lucier, Ferrisburgh, 153-7; James Foley, New Haven, 197-6; Sam Hurlburt, Monkton, 155-7; Shawn Roscoe, Bristol, 139-7; John Mlcuch, New Haven, 128-5; Kylie Palmer, New Haven, 107-5; Ryan Cornelier, Ferrisburgh, 123-3; Charles Paolontonio, Monkton, 152-6; Matthew DeBlois, Ferrisburgh, 154-6; David Huizenga, Monkton, 143-6; Scott Gustin, Monkton, 129-4; Dyllinger Higbee, Monkton, 137-3; Chris Gingham, Middlebury, 177-5; Roger Cota, Monkton, 140-6; and Debra Bessette, Ferrisburgh, 161-4.
RACK AND REEL
Cassidy Roorda, New Haven, 114-8; Keith Lebeau, New Haven, 126-4; Josh Kennett, Middlebury, 170-4; Kevin Reed, Addison, 135-6; Michel Latreille, Monkton, 151-9; Richard Bogner, Ripton, 133-4; Stephen Gutowski, Ferrisburgh, 116-4; Adam Lafountain, Starksboro, 150-8; Greg Vincent, Middlebury, 150-3; Jeremie Butterfield, Middlebury, 135-4; Casey Huizenga, Monkton, 109-3; and Kevin Berry, Cornwall, 143-3.
Also, Chrystal Yantz, Charlotte, 136-8; Alexis Lathrop, Middlebury, 152-5; Alan Clark, Bristol, 119-4; Patrick Murphy, Waltham, 154-4; Chris Groman, Weybridge, 157-7; Cory Steady, Waltham, 153-6; Andy Gendreau, Monkton, 166-6; Daniel Stearns, Ferrisburgh, 147-5; Bruce Cheever, New Haven, 154-4; and Cory Cheever, New Haven, 146-7.
Also, Mason Livingston, New Haven, 174-6; Sean Kehoe, Hinesburg, 136-5; Cristy Goyette, Cornwall, 150-8; Charles Johnson, Starksboro, 150-6; Kyle Delabruere, Bristol, unknown-5; Timothy Barrows, Ripton, 170-6; Paul Wildasin Jr., Waltham, 154-8; and Patrick Needham, New Haven, 169-4.
GREEN MT. TRAILS END
Mark Skeffington, Bristol, 140-6; Kirk Jennings, Starksboro, 113-5; Craig Jennings, Bristol, 161-7; Jackie Gorton, Bristol, 113-3; and Geoff Booth, Lincoln, 117-6.
Andy Kirkaldy may be reached at andyk@addisonindependent