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PARKERSBURG - About 280,000 licensed hunters will be out for West Virginia's annual deer firearms season beginning today and running through Dec. 5.

"I'm expecting a pretty good season, especially if the rain holds off," said Jeff McCrady, biologist with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. "I predict this year we'll see more kills than last season. The first three days of hunting season are always the busiest."

With a shortage of acorns this year, deer will probably be grazing in different areas. The availability of mast, or fruit from forest trees, has a big impact on where hunters will find the most deer, he said.

"Instead of being so deep into the woods looking for acorns, I'm guessing the deer will be out in open fields and grassy areas, making them easier to spot by hunters. That's one of the reasons I think the harvest will be bigger this season. The other reason is simply that the weather was wet and rainy for the first few days of hunting season last year, which tends to keep more people indoors. A lot of it just depends on the weather conditions."

Last year, hunters harvested 67, 365 bucks during the two-week firearm season, with an antlerless deer harvest of 56,221.

With bow hunting season going on and firearm season just beginning, McCrady said the DNR has been busy collecting data and monitoring checking stations around Wood County.

John Murray, manager of Starcher's Sport Shop in Lubeck, said the store has been gearing up for firearm season. The store serves as a game checking station through hunting season.

"We look forward to it being a good season," said Murray. "It might rain a little, but last year it rained on the first day too and we still ended up seeing very nice-sized deer for this area."

Murray, who has managed the store for several years, said this is the second year the store has doubled as a game checking station. Periodically, store managers will call the DNR if they see anything unusual in the deer being brought in.

"Of course, if we see something strange, like a sick deer, we call the DNR," he said. "But usually, everything goes smoothly."

Murray said he expects a successful season, even if the weather is rainy.

"With the economy the way it is, a lot of people are relying on deer meat to feed their families this season," he said. "And this year, we've seen a lot more kids taking part in hunting. They really get into it. The fact that hunting seems to be more of a family-oriented event is a recent change."

Lee Gilliam, manager of Cain's Outdoor in Williamstown, has overseen the store's game checking station for six years. She predicted a decrease in harvested deer this season.

"For bow hunting this year, we've seen a lot less deer being checked in," she said. "I believe the mast shortage means the animals are having to travel farther to find food. And based on what we've been seeing so far during bow season, I would say the kill count will probably be down."

The DNR reminds hunters to stay safe during gun season by wearing the required 400 square inches of blaze orange as an outer garment. The antlered deer bag limit during the two-week firearm season is two, and all deer must be field tagged and checked within 72 hours of the time of kill or within 24 hours of the close of the season.

For more information about hunting regulations or to find out how to donate deer meat to Hunters Helping the Hungry, visit www.wvdnr.gov.