Fort McCoy's annual deer hunt for disabled hunters, which was held Oct. 3-4, saw a favorable increase from 2008 statistics, according to the Fort McCoy Wildlife Program.

David Beckmann, installation Wildlife biologist, said 23 hunters harvested six deer, for a success rate of 26 percent during the two-day hunt.

This is a slight increase compared to the 18 hunters and four deer harvested, a 22 percent success rate, in 2008.

"The weather conditions for the 2009 hunt were favorable for deer movement, but had periods of rain that may have kept hunters out of the woods," Beckmann said.

Hunters were required to attend a briefing Oct. 2 that covered special safety concerns. Hunters and their assistants were also provided a list of areas that would be open so they could conduct pre-hunt scouting.

Many of the hunters expressed appreciation for the opportunity to hunt at Fort McCoy in post-hunting evaluations, Beckmann said.

"We had a 55 percent increase in permit applicants (without a lot of external publicity)," Beckmann said. "I think the word is getting out that McCoy has a quality hunt."

The next hunt is the muzzle-loader hunt, which will run Oct. 31-Nov. 1.

The nine-day gun season will run Nov. 21-29.

For more information about hunting opportunities at Fort McCoy, visit the Web site http://www.mccoy.army.mil and click on recreational opportunities or call the Permit Sales Office at 608-388-3337.