VENANGO CO., Pa. (EYT) — Deer hunters across the region may not have had snow to help them find their quarry as the regular gun season opened Monday, but they were greeted by reasonable weather.

(Pictured: Barry Fox, of Plumer, shows off the 15-point buck he bagged on Monday.)

Temperatures opened around 30 degrees before rising to the 40s during the afternoon as clouds parted.

As a result, hunters seemed to be out in good numbers.

The season continues through Saturday, December 9.

Hunters are reminded that certain point restrictions exist across the region.

Those hunting in Wildlife Management Unit 2D, which includes areas south of Route 322 in Clarion, Jefferson, and Venango counties and all of Armstrong County, the eastern half of Butler County and the western half of Indiana County, can only target bucks with at least three main points. The brow tine does not count as a point in 2D.

For area hunters who hunt in Wildlife Management Unit 2F, which includes areas north of Route 322 in Jefferson and Clarion counties, an eastern section of Venango County and all of Forest County, a legal buck is defined as having two main points with the brow tine counting as a third point.

Hunters who are are not bound by the antler restrictions include junior hunters, mentored youth, disabled, and resident active duty U.S. Armed Services personnel. They can harvest antlered deer with two or more points on one antler or a spike three or more inches long.

Senior hunters must also follow antler restrictions.

For more information on antler restrictions, refer to read.nxtbook.com/pgc/huntingtrapping/20172018/index.html#antler_restrictions.

Also, antlerless season begins on Saturday, December 2. Hunters with the proper license can harvest one antlerless deer.

Hunters hoping for snow may be out of luck as none is in the forecast through the end of the season.

While that could change, after today’s temperatures reaching near 60, most of the region is expected to see daytime highs in the 40s through the middle of next week and highs in the low to mid-30s during December 7-9.

Harvest numbers won’t be announced until well after the season. The Game Commission doesn’t do checkpoints for deer.

For more information, refer to the Hunting and Trapping Digest at www.pgc.pa.gov/HuntTrap/Law/Pages/HuntingandTrappingDigest.