In nearby Mitchell County the count dropped over the same pe- riod from 1,607 to 305. In several of the counties to the west and north of Abilene the TPWD survey data was incomplete in either 1995 or 1996 and no comparisons could be made for those locations. The really good news in the generally dreary numbers above is they are old news and the outlook for the coming seasons couldn't be much better. It will obviously take a while for the mature-deer count to recover from the months of drought, but there are literally thousands of whitetail fawns in area counties this year and they have enough forage to keep them, and their mothers, fat through the coming winter. These hunting permits will be limited and there will be a drawing for the permits at the O.H. Ivie Reservoir Field Office, located near the north end of the lake dam, at 10 a.m. on Sept. 17.
Applicants are welcome to attend the drawing.
The competition is free and open to children ages seven through 14 years, and the contest format is to test the skills of casting, flipping and pitching with a rod and reel.