Deer hunters take to the fields

Tim Young of T.Y.’s Tobacco Corner expects to have a lot of visitors this weekend.

T.Y.’s is the Beatrice deer check point. Young checks in the deer and keeps the data, which he turns over to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Last year, Young saw more than 500 rifle hunters in the first two days of rifle season, which starts today (Saturday). After the first two days, he saw about 15 to 20 successful hunters per day, adding up to more than 1,000 hunters in eight days.

He expects a lot more this year. Because of high deer population, hunters are allowed two deer permits.

“Oh yeah, I expect it to go up (from last year),” he said.

With hunters coming from all around to hunt deer in the Beatrice area, T.Y.’s isn’t the only place that sees large crowds.

Lori Warner, president of the Beatrice Chamber of Commerce, said hunters bring revenue to all of Beatrice.

“They’re going to stay at our motels, eat at our restaurants, get gas in their cars,” she said.

After the hunters spend money in Beatrice, Warner said there is a trickle-down effect.

Each dollar they spend at the motel or the gas station gets turned around in Beatrice, being spent on other products or services in Beatrice.

“We look forward to it. We depend on them, really,” she said.

Warner said she isn’t sure how well rifle hunting will fare in Beatrice this year, though.

“Five years ago it was great,” she said.

Since then, Warner said, there hasn’t been enough of the small game (pheasants, etc.) and those hunters have been leaving the area. She hopes that trend doesn’t keep the big game hunters from the area.

Warner hopes that hunters will come in large crowds to the area.

“It’s only going to be as good as they publicize it,” she said.

Warner said it’s up to the Natural Resources District to encourage hunters from out of the area to travel here to hunt.

Hotels in the area aren’t certain about big crowds, but are hopeful.

Steve Fortier, general manager of The New Victorian Inn, said, though he’s new in the position and can’t say what crowds were like last year, he hopes the crowds will come from out of town and need a place to stay.

“I believe we have a few reservations, but I’m not sure if it’s up or down from last year,” he said.