Deer-archery season underway in Kansas

The archery season for deer is underway in Kansas, and hunters are heading out in ever higher numbers.

The Hutchinson News reports the state has already issued more than 14,000 archery-alone permits for the season that opened Sept. 15 and ends Dec. 31. That compares with about 19,000 permits issued for the entire season last year.

At Heartland Outdoor in South Hutchinson, head archery technician Evan Theis says advances in equipment and TV hunting shows partly account for the rising popularity of bow-hunting. But he also credits movies like “The Hunger Games” and “The Avengers,” both of which feature archers as main characters.

Kansas residents with any-season deer permits may also hunt with bows during deer-archery season. About 27,000 of those permits have also been issued.