BRADFORD — Deer hunters hunting in McKean County are reminded that the deer check station on Route 59 will be open on Saturday, Nov. 28, Sunday, Nov. 29, Monday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 5, for the first week of firearms deer season.

The check station service is free to hunters. Hunters are encouraged to bring their deer in to learn the age of their deer, the health and other biological statistics. The check station is located on Route 59 at the Timberdoodle Flats Wildlife Trail, near the junction of Route 59 and Route 321N, and is staffed by Kinzua Quality Deer Cooperative volunteers with professional backgrounds in deer management.

Each hunter that brings a deer to the Timberdoodle Flats Check Station of the KQDC during the 2019 firearms deer season will receive a ticket for cash prizes and a blaze orange KQDC hat, while hat supplies last. Those who bring in an antlerless deer will receive a ticket for $500 cash and those who have an antlered deer checked will receive a chance to win $250 cash. The giveaway will be drawn the day after the end of rifle deer season, Dec. 13.

Deer should be harvested within or near the KQDC. The KQDC is located west of Bradford and north of Kane in McKean and Warren counties.

Hunters are particularly encouraged to bring in deer harvested with their DMAP permit.

The check station’s hours of operation will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. all four days.

All deer are weighed and checked for sex, age, and health, and additional data are collected on antlered deer for points, spread, and beam diameter. The data collected provides critical information used in managing the health of the herd.

The KQDC will be posting recent trail cam photos of deer at the check stations. A list of deer processors and the most up-to-date info on Chronic Wasting Disease will also be available at the check station.