Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) Executive Director Vern Ross released the final totals for mistaken kills reported for the 2002-2003 deer seasons last week, noting he' s pleased with the results.

Ross says the PGC expected between 5,000 and 10,000 mistaken kills during the state' s first deer season with antler restrictions, but he says PGC officers handled only 2,096 mistaken kills.

Of that number, Ross says 2,050 cases resulted in hunters paying a $25 administrative fee and surrendering the antlers. Of the remaining 46 cases where PGC officers rejected the mistaken kill claims and issued a standard $500 fine, 17 involved hunters shooting bucks they thought were does, which Ross says has nothing to do with antler restrictions and is something PGC officers have to deal with every year.