HUNTING -- The late whitetail buck season for modern rifle hunters in select northeastern Washington units closes today at 4:45 p.m.

The the snow that blanketed hunting areas last weekend for the closing days apparently have been good for hunters.  

“Weather conditions for 2013 created great conditions for late season hunting over 2012," said  says Kevin Robinette, Department of Fish and Wildlife regional wildlife manager in Spokane. "Participation at our check stations increased also.”

Indeed, the number of hunters checking in to the stations at Chattaroy and Deer Park last weekend (303) was up about 40 percent from last year while the number of whitetails they had bagged (84) increased by about 80 percent.

The overall hunter success rate last weekend was about 28 percent compared with 21 percent on the last weekend of the season last year.

Whitetails get a bit of a respite now as the their breeding season peaks.

But the late archery season opens on Monday.