The state Department of Environmental Conservation released the 2015 hunting numbers last week, and the results show the lowest number of deer taken in nearly a decade.

Many hunters have said a lack of snow for tracking and a warm fall were contributing factors in making the deer hunting more difficult.

The total deer harvest for the year was down 15 percent from 2014, even though more than 200,000 deer were reported taken. This was the lowest number of deer since 2006. The state relies on hunters reporting their deer take, as well as DEC inspections of deer at butchers and check points.

More than 23,500 deer were taken in the Northern Zone, which includes the Adirondack Park, including nearly 15,000 adult males. Of those, 2,557 were taken with muzzleloaders, while less than 1,000 were taken during bow hunting.

Just over 1,300 deer were taken in Franklin County, and 884 were taken in Clinton County. In Essex County, 1,547 deer were taken.

The Adirondacks, although split into different wildlife management areas, had the lowest density of deer taken anywhere in the state. For both adult males and antlerless deer, the North Country had a take density of less than one deer per square mile.

For the youth hunting weekend in October, just shy of 8,000 eligible youth (14-15-year-olds) participated, and they combined for a total of 1,222 deer taken.

The report also shows that nearly 7 percent of all the deer taken were killed on Oct. 17, which was the opening day of muzzlelaoding season. That day had the highest total number of deer taken for the year.

To see the report, visit www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/2015deerrpt.pdf.