CWSMACKDOWN
11-01-2004, 06:36 AM
Hunters in West Virginia will have a total of 21 days to harvest antlerless deer on private lands during the 2004 antlerless deer season, according to Curtis I. Taylor, Chief of the Wildlife Resources Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. A total of 51 counties or parts thereof will be open to antlerless deer hunting in West Virginia this fall.
"Deer populations in many regions of West Virginia, especially those found in the northern, eastern and western counties, are currently above management objectives as established in the Wildlife Resources Section’s White-tailed Deer Operational Plan," Taylor said. "Thirty-five percent of our counties support deer populations above their management objectives, and further reductions in these deer populations are needed.
“Harvesting appropriate numbers of female deer is the most effective tool available for managing deer populations and regulating deer densities,” noted Taylor. “The 21-day antlerless deer season and the liberal antlerless deer bag limits in place this fall should provide ample opportunities for hunters and landowners to harvest additional female deer and achieve herd reductions where necessary.”
Fifty-one counties or parts thereof will have a 21-day antlerless deer season that will run concurrent with the traditional buck-gun season (November 22 through December 4) on private land only. The season will reopen on December 6 and run through December 11 on private and public land. The final split in the antlerless deer season will take place from December 29 through December 31 on private lands only.
The following counties or parts thereof will be open for the 21-day season: Barbour, Berkley, Boone, Braxton, Brooke, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette (N & E of New River & E of Gauley River), Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha (N of Elk River & W of Corridor G), Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Mercer, Mineral, Monongalia, Monroe, Morgan, Nicholas, Ohio, Pendleton, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, Taylor, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Webster, Wetzel, Wirt and Wood. Hunters are reminded that some counties have a limited number of permits available and restricted bag limits. Hunters are urged to consult the 2004-2005 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary.
Hunters and landowners are reminded that the portion of the antlerless deer season which coincides with the buck-gun season is not a hunter’s choice season. A valid Class N license is required of all hunters to hunt antlerless deer except resident landowners, their resident children and/or resident parents, and resident tenants.
The DNR reminds hunters that only one deer may be taken per day during the November 22 – December 4 and December 29 – 31 portions of the antlerless season, therefore, a buck and an antlerless deer may not be taken on the same day during the concurrent buck-gun and antlerless deer season. In 43 counties or parts thereof, hunters who possess three Class N licenses and a RG or RRG license, may take up to four deer during the antlerless deer season. Hunters may take two antlerless deer per day in selected counties on private land during the December 6-11 portion of the antlerless deer season, provided the first deer is legally checked prior to hunting a second deer.
"The liberalized deer season and bag limits in place this fall will allow landowners and farmers an excellent opportunity to reduce deer populations on their land and control deer damage problems," said Taylor. "Landowners experiencing deer damage problems need to allow a sufficient number of hunters access to their property, and these hunters should be encouraged to harvest antlerless deer."
For additional information on the antlerless deer season and special wildlife management area regulations, hunters and landowners should obtain a copy of the 2004-2005 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary which is currently available at license agents throughout the state or at your local District DNR Office. Hunting regulations can also be found on the DNR’s Web site at www.wvdnr.gov .
**DNR**
"Deer populations in many regions of West Virginia, especially those found in the northern, eastern and western counties, are currently above management objectives as established in the Wildlife Resources Section’s White-tailed Deer Operational Plan," Taylor said. "Thirty-five percent of our counties support deer populations above their management objectives, and further reductions in these deer populations are needed.
“Harvesting appropriate numbers of female deer is the most effective tool available for managing deer populations and regulating deer densities,” noted Taylor. “The 21-day antlerless deer season and the liberal antlerless deer bag limits in place this fall should provide ample opportunities for hunters and landowners to harvest additional female deer and achieve herd reductions where necessary.”
Fifty-one counties or parts thereof will have a 21-day antlerless deer season that will run concurrent with the traditional buck-gun season (November 22 through December 4) on private land only. The season will reopen on December 6 and run through December 11 on private and public land. The final split in the antlerless deer season will take place from December 29 through December 31 on private lands only.
The following counties or parts thereof will be open for the 21-day season: Barbour, Berkley, Boone, Braxton, Brooke, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette (N & E of New River & E of Gauley River), Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha (N of Elk River & W of Corridor G), Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Mercer, Mineral, Monongalia, Monroe, Morgan, Nicholas, Ohio, Pendleton, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, Taylor, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Webster, Wetzel, Wirt and Wood. Hunters are reminded that some counties have a limited number of permits available and restricted bag limits. Hunters are urged to consult the 2004-2005 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary.
Hunters and landowners are reminded that the portion of the antlerless deer season which coincides with the buck-gun season is not a hunter’s choice season. A valid Class N license is required of all hunters to hunt antlerless deer except resident landowners, their resident children and/or resident parents, and resident tenants.
The DNR reminds hunters that only one deer may be taken per day during the November 22 – December 4 and December 29 – 31 portions of the antlerless season, therefore, a buck and an antlerless deer may not be taken on the same day during the concurrent buck-gun and antlerless deer season. In 43 counties or parts thereof, hunters who possess three Class N licenses and a RG or RRG license, may take up to four deer during the antlerless deer season. Hunters may take two antlerless deer per day in selected counties on private land during the December 6-11 portion of the antlerless deer season, provided the first deer is legally checked prior to hunting a second deer.
"The liberalized deer season and bag limits in place this fall will allow landowners and farmers an excellent opportunity to reduce deer populations on their land and control deer damage problems," said Taylor. "Landowners experiencing deer damage problems need to allow a sufficient number of hunters access to their property, and these hunters should be encouraged to harvest antlerless deer."
For additional information on the antlerless deer season and special wildlife management area regulations, hunters and landowners should obtain a copy of the 2004-2005 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary which is currently available at license agents throughout the state or at your local District DNR Office. Hunting regulations can also be found on the DNR’s Web site at www.wvdnr.gov .
**DNR**