Will General Assembly Allow Study of "Bait Hunting" for Deer

The Washington Post had this article on Monday about the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors backing legislation that would ask the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) to study the use of "bait" to hunt deer:

As Loudoun County grapples with a problematic population of white-tailed deer, the county’s Board of Supervisors recently signaled that it would support a legislative study of bait hunting, a controversial practice involving the use of bait to make deer easier targets for hunters.

The use of bait to attract deer is outlawed in Virginia. Bait-hunting supporters say that the method offers a more effective means to cull a herd. Opponents say that gathering deer in a concentrated area promotes the spread of disease, alters natural migration movements and might cause other health and environmental problems for the animals and their habitat.

In Virginia, people who use mineral blocks and wildlife feeders must discontinue the use of both on or before September 1 each year and may not reintroduce them to the property until after the deer season has ended.  It is legal however to continue "agronomic plantings" (including wildlife food plots).  All those bags of deer corn and various attractants like "Acorn Crush" "C'Mere Deer" etc. that you see in Gander Mountain, Bass Pro, or Walmart during deer season are not legal to use here.  You could however buy a bag or two and go across the border to North Carolina and use them.

I use minerals and a corn feeder during the spring and summer on the property I hunt to supplement the natural food source.  I believe it is beneficial to the does that are nursing fawns during this time.  It also gives me photos of what the herd is like in the area I hunt.  Last year I had very few pictures of fawns in the area and also had photos of a coyote which told me there was likely the chance I had a predator problem.  The owner of the property killed the canine critter this spring and my camera noted an uptick in the fawn population over the summer and into the fall.

It's obvious Virginians don't need "bait" to kill deer.  Last year Virginia hunters killed 242,734 deer.  We also know, thanks to the Post article, that Loudoun had 360 deer-related car crashes last year - the highest number of all jurisdictions in Virginia, and the county also has the highest rate of Lyme disease infection in Virginia.  Should "baiting" be a local option so localities like Loudoun and Fairfax have the option of allowing hunting deer with "bait" to better control the herd?  It would be interesting to see if those states that allow the use of food attractants have documented an increase in disease as DGIF claims would be the case if the practice was allowed in Virginia.  That will only happen with a study.  And because of that, The Virginia General Assembly should authorize DGIF to conduct a thorough study of the issue so that sound science can back up their regulations.

2013 Virginia Deer Harvest Increases 13 Percent

The Richmond Times Dispatch reports that The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) has released the numbers for this past fall's hunting seasons and it contains some good news.

During the past deer season 242,734 deer were reported killed by deer hunters in Virginia.  This total included 106,230 antlered bucks, 20,082 button bucks, 116,304 does (48%), and 118 “unknown” deer.  The fall 2013 deer kill total was up 13% from the 215,241 deer reported killed last fall.  It is also slightly above the last ten-year average of 232,600 (up 4%).

Muzzleloader hunters accounted for almost 1/4 of the kills (22%) over 3/4 of all hunters checked their deer by using the department's automated phone check-in service.  DGIF also noted that the state deer management plan has called for an increase in the number of doe kills, especially on private property, and those numbers have increased for eight consecutive years.

Bedford County had the most deer kills, and also saw an increase from 2012 numbers. Loudoun County came in with the second most deer taken but that locality actually saw a minor decline (15) in 2013.

Hat tip to NRABlog.

Virginia Hunter Education Association Hunter Skills Weekend

The Virginia Hunter Education Association, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF), will sponsor the Hunter Skills Weekend at the Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center near Appomattox, August 24-26, 2012.   This clinic is designed to help the beginning hunter develop skills beyond the basic Hunter Education course, as well as teach experienced hunters who may be interested in a new hunting discipline (archery, muzzleloader, etc.).  The program offers instruction in shooting, woodsmanship, and hunting techniques for a variety of species.

For more information, visit the 4-H Center website.

DGIF Opportunities for Public Comment

Hunters may be interested in commenting on two plans currently under consideration by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Draft Black Bear Management Plan, 2012–2021

A public comment period is open, June 11–August 1, 2012, on the Draft Black Bear Management Plan. The revised plan will guide bear management across the Commonwealth through 2021. Learn more & comment »

Hunting & Trapping Public Input Period

Through November 1, 2012, during the Hunting and Trapping Public Input Period, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is soliciting the public's recommendations regarding hunting and trapping regulatory issues.

Youth Hunts Pass On Outdoor Traditions

On September 24th, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) sponsored a 3rd Youth Deer Hunting Day in coordination with National Hunting and Fishing Day.  As David Coffman, editor of the DGIF Outdoor Report stated in last week's edition,

...if you took a young hunter out on this special youth hunting day, you created a unique memory and hopefully started a new tradition."

This year's hunt set a record.  According to DGIF, a total of 1,195 deer were checked electronically. DGIF reports that this is up 82% from the 657 check electronically last year. Mat Knox, the DGIF Deer Project Coordinator noted:

"...that after two consecutive years of terrible deer hunting weather on the annual youth deer hunting day, we finally got a break. Saturday was not perfect, but it was much better than the rain of 2009 and the heat of 2010."

DGIF believes that based on last year's final total which includes deer logged at check-in stations, that this year's final total could be 2,000 or above.  Last year the final combined total was 1,124.

2010 Dad and Daughter Hunt

We are in the middle of Early Archery Season and Early Muzzleloader Season is just a couple weeks away (November 5th).  With a little over 15 weeks left in big game season, be sure and take a young person out for a hunting adventure before the seasons end – the future of our sport and hunting heritage traditions depend on passing on our traditions to the next generation.

Last Chance to Sign up for Deer, Bear, and Other DGIF Quota Hunts

From today's DGIF Email Blast:

This Friday, August 19, 2011, is the last day to apply for any of the 200 series or 300 series Quota Hunts! This is your last chance to sign up for one of the deer, bear, or multi-species Quota Hunts hunts.The fastest and easiest way to apply is on the internet. All you need is a valid email address. Click on the link below:

Apply today! www.vaquotahunts.com

Available Hunts (Applications due August 19th):

• 201 Hog Island WMA Deer Hunts (Archery)
• 202 Hog Island WMA Deer Hunts (Shotgun & Muzzleloader)
• 203 The Nature Conservancy, North Landing River
• 204 Mockhorn Island WMA Deer Hunts (Muzzleloader)
• 205 Back Bay Natl Wildlife Refuge, False Cape St. Park Deer & Hog Hunt
• 206 Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge (Archery)
• 207 Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge (Muzzleloader)
• 208 Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge (Firearms)
• 209 Presquile National Wildlife Refuge (Firearms)
• 210 James River National Wildlife Refuge (Archery)
• 212 Lone Star Lakes Park (Hunter's Choice)
• 213 Lone Star Lakes Park (Hunter's Choice)
• 214 Lone Star Lakes Park (Muzzleloader/Archery)
• 301 Cavalier WMA Hunts
• 302 Featherfin WMA
• 303 Merrimac Farm WMA
• 501 Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Bear Hunt

Once you create a VA Quota Hunts online account, you can:

• Apply for a variety of other quota hunts
• Pay using a credit card (we also accept check and money order)
• Check the status of the hunts you applied for,
• And if you win a hunt, download all the necessary documents and permits.

About

Quota hunts provide hunters unique opportunities to access public lands that otherwise may be closed to hunting (such as our most popular hunt, the Radford Army Ammunitions Plant Deer Hunt.) Hunters can participate in random drawings to hunt waterfowl, white-tailed deer, black bear, quail, rabbits, turkeys, and feral hogs.

For rules and regulations, or for a complete list of hunts including ones new for the 2011-2012 season, consult the Virginia Hunting Guide or visit http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/quotahunts/

SB868 Tabled in House Agriculture Today

SB868, Senator Richard Stuart's bill that would have changed the procedures for lawfully killing deer, bear, and elk that cause damage to crops, was tabled in committee this morning.  Thanks to all of the sportsmen who contacted committee members and voiced your opposition to this bill.  Your contact led the committee to determine that the bill needed more work and was not ready for consideration.

Under the bill, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries would have been required to issue kill permits for one year to landowners claiming wildlife crop damage without any investigation of the claim.

Current law requires the Department to investigate claims of agricultural damage before damage permits can be issued.  Only after finding the damage was actually caused by a deer or bear can the Department allow the removal of the problem deer and bear.   Additionally, in current law only deer and bear are subject to damage permits.  This bill would have also allowed the state’s limited elk population to be included in the damage permits.

A coalition of sportsmen’s and conservation organizations including VSSA, the Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, the National Wild Turkey Federation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Rifle Association, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Quality Deer Management Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and others all pushed to stop the bill.

There is no question that farmers experience crop damage from growing wildlife populations.  However, there are other ways that are more in line with responsible wildlife management to deal with this issue than the remedies sought in SB868.  Hopefully in the future, sportsmen and farmers (many of whom are also sportsmen) can come together to deal with this issue in a way that protects the livelihood of farmers and continues the responsible management of wildlife.

McDonnell Names Domenech as Secretary of Natural Resources

Governor Elect Bob McDonnell today announced that Former Loudoun County Republican Committee Chairman Doug Domenech will serve as his Secretary of Natural Resources.

According to the McDonnell Press Release:

Mr. Domenech most recently served as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Insular Affairs where he managed U.S. relations with seven insular areas including US Territories of the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and US Freely Associated States of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands. Policy issues addressed in this role included energy, security, economic development and health.

Prior to serving at the U.S. Department of the Interior, Mr. Domenech had a long career in forestry. Upon graduating from college he became the Acting Director of the Timber Harvesting Management Program at Alabama A&M University where he managed research funded by the USDA Forest Service and Tennessee Valley Authority. In 1981 he went to work for the Forest Resources Association, a national technical trade association which represents produces and consumers of raw wood material. He began as the Southwestern Division Forester in Jackson, MS, and then moved to become the Southeastern Division Forester in Charleston, SC. He later became the Director of Forestry Programs at the FRA’s headquarters in Washington, DC from 1990-1993.

Among the agencies under Domenech's domain is the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries - an agency near and dear to the hearts of sportsmen.