November's first-ever controlled hunt in high-profile state park to be subject of close scrutiny
During a three-day stretch in mid-November, many eyes will focus on Lewis County's Stonewall Jackson Resort Park.
During a three-day stretch in mid-November, many eyes will focus on Lewis County's Stonewall Jackson Resort Park.
Deer hunters, parks officials and wildlife biologists will pay close attention to how many deer get killed during the first-ever controlled hunt in a high-profile West Virginia state park open to visitors at the time.
"This is something new for us," said Sam England, the park's superintendent. "We had very good success with the recent hunts at Blennerhassett Island [Historical Park], but those hunts were held away from the park facilities, and on days when no park visitors were around. The Stonewall hunt will be the first time in recent West Virginia history when a hunt was held with the park open and guests present."
Hunting was illegal in state parks between 1959 and 2001, the date of the first Blennerhassett Island hunt. Deer in several parks became badly overpopulated, so much so that they upset the ecology.
Experiments in Wheeling, Weirton, Barboursville and at the West Virginia Radio Astronomy Observatory proved that controlled hunts - events in which specified numbers of hunters were allowed on the grounds on a given day - could effectively reduce deer numbers without creating a slaughter or a spectacle. Encouraged by the results, lawmakers gave parks officials the authority to conduct hunts of their own.
"The Blennerhassett hunts were the first ones held under that authority," said Paul Johansen, assistant wildlife chief for the state Division of Natural Resources. "They went off without any hitches at all. They were very well planned and effectively managed."
Stonewall's England believes the Nov. 17-19 hunt will go equally smoothly.
"We believe we have a very effective strategy that will reduce, if not eliminate, interaction between hunters and park guests," he said.
Most hunting on the Stonewall grounds will take place between U.S. 19 and the park's golf course. The course will be closed during the three days the hunt takes place. Only 50 hunters will be allowed on the grounds each day.
"Some of the hunters will be assigned to hunt from stationary stands near the golf course," England explained. "Four of us - all of whom are deer hunters - scouted the area and hand-picked the trees where the stands will be placed. All of them are on major deer trails.
"The rest of the area will be open to 'free-range' hunting. People who hunt in the free-range zone will be allowed to enter from the opposite side of the property so that they push deer toward the golf course, and people hunting near the golf course will push deer toward the free-range hunters."
DNR officials recently began accepting applications from prospective hunters. Participants will be chosen by lottery, and must adhere to the following rules:
Applicants may download the necessary application forms from the DNR's Web site, www.wvdnr.gov, or they may pick up application forms at any DNR office, any state park or any state forest.Applicants must specify whether they plan to hunt with firearms or with archery equipment.Applicants must specify whether they plan to hunt from a stand or on foot.Applicants must possess valid West Virginia hunting licenses, or be license-exempt, on the day of the hunt.Hunt coordinators will not maintain a waiting list, nor will they accept walk-ups.Deer killed will not count against hunters' season totals.Hunting will be for antlerless deer only. However, on each day a drawing will be held and four of the 50 hunters will be given the privilege of taking either a buck or a doe.Applications must be postmarked by Aug. 29 to be eligible.
The DNR's Johansen said the amount of planning that went into the three-day event should bring about the desired result. "By and large, I believe [organizers] have covered all the bases," he continued. "I believe we'll achieve the desired harvest of female deer, and that the event will be well-received by the public."
Reach John McCoy at johnmc...@wvgazette.com or 348-1231.
During a three-day stretch in mid-November, many eyes will focus on Lewis County's Stonewall Jackson Resort Park.
Deer hunters, parks officials and wildlife biologists will pay close attention to how many deer get killed during the first-ever controlled hunt in a high-profile West Virginia state park open to visitors at the time.
"This is something new for us," said Sam England, the park's superintendent. "We had very good success with the recent hunts at Blennerhassett Island [Historical Park], but those hunts were held away from the park facilities, and on days when no park visitors were around. The Stonewall hunt will be the first time in recent West Virginia history when a hunt was held with the park open and guests present."
Hunting was illegal in state parks between 1959 and 2001, the date of the first Blennerhassett Island hunt. Deer in several parks became badly overpopulated, so much so that they upset the ecology.
Experiments in Wheeling, Weirton, Barboursville and at the West Virginia Radio Astronomy Observatory proved that controlled hunts - events in which specified numbers of hunters were allowed on the grounds on a given day - could effectively reduce deer numbers without creating a slaughter or a spectacle. Encouraged by the results, lawmakers gave parks officials the authority to conduct hunts of their own.
"The Blennerhassett hunts were the first ones held under that authority," said Paul Johansen, assistant wildlife chief for the state Division of Natural Resources. "They went off without any hitches at all. They were very well planned and effectively managed."
Stonewall's England believes the Nov. 17-19 hunt will go equally smoothly.
"We believe we have a very effective strategy that will reduce, if not eliminate, interaction between hunters and park guests," he said.
Most hunting on the Stonewall grounds will take place between U.S. 19 and the park's golf course. The course will be closed during the three days the hunt takes place. Only 50 hunters will be allowed on the grounds each day.
"Some of the hunters will be assigned to hunt from stationary stands near the golf course," England explained. "Four of us - all of whom are deer hunters - scouted the area and hand-picked the trees where the stands will be placed. All of them are on major deer trails.
"The rest of the area will be open to 'free-range' hunting. People who hunt in the free-range zone will be allowed to enter from the opposite side of the property so that they push deer toward the golf course, and people hunting near the golf course will push deer toward the free-range hunters."
DNR officials recently began accepting applications from prospective hunters. Participants will be chosen by lottery, and must adhere to the following rules:
Applicants may download the necessary application forms from the DNR's Web site, www.wvdnr.gov, or they may pick up application forms at any DNR office, any state park or any state forest.Applicants must specify whether they plan to hunt with firearms or with archery equipment.Applicants must specify whether they plan to hunt from a stand or on foot.Applicants must possess valid West Virginia hunting licenses, or be license-exempt, on the day of the hunt.Hunt coordinators will not maintain a waiting list, nor will they accept walk-ups.Deer killed will not count against hunters' season totals.Hunting will be for antlerless deer only. However, on each day a drawing will be held and four of the 50 hunters will be given the privilege of taking either a buck or a doe.Applications must be postmarked by Aug. 29 to be eligible.The DNR's Johansen said the amount of planning that went into the three-day event should bring about the desired result. "By and large, I believe [organizers] have covered all the bases," he continued. "I believe we'll achieve the desired harvest of female deer, and that the event will be well-received by the public."
Reach John McCoy at johnmc...@wvgazette.com or 348-1231.
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