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Administration Home News/Information Contact Us DNR Home   

Joe Manchin III, Governor

Frank Jezioro, Director

 

News Release : October 18, 2006

 

Hoy Murphy, Public Information Officer (304) 558-3381 hoymurphy@wvdnr.gov

Contact: Curtis Taylor , Wildlife Resources Section Chief (304) 558-2771 wildlife@wvdnr.gov

Special “Older Age” Deer Hunting Season Restrictions on Selected Areas

Hunters are reminded that six state wildlife management areas and one state forest will have special buck hunting restrictions during West Virginia’s 2006 deer seasons. Antlered deer taken on Burnsville Lake, Bluestone Lake, Beech Fork Lake and McClintic wildlife management areas and Coopers Rock State Forest must have a minimum outside antler spread of 14 inches, according to Curtis Taylor, Chief of the DNR Wildlife Resources Section. The bag limit is one antlered deer for all archery and firearms seasons combined on these areas.

The purpose of these restrictions is to provide for an older-aged antlered deer population on these areas. “In the past, hunters were taking a high percentage of the 1½-year-old deer during the buck season,” Taylor said. “By restricting the number of bucks taken and protecting the 1½-year-age class, more bucks will reach an older age class before being harvested.”

Successful hunters are requested to submit a lower jaw in envelopes available at the wildlife management area. Data collected from jaw bones will be used to determine the effectiveness of the harvest restriction.

The bag limit is one antlered deer for all archery and firearms seasons combined on Hillcrest Wildlife Management Area in the northern panhandle and the Wilson Cove Deer Study Area on the George Washington National Forest in Hardy County. The 14-inch outside antler spread does not apply to these two areas.

Hunters wishing to hunt on these areas should consult the 2006-2007 Hunting and Trapping Regulations that are available from license agents, DNR offices and on the DNR website at www.wvdnr.gov .

**DNR**




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