Joe Manchin III, Governor
Frank Jezioro, Director

News Release : August 1, 2007

Hoy Murphy, Public Information Officer (304) 558-3381 hoymurphy@wvdnr.gov
Contact: Paul Johansen, Wildlife Resources Section (304) 558-2771 wildlife@wvdnr.gov

Controlled Deer Hunt on Blennerhassett Island

A controlled deer hunt will be held on Blennerhassett Island on Nov. 1 - 3 this fall. Wildlife biologists with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources have been monitoring the deer population on the island for a number of years, and along with personnel from the State Parks section, they have determined that the number should be reduced. Deer on the island are usually not subject to being hunted; and as a result, their density gets much higher than on the mainland. Controlled hunts previously were conducted on Blennerhassett Island in 2001 and 2002. Since then, the deer population on the island has continued to increase.

Hunting will be by permit only. Applications and rules for the hunt are available at www.wvdnr.gov or at Division of Natural Resources district offices. Applications must be postmarked no later than August 31, 2007, to be eligible. All hunting will be conducted from elevated tree stands that must be provided by the hunter. Participants will be permitted to use muzzleloading rifles, shot guns with slugs, or bows and arrows. High-powered rifles will not be permitted.

Successful applicants will be ferried from Parkersburg, West Virginia, to the island on the mornings of the hunt. More than 40 hunters for each day will be randomly selected for the hunt. Deer harvested will not count against the hunters’ annual bag limit. Harvesting antlerless deer only will be permitted, except that a special drawing the morning of the hunt will select five people to be eligible to hunt for deer of either sex.

For further information, see the above Web site or contact any Division of Natural Resources District office.

**DNR**