Post by Woody Williams on Mar 26, 2009 8:04:38 GMT -5
Wowee! A quarter millions deer killed..
During the past deer season 253,678 deer were reported killed by hunters in Virginia. This total included 111,863 antlered bucks, 22,291 button bucks, and 119,524 does (47.3%). This represents a 4% increase from the 242,792 deer reported killed last year. It is also 16% higher than the last 10 year average of 212,780. Across the state, deer kill levels were up in all regions including in the Northern Mountains (2%), Northern Piedmont (3%), Southern Mountains (1%), Southern Piedmont (4%), and Tidewater (8%).
Archers, not including crossbow hunters, killed 17,881 deer. The bow kill comprised 7% of the total deer kill.
Crossbows resulted in a deer kill of 9,597 deer or 4% of the total deer kill.
Muzzleloader hunters killed 57,038 deer. Muzzleloading comprised 22% of the total deer kill.
Over 160,000 deer (63%) were checked using the Department's telephone and Internet checking systems. This was up from 44% in 2004, 51% in 2005, 55% in 2006, and 59% in 2007.
White-tailed deer management in Virginia is based on the fact that deer herd density and health are best controlled by regulating antlerless deer kill levels. Numerous season and regulation changes made over the past several years have been designed to increase the female deer kill. These changes have been very successful. Female deer kill numbers have been at record levels for the past six years. For the past two deer seasons, the increase in the deer kill has been nearly all antlerless deer. In 2008, the doe kill was up nearly 9% from 2007 and in 2007 it was up 13% from 2006.
An Earn A Buck (EAB) regulation that required deer hunters to kill antlerless deer was initiated in two areas in Virginia in fall 2008 and had positive results. In four southwestern counties (Bedford, Franklin, Patrick, and Roanoke), EAB had a very significant impact. The female deer kill in these four counties was 3,700 deer or 51% higher than what might have been expected without EAB. In four northern Virginia counties (Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William), the impact of EAB was less significant. The female deer kill in these four northern Virginia counties was about 750 deer or 9% higher than what might have been expected without EAB.
Data presented in this summary are preliminary and do not include deer taken during the late urban archery or special late antlerless only deer seasons.
During the past deer season 253,678 deer were reported killed by hunters in Virginia. This total included 111,863 antlered bucks, 22,291 button bucks, and 119,524 does (47.3%). This represents a 4% increase from the 242,792 deer reported killed last year. It is also 16% higher than the last 10 year average of 212,780. Across the state, deer kill levels were up in all regions including in the Northern Mountains (2%), Northern Piedmont (3%), Southern Mountains (1%), Southern Piedmont (4%), and Tidewater (8%).
Archers, not including crossbow hunters, killed 17,881 deer. The bow kill comprised 7% of the total deer kill.
Crossbows resulted in a deer kill of 9,597 deer or 4% of the total deer kill.
Muzzleloader hunters killed 57,038 deer. Muzzleloading comprised 22% of the total deer kill.
Over 160,000 deer (63%) were checked using the Department's telephone and Internet checking systems. This was up from 44% in 2004, 51% in 2005, 55% in 2006, and 59% in 2007.
White-tailed deer management in Virginia is based on the fact that deer herd density and health are best controlled by regulating antlerless deer kill levels. Numerous season and regulation changes made over the past several years have been designed to increase the female deer kill. These changes have been very successful. Female deer kill numbers have been at record levels for the past six years. For the past two deer seasons, the increase in the deer kill has been nearly all antlerless deer. In 2008, the doe kill was up nearly 9% from 2007 and in 2007 it was up 13% from 2006.
An Earn A Buck (EAB) regulation that required deer hunters to kill antlerless deer was initiated in two areas in Virginia in fall 2008 and had positive results. In four southwestern counties (Bedford, Franklin, Patrick, and Roanoke), EAB had a very significant impact. The female deer kill in these four counties was 3,700 deer or 51% higher than what might have been expected without EAB. In four northern Virginia counties (Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William), the impact of EAB was less significant. The female deer kill in these four northern Virginia counties was about 750 deer or 9% higher than what might have been expected without EAB.
Data presented in this summary are preliminary and do not include deer taken during the late urban archery or special late antlerless only deer seasons.
