Each year, Virginia sportsmen either go on line or make multiple visit to the local sporting goods store for a variety of hunting and fishing licenses. They often buy a regular hunting license, a bear license, a deer and turkey license, an archery license, muzzleloading license, a freshwater fishing license and a trout stamp. If they forget even one, there can be a hefty fine. This … [Read more...]
Spring Gobbler Harvest Encouraging
The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries announced a harvest of 17,929 turkeys during the 2019 spring gobbler season. The 2019 harvest was 11% higher than last year’s harvest. DGIF Turkey Biologist Gary Norman said the harvest was encouraging because reproduction was low in recent years, which would have predicted fewer 2- and 3-year old birds. These age classes typically comprise the … [Read more...]
Get Ready To Gobble
Spring gobbler season opens April 13 in Virginia and according to VDGIF, it’s an important tool for future conservation efforts. Participating in spring turkey hunting prospers the species because of the funding procedure that enables the work of DGIF. Money from license and permit sales, and spring turkey hunting gear, are the primary financial components of research and … [Read more...]
Duckin’ Out
Lots of water is good for ducks and waterfowl, right? Yes, but too much of a good thing is bad for duck hunters. My water-fowling friends have been having poor luck this season because the birds aren’t flying in to their usual ponds. They have lots of new places that are wet, further back in the woods and that’s where they are going. It’s no better on the rivers and stream. Again, too much … [Read more...]
Venison, Anyone?
By Sherman Shifflett On January 5, 2019, a group of us went deer hunting in Buckingham County, VA. It was the last day of the season. The owners allow us to bring in dogs once a year. We used two bird dogs to hunt the 200-acre farm. The farm is right on the James River. Eleven deer were harvested. Two young boys tagged their first deer. Two monster bucks got away. Some of the bucks … [Read more...]
The Legendary Campbell County Buck
By Jeff Phillips Most Virginia deer hunters consider November the magical month, but December 2018 has proven to be a remarkable Big Buck harvest month in our state, and Tom Harvey of Campbell County is a shining example, having his Big Buck wish list fulfilled on December 4th. Tom is an old school hunter spending most of his deer season with a bow in his hand, which includes both … [Read more...]
Lucky Buck Runs Out of Luck
By Sherman Shifflett Twice the “Lucky Buck” had dodged the bullet. Saved by unique circumstances after coming within range. But the "Lucky Buck" finally ran out of luck. I tagged him Wednesday afternoon before dark. I got some backstrap in my freezer and am now waiting for a good day to cook some "deer nuggets." I decided to use a different tree stand. The "Lucky Buck" had dodged … [Read more...]
Down a Doe for the Freezer
From VDGIF Files David Merritt operates Spring Lake Archery Park, as well as a pro shop (Spring Lake Archery Supply) in Moneta, Virginia. David is also a most knowledgeable bowhunter. Here, he weighs in on late season strategies. “Whether someone is looking for a buck or a doe, deer movement revolves around food,” he says, “I think there are four major food sources a bowhunter, or … [Read more...]
A Lucky Buck
By Sherman Shifflett There's a buck in Louisa County that apparently has nine lives - like a cat. He's burned two of those lives by dodging bullets, but he is not out of the woods yet. During muzzle-loader season a friend and I were hunting around some bean fields near Mineral. We were about 400 yards apart, hunting over different bean fields. Both of us have stands in the cut-over, … [Read more...]
Oh (It’s a) Deer!
If Virginia’s deer hunters are having as good of a year as the car drivers, they’ll have a record year. I have never seen so many dead deer on highways. Ever. We drove to Urbanna and back a couple weeks ago and there were dead animals every 5 or so miles along I-64. Daily, I see new carcasses on my 10-mile drive from Charlottesville to Ruckersville along 29 North. Just yesterday, the … [Read more...]