Sunday, September 28, 2008
Best of times for deer hunters
Mark Taylor
Mark Taylor's Outdoors column and notebook appears regularly in The Roanoke Times.
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A long wait of nine months will finally be over for about 60,000 Virginians on Saturday.
That's the opening day for the state's early archery deer season, and the first of a string of openers for the seasons that draw by far the most attention from Virginia hunters.
Last year the state's roughly 300,000 deer hunters killed nearly a quarter-million whitetails, and this season also holds promise.
Deer populations remain robust, and regulations and bag limits are liberal to encourage hunters to do their best to keep herds in check.
Deer are so plentiful in many areas that hunters have become selective, many passing up smaller bucks while waiting for deer with more impressive headgear. And the patience is paying off with more of those big deer.
For most deer hunters, it's never been better.
Here are some things to think about heading into the season:
Sharing the bounty
It will be easier to introduce newcomers to hunting this year.
A newly established apprentice hunting license enables someone to give hunting a try without first having to take a hunter education course.
Hunter education courses are important, and mandatory hunter education has helped make hunters safer. But the time commitment of 10 to 12 hours for a course is a lot to ask of someone who isn't even sure they will enjoy hunting.
This one-time license allows new hunters to take a two-year test drive of the activity while under the supervision of a properly licensed adult mentor. If they like hunting -- and most will, right? -- they will be required to become hunter education certified.
It works on a couple of levels.
One, statistics prove that the safest hunters are those who are under direct supervision of a mentor.
Two, those mentors can help ensure that their charges have some guidance out there, instead of trying to figure things out on their own.
While the new license should help encourage some teens to try hunting, it's an ideal way for an avid hunter to reach out to adult friends. Who among us doesn't have a few non-hunting friends who have expressed interest in hunting?
While it might be tempting to start novices on deer, don't feel constrained to start on big game. Going after small game, such as squirrels, is active and fun.
Complete details on the apprentice license are available at www.dgif.virginia.gov or at your local license agent.
Safety first
What do boating, driving and deer hunting have in common?
Many injuries and fatalities related to the activities could have been avoided had the victims used basic safety equipment.
While not wearing a seat belt or life jacket is risky, some level of protection comes from a car's protective frame and airbags, and a boater's ability to swim.
But if you fall from a tree, there's a good chance it's going to be bad, which is why safety harnesses are a must when hunting from elevated stands.
Every stand safety-certified by the Treestand Manufacturers Association includes a full body harness. They usually aren't fancy, but they work.
A number of companies offer beefier safety systems, including comfortable harnesses and even vest/harness combinations.
Don't wait until you're in the stand until you connect to the tree. Also use it climbing and descending, which is when 70 percent of falls occur, according to data compiled by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
If you don't want to wear a harness for yourself, wear it for your loved ones.
Have fun
Despite what some hunting TV shows and videos may lead you to believe, you don't have to kill a monster buck to have a fulfilling hunting experience. Actually, you don't have to kill anything.
What defines a good hunt is a little different for all of us. That's what keeps it so interesting.
Ultimately, you are out there for you, not for others. Follow the rules. Follow your heart.
And enjoy.
