2012-13 Virginia Deer Hunting Statistics

Wildlife biologists with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) recently released preliminary totals for deer harvests for the 2012-13 fall/winter hunting seasons.

During the past deer season 213,597 deer were reported killed by hunters in Virginia. The total included 96,712 antlered bucks, 18,061 button bucks, 98,781 does, and 43 unknown/sex not documented.

The fall 2012 deer kill total was down 8% from the 233,104 deer reported killed last year, and below the 10-year annual average of 232,573.

Total deer kill levels were down from last fall across most of Virginia, including Tidewater (down 15%), the Southern Piedmont (down 8%), the Northern Piedmont (down 9%), and the Southern Mountains (down 3%). Deer kill levels were stable in the Northern Mountains. Most of the decline in 2012 deer kill was in the female deer kill which was down 13% from 2011. The antlered buck kill was only down 2% from 2011.

Archers, not including crossbow hunters, killed 15,791 deer. The bow kill comprised 7% of the total deer kill. Crossbows resulted in a deer kill of 10,596 deer or 5% of the total. Muzzleloader hunters harvested 54,808 deer or 26% of the total deer kill. Nearly 160,000 deer (78%) were checked using the Department's telephone and Internet checking systems. The youth deer hunting day in September resulted in a deer kill of 1,977.

Total deer kill levels declined in 76 of 97 major deer management units. Five management units saw declines in the antlered buck kill of more than 20% from 2011, including King George (down 34%), Caroline (down 27%), Patrick (down 26%), Henry (down 26%) and Stafford (down 24%). In nearly all of these counties a significant outbreak of Hemorrhagic Disease is thought to be a major contributing factor in the declines.

Virginia's White-tailed Deer Management Plan can be viewed at www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/deer/management-plan/

Information about white-tailed deer in Virginia can be found at www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/deer/.

Source: Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

Virginia Wild Turkey Facts

According to biologists from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, a number of biological variables may affect the state's turkey populations from year to year.

Food is important as hens need higher energy and protein levels for over-winter survival and for the different phases of reproduction, including egg laying, incubation, and brooding.

During years early spring weather is mild, abundant plant growth appears to help stimulate the reproductive process early. Weather can also be a detrimental factor for turkey populations, especially if conditions are wet and cold over several days.

For the 2011-2012 season turkey populations in Virginia may have experienced high survival rates due to good fall foods and a mild spring. Early spring green-up likely resulted in earlier than normal broods.

source: Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

2011 Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp

Virginia's Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) will begin selling its 2011 Virginia State Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp on July 1, 2011.

The artwork for the stamp, painted by Ron Louque, depicts a pair of redhead ducks. This is not the first time Mr. Louque's artwork appeared as a winner in Virginia, his painting of flying mallards was depicted on the first voluntary Virginia duck stamp back in 1988.

Last year, 22,682 duck stamps were sold bringing in $225,820. The Department awarded four Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Grants in 2010 for projects to be started in the upcoming year totaling $128,845.

Grantees included Ducks Unlimited, The Fish America Foundation, The Elizabeth River Project and the Nature Conservancy. These projects will restore over 240 acres of wetland habitat from the Eastern Shore to Wakefield.

In addition this past year the Department used duck stamp funds to purchase the Mattaponi WMA in Caroline county which contains over 800 acres of wetland habitat.

The funds generated from sales of the Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp are placed in the Department's Game Protection Fund and are accounted for under a separate fund designated as the Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp Fund.

These funds are used to contract with appropriate nonprofit organizations for cooperative waterfowl habitat improvement projects; to protect, preserve, restore, enhance and develop waterfowl habitat in Virginia through the department's waterfowl program; and to offset the administrative costs associated with production, issuance of, and accounting for the Stamp.

For more information on waterfowl hunting in Virginia, visit www.dgif.virginia.gov

2011-2012 and 2012-2013 Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Proposed

Following discussion at its March 1, 2011, Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries meeting, the Board proposed hunting and trapping regulation amendments for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons.

A public comment period on the proposed hunting and trapping regulations runs through 5 p.m. on April 15, 2011.

At their October 2010 meeting, the Board also proposed regulation amendments regarding license fees and that public comment period which has been open since December 15, 2010, will close on April 14, 2011.

The regulation proposals have been posted on the Department website (www.dgif.virginia.gov or www.HuntFishVA.com) and will be published in the Virginia Register of Regulations, and summaries advertised in newspapers.

As part of this process, VDGIF wildlife biologists will be hosting a series of public input meetings across the state. The public is invited to attend to discuss the proposed regulations amendments. A list of the meeting locations has been posted on the agency website (www.dgif.virginia.gov).

The public may submit comments in a variety of formats including online through the agency website, by email sent to or forwarded to regcomments@dgif.virginia.gov, by mailed letters addressed to Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Attn: Regulatory Coordinator, 4016 W. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230, and by public comment at public meetings and at Board meetings.

The Board will take final action on their proposed regulation amendments at their May 3, 2011, meeting.