GAME PROPOSALS WOULD REWRITE THE LAW BOOK

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, April 4, 1993                   TAG: 9304040150
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C13   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium
GAME PROPOSALS WOULD REWRITE THE LAW BOOK
State game officials have proposed major changes in hunting regulations, with recommendations that encompass everything from crows to quail.
The big emphasis of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is on providing more deer-hunting opportunities, through longer bow and muzzle-loading seasons and increased days to kill antlerless deer during the firearms season.
The early muzzle-loading season would start on a Saturday, Oct. 30, and continue for two weeks, a departure from last season's weeklong hunt that began on a Monday.
Hunting of antlerless deer would be permitted each day of the season east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but it would be a bucks-only affair to the west. In a surprise move, board members of the game department cut out the single doe day recommended by game biologists for west of the mountains.
That was dropped after comments by Lewis Costello, a board member from Winchester, who said the early muzzle-loading season is unfair to the 63 percent of licensed hunters who use nothing but modern firearms.
"You have shortchanged and cheated the regular deer hunter west of the Blue Ridge," he said. "They [muzzle-loaders] get 50 percent more time and a head start."
The board recommended that sabot rounds, which are designed for speed and accuracy, be allowed in black-powder guns.
The proposals made by the 11-member board during a daylong public hearing Friday are subject to a final vote on June 18.
The opening of the bow season was proposed for Oct. 2, a week earlier than last year. Several archers requested an early September start for the season.
Costello campaigned for adding an extra week to the two-week western firearms deer season, but that effort failed. The board did adopt recommendations from wildlife biologists to significantly increase the number of doe days available to hunters.
Counties like Botetourt, Roanoke, Franklin, Floyd, Patrick and Henry are proposed to have either-sex deer hunting the full two weeks of the season. For Roanoke, that would be an boost of from three to 12 doe days, a liberalization that was opposed by Leon Turner, a board member from Fincastle.
"Roanoke County cannot stand 12 days of doe hunting," said Turner, who failed to muster enough votes to change the proposal.
Thomas Cash, board member from Tazewell, also expressed concern about too much pressure being exerted on deer herds in the far southwest section of the state. But the board approved either-sex hunting the last day of the season in Lee, Scott, Wise, Russell, Washington and Tazewell counties, where only bucks were legal last year.
No changes were recommended in doe days for counties like Pulaski, Giles, Montgomery, Craig, Alleghany, Rockbridge, Bath, Highland and Augusta. But to the east, a large bloc of Piedmont counties, including Halifax, Charlotte, Appomattox, Buckingham and eastern Pittsylvania, Campbell, Amherst and Nelson, were proposed to have their doe days more than doubled. Doe hunting there would be permitted the first and second Saturdays of the season and the 12 final days.
Given final approval by the board was a redesigned hunting license that will go on sale in June. There will be no deer tags on the bow and muzzle-loading licenses. Instead, the big-game license will contain three deer tags, three turkey tags and one bear tag. Also, hunters can buy an unlimited number of $12.50 bonus deer permits, which contain two additional tags good statewide on private land only.
This system permits hunters to use their tags during the season of their choice, said Bob Duncan, chief of the department's game division.
Along with the tag system are proposed bag limits of two deer per day statewide for the bow, muzzle-loading and firearm's seasons.
The bear chase season will continue in daylight only. No permits will be issued for night chasing.
Other proposals would:
Open the grouse season a week earlier and end it Jan. 31.
Lower the quail limit from eight to six daily and end the season statewide on Jan. 31.
Prohibit the use of rifles during the spring gobbler season beginning with the 1994 season.
Establish a continuous crow season open Aug. 1 through the end of February, with hunting on Wednesdays through Saturdays.
Require that big game be checked as soon as it is loaded into a vehicle for transport or by the conclusion of legal hunting hours, which ever occurs first. Hunters last year had until 9 p.m. to check game.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB