Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, August 29, 1994 TAG: 9408290013
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Virginia's bear kill set a record last season, reaching 789, a 62 percent leap from the previous year.
That was well beyond what had been expected, which is why Dennis Martin says, "Predicting harvests is a dangerous undertaking." Martin is the biologist assigned to bear research by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
The bear kill has set a record 10 of the past 13 season, but Martin doesn't expect the 789 figure to be topped this time.
"It has been common to observe dramatic decreases and increases in the harvest, usually every two to four years," he said.
With this in mind, Martin is predicting that hunters can expect a bear kill of 650 animals or slightly less. While that is more than 125 fewer than last season, it still is a significant figure.
Bears should have a decent food supply in the form of oak mast. An abundance of food can keep the animals from denning early, a fact that can boost the kill.
SEASONS: Bow, Oct. 8-Nov. 12; general, Nov. 28-Jan. 7.
Clear space on the den wall
This should be another park-your-pickup-and take-a-hike-type deer season. Like last year, many of the bucks will be in the boonies, thanks to what appears to be a good mast crop.
Last year, field and roadside hunters were left wondering where all the deer went. Even so, the kill reached a record 201,122.
Wildlife biologists are warning hunters not to anticipate dramatic annual increases in the kill. In fact, there has been an effort to stabilize the herd through a rapid liberalization of hunting regulations. The number of does in the kill last season reached a record 41.5 percent.
The emphasis is on quality deer - bigger bodies, better antlers - than on numbers. The abundant food supply should help obtain that, not just the mast crops, but the lush herbaceous growth this summer following frequent rains. It should be the season to get a wall-hanger.
As for numbers, the most likely place for an increase in the kill is the western part of the state, especially the far southwest, where there should be a good carry-over of deer.
While the statewide kill increased last year, the take in several western areas was down. Biologist Betsy Stinson credits the mast crop with spreading the deer out and making them harder for hunters to locate.
"A few days of particularly miserable hunting weather during the general firearms season, especially the last either-sex Saturday, didn't help much either," she said.
SEASONS: Bow, Oct. 1-Nov. 19; muzzleloading, Nov. 7-19; firearms west, Nov. 21-Dec. 3; firearms east, Nov. 21-Jan. 7; late bow, Dec. 5-Jan. 7; late muzzleloading, Dec. 19-Jan. 7.
First you find a corn field
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that the 1994 mourning dove population is on par with last year, which means birds should be abundant. The big question: Will the corn harvest take place in time for opening day?
Cornfields are an ideal spot to launch a dove hunt. Last year's late-summer drought resulted in an early corn harvest. By opening day, many fields had been cut and the doves were scattered.
This year, conditions are just the opposite. Hunters might have a problem locating harvested cornfields, thanks to frequent late-summer rains.
"The rain is going to delay the harvest by a week or more," said Jay Jefferies, a wildlife biologist who works counties that include Bedford, Botetourt, Franklin and Pittsylvania. "Even the fescue fields are green."
While that may work a hardship on some early season hunters, sportsmen who can locate a cut corn field should enjoy excellent sport.
SEASONS: Sept. 3-30; Oct. 1-29; Dec. 26-Jan. 7.
Drumming up a good season
Wildlife biologists are voicing optimism when they talk about grouse hunting prospects.
"Grouse appear to have survived the winter in fine shape and many drummers were heard in the woods this spring," said Al Bourgeois, a wildlife biologist who works the Alleghany-Bath-Highland-Rockbridge counties area.
"Again, good spring weather resulted in near-ideal nesting conditions and the dry period during the peak of hatching should have improved chick survival."
In the far southwest section of the state, biologist John Baker has the kind of report that gets the attention of brush-worn hunters.
"[Game] department personnel indicate an excellent number and size of broods being sited," he said.
While the number of grouse may be up slightly, the birds could be scattered by an abundance of soft mast.
"Grape, blackberry, cherry, dogwood, blueberry, serviceberry and other soft mast are plentiful," said Bourgeois.
Grouse habitat is on a decline, the result of less cutting in national forests, but it may have gotten a boost from the late-winter ice storms.
"The 1994 ice storm will serve grouse in the future by promoting ground-hugging cover and high tree-sprout density in those forest areas sustaining the majority of the damage" Baker said.
SEASON: Oct. 31-Feb. 11.
Bobwhites singing in the rain
The abundance of rain in July and August should translate into a respectable quail hatch, said Mike Fies, a quail research biologist for the game department.
If that happens, quail will be rebounding from a dismal decline.
"Statewide, the number of quail bagged per hunter hour last season averaged 0.32, down 16 percent from the mediocre season of 1992-93," said Fies. "Fortunately, quail populations can recover quickly when nesting conditions are suitable."
Even so, don't expect anything like a return to the "good old days." The highest quail populations will be in the Tidewater and east piedmont regions of the state, Fies said. Look for moderate numbers in the west piedmont and northern sections of the state.
"The worst hunter success will occur in the central mountain and southwest regions of the state, where quail populations are scattered and very sparse," said Fies.
SEASON: Nov. 14-Jan. 31.
Happiness in the briar patch
There is happiness in Virginia's briar patches this year. Rabbits are abundant. Populations have enjoyed a steady increase since 1988, and there has been no change in the trend this summer.
"Rabbit hunters and their loyal beagle companions should find plenty of cottontails to chase," said Fies.
A series of mild winters and early springs are most likely responsible for the observed increase in cottontail numbers," he said.
The abundance of rain this summer has resulted in unusually lush cover for rabbits.
According to a survey, the southwest mountain region has the highest rabbit density in the state. But even during an era of bunny abundance, hunters need to remember that populations are localized in pockets of suitable habitat, said Fies.
"When choosing an area to hunt, look for large tracts of thick brush interspersed with grassy shooting lanes."
SEASON: Nov. 7-Jan. 31.
Nuts make a big difference
Squirrels have made a remarkable comeback form the disatrous mast failure in 1992, which resulted in dismal hunting during last year's early season.
Fattened by last fall's adequate mast crop, squirrels entered the breeding season in prime condition and should have produced a bumper crop of young this spring.
"Many of the older adults probably had a second litter during late summer," said Fies.
With a good mast crop this fall that includes hickory nuts, hunters should be able to locate groves of nut bearing trees where squirrels are active.
SEASONS: Sept. 3-Jan. 31 in southern counties; Oct. 8-Jan. 31 in northern counties.
Grasshoppers and beechnuts
Look for a good turkey season, thanks to a population that is on an upswing. Wildlife biologists are reporting impressive numbers of young birds. In addition, the spring harvest set a record, which is a reflection of a healthy carry-over of mature birds from last year.
Even so, turkeys may have the upper hand, said Stinson. "With an abundance of both hard and soft mast, the flocks can select where they want to feed; therefore, they will be scattered and tougher to find," she said. Turkeys travel less and leave behind fewer signs when food is plentiful.
The beech crop is particularly abundant this year. In addition, the grasshopper crop is the largest in recent memory. Turkeys will have some tough choices to make as to where they will feed.
This increases the importance of preseason preparation.
"Sportsmen will do well to scout their favorite hunting spots early in the season to find where birds are feeding," said Bourgeois.
SEASONS: Nov. 7-Jan. 7 in southwest; Nov. 7-Jan 7 but closed the first week of deer season in the central mountains and piedmont areas.
By BILL COCHRAN/Outdoor editor
|GENE DALTON/Staff
by CNB