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

DATE: MONDAY, October 17, 1994                   TAG: 9410200041
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN/OUTDOOR EDITOR
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SEARCHING FOR A BUCK?

"The mast crop we have here in Bedford County is absolutely unbelievable," said Knox, who is the deer research biologist for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. "My dog pen has filled up with acorns twice."

While acorns don't do much for dogs, they have a profound impact on deer - and deer hunting.

Acorns, especially the fruit of white oak, are a favorite food of deer, a quick and convenient source of fat and protein needed for winter survival.

"[The banner crop] is going to make the deer less mobile," Knox said. "They aren't going to have to move as much for food."

This makes it tougher for hunters to pattern their movements, something bowhunters already have confronted during their early season.

Charlie Nichols, an archer from Roanoke, said he has found deer in a certain patch of woods one day, then in an entirely different patch the next.

When the mast crop is scarce, deer are more active in their search for food, Knox said. Food is about the only thing deer move for, except when the rut kicks in. The ardor to breed causes bucks to travel more, sometimes even in a reckless manner.

Last year, the rut appeared to peak during the two-week early muzzleloading season, which occurred the first couple of weeks in November. That season accounted for the top three bucks in the annual Virginia Big Game Trophy Show.

This season's heavy mast crop could jump-start the rut even earlier. For certain, it means bucks, does and fawns all should carry impressive body weights. The deer also came into the acorn-eating season in good shape, thanks to a wet summer that produced plenty of herbaceous growth.

"I think habitat conditions this summer were good," said Knox. "The body weights of all deer will be better."

The mast crop is heaviest in the northern part of the state, said Dennis Martin, a wildlife research biologist for the game department. "It isn't as good in the southwest."

Some areas of the northwest, however, have been affected by the gypsy moth, which feeds on oaks and can render them fruitless. More than 150,000 acres of the George Washington National Forest have been impacted by the insect, said John Bellemore, a forest spokesman.

A heavy mast crop won't just impact this season, but it also holds the promise of creating outstanding trophy hunting next year. With plenty to eat, deer winter well. Their body reserve can be used for growing antlers in the spring.

As for antler development this year, it shouldn't be bad. There was a decent mast crop last year. Bowhunters already have taken some outstanding bucks, including an 11-pointer by Nichols. It appears to be a candidate for second in Virginia's all-time bow records and should rank high in the national Pope & Young record book. A nine-pointer killed by Donald Markham of Bedford also appears destined for Pope & Young. Both bucks were taken well before the peak of the rut.

"I am expecting a pretty good deer season,"

Knox said. "I think the deer are there. They may not be in the same numbers they were several years ago.

Knox predicts that the kill will settle in close to the 201,122 record set last season.

"I don't expect to see it jump up to 225,000, nor do I expect it to drop to 150,000. If it comes down this year it is not going to hurt my feelings."

Knox prefers to preach quality over numbers. Hunters get excited about seeing the deer kill set a record every season, but that can be an indication of too much growth which can lead to over-population problems. Too many deer often results in poor quality.

"This thing that it is always going up; it is not going to go up forever."

Liberal regulations imposed last year increased the doe kill to 41.5 percent of the total. That is the highest ever recorded in Virginia. It is the level of the doe kill that stabilizes or reduces the herd, Knox said.

Trophy deer are created when the herd is in balance with its habitat and some of the bucks are given time to grow big racks. Food and genetics also are a factor in producing record-book racks.

The early bow season, which opened Oct. 1, continues through Nov. 19. The two week muzzleloading season begins Nov. 7. The general firearm's season starts Nov. 21 and last two weeks west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It continues through Jan. 7 in the east.