ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 16, 1997 TAG: 9703180101
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: OUTDOORS
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
Whatever happened to ``primitive'' weapons?
That's the question B.B. Jessee III of Wytheville has asked the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
Words like ``primitive'' and ``traditional'' no longer apply to modern black-powder guns, which come with in-line emissions, scopes, camouflage stocks and - the newest trend - bolt-action cocking mechanisms.
When the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries meets Thursday in Richmond to propose new hunting regulations, there will be an effort to take the trend a step further. Look for a strong move to legalize copper and jacketed bullets.
Jessee has a suggestion: ``Please make the early muzzleloading season traditionally primitive. Only side-lock rifles, no scopes, no sabots. Then, the late season would allow sabots, scopes and in-line lock systems.''
This would return the muzzleloading season to its original intent, and there would be less spooking of game for sportsmen who hunt only during the regular rifle season, Jessee said.
His idea has little support from the Virginia Deer Hunters Association.
``I would not favor a cutback on equipment,'' said Denny Quaiff, an executive of the organization.
A survey of club members, which resulted in responses from every county in the state, indicated a 75 percent approval for copper or jacketed bullets, which are perceived as being more humane, Quaiff said. ``I think that is pretty overwhelming,'' he said.
Some members did express concern over a perceived decline in the number of deer, especially in Piedmont counties.
``There still may be some areas swamped with plenty of deer,'' said Timmy Lanin of Buckingham. ``But in my hunting club, in Buckingham County, our herd has drastically dropped.''
The way to deal with that, Quaiff believes, is to further limit kills, not to restrict equipment. ``What we can do with the resource is to set some bag limits and bonus-tag limits that will put us back into line,'' Quaiff said.
Turkey regulations also will be under scrutiny by sportsmen unhappy with the shortened fall season of the past two years.
John Garrett, 59, of Danville has been piling up names on a petition that seeks a reinstatement of turkey hunting during the second week of deer season west of the Blue Ridge.
``It is second nature to try to get out and get a turkey for Thanksgiving,'' said Garrett, whose quest for signatures brought him to the Roanoke Valley recently. ``I'm trying to find out what grass-roots support we have. In traveling across the state, I am finding a lot.''
Garrett is fearful the fall season will be regulated out of existence. ``We don't want that,'' he said.
Regulations proposed in Richmond this week will be the subject of 15 public hearings across the state. Sportsmen will be able to comment from 7 to 9 p.m. March 31 at Northside High School in Roanoke County and at Wytheville Community College in Wytheville. A hearing will follow at 7 p.m. April 2 at Buffalo Gap High School near Churchville.
Thursday's meeting in Richmond also is scheduled to hear comments on the controversial new regulation that dictates single-hook artificial lures for fishing the Jackson River below Gathright Dam. The regulation, supported by the Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited and in effect since Jan.1, has raised the ire of many fishermen and landowners in Alleghany County. They have promised to attend the meeting by the bus load.
Opponents of the artificials-only rule have received backing from their board of supervisors and general assembly representatives.
``In adopting a regulation restricting the method of fishing on the Jackson River in Alleghany County, the board of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries ignored the recommendation of its own staff, as well as the views of the people who live and own property along the Jackson,'' Sen. Malfourd ``Bo'' Trumbo and Del. R. Creigh Deeds said in a joint statement.
The controversy has divided Trout Unlimited members, but officers of the organization are working to mobilize support for the new no-bait regulation.
LENGTH: Medium: 76 linesby CNB