DATE: Sunday, November 2, 1997              TAG: 9711010998

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C13  EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY BOB HUTCHINSON, OUTDOORS EDITOR 

                                            LENGTH:   44 lines

NEW RULES TAKE EFFECT FOR BLACK POWDER USERS DEER SEASON SHORTENED, BAG LIMIT REDUCED FOR MUZZLELOADERS WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE.

Some new rules and regulations will be in effect when Virginia's muzzleloader or ``black powder'' season on whitetail deer opens Monday.

Most changes will impact hunters who use the primitive weapons west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where the season has been delayed a week until Nov. 10.

For the most part, the line dividing west and east is established by the county lines along the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive. However, railroads and state highways are used in Nelson, Pittsylvania, Amherst and Campbell counties.

As for the changes, the shorter western season is designed to keep the kill in the area from soaring and to leave more deer for the general firearms season, which opens Nov. 17 statewide.

This general season will run through Jan. 3 east of the Blue Ridge, but only through Nov. 29 on the west side.

In another move to contain the overall kill at or near the 1996 level of just over 208,000, hunters west of the Blue Ridge will be limited to one deer a day during the general season.

Black powder hunters on either side of the Blue Ridge will be limited to one deer for the special muzzleloader seasons.

Meanwhile, hunters east of the Blue Ridge will be allowed two deer a day, three for the season, as they were a year ago.

A special late black-powder season west of the Blue Ridge will run from Dec. 15 through Jan. 3, also unchanged from last year.

Another change that will be in effect this season will limit all hunters to purchasing one bonus tag, allowing them an additional deer. Previously, there had been no restriction on the number of bonus tags available.

The exception to all of this is found in Southeast Virginia, where the state's earliest whitetail season opened Oct. 1 and runs through Nov. 29.

Here, there will not be a late black powder season. Additionally, all deer hunting is illegal in Arlington and Buchanan counties.

Virginia's hunting laws and seasons are complex. If you're not certain, contact your local state game warden or write or call: Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 4010 W. Broad St., Richmond, Va. 23230-1104, telephone 804-367-1000.

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