Early and late special urban archery seasons offer hunters unique opportunities to help manage the deer herd -- and put some extra meat in the freezer. Photo by Mark Fike.

Virginia is blessed with a very generous deer season and bag limit. In fact, our state is a great example of how well hunters can work together to restore a species that once was a rare sight. Our deer herd is now approximately 1 million whitetails. Half a century ago, wildlife biologists faced the task of building a deer herd from few animals. Now, VDGIF wildlife biologists are working hard to fine-tune the deer herd population so that it does not exceed biological or cultural carrying capacity. One of those tools that may grow in importance over time is the Urban Archery seasons.

URBAN ARCHERY SEASONS
One of the tasks biologists have faced in the last eight years was encouraging hunters to take does instead of bucks. After decades of being taught to only shoot bucks, many hunters were having a tough time punching antlerless tags. As an incentive to hunters to take does, the VDGIF started an urban archery program in areas of high deer densities in 2002.

According to Nelson Lafon, Deer Project Coordinator for the VDGIF, "The urban archery season was initiated in 2002 to reduce deer-human conflicts in urban areas while providing recreation for Virginia sportsmen."

Originally hunters were permitted to hunt with a bow for antlerless deer during the last two weeks of September and for three months after the last day of firearms deer season.

According to Lafon, 11 localities participated in 2002-2003, 13 during 2003-2004, 17 during 2004-2005, 19 during 2006-2007, and 21 participated during last season. It is obvious that more urban areas are seeing the fruits of having hunters help control their deer herds.

Hunters also gained from the special deer seasons in more ways than putting some meat in the freezer. Some of the urban areas that had relatively small initial hunting zones have expanded the acreage available to hunters.

Even though the special urban archery season only netted a total of 227 deer harvested during the 2007-2008 season, the effect from those deer is significant locally, where deer may be involved in deer/human conflicts, such as vehicular collisions or plant and garden damage. As Lafon stated, the effect is greater than it may appear. Locally each deer removed is a tremendous help to landowners who suffer deer damage.

More and more hunters are seeing the special urban archery and special late firearms seasons as a good opportunity to get back in the woods either early before the season starts or late after a short break from the main deer season.

Lafon noted that during the last few seasons more than 60 percent of the harvest has come during the early September season, which was only two weeks long. That will change this year, as the early special antlerless-only urban archery season will now open the first Saturday of September. Season dates for urban archery are Sept. 6 to Oct. 3, 2008, and Jan. 5 to March 28, 2009, for those participating localities.

For specific information on the restrictions and regulations within each locality in the program, go online to www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/urban-archery.asp.

Most areas restrict the discharge of bows to only target practice and hunting, require elevated stands and written permission from the landowner and that the written permission has to be on your person at all times. Some have more restrictions, so please read before going afield.