Photo by T.C. Flanigan

With urban sprawl gobbling up farms across Virginia, public land hunts are becoming a hot ticket for putting venison in the freezer. This month, we'll look at seven public lands with worthwhile draw hunts.

Chincoteague NWR
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge offers hunters wanting a unique experience a chance to hunt for sika "deer," which are really a species of elk, as well as whitetail deer. Hunt zones provide a mixture of dune grass, shrub, upland maritime forest, fresh water marsh and salt marsh. Rubber boots and even hip boots are a good idea for hunters here, as is insect repellent or a bug suit.

Archery hunt dates are set and will include Oct. 3-5 and 17-19. Firearms hunting will take place on Dec. 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, and Jan. 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, and 13.

Scouting time is permitted the Sunday prior to the hunts. Mandatory orientations are held on the Sunday and Wednesday prior to each firearm hunt and on the Sunday prior to archery hunts. Whitetail deer are only permitted to be harvested the first week of the hunt. Hunters must take an antlerless white-tailed deer before harvesting an antlered white-tailed deer.

The application fee is $5 and, if the hunter is drawn, he must purchase a $20 permit to hunt Chincoteague.

Hunters are selected by a computerized lottery with only one application accepted per hunter. Letters are mailed out the next day to successful applicants. Hunters are then assigned a zone. Up to five hunters fill a zone. Some zones are shotgun and muzzleloader only. Other zones are regulated by state laws, which do allow rifle hunting.

Typically, the refuge receives 400 applications. Last year, 167 hunters were selected from those applications. There are standby slots available, but that number varies each year.

Last season, hunters took 252 sitka during the archery and firearms hunt. A total of 103 were "bulls" or bucks with an additional 148 "cows" or does. Seven hundred hunters participated in the managed hunt. Hunters also harvested a total of 21 whitetails. Six were bucks and 15 were does.

Additional information can be gleaned from the refuge Web site at http://chinco.fws.gov/hunting04-05.htm. Hunters may also call the refuge at (757) 336-6122, write to Chincoteague NWR, 8231 Beach Rd., P.O. Box 62, Chincoteague, VA 23336 or fax (757) 336-5273.

Savage Neck Dunes Natural Area Preserve Adult Lottery Hunt
Savage Neck Dunes Natural Area is located on the eastern shore in Northampton County approximately six miles southwest of Eastville. Advance reservations are required to hunt at Savage Neck Dunes. The application is available at www.dcr.virginia.gov/parksor by calling 1-800-933-PARK. The hunt dates for the 2005 season are Dec. 5-10 and Dec. 12-17.

According to Dot Field, each successful applicant will be assigned one hunting day during the two-week hunt period. Successful applicants will have the option of purchasing one to a total of five permits for their hunt day, allowing each hunter to form a party consisting of themselves and up to four other hunters.

"The applicant will serve as 'chief of party' and distribute permits to each hunt party member and will be responsible for all payments to DCR. The chief of the party will also be responsible for ensuring all hunt party members abide by the hunt rules and regulations," she added.

Hunters may harvest two deer per day. However, the hunting party must harvest a doe first in order to be permitted a buck. The entire preserve, consisting of 298 acres, may be hunted. There are no public facilities or established trails. Because vehicles are to remain on designated roadways, hunters should bring a dependable drag rope to drag out harvested deer. The terrain is rough with deep sand and thick underbrush. Hunters are permitted to use shotguns with slugs or buckshot only. All hunters must have a valid state license as well as a Hunter Education Certificate to hunt at Savage Neck Dunes