For nearly two generations the opening day of West Virginia’s buck hunting season has been the Monday before Thanksgiving. It’s a day that has become an unofficial state holiday. Coal mines and factories grind to a halt. Some county schools close for the entire week. Those that choose to stay open are almost crippled by absenteeism–not only with students, but teachers and school service personnel.
Those factors are an indication of the importance of deer hunting in West Virginia. Those days off are also a sore spot with some. The debate over closing schools for hunting season is always a polarizing issue and has become more of a sore spot in recent days. Several counties have missed numerous days for snow this winter and many counties won’t make the required 180-days of instruction.
During an appearance on MetroNews Talkline this week from the state capital, Governor Joe Manchin mentioned the idea of opening the buck hunting season on a Saturday rather than Monday. The idea came two years ago from DNR Director Frank Jezioro.
"Open the deer season on Saturday and let people hunt Saturday and Sunday," said Jezioro. "That would eliminate a lot of the kids having to miss school on Monday and Tuesday to go deer hunting. They could spend that time with their families."
Jezioro additionally touts the idea as a plus for those who work six-days a week and cannot afford or are not allowed to take off for opening day.
The obvious elephant in the room to Jezioro’s suggestion is an allowance for hunting on Sunday. The plan would fit 14-counties in West Virginia where Sunday hunting is legal. The plan is going to cause a major controversy in 41 West Virginia counties where voters several years ago made it abundantly clear they wanted no hunting on Sunday. State lawmakers passed legislation to allow hunting on Sunday and left it up to voters of each county whether they wanted to vote it out. Those voters spoke, loudly.
"It wasn’t well received when I brought it up,” said Jezioro. "I had some comments from teachers who didn’t like it. I brought it up because I thought it was a good idea, if people don’t want it, don’t do it. It’s as simple as that."
The one that Jezioro is adamantly against is opening the season on Saturday, closing it Sunday, and then reopening on Monday.
"That won’t work,” Jezioro tells MetroNews, "That will cause us to lose hunters. If a guy’s coming from out-of-state he’s not going to come for one day, but he will come if he can hunt all weekend."
Governor Manchin apparently appreciated the idea enough to bring it up on Talkline in a discussion about ways to reach 180-days of classroom instruction. The final decision would rest with the state legislature.