The West Virginia State Parks and West Virginia DNR plan a second controlled deer hunt this fall at Stonewall Jackson State Park.
"Monitoring of the deer population and subsequent consequent surveys conducted by the DNR and parks personnel, “revealed a high deer density on the state park property at Stonewall,” according to Sam England, Park Superintendent. “The excessive whitetail deer population damages places, has negative consequences for vegetation, creates environmental imbalance within the park and subjects the herd to increasingly poor browse and health conditions.”
The first step toward reducing that largely protected herd on the state park property came with the first ever hunt at Stonewall last year. DNR biologists were satisfied with the success of the hunt that offered a range of hunting opportunities. They are hoping another year’s harvest with further trim the numbers to a more manageable level.
Hunters must make application to participate and then be drawn in a lottery for permits. The hunt is limited to one antlerless deer per hunter, although a second lottery will be held among hunters on the morning of the hunt for five permits to kill either a buck or a doe. The deer killed on the controlled hunt are bonus deer for the season and do not count against a hunter’s annual season bag limit.
The dates of the hunt will be November 16, 17, and 18. Approximately 50-hunters will be selected for each of the three days. Hunters must select in their application whether they want to use a bow, rifle, or muzzleloader. Prospective hunters must also indicate whether they want to hunt from a fixed stand or to roam a designated area on foot.
Applications also are available at all DNR district offices; DNR Operations Center in Elkins; DNR Offices in Building 74 Capitol Complex in South Charleston; WV State Park and Forest offices; the WV Wildlife Center at French Creek and at Stonewall Resort state park office. Applications are two-sided with the application on one side and information on the reverse.
Hunters also may complete the application online; however, applications must be printed, then signed and dated and mailed. Completed applications must be mailed to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 67, Elkins, WV, prior to August 28, 2009.