Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 3, 1991 TAG: 9102040298
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Bear hunting success was just the opposite. The kill crashed by 48 percent.
These are the findings as wildlife biologists of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries complete their tally of big game hunting success.
The deer kill reached 160,411, nearly a 19 percent jump over last year's record of 135,094.
"We had predicted 150,000," said Bob Duncan, chief of the department's game division. He credited the record to an expanding deer herd, more liberal hunting regulations, which included an early muzzle-loading season, and excellent hunting weather.
"Besides the stage being set with a good number of deer and liberal regulations and programs, overall we lost fewer days to inclement weather than any season I can recall," he said.
The fall turkey kill of 16,861 was a 23 percent increase over the season before. Biologists are studying feather samples, provided by successful hunters, to determine the age structure of the flock. A high number of juveniles means good reproduction, and that's what Duncan said he anticipates.
"I am expecting the feather samples to show us that we had one of the best nesting successes ever in 1990."
After setting records for seven consecutive seasons, the bear kill reached only 324, which is 301 fewer animals than last year. It was the lowest total in a decade.
"That is going to be the subject of a lot of discussion," said Duncan, who added that game officials will begin meeting this week to analyze the kill data and to begin preparing proposals for next year's regulations.
"The first thing that comes to mind, in the years when there is a poor mast crop, food is scarce, research in other states have tended to show that bears den up early. That may have been a contributing factor."
Duncan said he didn't believe the bear population suddenly is in some kind of trouble.
"I think there will be a lot of people quick to make that assumption, but I think it is premature."
In addition to the food factor, Duncan said game officials moved nearly 100 bears in 1990. Most were trapped in areas of high concentrations around the Shenandoah National Park and transported to the far Southwest section of the state where there is no hunting season.
"All of these things may have played into it [the decline]," he said.
Wildlife officials are scheduled to discuss harvest trends and hunting seasons for all game species during five public meetings starting next week. They include: Marion, Holiday Inn, Feb. 12, 7 p.m.; Lynchburg, Holiday Inn, Feb. 13, 7 p.m.; Staunton, National Guard Armory, Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m.; Toano, Norge Elementary School, Feb. 19, 7 p.m. and Falmouth, Brooks Park, Feb. 20, 7 p.m.
Hunting regulations are scheduled to be proposed in Richmond March 21 and 22, and finalized there on May 10.
The top deer kill county was Southampton, with 4,822, but the next four counties were from west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Botetourt had 4,569; Bath, 4,430; Rockingham, 4,132 and Highland, 3,881. Others in the top 10 included Loudon, 3,872; Pittsylvania, 3,761; Grayson, 3,712; Shenandoah, 3,385 and Rockbridge, 3,297.
Game officials are yet to break down the kill results of the various deer seasons, but they do know that nearly 50,000 muzzle-loading licenses were sold, the first year such a license was available.
The turkey kill saw its greatest increase west of the Blue Ridge - 30 percent - and that is where the majority of the top 10 counties were from. Leading the list was Bedford, with 595. Second was Botetourt, with 563.
Giles had 494; Buckingham, 464; Bath, 453; Carroll, 448; Pittsylvania, 447; Bland, 437; Franklin, 431; Grayson, 426.
The best bear county was Page, with 44. Augusta had a kill of 38; Rockingham, 25 and Albemarle, 24.
by CNB