THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, June 12, 1995 TAG: 9506120049
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT HARPER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 105 lines
Gunning for more tourist dollars and sport, Virginia may open more of its state parks to hunting.
The idea, which has some environmentalists nervous, comes from new leaders of the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, who recently asked managers of all 29 state parks to look for new hunting opportunities.
Joe Elton, tapped last year to run the state parks system, said increased hunting is but one suggestion in an ongoing comprehensive study of park resources.
The goal of the 18-month study: manage Virginia's state parks and 15 natural areas more like a business while protecting the myriad wildlife which inhabit 60,000 acres of public lands.
``It's a monumental challenge, given our budgetary constraints,'' said Elton, former head of the Virginia Republican Party. ``A lot of our parks have almost been left to die, really. We're looking at ways to turn that around.''
More hunting would contribute little to the parks from additional hunting fees. But parks would benefit from hunters booking cabins and using other state facilities that go virtually unused during fall and winter hunting seasons, Elton said.
He and other department officials stressed that before any new hunting grounds are approved, the state would have to be assured of human safety and species protection.
``That's the dual test,'' department spokesman Gary Waugh said. ``It would have to be done safely and with no real impact to the wildlife.''
At least two parks which meet this test, Elton said, are Staunton
River State Park and Fairy Stone State Park. ``We literally have thousands of acres that are not open (to hunting) for no particular reason,'' he said.
Like other states, Virginia allows limited hunting in many of its state parks.
In southeastern Virginia, that includes False Cape State Park in Virginia Beach and, beginning this fall for the first time, Chippokes Plantation State Park in Surry County.
Still, the notion of expanding hunting opportunities in quiet state sanctuaries so the commonwealth can make money does not sit well with some conservationists.
``I don't think it respects the environmental and educational aspects of why we have state parks,'' said Don Perry, president of the Virginia Beach Audubon Society. ``I've always thought the objective of the parks is for people to enjoy a natural setting.''
``Personally I'd have a problem with it; and as a group, we'd have a problem with it,'' said Alice Little, president of the Friends of Seashore State Park at the northern tip of Virginia Beach.
Seashore State Park, which recently had its name changed to First Landing State Park, is the most heavily trafficked park in Virginia. It is illegal to hunt there now and there are no plans to allow any in the future, said park manager Fred Hazelwood, who has completed his review of possible hunting opportunities.
``About the only nuisance species we have here is gypsy moths,'' Hazelwood said. ``I seriously doubt there would be much interest in hunting moths.''
Not all conservationists are bothered by the concept, saying it boils down to a social preference.
``If you shoot a squirrel, it certainly will hurt that squirrel. But if you shoot a squirrel that's part of a healthy population, it becomes a matter of choice: you're either anti-hunting and turned off by that or you see it as OK,'' said Tom Evans, president of the Virginia Wildlife Federation. ``Frankly, I'm one that sees it as OK.''
Elton said the idea came from within the department and should not be identified as anything that Gov. George F. Allen is pushing. ``I've been convinced that this was the right thing to do,'' he said.
Allen and Elton are hunters. And the Department of Conservation and Recreation is headed by H. Kirby Burch, an avid hunter who also led a group called Sportsmen For Allen during the 1993 gubernatorial campaign.
Burch was appointed conservation chief last summer by Allen, and was reprimanded by the governor last month for shooting two wild pigs while leading a caravan of state officials inside False Cape State Park.
Indeed, the request of state park managers to scope lands for new hunting opportunities was made at a meeting the day before Burch shot the pigs with his own .45-caliber handgun on April 26, officials said.
Elton conceded that the timing of the hunting request has not been good, given the controversy surrounding the pig shooting. But he said it remains a solid proposal that should be pursued.
``Hunters are part of our constituency, too,'' Elton said. ``I wouldn't say we're catering to them. But they pay taxes, too. . . . If you're anti-hunting, then you won't like this. But we think it's only fair.''
State parks administrators have tried to get money from the General Assembly for years for comprehensive resource-management plans.
But the price tag - about $150,000 per park - always has been deemed too high.
Elton believes he can produce the plans for about $30,000 to $40,000 apiece.
To shave costs, he has asked planners in sister agencies to contribute data, instead of hiring private consultants to do the work, as has been proposed in the past.
And he also is using college interns to track down information for the plans, which he hopes to complete in the next 18 months. ILLUSTRATION: Color Staff chart by Ken Wright
State Park Policies
State parks that allow hunting in designated areas.
[For copy of list, see microfilm.]
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA STATE PARK by CNB