Media inquiries: Please contact Dave Neudeck, dave.neudeck@dcr.virginia.gov, 804-786-5053.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 17, 2002
Contact:
Virginia State Parks offer hunting opportunities statewide
Virginia State Parks offer the outdoorsman a variety of hunting opportunities this season. The state parks, managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, offer several lottery and reservation-only hunts. In addition, several parks are open for hunting throughout the season.
All hunting laws and regulations apply in Virginia State Parks. Additional rules may apply in individual parks, and all lottery and reservation hunts have special regulations.
Applications are being accepted for lottery hunts at Kiptopeke State Park and Savage Neck Natural Area Preserve. The Kiptopeke hunt will be Nov. 25 - 27, with a special youth hunt on Nov. 23. The Savage Neck hunt will be Dec. 14 and is a special youth hunt only. Applications for the Kiptopeke and Savage Neck hunts are being accepted through Oct. 18. The youth hunts are open to youths 12 - 17 only; youths 16-17 may hunt alone, and youths 12 - 15 must have a non-hunting adult accompany them.
Each lottery requires a separate application. Applications may be obtained by calling the Virginia State Parks Reservation Center at 1-800-933-PARK or it can be downloaded from the DCR website. Applications must be mailed, along with a $5 application fee, to the State Parks Reservation Center and received by the designated deadline.
Several parks allow hunters to reserve stands or zones on a first-come, first-served
basis:
Muzzleloading and archery hunts will be held at York River State Park Nov. 4-5
and Nov.7-8, the reservation period is Sept. 18 - Oct. 28; Smith Mountain Lake
State Park Nov. 6 - 9, reservation period Sept. 11 - Oct. 25; and James River
State Park Nov. 11-13, with reservations being accepted through Nov. 4.
Muzzleloading-only hunts will be held at Caledon Natural Area Nov. 6-8, with the reservation period Oct. 2 - 30; and Claytor Lake State Park Jan. 17 - 18, with reservations accepted Nov. 13 - Dec. 20.
Shotgun hunts will be held at Chippokes Plantation State Park, Nov. 26 and Dec. 3, with the reservation period Sept. 25 - Nov. 19; James River State Park, Dec. 23 - 24, and Jan. 1 - 4, with reservations being accepted through Dec. 16; York River State Park Nov. 18 - 19, with the reservation period Sept. 18 - Nov. 8. York River will also host a Women in the Woods hunt Dec. 14, with a Sept. 18 - Dec. 6 reservation period.
Hunters may reserve preferred days and stands or zones for an advanced fee of $15 a day, by calling the reservation center.
Open hunting will be offered this season in designated areas of five state parks: Fairy Stone in Patrick and Henry counties, Grayson Highlands in Grayson County, Hungry Mother in Smyth County, Occoneechee in Mecklenburg County, and Pocahontas in Chesterfield County.
Chippokes Plantation State Park will offer a special Southern Heritage Deer Hunt on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. This traditional 19th century hunt features three southern meals, a blessing of the hounds and more. The cost is $250 per adult, $150 for children 12-17 and $50 for non-hunting companions. Reservations are required, and may be made through Nov. 21 by calling the reservation center. Overnight accommodations are available to registered hunters by calling the park at (757) 294-3625.
Several state parks are in or near state forests, national forests or wildlife
management areas that allow hunting. State parks with overnight accommodations
are convenient and economical base camps for hunting anywhere in the area. These
parks offer maps, tips, advice and affordable camping or cabin accommodations
only minutes from the
field. Campsites are available through Dec. 1, and many cabins are open year
round.
For information on hunting licenses, hunter safety education and hunting regulations, call the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries at (804) 367-1000 or visit the DGIF web site at www.dgif.state.va.us.
For more information about hunting opportunities and programs in Virginia State Parks, hunt lottery applications or reservations, or camping or cabin reservations, call 1-800-933-PARK. For more information on Virginia State Parks, visit the DCR website at www.dcr.virginia.gov.
Virginia State Parks that allow hunting
Caledon Natural Area, (540) 663-3861
Chippokes Plantation State Park, (757) 294-3625
Claytor Lake State Park, (540) 643-2500
Fairy Stone State Park, (276) 930-2424
False Cape State Park, (757) 426-7128
Grayson Highlands State Park, (276) 579-7092
Hungry Mother State Park, (276) 781-7400
James River State Park, (434) 933-4355
Kiptopeke State Park, (757) 331-2267
Occoneechee State Park, (434) 374-2210
Pocahontas State Park, (804) 796-4255
Smith Mountain Lake State Park, (540) 297-6066
York River State Park, (757) 566-3036
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