Media inquiries: Please contact Dave Neudeck, dave.neudeck@dcr.virginia.gov, 804-786-5053.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 11, 2003
Contact:
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation offers hunting opportunities statewide
Virginia State Parks and selected Natural Area Preserves, managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, offer the outdoorsman a variety of hunting opportunities, including several lottery and reservation-only hunts as well as open hunting throughout the season.
Applications are being accepted for lottery hunts at Kiptopeke
State Park and Savage Neck Natural Area Preserve, in Northampton County. Kiptopeke
will hold muzzleloading hunts Nov. 8 and 15 and shotgun hunts on Dec. 6 and
20. The Savage Neck hunt, in which only youths can hunt, will be Nov. 22. The
deadline for the Kiptopeke muzzleloader hunt is Oct. 10 and Nov. 7 for the shotgun
hunt and applications for the Savage Neck youth hunt are due by Oct. 24.
The Savage Neck hunt on Nov. 22 is a special hunt open only to young people
ages 12-17. Youths 16-17 may hunt alone, and those 12-15 must have a non-hunting
adult accompany them.
Each lottery requires a separate application. Call 1-800-933-PARK for an application or download one from www.dcr.virginia.gov. Applications and a $5 application fee must be received by the designated deadlines.
An archery hunt will be held at Savage Neck, Oct. 13-25, 2003. Telephone reservations will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2003. To make a reservation for this hunt only, call (757) 787-5576. Slots are expected to fill quickly.
A waterfowl hunt will be held at Dameron Marsh Natural Area Preserve in Northumberland County, Nov. 19 and 26, Dec. 3, 17, 24, and 31, 2003, and Jan. 7, 14, and 21, 2004. Hunters will be chosen in a random drawing, and the application deadline is Oct. 3, 2003. Call (804) 786-7951 for a complete set of rules and an application for this hunt only. Or visit www.dcr.virginia.gov.
Participants must be at least 16 years old, or 12-15 years old and accompanied by a non-hunting adult. Both must have proof of successfully completing a hunter education course.
Hunters can reserve stands or zones on a first-come, first-served basis at the following hunts:
Muzzleloading and archery hunts at York River State Park, in James City County, Nov. 6-7 and Nov. 13-14, the reservation period is Sept. 17-Oct. 24; Smith Mountain Lake State Park, in Bedford County, Nov. 5-8, the reservation period is Sept. 10-Oct. 24; and James River State Park, in Buckingham County, Nov. 10-13 and Nov. 17-18, the reservation period is Sept. 3 - Oct. 24. Muzzleloading-only hunts will be held at Caledon Natural Area, in King George County, Nov. 5-7, and the reservation period is Oct. 1-29.
Shotgun hunts will be held at Chippokes Plantation State Park, in Surry County, Dec. 2 and 9, the reservation period is Sept. 24-Nov. 19; James River State Park, Dec. 15-18, 22-23, and Jan. 2-3, the reservation period is Sept. 3-Nov. 25; York River State Park, Dec. 11-12, the reservation period is Sept. 17-Nov. 14.
Hunters may reserve preferred days and stands or zones for an advanced fee of $15 a day by calling the Virginia State Parks Reservation Center, 1-800-933-PARK.
Open hunting is offered 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 offers a special Southern Heritage Deer Hunt
Saturday, Nov. 22, 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
$325 per adult, $200 for children 12-17 and $50 for non-hunting companions.
Reservations are required and may be made through Nov. 20 by calling the reservation
center. Overnight accommodations are available to registered hunters by calling
the park at (757) 294-3625.
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.
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 and affordable camping or cabin accommodations only minutes
from the field. Campsites are available through Nov. 30, and 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 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.
Virginia State Parks that allow hunting
Caledon Natural
Area, King George County, (540) 663-3861
Chippokes Plantation State Park, Surry County, (757) 294-3625
Fairy Stone State Park, Patrick County, (276) 930-2424
False Cape State Park, Virginia Beach, (757) 426-7128
Grayson Highlands State Park, Grayson County, (276) 579-7092
Hungry Mother State Park, Smyth County, (276) 781-7400
James River State Park, Buckingham County, (434) 933-4355
Kiptopeke State Park, Northampton County, (757) 331-2267
Mason Neck State Park, Fairfax County, (703) 550-0960
Occoneechee State Park, Mecklenburg County, (434) 374-2210
Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield County, (804) 796-4255
Smith Mountain Lake State Park, Bedford County, (540) 297-6066
York River State, James City County, (757) 566-3036
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