Media inquiries: Please contact Dave Neudeck, dave.neudeck@dcr.virginia.gov, 804-786-5053.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: August 30, 2001
Contact:
Virginia State Parks offer hunting opportunities statewide
(RICHMOND, Va.) - The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is now accepting reservations and applications for deer hunts to be held this fall in Virginia State Parks.
"The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), in its management of Virginia State Parks, works closely with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) to help maintain the best possible wildlife management practices," said Secretary of Natural Resources John Paul Woodley Jr.
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.
Special lottery hunts will be held at False Cape State Park Oct. 6 and Oct. 8-13. The application deadline is Sept. 7 and the application fee is $5 per application.
Several parks will offer hunting opportunities by reservation: muzzleloading/archery
hunts at York River State Park Nov. 5-6 and Nov.8-9, and Smith Mountain Lake
Nov. 7 - 10; muzzleloading hunt at Caledon Natural Area Nov. 7-9; shotgun hunt
at Chippokes Plantation State Park, Dec. 4 and 11; shotgun/archery hunt at York
River State Park Dec. 6-7; and
York River State Park's special Women in the Woods shotgun/archery hunt Dec.
8.
Reservation periods for these hunts are: York River muzzleloading/archery Sept. 6 - Nov. 2, Caledon Muzzleloading Aug. 15 - Nov. 2, Smith Mountain Lake muzzleloading/archery Sept. 12 - Nov. 2, Chippokes shotgun Oct. 3 - Nov. 29, York River shotgun/archery Oct. 10 - Dec. 3, and York River Women in the Woods hunt Oct. 17- Dec. 3. Hunters may reserve preferred days and stands or zones for an advanced fee of $15 a day.
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, Dec. 1, 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. 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. 2, 2001, and most cabins are open year-round.
For information on hunting licenses, hunter safety education and hunting regulations, call the 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, lottery hunt applications or reservations, or camping or cabin reservations, call 1-800-933-PARK or in Richmond, 225-3867. For more information about Virginia State Parks, visit the DCR homepage at www.dcr.virginia.gov.
-30-
Editors' Note: Call Jim Meisner at (804) 786-8442 for a selection of color slides of the parks and overnight accommodations.
Virginia State Parks that allow hunting
Caledon Natural Area, (540) 663-3861
Chippokes Plantation State Park, (757) 294-3625
Fairy Stone State Park, (540) 930-2424
False Cape State Park, (757) 426-7128
Grayson Highlands State Park, (540) 579-7092
Hungry Mother State Park, (540) 781-7400
Occoneechee State Park, (804) 374-2210
Pocahontas State Park, (804) 796-4255
Smith Mountain Lake State Park, (540) 297-6066
York River State, (757) 566-3036