THE SWEET:  VDGIF has announced an early antlerless deer season for a few Northern Virginia counties.      

THE BITTER:  ALL legal deer hunting weapons including bows, crossbows, muzzleloaders, pistols, shotguns, and rifles are legal.  (Local firearm ordinances still apply).    :mad:  

So....The quiet sanctity of early archery will be shattered by every manner of marauding miscreant.

Be safe out there, friends....

Kingsnake

They did that to us as well here in PA a few years back. A week of blasting season in the middle of the regular archery season. It includes planned deer drives, intrusion and some noise. After it quiets down we get serious about deer hunting the end of October into mid November.

Ron

Indeed! I see it somewhat differently that Ron, in that here, or lets say where I have access to hunt, once that hellish MZ doe season erupts, all natural travel is disrupted. Period!

Then follows the stair step opening of youth pheasant hunts, then squirrel and rabbit w/ guns, then grouse... then turkey...and full small game.

Aside from being a bit more dangerous out there in trees, the quiet of hunting natural movement, unmolested deer with a stick bow close range is GONE!

Those who have larger tracts of limited access land and less intrusions, may find it to be quite different.

Agreed. It's no fun at all. I think its made some our larger bucks go nocturnal even during the rut.

Ron

Doc,
I hear you.

I'm right with you on that!
Glenn

Doc,
I hear you.

Wasn't trying to win any arguments...didn't mean it that way, Ron...

But this whole issue is very VERY location specific.

I meet guys who say it matters not... close questioning reveals that they have pretty sizeable private ground where outside influences are mitigated!

As far as I'm concerned, having hunted archery in PA since close to when we started a special season, I say we now have a 2 week archery season... and after that...deer I hunt, where I hunt, run thru the woods like it's opening day of Rifle Season!!!

Suffice it to say that I have to drive 2-3 hrs to get where I hunt, so I'm handicapped in doing a lot of scouting with gas prices.  Second, there is none of this "hunt the wind" stuff... I can't circle around depending on the wind, as the acreage I have permission to hunt, is surrounded by posted property...

I'm sure dedicated hunters, who can spend goodly amounts of time in their hunting areas, can likely find escape routes to hunt and avoid some of the negative factors...

And yes, Ron, I've hunted daylight to dark, come out, go back in the next day in the dark, and find FRESH rubs/scrapes that were NOT there the day before...so it's all over night activity!

Down at Muddy Run project, the care taker told me 30 yrs ago, his deer count INSIDE the refuge doubled by NOON of the first day of archery season (surrounded on 3 sides by Game Lands) and the count remained up till Feb 1 when ALL seasons had closed!

Talk about response to pressure!

Doug, might be time to try and find some private land in an area where it's not suitable to gun hunt ... near residential areas. Things should be similar.

Also, belvoir has alot of deer and the last couple year has been very very very empty, not alot of hunters ... and they'll still let you use a longbow ... once you jump through all the hoops. Also they just changed the rules there so you dont have to check in at the check station the morning of unless you're going into gated areas.

Doug,

Many NOVA counties have had the early season for at least the past 7 years.  They also have a late antlerless only season.  The areas I hunt in Fairfax county won't be affected because you can't hunt with a gun on any of them.

well u could try hunting out here in idaho with stick and string during the rut...general (any whepon) season runs from oct 10 thru dec 1...

what im saying is  ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE cuz it could be worse.

Stinger.....I remember that there have been early antlerless seasons, but I don't remember them being open to all weapons.  I thought it was just bows.  I only have access to a 15 acre section of private land in Loudon County, and ~10 acres of that is the owners front yard and house.  That said, there are plenty of deer there.  The neighbors do have hunters on their property and I have had hunters set up within 80 yards of my stand.

@Ben...I hunted Belvoir a few years ago, where I was he one who accidentally set up too close to someone else's stand (unoccupied at the time...just didn't see it in the dark).  I might consider getting my MWR card renewed.

Thanks!

Kingsnake