Man Trampled by deer

A 65-year-old Battle Creek man was seriously injured when he was struck by three deer Friday afternoon.

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That is just crazy. I hope he will be o.k.

VA Bear, Deer, Turkey Harvest Data Announced

FALL WILD TURKEY

In Virginia, 2,687 turkeys were harvested during the 2010-2011 fall turkey season. This harvest was 24% below last year's reported kill of 3,538 birds. The harvest declined 34% in counties west of the Blue Ridge Mountains (1,664 last year versus 1,102 this year). Counties east of the Blue Ridge Mountains decreased 15 percent (1,874 vs. 1,585). Bedford led all counties with a harvest of 92 birds. Most of the harvest was reported on private lands. Thirty-seven birds were harvested on the Youth Fall Day Hunt.

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VA Hunting and fishing license fee might rise

Until 2006, Virginia hunters and anglers went nearly two decades without an increase in their hunting and fishing license fees.

Now they could be looking at the second fee increase in five years.

Hoping to offset a budget crisis that could become critical by 2014, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board voted Tuesday to propose adding $5 to the cost of hunting and fishing licenses.

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VDGIF Acquires Short Hills WMA

VDGIF Acquires Short Hills Wildlife Management Area in Botetourt-Rockbridge

VDGIF announced that it has acquired Short Hills Wildlife Management Area, a 4,232-acre tract in Rockbridge and Botetourt counties. The acquisition involved The Wildlife Foundation of Virginia and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation who combined resources to provide interim funding to assist the VDGIF with the acquisition. VDGIF Executive Director Bob Duncan noted, "Without the Virginia Outdoors Foundation and The Wildlife Foundation of Virginia this acquisition could not have been possible."

The Virginia Outdoors Foundation used a grant from The Virginia Land Conservation Bond Funds to purchase the northern half of the Short Hills tract with the ultimate intention of transferring the property to VDGIF. The Wildlife Foundation of Virginia purchased the southern half of Short Hills using loan funding from The Conservation Fund and held the property until VDGIF had accumulated the necessary funds to purchase the southern tract. VDGIF purchased that parcel for $3 million and closed on the property on July 2, 2010. The remainder of the tract was acquired when the Virginia Outdoors Foundation donated it to the Department in conjunction with the purchase.

The Short Hills WMA consists of an approximately 10-mile long ridgeline, known as Short Hills Mountain, which runs from just south of Lexington, on south to Natural Bridge. The property contains habitat for game and non-game species including black bear, deer, turkey, ruffed grouse, songbirds, raptors, and rattlesnakes. A management plan is being developed for the site. Information about public access will be available once that plan is finalized.

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Parkway eliminates hunter permit program

Officials with the Blue Ridge Parkway have announced a decision regarding how hunters will be able to use parkway property to access adjacent hunting grounds.

Hunters will no longer be required to obtain a special access permit in order to pass through Blue Ridge Parkway property to land where hunting is allowed.

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Program reintroduces elk to far Southwest Virginia

RICHMOND -- Shunned for years, Rocky Mountain elk are finally being welcomed back into the state by Virginia wildlife officials.

At a meeting Tuesday, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board directed the agency's staff to undertake a pilot restoration program that calls for stocking 75 elk into Buchanan County, a rugged, economically depressed county where officials have been hoping for years to establish an elk herd.

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Possible Pro-Staff Position

I learned yesterday that I might have a Pro-Staff position come next week with a company inside the hunting industry. I am really excited about this as it will for one keep me blogging on a more regular basis. Two it will let me help people with a product that I am really excited about.

Hopefully this time next week I will know for sure.