Any other urban archery hunters out there?
Urban deer aren’t a problem only in Virginia. This picture comes from Missoula, Mont., where the paper did a story last spring about challenges of dealing with suburban/urban deer.
One of the tools is urban archery seasons, which I wrote about in my Sunday column in The Roanoke Times.
I haven’t killed a deer during Roanoke County’s designated urban archery season, but it’s not for a lack of effort. I plan to keep with it.
As I wrote Sunday, this isn’t just a hunting opportunity. Participating in urban archery hunts is a responsibility. If we can make a notable dent in deer populations, that increases the likelihood of other localities opting in to urban archery seasons. If we don’t, not only will cities that could use archery hunters’ help — like Roanoke — not bother with urban archery seasons, but some cities and towns that participate may eventually opt out.
Who else hunts the urban season? And if you aren’t hunting, why not?
Finally, if you are a non-hunting Roanoke County resident (with enough ground to safely and legally bowhunt) who is frustrated with deer damage — to your garden, landscaping or cars — drop me a line. I suspect I can find some bowhunters who would be willing to try to help you.
February 11, 2013 - 11:46 AM
only reason I havent been yet is I dont have a place to do it at, the land I hunt on in roanoke county isnt big enough to contain a deer with a bowshot, and the anti hunting neighbor has been an issue before(not with me but with a buddy that used to hunt there) and I dont want to get in any trouble or have drama….so I havent been… the other spot in roanoke County I use doesnt have any trees around it that i can fulfill the requirements of being 10 feet off the ground with and the place where I saw that huge buck at she doesnt want me taking the females she enjoys watching them to much during the rest of the year….
I have been out once , or should I say I attempted to go out for a quick evening hunt only to find VDOT was doing work on the road where I access and they had bulldozers parked in the only spot where I can park at. As of Saturday they are still there. My other hunting spot the driveway had washed out after this last hard rain so it has been inaccessible. Still have a month and a half though!
Grass is greener on the other side of the fence.
Are you kidding me? Urban Archery!? Some people around here where I live think of these nuisance animals as lovable pets. They feed ‘em and those with the wooded lots where they linger. Posts signs of no hunting.
Usually people don’t want anything done about them until their or a spouse, friend, or relative vehicle is damage beyond repair.
Still I would have to say on any given Sunday theirs about 30 to 60 of those things meandering around here. Hey there’s a thought. I’ve got a better chance of scoring on .223 ammo than a deer during Urban Archery Season.
Hey another thought. With all the recent Gun and Ammo sales Virginians must’ve generated enough money for the Sunday Ban to be lifted? ROTFLMAO!