Fall General Firearms Season for Deer Opens November 13

Hunters, going afield helps you and your community

RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In Virginia, hundreds of thousands of sportsmen and women are gearing up for the most popular hunting season in the Commonwealth, the general firearms season for deer which opens this Saturday, November 13. Hunters know that hunting can stretch their household dollars by putting affordable, healthy food on the table. One deer can yield approximately 50 pounds of nutritious venison– the ultimate in organic, free-range food.

Food banks need donations now more than ever and Virginia's hunters are providing much needed protein by donating a deer or a portion of it to Hunters for the Hungry (www.h4hungry.org). Last hunting season, more than 405,000 pounds of venison equal to 1.6 million servings were distributed in the Commonwealth through this program. In tough times, hunters continue to share the wealth of their harvest. But the benefits of hunting go beyond the freezer.

This time of year in Virginia the deer population is up around one million animals. Hunters harvest about 250,000 each year, but the deer population rebounds, making hunting an important wildlife management tool. Hunting reduces pressure on crops, protects expensive landscaping, cuts down on deer in the roadways, and prevents deer overgrazing an area and destroying habitat needed by other wildlife such as songbirds. Farmers, landowners, motorists, and outdoor recreationists all benefit from hunters harvesting the white-tailed deer population in Virginia.

With all the benefits of hunting, it's important to maintain the tradition of hunting in Virginia. "We can't reap the benefits of hunting without the hunters," said Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) Executive Director Bob Duncan.

VDGIF has been reaching out to hunters who once held hunting licenses with the support of Hunting Heritage Partnership Grants from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc., (www.nssf.org/hunting/grants/). The focus of the NSSF grants is to enhance agency efforts in hunter recruitment and retention. The direct mail portion of the integrated marketing campaign encourages the casual hunter not only to purchase a license and return to hunting but also to share the experience with others. The postcards are going out this week and those lapsed license buying hunters should look for something in their mail soon.

In addition to VDGIF staff, the team working on the program includes Jodi Valenta of Mile Creek Communications; Mark Duda with Responsive Management; and Rob Southwick of Southwick Associate. Tammy Sapp formerly owner of Tammy Sapp Communications and now the communications manager at the Remington Arms Foundation also participated. The group worked with VDGIF to develop a comprehensive integrated marketing plan that will result in a research-based communications outreach program to recruit lapsed hunters in Virginia. This outreach effort is being watched by fish and wildlife agencies across the country.

"The targeted mail campaign to lapsed hunters at the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will serve as a national model for other state fish and wildlife agencies to reconnect with past constituents through enhancing recruitment efforts," said NSSF Manager of Recruitment and Retention Melissa Schilling.

To purchase a hunting license and to learn more about license requirements, seasons, game species, hunting regulations, public hunting lands, Hunter Education and hunting skills programs visit the Department's website at www.HuntFishVA.com.

It is the mission of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to maintain optimum populations of all species to serve the needs of the Commonwealth; to provide opportunity for all to enjoy wildlife, inland fish, boating and related outdoor recreation and to work diligently to safeguard the rights of the people to hunt, fish and harvest game as provided for in the Constitution of Virginia; to promote safety for persons and property in connection with boating, hunting and fishing; to provide educational outreach programs and materials that foster an awareness of and appreciation for Virginia's fish and wildlife resources, their habitats, and hunting, fishing, and boating opportunities.

SOURCE Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries