The 2005-06 deer seasons in Virginia were an especially exciting time for many, including William (Willie) Borron of St. Stephens Church, Virginia. Like many of us, Willie has to fit in his deer hunting time amongst a busy work schedule and family responsibilities. Willie’s career as a roofing contractor keeps him on the go across much of the Northern Neck, Tidewater Virginia and the Richmond suburbs. Thus, in his travels he sees where deer habitat is and where it no longer ain’t. Habitat changes can make deer hunting especially challenging, especially once wary whitetails are on the alert due to increased hunting pressure. Factor that along with reduced habitat due to the ongoing development across Eastern Virginia and finding a place to hunt and the deer you saw last year can be a real challenge. Regardless of these factors, Willie Borron and other seasoned deer hunters have learned to adapt to change regarding where, when and how to legally and ethically, hunt. The mannerisms of deer who survive a few years of intense hunting pressure along with habitat changes can make for a real challenge. Willie is proud of the 3 beautiful bucks he harvested during the 2005-06 Virginia hunting season and recently shared some photos with us. He is aware of and holds reverence for the importance of wildlife habitat being preserved and protected, especially in the face of Virginia’s ongoing residential and industrial growth. In this, Willie Borron and many others in Virginia who hunt share a unique role of observation and potential action. Many have jobs which like Willies provide insight as to where development and change is taking place. How that change occurs without compromising existing wildlife habitat and sustainable woodland forests, is the challenge for us all.

     Even though the 2005-06 season is over, Virginians can still help the “Hunters for the Hungry” (HFH) Program. HFH accepts deer donated from hunters and has them processed, wrapped and delivered to food banks, churches and social services who then gets the nutritious meat to those in need. It costs approximately $35 to process and distribute a donated deer, so HFH gratefully accepts any cash donations provided. Mail your checks with tax deductible donations for the HFH Program to; Hunters for the Hungry, P.O. Box 304, Big Island, VA. 24526. For additional information on Hunters for the Hungry, call 1-800-352-4868 or visit the HFH website at; http://www.h4hungry.org 

     Maryland also has a program which coordinates the donation of deer for processing and distribution to those in need called, “Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry” (FHFH). To donate funds to cover the cost of processing deer and distributing venison in Maryland, send you tax deductible check to, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, 216 N. Cleveland Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21740. The FHFH Program in Maryland can be reached by phone at, (301) 739-3000. Their website is; www.fhfh.org . Once at the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry homepage, select Maryland, for that State’s local programs.

© 2006 Steve & Chelly Scala All Rights Reserved