Virginia deer hunters are limbering up their archery tackle and muscles early this month in preparation for the 2nd of October. That’s when the Commonwealth deer and wild turkey archery season gets underway. Across the Potomac in Maryland, deer archery was already underway in mid- September. Now along both side of the river, many parts of the Freestate and Commonwealth, are enjoying fall like weather. It’s an exciting and somewhat quiet time to be in the woods and along field edges that is, it better be quiet if you are going to see any deer. Stealth, preparedness and the right gear are necessities for successful deer archery hunting, as is safety. Hunting safety is not limited to just archery tackle and the muzzleloader and firearms seasons will soon be upon us. Anyone can believe they are as prepared as need be when it comes to understanding safety, hunting laws and ethics. You may get complacent on these priorities and not even realize it. Consider getting together with fellow hunters or your local State Game Warden to go over some safety tips and ensure you understand any changes in the 2004-05 hunting regulations. Consider taking a hunter safety education course, even if you have taken one in the past. There is one scheduled in King George County on Saturday, October 16 from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Location for the course is the Citizens Center at 8076 Kings Highway. The course is free of charge but preregistration is required. Call King George County Parks & Recreation at (540) 775-4386 or Buddy Fines at (540) 775-7294.

     On Saturday, October 23, 2004, an annual event combines discussions on hunting safety and regulations with hunters, land owners and law enforcement officials. The Farnham Hunt Club invites all to attend their ”Lets Talk Safe Hunting” event which begins at 10:00 a.m. Invited speakers will include Virginia State Game Wardens, local elected officials and officers with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department. The agenda will include new hunting laws, safe hunting and hunter responsibilities. Lunch will be available. Farnham Hunt Club is located on Route 612 a few miles from it’s intersection with Route 3. For directions or additional information, call (804) 333-4190. 
 
     Deer hunters in Virginia have a wonderful opportunity to share the bounty of their hunt with Virginia’s less fortunate. “Hunters for the Hungry” (HFH) accepts deer donated from the Commonwealth’s 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 is also grateful for any cash donations provided by those who do not donate a harvested deer. Mail your checks with tax deductible donations for the HFH Program to; Hunters for the Hungry, P.O. Box 304, Big Island, VA. 24526. When you purchase your 2004-05 Virginia hunting license consider donating the optional $2 to HFH. This amount may not seem like much but it goes a long way if all those buying hunting licenses participate. For additional information on Hunters for the Hungry, call 1-800-352-4868. Visit the HFH website at; www.h4hungry.org to see the list of where you can drop off a deer for the program
 
     There is also a similar program in Maryland which coordinates donated deer for processing and distribution to those in need. “Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry” (FHFH) can be supported by bringing your harvested deer to a participating location or by donating funds to cover the cost of processing venison. To donate funds to cover the cost of processing donated deer, send you tax deductible check to, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, 216 N. Cleveland Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21740. Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offers the option of donating $1 to FHFH when purchasing a Maryland hunting license. The FHFH Program in Maryland can be reached by phone at, (301) 739-3000. The FHFH website which includes locations where donated deer can be dropped off in Maryland is; www.fhfh.org . Once at the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry homepage, Select Maryland, for that State’s local programs.
 
     To keep up with the 2004-05 Virginia hunting regulations this season, visit the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) website at; http://www.dgif.state.va.us/ . Maryland hunting regulations can be found online at; http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/. 

© 2004 Steve & Chelly Scala All Rights Reserved