Rapp deer season begins Saturday
Firearms Deer Season begins this Saturday, Nov. 16, in Rappahannock County and continues through Saturday, Jan. 4. So be sure to wear orange (or pink) whether hunting or taking a walk in the woods.
Given Rappahannock lies east of the Blue Ridge, the bag limit for deer this year is two a day, six a license year. Of the six-deer limit, no more than three may be antlered deer and at least three must be antlerless deer.
Meanwhile, Firearms Bear Season will arrive in Rappahannock on Nov. 25 and also lasts through Jan. 4, with one bear per license year of at least 100 pounds live weight, or 75 pounds dressed weight (all internal organs removed). Female bears with cubs may not be harvested.
In addition, it is unlawful to shoot a bear without intent to retrieve the animal. For that matter, warns the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, no person shall cripple or kill “any game animal” without making a reasonable effort to collect it and retain it in their possession. In their words, no animal shall be wasted.
It is also unlawful to dislodge any animal such as a bear from a tree for the intent of continuing a hunt, or chase, including when training dogs in or out of season.
Finally, Firearms Wild Turkey season in Rappahannock will be the following dates: Nov. 27-28, Dec. 2-28, and Jan. 11-25.
One turkey may be bagged per day, three per license year, however no more than two — either sex — may be taken in the fall season (there is subsequently a spring season).
Remember, every hunter or persons accompanying a hunter is required to wear a solid blaze colored — orange or pink — hat or solid blaze colored upper body clothing. Hats shall not be in “camo” style, since the latter is obviously designed to prevent visibility.
Hunters situated within enclosed ground (pop-up, chair, box, etc.) that conceals them from view must also display at least 100 square inches of solid blaze color material attached to or above the blind. The required added blaze color is in addition to the orange or pink worn by hunters.
As for previous hunting success, during the 2018-19 season 190,636 deer were harvested in Virginia, 1,687 of them here in Rappahannock; 2,715 bears were taken by hunters,
19 in Rappahannock (102 bears were harvested across the county line in Madison; the 2,715 total bear harvest was the second highest ever in Virginia); and 2,363 wild turkeys were successfully hunted, albeit only 8 gobblers were bagged in Rappahannock.
Bear, turkey on horizon