County plans managed deer hunts at nature preserve
Monday, Sep. 12 by Crystal Owens
http://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/county_plans_managed_deer_hunts_at_nature_preserve/
The Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services will hold two separate, three-day managed hunts for antlerless deer at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve in Leesburg to reduce the level of the herd.
PRCS and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries conducted deer herd health assessments at the preserve, which determined that the health of the deer is declining and the carrying capacity of the herd has been far exceeded.
The first event is an archery-only hunt on Oct. 24, 27 and 31. Interested hunters must register for the lottery by Sept. 29. Online registration is available at loudoun.gov/webtrac using activity number 167501-01. On-site registration is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the PRCS Administrative Office, 215 Depot Court SE, Leesburg. The lottery fee is $10 for Loudoun residents and $15 for non-residents. There is an additional fee of $1 for on-site registration.
Thirty-three hunters (plus 15 alternates) will be randomly selected through the lottery and notified on Sept. 30. Participating hunters must have a Virginia hunting license, pass a qualifier at local ranges, attend a weekday orientation at Banshee Reeks, purchase a Loudoun County hunting permit ($25) at the orientation and participate in up to three weekday hunts.
Lottery registration for the December event, which will be a shotgun and archery hunt, will take place in October. For more information about the managed hunt program, visit
http://www.loudoun.gov/bansheereeks, contact Ron Circe at 703-669-0316 or call 703-777-0343.