The thrill of the hunt

by LARRY A. CRUM

reporter

Some look to the upcoming Thanksgiving break as a time to relax in the warmth of their home; others see it as their opportunity to get into the woods and bag the perfect deer.

Hunting is big business here in West Virginia and it is upon us now. Bow season is already here and gun season in the state begins Monday, a day when people will skip work and school to spend the first day of the season in the woods.

According to the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, most families have at least one member actively participates in hunting. Each year more than 350,000 hunters enter into the woods looking for the perfect deer.

Hunting is also popular at Marshall with numerous students participating. Adam Watson, a junior education major from Point Pleasant, said he has already spent time in the woods and is looking forward to the upcoming gun season.

"It really is a way to relax and get away from school and work," Watson said. "I enjoy it and it is a great way to spend my Thanksgiving break."

The hunting season is not just for men, many women enjoy deer hunting each year. Aimee Casto, a junior psychology major from Leon, said hunting is a sport she really enjoys.

"It helps you relax and get away from the pressures in life," Casto said. "I really enjoy being in nature; it is something that you really don't appreciate until you take the time out and see it."

The hunting season also brings money into the state economy, especially rural areas where small stores will open their doors before dawn to supply hunters with whatever they need and serve as a place to check in the deer killed.

The West Virginia DNR also reported that the hunting season creates more than 5,000 jobs and annually brings in nearly $270 million to the state economy.

Hunting related businesses, such as Turkey Run Archery in Mason County, see a dramatic increase in customers and sales during the hunting season. The shop, which specializes in archery supplies and features an outdoor and indoor target range, looks forward to hunting season each year.

In Cabell County, archery season will run until Dec. 31. Gun season will begin on Nov. 22 and run throughout December with variations on the kind of deer that can be killed.

Last year the quantity of deer killed in West Virginia was down 18 percent from the year before however the quality of the deer brought in improved dramatically from 2002.

Of the deer killed last year in the state, 103 of them qualified for the states Big Buck Club sponsored by the West Virginia DNR. This increase was up 20 percent from the year before.

Any questions about hunting regulations as well as general hunting information can be answered at www.wvdnr.gov/hunting.