MORGANTOWN — Bow hunters — including crossbow — will be heading out into the woods Saturday for the start of archery and crossbow season for deer.
There are a few things the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking hunters to do first, to make sure this hunting season is safe and ethical.
Steven Rauch, certified wildlife biologist for District I of the DNR, said one thing hunters should be doing is surveying mast cropping prior to the season start.
“Mast is the fruits that plants produce, and that’s the food for a lot of animals, so that’s of course a driving mechanism,” said Rauch.
The DNR does a survey every year looking at these conditions and then creating a hunter outlook as to what to look for in terms of hunting, such as where deer might be eating or where turkey forage for food.
Rauch said the deer herd is doing well and should it be a good year, but recommends hunters do surveys in their own areas.
“That should be one of the things in pre-scouting, that hunters go out and look at what the conditions are,” he said.
Rauch said this year, white oak has done well, and that will help hunters find game. If someone hunts in an area consistently, they might find it better to change location based on the DNR’s survey.
Another key to a safe season is checking equipment to make sure it’s safe. Rauch said bow hunters should check the strings on their bows or crossbows to make sure it’s not frayed or has the potential to break at full draw.
“Check limbs on bows for any cracks and a real important safety aspect is during archer season a lot of people hunt from tree stands. And it’s important to make sure tree stands are in good shape and have the proper safety gear,” he said.
Rauch also said hunters should never hunt from a tree stand and without wearing a safety harness. Rauch said people fall out of trees every year because they are not wearing the proper gear.
If people are not sure what to check for in terms of bow and firearm safety, Rauch said places like Cabela’s or a bow shop will be able to inspect them for hunters.
“Practice is very important. Most people have long had their equipment out and practiced with it so they can be proficient with shooting it,” he said.
Another thing to consider is broadhead arrows that may need to be sharpened or replaced. This ensures game animals do not suffer after being shot.
“That’s all part of being an ethical hunter,” Rauch said.
That also goes along with practicing and being proficient with whatever weapon a hunter chooses.
And, also knowing a weapon’s limits is important, said Rauch.
Rauch also said being familiar with hunting regulations is imperative to a safe season. A good resource for information is http://www.wvdnr.gov.
