MORGANTOWN — Safe and successful.
That’s how Morgantown Urban Archery Hunt organizer Rick Bebout described the hunt’s 13th season, which concluded Jan. 31.
It was also a record breaker.
The 137-day season ended with a total harvest of 142 deer, including 29 antlered bucks.
The previous high was 137 deer in 2013.
Helping boost the numbers this time around was the reintroduction of BOPARC properties to the hunt for the first time since 2015.
Dorsey’s Knob, Krepps Park, Marilla Park and White Park were among 31 hunting sites across the city.
The WVU Farm woodlot had the highest deer harvest total, with 13 deer taken off that property. Behind that came White Park (10) and Dorsey’s Knob (9). WVU’s Core Arboretum had eight deer taken, followed by a list of five properties, including Krepps Park, with seven.
“Our hunters donated 49 deer that yielded 1,478 pounds of ground venison, which goes to local shelters and to help those in need in our community,” he said. “The significant thing about that total is that it put us over the six-ton mark of donated meat over our 13-year history. So, we’re pretty proud of that.”
Bebout said there was some minor property theft of items like trail cameras and tree stands, which he chalked up as one of the issues common to urban hunting.
“All in all, a great year. We’re already in the planning stages for 2024, which will begin on Saturday, Sept. 7,” he said.
Information and applications for potential hunters as well as interested property owners can be found at morgantownwv.gov by following the “Residents & Visitors” and “Urban Hunt” links.
Bebout said the primary attribute organizers are looking for in prospective hunters is experience.
“This really isn’t for new hunters,” he said. “That’s really the deciding factor.”
