Virginia Needs Deer Hunters!

It’s no secret that the prospect of a big buck is what gets most of us in a deer stand each fall. But what if the most important deer you harvest this season isn’t a buck?

Healthy deer populations depend on much more than antlers. As Virginia’s deer population continues to grow on many private lands, fewer hunters are helping manage it.

In the latest Virginia’s Deer blog, Deer Project Leader Justin Folks explains why doe harvest is one of the most effective wildlife management tools we have and how hunters play an essential role in maintaining healthy deer populations across the state.

His message is simple: We ask that Virginia’s private land hunters take more does in counties with deer populations above objective and to recruit new hunters to help.

Photos by Meghan Marchetti/DWR