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Applications Being Accepted for the Stonewall Resort State Park WV Controlled Deer Hunt

West Virginia DNR

Weston, W.Va - -(AmmoLand.com)- Applications are being accepted for the controlled deer hunt scheduled for November 16, 17 and 18, 2009, at Stonewall Resort State Park, located in Lewis County near Weston, W.Va.

“Monitoring of the deer population and subsequent consequent surveys conducted by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) wildlife and parks personnel, “revealed a high deer density on the state park property at Stonewall,” according to Sam England, Park Superintendent. “The excessive whitetail deer population damages places negative consequences for vegetation, creates environmental imbalance within the park and subjects the herd to increasingly poor browse and health conditions.” The high population of deer creates environmental imbalance within the park and subjects the herd to increasingly poor browse and health conditions.”

Cooperative efforts between the Parks and Recreation, Wildlife, and Law Enforcement sections of DNR and Benchmark Management Company, which operates the facilities for the state, were successful in conducting a controlled hunt in 2008.

“We were able to successfully use a controlled hunt as a method of deer management in a public setting last year; however, history has shown that multiple successive hunts are necessary to reduce the population to appropriate levels,” according to Frank Jezioro, Director of the Division of Natural Resources. “The result will be good and responsible wildlife management that a controlled deer hunt can produce.”

The application and instructions for the Stonewall controlled hunt are posted on the DNR Web page at www.wvdnr.gov under Hunting, Stonewall Controlled Hunt.

Applications also are available at all DNR district offices; DNR Operations Center in Elkins; DNR Offices in Building 74 Capitol Complex in South Charleston; WV State Park and Forest offices; the WV Wildlife Center at French Creek and at Stonewall Resort state park office. Applications are two-sided with the application on one side and information on the reverse. Hunters also may complete the application online; however, applications must be printed, then signed and dated and mailed. Completed applications must be mailed to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 67, Elkins, WV, prior to August 28, 2009. A random selection of approximately 50 hunters for each day will be made from applications received. Successful applicants will be notified after October 1, 2009. For additional information contact Stonewall Resort State Park at (304) 269-0524, or District 3 DNR Office at (304) 924-6211.

Controlled Hunt Application Information
The controlled hunt at Stonewall Resort is open to West Virginia residents and holders of West Virginia Lifetime Licenses. Hunters may apply for a permit to participate in the Stonewall Resort State Park Controlled Deer Hunt to be conducted November 16, 17 and 18, 2009.

Hunters may apply individually or as part of a two-person party and may use any weapon legal for deer hunting in West Virginia. One (1) deer may be taken by each hunter. Only antlerless deer may be taken during this hunt, except that each day of the hunt an on-site lottery will be held which will allow up to four (4) hunters to hunt a deer of either sex. Instructions on the application must be followed. Applications must be signed, legible, complete, and postmarked by August 28, 2009.

All applicants must designate the type of weapon (firearm or bow) and hunting method (free roaming or fixed stand) to be used on the application. All persons applying as a party must hunt with the same type of weapon (firearm or bow) and use the same method of hunting (free roaming or fixed stand). Party hunters which include a Class Q hunter must hunt from the same Class Q stand.

Each hunter must possess a valid West Virginia Hunting License (or be legally exempt from purchasing a license) on the day of the hunt.

The hunt area is divided into two zones; a Fixed Stand Zone and a Free Roaming Zone. In the Fixed Stand Zone hunters must hunt from elevated tree stands (ladder or self-climbing) which they must provide, placed in designated trees. In the Free Roaming Zone hunters may hunt from the ground or from portable tree stands and they are not limited to stationary location. A safety belt is required to be worn while hunting from an elevated stand. Scopes are allowed on all legal firearms.

There will be no waiting list or walk-ons. There will be approximately 55 applications for each hunt day randomly drawn in advance. Successful applicants will be contacted with more detailed information regarding this controlled hunt. Deer harvested do not count against a hunter’s annual deer season bag limit.

West Virginia Division of Natural Resources hunting regulations will apply to this hunt. Hunting contributes to wildlife conservation while maintaining a healthy deer herd population.

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Whitetails Unlimited’s Membership Appreciation Giveaway Extended Through 2010
Popular giveaway program will distribute $100,000 in merchandise.

Whitetails Unlimited

Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin - -(AmmoLand.com)- Whitetails Unlimited’s popular Membership Appreciation Giveaway has been extended, and now will run through all of 2010. With this time extension, the total cumulative estimated retail value of all prizes to be awarded will exceed $100,000.

WTU draws five lucky winners each week (Monday – Friday) through a random computerized drawing of current WTU members. The drawings began October 1, 2008, and with the new extension will end December 31, 2010. That’s a total of 27 months, and plenty of happy and lucky WTU members. Winners’ names are posted on the WTU website, along with the prize that they’ve won.

“The combination of strong support from the outdoor industry and excitement among our members made the decision to extend the Membership Appreciation Giveaway to the end of 2010 an easy one,” said WTU Executive Director Pete Gerl. “Giveaway prizes typically don’t fall below a $50 estimated retail value, and in fact, during the first six months of the drawing the average prize had an ERV of over $200.”

“When it comes to traditional membership benefits, this program is second to none,” said WTU President Jeff Schinkten. “What a great way for Whitetails Unlimited to express its appreciation toward our membership for their continued support.”

On the date of each drawing, current members are automatically included. Memberships can be obtained online at www.whitetailsunlimited.com, or by phone at 1-800-274-5471. The website also provides a list of the official rules for the giveaway.

“We really want to put out a special ‘thank you’ to all our giveaway sponsors for making this unique Whitetails Unlimited membership incentive possible,” said Schinkten. “We’ve received awesome support from a variety of outdoor companies, and we’re always excited to talk to businesses who are looking for innovative and imaginative marketing opportunities, from sponsorships to advertising/product tradeouts, to unique ideas for new projects. One hundred percent of WTU members hunt deer, and almost all of them also hunt other game, fish, and enjoy the outdoors in other ways. Our members are the exact demographic outdoor companies want to reach,” said Schinkten.

For more information on becoming a WTU sponsor, contact Kevin Devault, manager of conservation funding at (920) 743-6777 ext. 102, or Jim Satorius, advertising sales representative at (920) 427-5396.

About:
Founded in 1982, Whitetails Unlimited is a national nonprofit conservation organization. Our mission is to raise funds in support of education, habitat enhancement and acquisition, and the preservation of the hunting tradition for the benefit of the white-tailed deer and other wildlife. When it comes to the whitetail and its environment, WTU’s degree of professionalism and dedication has earned us the reputation of being the nation’s premier whitetail organization.

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