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see our season shortened. I d like to see the others lengthened,” he said, maintaining that 80 percent of Rappahannock’s problem with “slob hunters” comes from the influx of hunters during the extended season here. Agreeing with Mr. Estes’ contention that Rappahannock already has an overpopulation of deer compounded by its proximity to Shenandoah National Park’s refuge, Mr. Lane called for a bigger bag limit for does.
Most of the terrorism committed by “slob hunters” can be addressed through existing laws, Mr. Estes insisted, suggesting that victims swear out warrants so that the Commonwealth’s Attorney can prosecute criminal acts, such as forcing motorists off roads and firing into residences.
“It’s difficult to get a conviction (on many hunting violations),” countered Mr. Luke. “Slob hunters” can ride the back roads at 10 miles per hour, “their pick-up trucks filled with an arsenal of loaded guns,” but to prove that they’re hunting, someone must see them actually shoot, he said. “Who’s going to be stupid enough to fire when the game warden or anybody else is looking?” he asked. The enabling legislation cited by the Game Commissioners “is designed to give our law enforcement officials some tools,” Mr. Luke added.
Stopping short of an unqualified endorsement of the “hunter control” legislation suggested by the commissioners, Mr. Lane still insisted that the board owes it to the people in his district to improve the situation, “to put a dent in slob hunting.”
“I think you’re grabbing at a way of stopping this that doesn’t exist,” Supervisor Newbill Miller responded. Local ordinances controlling the carrying of loaded firearms on roads won’t help, he maintained. “Slob hunters” will still cruise the county’s back roads with loaded guns; they’ll just keep in a single shell and if spotted by the game warden, they’ll “drive 10 miles an hour with their signal on until they eject the shell,” Mr. Miller said.
“We’ve just got too many deer, and that’s our problem,” Supervisor Estes repeated.
Tabling the issue until the board’s September session, Chairman Hubert Gilkey asked his fellow supervisors to consider what they want to ask of the Game Commissioners, who regulate season length, bag limit and hunting deer with dogs. “Maybe at our next meeting we can come up with something to go to Richmond with,” he concluded.
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