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“For years and years, the game department didn’t realize that Northern Virginia existed,” Taylor said. “We need a meeting like this here every year, but having four or five people here to give input isn’t nearly enough. . . . We ask for the game commissioners to help to let us know when these things are scheduled.”
After conferring among themselves during a break in the meeting, game department officials agreed to schedule another public meeting at the same location, starting at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18.
“Right from the start, things being jammed up the way they are, we didn’t give a lot of notice,” wildlife biologist Rick Busch told the gathering. “Only the most dedicated of our constituents were able to make it out here tonight, so we’re going to be here again on Feb. 18th and maybe that will solve part of the problem.”
A range of topics was open for discussion at Monday’s meeting and the Feb. 18 public hearing will cover the same subjects, including:
• Schedule changes to avoid the dual opening of archery and squirrel seasons.
• A proposed earlier start for archery deer season.
• Adjustments to the bear chase season schedule.
• Extending the length of the firearms deer season, including the statewide muzzleloader season.
• A plan to increase deer limits on private land through a system of bonus deer permits.
• Streamlining the state’s game tag system.
• An increase in “doe days” during deer season.
Most of all, however, game department officials seem eager to hear of any proposals which would get more money into their cashstrapped budget.
In particular, they’re lobbying the public in favor of a bill introduced last week in the General Assembly, calling for about $2.3 million from the state’s boat title tax to be earmarked for the Department of Game and Indland Fisheries.
During an hour-long public comment period — which would have run longer had there been more people on hand interested in commenting — other suggestions were made for generating more income.
Former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department chairman John Gottschalk of Arlington, whose business card now simply reads “Conservationist," praised the game dpeartment “for the way the department has moved to bring itself into the 21st century and this effort to find new sources of revenue.”
Gottschalk, w ho served in the national post from 1964 to 1970, said “the wildlife of Virginia is a heritage for all Virginians, not just those buying hunting and fishing licenses. . It's important that the effort go forward to sustain the total array of wildlife in the state, especially the non-game kinds of wildlife.”
Jay Tutko, who said he hunts in Mecklenburg County, proposed a wildlife management area stamp such as that issued in South Carolina. “It’s in the $30 range and anyone using the wdldlife area —
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