Opening state parks to hunters, extending deer season to Jan. 15 and charging nonresidents higher license fees are among a host of recommendations devised by a steering committee that will help determine Georgia's long-range strategies for managing its deer herd.
Area sportsmen will have an opportunity to hear a presentation on the plan - and its recommendations - during a 7 p.m. public meeting Wednesday at Augusta Tech's McDuffie County campus in Thomson.
"The deer management plan is one of the biggest things we've been working on," said Bill Fletcher, chief of game management for Georgia's Wildlife Resources Division. "We'll have a draft of it available, with the steering committee's recommendations, at all the public meetings."
The steering committee was formed earlier this year to evaluate survey data and other information gathered to create appropriate long-range plans for managing a deer herd in a state whose population is rising - but where numbers of hunters are in gradual decline.
During the past 32 years, Georgia's population has risen from 4.8 million to 8.2 million, while deer numbers increased from 198,000 to 1.2 million. The number of hunters - peaking at 350,000 in 1987 - has fallen to about 300,000 today.
The deer management plan is designed to build strategies to keep deer herds in check, encourage more hunters to enjoy the sport and reduce risks associated with deer-vehicle accidents and damage to crops and agriculture.
Some of the recommendations that will be discussed include:
• Reduce deer populations in deer management zones that include east Georgia and Augusta.
• Adopt regulations that specifically ban keeping whitetail deer in confinements of less than 640 acres, thus preventing "game farms" and "canned hunts" that have become controversial in other areas.
• Change current rules that restrict hunting deer with dogs to tracts of 1,000 acres or more. The proposed change would allow such hunts in 250 acres or more.
• Encourage recreational deer hunting in all suitable state parks.
• Maintain existing rules that require four or more points on one side of at least one of every two bucks Georgia hunters are allowed to harvest.
• Extend firearms season to Jan. 15 in the Southern Zone.
• Increase the bag limit on antlerless deer to 15.
• Increase fees for nonresident deer hunters and charge nonconsumptive users on wildlife management areas.
• Enact laws banning the release of feral hogs in unfenced areas.
• Allow shooting feral hogs over bait, and at night, on private land, but keep intact current laws that ban hunting deer over bait.
• Encourage Georgia's Department of Agriculture to allow deer processors to process feral hogs.
Wednesday's meeting is one of seven being held across the state to share the plan's recommendations and also seek comments on any issues sportsmen think should be considered when wildlife authorities consider the 2005-06 hunting regulations.
"Usually if something's good and everyone is happy, we don't hear too much at the public meetings," Fletcher said.
"It's a good chance for us to interact with the public, answer a few questions and dispel some of the myths."
BURKE MAN HONORED: Georgia's Department of Natural Resources recently selected Burke County resident John Bearden, a wildlife technician at the Thomson regional office, as the 2004 recipient of the Danny Creel Citizenship Award.
DNR annually recognizes outstanding associates who have distinguished themselves in civic, charitable and community endeavors.
It was created in memory of Sgt. Danny Creel. Creel, a 26-year DNR associate, was a role model who made prominent contributions to his community and church. He died in an automobile accident in September 2000.
"Selecting John Bearden for this award was based on his work with his local community and church and his dedication to International Mission work," says DNR Commissioner Noel Holcomb. "This, in addition to his excellent work within our Department as an Area Manager of the Di-Lane Wildlife Management Area."
Reach Rob Pavey at 868-1222, ext. 119 or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.
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