Deer Hunting hours expand
September 22nd, 2005 by Administrator
Deer Hunting hours expand - Hunters can climb stands during week
Deer and wild pigs who call NSB Kings Bay home are nervous creatures with the news that the big game hunting season kicked off Sept. 10.
What should come as good news to hunters is that the hunting schedule has been expanded this year. Hunting is now allowed six days a week instead of just on weekends. Hunters can hit the woods every afternoon, except Wednesday during the week, and all day on weekends. Scouting is allowed from 5 a.m. until noon during the week or all day on Wednesday.
Hunters must register between noon and 1 p.m. during the week and 5-7 a.m. and noon until 1 a.m. on weekends, and they can hunt until one hour past dusk on scheduled days.
The expanded schedule will help control the deer population and answers the demand of hunting enthusiasts.
”Hunting deer helps us manage the population on base,” said Jack O’Brien, NSB Kings Bay game warden. ”If hunting is not allowed, the abundance of deer would be a hazard to people who drive on base. Another reason is, if there are too many deer and not enough food supply, they can become diseased and die of starvation. Hunting keeps this under control.”
Hunting is limited to active duty and retired military and Department of Defense employees with access to the base. Every hunter must have a Georgia hunting license and a base hunting permit, both of which are available for purchase at Outdoor Adventures. Hunters must also take the hunter’s safety course, in person or online at www.gohuntgeorgia.com, and attend a base hunting brief, which is held every Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Hunters can only hunt with rifles and crossbows and must hunt from a tree stand. The stand allows them to shoot down upon their prey instead of straight line shooting, which could possibly kill another hunter.
While there are requirements that every base hunter must meet, they also enjoy major advantages, namely an abundance of big game and substantial savings. In other areas, many people join a hunt club, which can cost from $900-$2,000 or pay a property owner to hunt on private land. The base offers 24,000 acres of land at no additional cost to outdoor enthusiasts.
”If you join a club, many times you don’t know who you are hunting with, and you could be put in danger. There is no control,” O’Brien said. ”The base offers free land for hunting and safety is a priority out here.”
There are many potential dangers to hunters that are just a part of the Southeastern Georgia environment. There are five poisonous species of snakes on base as well as the mosquito problem and the danger of lime disease from ticks, which are abundant in this area. There are other dangers that can be avoided, especially mixing alcohol and hunting. Alcohol can effect a hunter’s coordination and a good time can turn tragic. Although this is a problem in other areas, it is not a problem here.
”Alcohol is not allowed if you are hunting on base,” O’Brien said. ”Although there are no restrictions off base, it is just a danger waiting to happen when alcohol is involved.”
The expanded schedule is another way to boost morale on base. This is a mindset that will allow Sailors and Marines more opportunities to pursue a very popular area sport.
”The command sees this as a financially sound program,” O’Brien said. ”It allows people to relax and enjoy the many outdoor activities the base provides.”
By JO2(SW) Michael Wiss, Periscope Staff