Published: August 08, 2008 10:48 pm         

Green Bank hunt suspended due to harvest rate

A special controlled deer hunt on the grounds of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank has been suspended for 2008 because of last year’s low harvest rate, officials said Friday.

NRAO business manager Mike Holstine said the special hunt has occurred yearly since 1992, but was also suspended for one year in 2002 for the same reason.

The hunt is managed by a cooperative effort between NRAO and the state Department of Natural Resources.

Holstine decided to cancel the 2008 hunt after consulting with DNR district manager Ray Knotts.

“We feel the population is low enough to warrant a suspension of the hunt for one year because of the low kill that occurred last year,” Holstine said Friday. “We do anticipate the hunt will happen again next year. This would have been the 16th year of the hunt.”

Holstine said last year’s harvest produced just 37 deer. Since 1992, hunters have harvested over 900 deer — about 70 per year — on the sprawling 2,700 acres in Pocahontas County, which is home to several large radio telescopes, including the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope.

Holstine said the year off will allow for a deer population count and maintenance of areas, such as boundary markers, where hunters are allowed access.

No hunting had occurred on the 2,700 acres for 31 years prior to 1992, and the land was unable to sustain its high population of deer. Other species were also leaving the area, Holstine previously said, without hunters keeping the population in check.

“Not having the hunt this year indicates the hunters have done an excellent job and this effort should be considered a success,” Holstine said.

— E-mail:

cgiggenbach@register-herald.com