The Fort Belvoir Hunting Program Council (FBHPC) met on Wednesday, 13 January 2010. There were two items of interest discussed that are of interest Fort Belvoir Bowhunters:

First, the Quality Deer Management (QDM ) area at Fort Belvoir has been opened for the extended antlerless season. In previous years the QDM area has been closed during the extended season because it was feared that one of the larger bucks that had dropped antlers would be harvested. However, data from previous seasons simply doesn't support that fear - in fact, there hasn't been a single instance of a large buck being harvested during the antlerless season. Thus, the hunting Council believes this is an opportunity to open more hunting areas for the extended season with very low risk to trophy bucks, and fully supports this initiative.

Second, the road that extends from Poe Road down between hunting areas W-1 one and W-6 was closed in early October at the direction of the installation. The reason given for the closure by the installation representative was a combination of safety and Quality Deer Management. The FBHPC submitted a recommendation at this road be re-opened to allow greater access to hunt deer in the lower areas adjacent to the wetlands. It was announced at the January meeting that hunters may now use the road to retrieve deer harvested in the lower area. However, this road remains closed for normal hunting activities. The FBHPC continues to recommend this road be re-opened to allow greater access to the W-1 and W-6 hunting areas.

Do you have an opinion on either one of these topics? If so, please take time to contact Mr. Rick Atchison, the BBH Representative (or any of the other FBHPC representatives) and make your opinions known!