RICHMOND — Wildlife biologists with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) have compiled the preliminary figures for the 2017-18 fall/winter hunting season. According to a press release, the Virginia bear and deer harvests reflected an increase from last year and the black bear harvest was the highest ever recorded in Virginia. According to Dr. Gray Anderson, terrestrial division chief, “The annual variation in harvest is normal and most populations are healthy and on-track with long-range management plan objectives.”

These harvest data are used to inform future regulatory decisions. For full information visit: http://www.abcdeb.net/DMSImage/14820180221140612881/0.pdf.