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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. — It’s getting colder. The trees will soon lose their colorful leaves, and temperatures will fall. However, hunting season is just warming up.
An avid hunter, Lance Cpl. Jamie L. Whitehead, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron mail clerk at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., said hunting is one of his favorite things to do. His normal routine is to go to work, go home, go to bed and wake up to do it again.
When he has time to himself, Whitehead goes hunting to break the routine and take in all that nature has to offer. To get started in hunting, Whitehead said the best way is to get a license and go with a friend who has experience in the sport. He also advised against spending large amounts of money on equipment or accessories others may advertise.
“It’s best to keep it simple and get only what you think works for you,” said Whitehead. “It’s better than spending $1,000 on something you find out you’ll never use.”
A hunter must also find a place to take part in the sport. One of the best places for a Marine to hunt is aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and the air station, said U.S. Conservation Law Enforcement Officer David W. Rogers.
Marines can hunt in approximately 161,000 acres of land when not used for military training. To hunt on the air station Marines must get a North Carolina hunting license and receive a base hunting permit from the Camp Lejeune game warden, said Rogers.
The permit must first be purchased at the Camp Lejeune Exchange Annex and the receipt must be presented to the game warden. First-time hunters must attend a free hunting education course. The course encompasses firearm safety and hunting laws, said Rogers. Marines can register for the course online at http://ncwildlife.org.
Experienced hunters new to North Carolina can show a hunting license from a different state or proof of attending an education course to buy a license. Once Marines have both the license and permit, they can begin hunting.
Rogers said the most popular game in North Carolina this time of year is deer. Deer can be hunted with a bow, a shotgun with slugs or a blackpowder muzzleloader. Centerfire rifles, pistols and regular shotgun shells are not allowed for use on Marine Corps installations, he added.
Muzzleloader hunters can start hunting deer, Oct. 1, and shotgun hunters can hunt starting, Oct. 15, said Rogers.
Archery season already began Sept. 10. While archery is more difficult, bow hunters can go where firearm hunters cannot, said Rogers. Hunting areas nearer to facilities and housing are reserved for bow hunters because firearms have a greater range if the projectile misses its target.
Starting this year, bow hunters are also allowed to use natural bait to attract deer said Rogers, who has been a conservation law enforcement officer for eight years. Recently, animals have become more abundant and have started to roam near base buildings, so hunters can use corn to easier hunt deer and maintain the population.
“It’s a good way to put meat in a military member’s freezer and help us out with wildlife management,” Rogers said. “It’s a win-win situation.”
Before hunters can use a bow, they must pass a bow proficiency test at Roger’s office. The test is shooting a three-dimensional deer target in the “kill zone” with a single arrow at 20-25 feet. If the archers fail, they must come back another day to try again. The test ensures bow hunters are proficient enough to achieve a clean harvest.
Once a deer has been harvested, the hunter must check it in to the game warden. Hunters aboard Marine installations must also check in and check out of hunting areas online using the Electronic Fish and Wildlife Conservation Tracking System. Rogers said the system lets him know who is using which hunting ground and to track how much game has been harvested. Another use of the system is to keep everyone safe.
Hunters are allowed to hunt half an hour after sunset, and another hour after that to get to a computer and check out. If they don’t, Rogers calls them up and asks why they haven’t checked back in. Sometimes, it’s because they are lost, he said.
Maps of the hunting areas around the air station are available online, but more detailed maps are available at Roger’s office, he said.
“Our goal here at the conversation law enforcement office at New River Air Station is to provide a safe hunting environment to the warfighters,” he said.
Conservation law enforcement officers like Rogers are there to make hunting a fun sport.
“When you want a place to go relax and enjoy yourself in the woods and enjoy some peace and quiet and take in the outdoors, we provide it,” he said.
| Date Taken: | 10.04.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 10.04.2011 13:22 |
| Story ID: | 77998 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 156 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Deer hunt: A good way to see the outdoors, by SSgt John Suleski, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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