You wake up at 3:30 in the morning – probably having packed everything up the night before, and ride or hike out to your stand, and then…you sit. And sit. Maybe you sit for 7 hours and don’t shoot one deer. But you’ll be back out there soon enough. And so will some 300,000 other Georgians who perform this ritual several weekends, or maybe every weekend, during the winter.
State deer hunting season opened yesterday but if you are in metro Atlanta, you may not even have known it. As is often the case with largely rural activities though, that does not mean it does not have a huge impact on the state and its economy. In the case of deer hunting, that impact is some $1.6 billion each year. Hunters account for some $977 million in direct retail sales each year – supporting nearly 24,000 jobs, spending nearly 10 million days out in the field each year.
“We are shaping up for yet another excellent deer season,” said Charlie Killmaster, state deer biologist for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Resources Division. “Through reductions in doe harvest, deer population goals have been met for most of Georgia and the population is stable. Let’s all do our part to maintain this wonderful tradition, and introduce a new hunter, youth or adult, to share our passion!”
You do not see it very many super markets but venison is one of the healthiest meats you can eat. It’s high in protein, and being and grass fed, venison is leaner and has less saturated fat than most other meats. It also has a high linoleic acid content, which is believed to be good for heart health. It is rich in iron and B vitamins, which contribute to a healthy brain and nervous system function.
Besides being good for the economy and good for the body, deer hunting also is good for the deer. According to the DNR, over the past 40 years, as Georgia’s human population increased by about 5 million people, the deer population also increased from an estimated 250,000 to a about one million today. The DNR has a ten year Deer Management Plan that aims to reduce this herd to ensure the health of the deer. If there are too many deer, there will be more car accidents and potentially less food for the deer. Hunting keeps the population stable and healthy.
Killmaster also wanted to set the record straight and be sure the public understands the reality around some of the deer-related diseases that have gotten some media coverage recently.
“Oh, and with all the media coverage on deer diseases lately, let’s cut through the confusion and talk facts,” says Killmaster. “To date, neither chronic wasting disease (CWD) or tuberculosis (TB) have been detected in Georgia deer. However, there are circumstances where wildlife biologists rely on the public to notify them of sick animals in order to monitor disease issues. Visit https://georgiawildlife.com/deer-info
