Baby Deer, Quiet Turkeys, and Vampires Catch Fish!

ROANOKE, Va. ( WFXR ) – Here is a round-up of the latest outdoors news from across southwest and central Virginia.

Leave Bambi Alone

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) says this is the time of year when mother deer will get their fawns out and about to start exploring their worlds. That means you are more likely to come in contact with a young deer. Often the mother will leave the fawns alone for periods of time. You may find fawns in wooded areas or fields near your home, or even in your yard. The DWR says if you come across a fawn, ignore it. The mother deer should return soon. If you see a fawn unattended for more than a day, that is the time to call DWR. That number is 855-571-9003.

Talking Turkey

Hunters across Virginia have noticed that turkeys do not seem to be as vocal this spring. The DWR has also heard about it and is checking into it. However, there is no shortage of birds. They are just not making as much noise.

“There are a lot of things that affect gobbling such as weather (particularly barometric pressure), hunting pressure and receptivity of the hens,” said DWR Upland Gamebird Biologist Mike Dye.

Dye says he has found turkeys to get more vocal this spring later in the day.

Vampires Catch Fish!

It might conjure up images of Dracula fishing for striped bass at Smith Mountain Lake, but if you want fishing success there you might want to employ a Vampire. However, there is nothing supernatural about this. We are talking about a Rapala F18 in the Vampire pattern . We are told that pattern is taking a lot of stripers by anglers casting the shoreline after dark.

CWD Numbers Released

The DWR reports 70 confirmed cases of Chronic Wasting Disease in deer tested during the 2023-2024 Deer Season. That is an increase from 47 cases the year before. Most of those positive deer were found in counties in the northern Blue Ridge. Only seven cases were discovered in Disease Management Area (DMA) Three. That is the DMA for southwest Virginia and consists of Pulaski, Montgomery, Carroll, Floyd, and Patrick Counties.

While there have been no confirmed transmissions of CWD to humans, health experts say not to eat any meat from deer infected with the disease.

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