The National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, W.Va., is accepting applications for a special resident-only, controlled deer hunt at the its site in cooperation with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

Submitting an application enters a hunter in a drawing for a maximum of two days on the NRAO site. Applications for the drawing must be received by NRAO on or before Aug. 3.  Successful applicants will be notified by mail and issued a special NRAO letter of authorization to deer hunt. Only hunters who have made application and have received a letter for a particular day or days can hunt. Walk-ons will not be permitted to hunt.

The controlled hunts, set for Oct. 19-20 under the auspices of the WVDNR, will take place on four delineated areas ranging in size from 132 acres to 1,000 acres. Each area is designated: bow only, muzzleloader and shotgun with slugs, or muzzleloader only. On the application, hunters must choose a bow or a type of firearm they wish to use during the hunt.

The maximum bag limit is two antlerless deer (one per day), except that an on-site lottery will be held each day to allow five hunters to hunt a deer of either sex. These are bonus deer and do not count toward the hunters’ annual licensed deer bag limit. However, participating hunters must possess appropriate base West Virginia hunting license (A, AH, AHJ, X, XJ, Lifetime) or be exempt from having to purchase a license. All deer harvested must be checked at the official game checking station located on the NRAO site.

Due to the nature of the work at the Observatory, gasoline-powered vehicles are strictly controlled on the site. Hunters may park only in designated parking areas, and all vehicles will be issued a pass for display on the windshield. Transportation from hunter check-in to some hunt areas is provided by the NRAO. For purposes of safety and biological study of harvested deer, all hunters must pass through the check-in station each morning before the day’s hunt.  At the end of the day’s hunt, all hunters must exit through the check-out station.

Applications may be picked up at any WVDNR district office, printed from www.wvdnr.gov, or may be requested by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at P.O. Box 2, Green Bank, WV 24944, Attention: Hunt Coordinator. Applications also are available through email by sending a request to dwirt@nrao.edu. For information, call 304-456-2011 or 304-924-6211.