Some sundry deer hunting application deadlines must be noted now by prospective hunters. These range from the limited quota antlerless deer hunts at a handful of Wildlife Management Areas to a very first special hunt to reduce the gargantuan Stonewall Resort State Park deer herd in Lewis County.

But first, be advised that there will be no special deer hunts this year at Blennerhassett Island State Park or at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) at Green Bank in Pocahontas County. The first ever special hunt for Stonewall State Park deer may be the most intriguing.

Hunters will be selected by drawing from the pool of mail-in applications. Fifty hunters will be picked for each of three days of November 17, 18 and 19. This makes for a total of 150 hunters and those dates fall within the week before the regular gun buck season.

What's more, the deer harvested do not count against a hunter's annual deer season bag limit. The Stonewall application deadline requires a post-mark prior to August 29.

Detailed instructions and the application forms are available at the DNR web-page www.wvdnr.gov. Both firearm and archery options are available.

If you don't have a computer, some of the local license agents or libraries can help you out. If all else fails call one of the DNR offices listed in the front of the regulations pamphlets and ask to be mailed a copy. Please read the application instructions and fill out the forms properly.

Stonewall is literally crawling with deer and the hunting success ratio should reflect that. Competition for the tags will likely be quite high as well. One thing for sure, if you don't apply, you won't have a chance.

Moving on to the limited tags for the six Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) during the regular antlerless gun deer seasons. Some 650 combined permits will be issued for: Amherst/Plymouth, Burnsville, Cross Creek, Hillcrest, Stonewall Jackson and Stonecoal WMAs. Application forms must be received at DNR by August 23 and are available online at the stated web-page and at local license agents. If you don't select one of these special hunts, note that the vast majority of open county antlerless deer hunts are available on an unlimited over the counter basis.

In other headlines, the new hunting regulations pamphlets are now available both at local license agents and on the DNR web-page. Pick up a copy and check out your favorite county prescriptions. And while you're at it, take a gander at the biggest change for this year, the expanded black bear hunting venue.

In other current news on a sad note, the 7,000-acre Fork Creek WMA in Boone County will be closed effective July 31. This is due to current coal mining operations and related access issues. Fork Creek is just shy of its 50th anniversary of public use and also featured a shooting range. Leased but not owned by DNR, it's hoped that as the mining and reclamation are completed that the landowners will continue with their gracious tradition.