DEER HUNTS ON DOE'S
OAK RIDGE RESERVATION TO RESUME

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – The U.S. Department of Energy today announced plans to resume deer hunts this fall on the 34,241-acre Oak Ridge Reservation.

Deer hunts were cancelled last year because of the September 11 terrorist attack that resulted in a heightened state of security for DOE facilities across the nation. Annual deer hunts had been used since 1985 to control the herd size and to reduce the number of collisions with vehicles on area roads. The Oak Ridge Reservation is located in the City of Oak Ridge in Anderson and Roane counties.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) manages the annual deer and turkey hunts for DOE. Jim Evans, TWRA’s Oak Ridge representative, said, "We are pleased that the planned hunts will resume this year. All hunters holding 2001 permits have been provided with the necessary information to participate in this year’s hunts. If any drawn hunters have lost their permits or have any questions, they can come the TWRA checking station for assistance on the morning of their hunt."

This year’s hunts are scheduled for October 19-20, November 9-10, and December 7-8, with scouting trips scheduled for the weekend preceding each scheduled hunt. Hunters that were drawn for the cancelled 2001 hunts will be offered the opportunity to hunt this year. No new drawing was held for the 2002 hunts in order to accommodate those selected last year. Six hundred and fifty gun hunters and 300 bow hunters are anticipated to participate during each weekend of the managed hunts.

Mike Holland, Acting Manager for DOE’s Oak Ridge Offices, said, "We feel that the necessary security precautions are in place to protect our facilities and permit a safe and quality outdoor experience for area hunters. The Oak Ridge Reservation provides a unique opportunity for area hunters to pursue their sport. It also benefits DOE and the public by providing an effective means of managing our large deer herd population. If the security situation changes we may have to reevaluate our position, but it is our goal to continue to hold deer hunts whenever possible."

-DOE-

R-02-039