Virginia seeks out deer hunters

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries says it’s trying to lure former hunters back to the deer woods.

The agency says it’s started sending postcards to former hunting license holders. The message encourages them to return to the sport and to share the experience with others.

The recruitment drive comes as Virginia’s main deer season approaches. The gun season is scheduled to open Saturday.

While hunters kill about 250,000 deer a year in Virginia, the Game and Inland Fisheries Department says it needs hunters to keep the 1 million-strong population in check.