The Hunter Games: Langley Hunting Seasons Begins –
A deep breath, slowed heart rate, steadied hands, one, two, three, release... Bull's eye.
It's almost hunting season, and the Langley Air Force Base, Va. hunting program is back.
While the program has been in place for more than 25 years, in 2010 construction on the Worley road Bridge derailed the season. However, during the hiatus the hunting program was revamped by its members.
"We didn't have operation instructions in place; the rules were a little bit relaxed. We formalized the entire process. So we lost the 2010 season, but were able to rewrite and change the program, making it safer," said Major Samuel Gaglio, Air Combat Command Electronic Warfare Operations Branch chief. "It's a great moral, welfare and recreation program. We got nothing but support from the base leadership to bring it back."
With the return of the program, members have access to roughly 400 acres of hunting grounds with trees stands in 100 of the acres, two hunting sessions a day, one in the morning and afternoon, both lasting for three to four hours. Hunting is only allowed on Saturdays, holidays and ACC down days.
"I started hunting here in 2006; it's been wonderful. It helps my moral," said Tech. Sgt. Uri Swindle, 1st Maintenance Squadron precision guided munitions supervisor, about being able to hunt on Langley. "It's lot of camaraderie here on base. W are a close knit group."
With a population of more than 400 deer on Langley AFBe hunting program and U.S. Department of Agriculture have partnered to help keep the deer population under control.
"We are helping out with the safety on the base by making sure there aren't too many dear running around on the streets and on the flight line," said Major Gaglio.
Some of the other changes made to the hunting program were the mandatory registration of weapons of all hunters, as well as the mandatory wear of a safety harness while in tree stands, and a blaze-orange outer garment (vest or shirt) for 360 degree coverage and better hunter visibility. Each hunter is also asked to bring a walkie-talkie or cell phone for communication so if an accident occurs, emergency services can quickly be notified. Additionally, each tree stand has a ribbon and a GPS coordinate attached to it so the first responders will be able to get there quickly
"Do to some of our rules, we are a little bit stricter here than public or private lands," said Gaglio. "Your advantage to hunting on Langley is it's a safer operation. We are very flexible, just not with safety."
Langley's deer-hunting season begins Oct. 6 and ends Nov. 17 for archers (bow and crossbow). Firearm season (shotgun slug only) starts Nov.17 and ends Jan. 5.
For more information on the program and to sign up contact the Volunteer Hunt Coordinator, Maj Sam Gaglio, samuel.gaglio@langley.af.mil, (757)764-9600
Fort Eustis' deer hunting season begins Oct. 6 to Nov. 16 for archers, Nov. 3 to Nov. 16 for black powder rifles, Nov. 17 to Jan. 5 for shotguns and for small-game hunting (squirrel, rabbit and quail) Nov.3 to Jan. 31.
For more information about the Fort Eustis hunting program, call Outdoor Recreation at (757) 878-26100 or (757) 878-0850.