For many in our area, it's a tradition.
The deer hunting season begins Saturday and plenty of hunters are excited to take their first shot.
It will be the start of the archery season.
It's not as popular as rifle season, but it kicks off the fall big game season.
Some outdoors-men say it's the thrill of the hunt.
Watching and waiting...
"Being outside with the leaves turning, it's pretty fun," explained hunter Danny Hill.
"It's a challenge. You have a lot of respect for the game and you get some satisfaction going out there and knowing it's not as simple as going down the corner and picking up a cheeseburger," said Paul Hylton, owner of Bryansteen Guns & Archery.
Virginia's archery season for deer begins on Saturday, October first.
People can hunt on private land and in national forests.
"Whether it's archery season, muzzleloader or rife season, the other folks who use the national forest should be conscience of than," said Jesse Overcash, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Forest Service.
It's the start of the high season at Bryansteen's and it'll stay busy through the first of the year.
"A lot of accessories and that type of thing as far as arrows, sights, rests stabilizers," said Hylton.
He said archery isn't nearly as popular as muzzleloader and rifle hunting season.
Those start in November.
"The last few years they've opened up the cross bow hunting in the archery season and that has kind of breathed some life back into the archery season," Hylton said.
And how's the season shaping up?
"I think it's going to be a good hunting season for those that are interested in bucks," said Overcash.
Overcash suggests hikers and others in the National Forests this time of year to wear bright colors.
Hunters do not have to wear blaze orange during archery or muzzleloader seasons.
They must however, wear the orange during rifle season.
