Deer-feeding season is over, not that it’s ever encouraged

(AP) – It’s September, and that means feeding deer or elk anywhere in Virginia is illegal until January.

The state says the ban keeps the populations healthy and at sustainable levels. The law also prevents the use of bait during hunting.

The season for hunting deer with firearms begins in November.

Yet another reason for the ban is to ensure that deer keep their distance from humans. The animals can become aggressive during mating season, posing a danger to people they encounter.

Several Virginia counties have an outright ban on deer feeding. And the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries discourages feeding wild animals at any time of year.