Hurricane Helene’s Lasting Echoes: Hunting in 2025

The Southern Appalachian Mountains are a hunter’s paradise, where the quiet crunch of leaves underfoot and the anticipation of spotting a whitetail deer make every early morning trek worth it. But for those of us in far Southwestern Virginia, Western North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee, and Kentucky, the 2024 deer season wasn’t just about the hunt—it was about resilience. Hurricane Helene slammed into our region just before the 2024 archery opener, leaving a trail of devastation that reshaped our public lands and tested our spirit. Now, as we step into the 2025 whitetail archery season, the scars of that storm linger, but so does our determination to hunt these grounds.

Imagine spending months scouting, tuning your bow, and dreaming of that perfect shot, only to hear on October 2, 2024, that the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in the Clinch Ranger District and Mount Rogers National Recreation Area were closed to public access. Just three days before Virginia’s archery opener on October 5, the US Forest Service dropped the bombshell. Hurricane Helene, which roared through during Virginia’s Youth Deer Weekend (September 28–29), had left hundreds of thousands of trees toppled, trails obliterated, and infrastructure in shambles. For many hunters, it felt like a gut shot.

The Virginia Creeper Trail, a gem for outdoor enthusiasts, was hit hard. Numerous trestles were damaged or destroyed, and motorized forest roads became impassable. Recreation areas were locked down, and the rugged beauty we’d planned to hunt was suddenly off-limits. The blow was especially tough for those targeting public land, where access is already a challenge. But nature doesn’t wait, and neither did the hunting community. A week later, the Clinch Ranger District partially reopened, though most recreation areas stayed closed for repairs. Hunters adapted, navigating new terrain and altered deer patterns caused by wind-damaged ridges and fallen timber.

Severe forest damage in the Clinch Ranger District, captured with fallen and broken trees, illustrating the impact on the landscape. Credit: USFS.

Despite the chaos, the 2024 season wasn’t a wash. Deer movement shifted—sometimes dramatically—due to blow-downs and new browse, but many hunters still found success. The season became a testament to adaptability, with every harvest carrying a story of overcoming Helene’s wrath.

Fast forward to October 4, 2025, and the Southern Appalachians are healing, but the scars remain. The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests are largely open, and the Clinch Ranger District is back in play for hunters. Mount Rogers National Recreation Area is making strides, though Whitetop Road’s reconstruction is ongoing and expected to wrap up soon. The Virginia Creeper Trail, however, tells a slower story. Only the stretch from Abingdon to Trestle 17 in Damascus is open, while the 17 miles from Damascus to Whitetop remain closed. Thirty-one trestles are still damaged or destroyed, and with the US Forest Service stretched thin, full recovery could take years.

Walking through these forests today, you’ll see the remnants of Helene’s fury—snapped trees, eroded trails, and shifted landscapes. Deer patterns haven’t returned to their pre-storm norms, and they might not for a while. Blowdowns have created new edges and feeding areas, which savvy hunters can use to their advantage. If you’re setting up a tree stand or stalking a ridgeline, keep an eye out for these changes. The deer are still there, but they’re moving differently, drawn to fresh browse or skirting around tangled timber.

As you head out for the 2025 opener, take a moment to reflect. Our public lands are a gift, but they’re fragile. Helene reminded us how quickly nature can upend our plans, from downed trees to washed-out bridges. Yet, these lands endure, and so do we.

When you settle into your stand, listen to the woods wake up, and maybe catch a whitetail in your sights, pause after your harvest. Give thanks for the chance to hunt these wild places, for the deer that sustain us, and for the community that keeps pushing forward, no matter the storm. The 2025 season isn’t just about the hunt—it’s about carrying forward the legacy of resilience in the face of nature’s challenges.

From the Forest,

Andrew