In this edition:
- A New Way to Get Involved in
Hunting!
- Bear, Deer and Turkey Harvests All
Increased in 2007-08
- General Assembly Legislation of
Interest to You
- People and Partners in the News
- Steve Reeser Named Fisheries
Professional of the Year
- Outdoor Writers Annual Meeting
Features New VDGIF Director March 19
- Cedar Mountain Youths to Hold
Turkey Hunting Workshop March 22 in Culpeper
- JAKES Event in Prince George
Provides Simulated Hunting Training March 29
- Page County Sportsmen Team-up to
Train Young Turkey Hunters March 29
- Kids Heritage Trout Day Moved to
Rose River in Madison April 5
- Men Shouldn't Have All the Fun!
Becoming an Outdoors Woman April 4-6
- Regenerative Design Workshop
Features Habitat Restoration April 4
- Jack Randolph River Fest April 5 in
Hopewell
- Little Switzerland Strutters Chapter Hosts
JAKES Youth Fishing Event April 20
- Virginia Wildlife Special
Photography Issue Now Available
- Wild Game Recipe Columnist Joan
Cone Passes
- Need a Warm Sweatshirt for Cool
Spring Weather?
- Be Safe... Have Fun!
- Make Your Spring Gobbler Hunt a
Safe One!
- Habitat Improvement Tips
- Springtime Brings Vernal Pools and
Salamanders
- Forestry Department Offers
Specialty Seedlings
- Hunters - Did You Remember To...
- Start Planning Now for Special
Youth Spring Gobbler Hunt
- Beagle Wins "Top Dog" Award
- Fishin' Report
- New Regulations for Anadromous
Fish in Southern Tidewater
- WANTED - American Eels from the
Roanoke River Basin
- Crappie Week Features Kid's
Rodeo and Crappie Techniques School
- March Madness is Trout Madness
- Sarah White's Notebook - have
"expert" check your equipment; new lake and river
reports added
- Virginia Conservation Police
Notebook
- Field Reports From Officers
Protecting Natural Resources and People Pursuing Outdoor
Recreation
- In Case You Missed It...
- Links to Recent Articles of
Ongoing Interest
A New Way to Get
Involved in Hunting!
Virginia
establishes a new apprentice hunting license that
will let people "test drive" hunting
 Virginians
interested in learning how to hunt, and Virginia
hunters eager to share their sport with friends and
family, now have a program that will make it easier
for people new to hunting to give the sport a "test
drive." The General Assembly has passed and Governor
Tim Kaine has signed into law the companion bills
that establish an apprentice hunting license. This
new license will benefit people, regardless of age,
who have not hunted before, but are interested in
learning about hunting.
The license would
be issued in lieu of the current state resident or
nonresident basic hunting license. Individuals who
have previously held a hunting license will not be
eligible to purchase the apprentice license. The fee
for the license will be $10 for residents and $20
for nonresidents; the one-time, nonrenewable license
will be valid for two years from the date of
purchase, thus affording the apprentice hunter two
full years of opportunity to go afield with a mentor
hunter to learn about the sport before having to
complete the requirement for hunter education.
An important safety
feature of the new license is that the apprentice
hunter must be accompanied and directly supervised
by a hunter possessing a valid Virginia hunting
license who is an adult over age 18 (the mentor
hunter). "Directly supervised" is defined in the new
legislation as "when a person over 18 maintains a
close visual and verbal contact with, provides
adequate direction to, and can immediately assume
control of the firearm from the apprentice hunter."
This "direct supervision" requirement is in place
because the apprentice hunter will not have had to
meet the hunter education requirement as a condition
of purchasing the apprentice license.
While the
apprentice license can be purchased by a new hunter
without having to successfully complete the
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries' hunter
education course, apprentice hunters are reminded
that they will still have to comply with the hunter
education requirement before they can legally
purchase a state resident or nonresident basic
hunting license. Completion of that requirement can
be done at any time so that once the apprentice
hunter has finished their hunting "test drive" and
decided that hunting is something they will continue
to participate in, they will be able to provide the
necessary proof of passing the course in order to
purchase the basic resident or nonresident hunting
license.
Since the
apprentice license serves only in lieu of a basic
hunting license, apprentice hunters will still need
to purchase the special licenses to hunt deer, bear
and turkeys or to use muzzleloader firearms, archery
equipment and crossbows or to trap.
Senator Kenneth W.
Stolle introduced the Senate version of the bill and
Delegate L. Scott Lingamfelter introduced the House
version. The bills moved through the legislative
process of the General Assembly with unanimous
approval.
Said Bob Duncan,
Director of the Virginia Department of Game and
Inland Fisheries, "The apprentice hunting license
will be a great tool in our efforts to recruit new
hunters and we're really pleased that folks will
have a chance to try the sport and become more
involved in our hunting heritage. Hunting is a
critical wildlife management tool and we need
hunters to help us effectively manage our wildlife
resources. And we must not forget that we have
programs, such as Hunters for the Hungry, which rely
on hunters to provide hundreds of thousands of
pounds of meat to food banks, shelters, and other
feeding programs for needy Virginians."
Game Department
Board Chairman Jimmy Hazel commented, "You used to
learn to hunt from your father or grandfather, but
as Virginia has become more urban and suburban, the
tradition has been slipping away. Many young people,
men and women, have missed the opportunity to learn
to hunt. This program will allow hunters to pass
that heritage on, not only to their own children and
grandchildren, but also to their adult friends,
their neighbors, and others who want to experience
hunting."
A number of
national organizations, including the National Wild
Turkey Federation, the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance,
the National Rifle Association and the National
Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses, expressed support
for the apprentice hunting license as a positive
step in the recruitment of new hunters.
The legislation
establishing the apprentice hunting license has an
effective date of July 1, 2008 and the
Department will have the new license available for
purchase as of that date. Virginia hunting and
fishing licenses can be purchased online at
www.dgif.virginia.gov/licenses; purchased by
telephone Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
except holidays by calling toll free 1-866-721-6911;
or purchased in person by visiting any of the more
than 500
license agents located around the Commonwealth,
typically anywhere that hunting and fishing
equipment is sold.
Bear, Deer and Turkey Harvests All Increased in
2007-08
Wildlife biologists
with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland
Fisheries (VDGIF) have compiled preliminary figures
for bear, deer, and turkey harvests for the
2007-2008 fall seasons. Several notable results of
the 2007-2008 hunting season stand out. Deer
harvests reached a record high this past season but
even more importantly the doe harvest was greater
than the buck kill for the first time since the
check station system was initiated in 1947. The bear
harvest was the second highest kill documented in
Virginia and continues to show an increasing trend
over the past decade. The fall turkey kill also
increased over last year, an encouraging change
considering turkey production has been poor in
recent years.
Bear
According to VDGIF
Bear Project Leader Jaime Sajecki, Virginia's black
bear harvest trend has been increasing at an average
annual rate of 7.4% per year over the past decade.
In Virginia, 1,517 bears were harvested during the
2007-08 season .The 2007-08 regular firearms harvest
of 1,032 bears was slightly down from the harvest of
1,118 bears in the 2006-07 season. Hunters who hunt
with dogs accounted for 52% of the regular firearms
harvest and 35% of the total bear kill.
Deer
According to VDGIF
Deer Project Leader Matt Knox, a record number of
240,423 deer were reported killed by hunters in
Virginia this past season. This total included
108,670 antlered bucks, 22,735 button bucks, and
109,018 does (representing 45.3% of the overall
harvest). This represents a >7% increase from the
223,775 deer reported killed last year. It is also
13% higher than the last 10 year average of 212,550.
Nearly 138,000 deer (>57%) were checked using
VDGIF's telephone checking system. This was up from
44% in 2004, 51% in 2005, and 55% in 2006.
Approximately 6,300 (<3%) deer were checked by
internet. Further questions on the 2007-2008 deer
harvest can be directed to Matt Knox at
Matt.Knox@dgif.virginia.gov or at (434)
525-7654.
Fall Turkey
Wild Turkey Project
Supervisor Gary Norman reported fall turkey hunters
harvested 4,759 birds in the 2007-08 season. This
harvest was 15% percent above last year's reported
kill of 4,143 birds. The harvest increased 24% in
counties west of the Blue Ridge Mountains (2,077 vs.
1,673). Norman was encouraged with the increased
fall harvest. "Production has been poor in recent
years and our turkey population growth has slowed,"
he noted. "So, this year's increase in fall harvest
is good news for our turkey hunters." As fewer
hunters are choosing the challenging fall season,
the Board of the Department of Game and Inland
Fisheries recently passed a special fall youth hunt
that will take place on October 18, 2008. The hunt
will provide young people with an opportunity to
experience the thrills and excitement that fall
turkey hunting offers. Further questions on the fall
turkey harvest can be directed to Gary Norman at
Gary.Norman@dgif.virginia.gov or (540) 248-9389.
More Information
A detailed summary
of the preliminary harvest numbers for bear, deer
and turkey by county can be found on the
Department's Web site. In addition, information on
trends, harvest of male/ female data, details on
archery, crossbow, muzzleloading and many other
statistics and trend analysis is available online.
General Assembly Legislation of Interest to You
There was a lot of legislative action this year
on issues that may have affected you as an outdoor enthusiast, landowner or
concerned citizen. For the status of bills at the end of the session, visit the
VDGIF Web site to view bills related to the Department's mission
that may be of interest to you.
People and Partners in the News
Steve Reeser Named Fisheries Professional of
the Year
VDGIF Region IV Fisheries Biologist, Stephen J. Reeser,
was honored with the Eugene W. Surber Professional
Service Award at the 2008 meeting of the Virginia
Chapter of the American Fisheries Society (AFS). This
annual award is given by the Chapter in recognition
of outstanding contributions to the management of
Virginia's aquatic resources.
Steve served as president of the Virginia Chapter
AFS in 2005. He was instrumental in coordinating a
very successful 13th Spring Meeting of the Southern
Division AFS in Virginia Beach. The Virginia Chapter
benefited in many ways due to his leadership. He
also provided leadership for the 4th East Coast
Trout Management and Culture Workshop in Loch Haven,
PA. Since 2005, the Shenandoah River watersheds have
experienced massive fish kills. Steve and Don Kain
from the Virginia Department of Environmental
Quality (DEQ) were charged with forming a task force
of representatives from industry, agriculture,
recreation, government, education, and citizen
monitoring groups. With Steve's leadership he has
communicated effectively with the media, formulated
monitoring plans, assembled funding, and has
represented VDGIF on this issue.
Other major projects include: design and oversee
a creel survey of South Fork Shenandoah River, radio
tag and track bass on the depletion studies, work
with local agencies on a blueway for the South Fork
Shenandoah River, contribute to the mercury
investigations on the South River Science Team,
serve as a member of the Pure Water Forum
(Shenandoah Roundtable), attend the Virginia Natural
Resources Leadership Institute, and be a Virginia
representative to the Southern Division's Trout
Committee. He is a valuable asset to the Fisheries
Division of VDGIF and is an emerging leader in his
field.
Outdoor Writers Association Annual Meeting
Features New VDGIF Director March 19
The new Executive Director of VDGIF, Bob Duncan,
will be the feature speaker at the Virginia Outdoor
Writers Association (VOWA) Annual Meeting, March 19, 2008 in Charlottesville. Mr. Duncan will discuss
his plans to provide additional outreach and
communications on agency programs to benefit
wildlife resources, sportsmen and other agency
constituents. Recent legislation affecting sportsmen
will also be reviewed by VDGIF Board Member, Sherry Crumley. The event will recognize the top three
winners of the 15th Annual Youth Writing Contest and
Excellence in Craft Awards for members. The
organization represents professional writers,
editors, photographers, videographers, agency and
conservation organization communicators and outdoor
related businesses. Information on membership
qualifications can be found on the VOWA Web site at
www.vowa.org. The
event is open to members, prospective members and
guests with registration required. Register by March
17 by contacting President, David Coffman at (804)
367-0720 or email:
david.coffman@dgif.virginia.gov.
Cedar Mountain Youths to Hold Turkey Hunting
Workshop March 22 in Culpeper
The Cedar Mountain Youths, Inc., in partnership
with VDGIF is sponsoring an educational wild turkey
hunting workshop for participants of all ages to
learn hunting techniques, tactics and safety. Learn
successful hunting tips from the pros! The event is
being held at the Cedar Mountain Youth Shooting Club
in Culpeper Saturday, March 22, 2008 from 10:00 a.m.
to 2:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided at no charge.
Call John W. Dodson at (540) 543-2070 to register
and for directions to the workshop. A Special Youth
Wild Turkey Hunt will be offered for youth 10 to 15
years of age who attend the educational workshop.
The special youth turkey hunt is scheduled for April
5, 2008 from 6 am - 12 pm. participants must meet
current Virginia license requirements. More details
on the
special youth spring gobbler hunt date are
available on the VDGIF Web site.
JAKES Event in Prince George Provides
Simulated Hunt Training March 29
The Torsten-Peterson Chapter of the National Wild
Turkey Federation is hosting a JAKES event
in cooperation with VDGIF at the Tarbay Gun Club,
near Parkers Grocery in Prince George County. The
event is Saturday, March 29, 2008, from 9:00 a.m. to
2:00 p.m. and is open to any youth age 16 or
younger. Parents or mentors are encouraged to attend
with their child. Activities include a simulated
hunt with safety, logistics, calling and tactics
training. Hands-on demonstrations of turkey calls
and target shooting to pattern shotguns will be
available. Lunch will be provided, so registration
is requested by calling Roy Cox at (804) 768-0441.
This is a great opportunity to train a young hunter
for participation in the special youth spring
gobbler hunt Saturday April 5, 2008. More details on
the
special youth spring gobbler hunt date are
available on the VDGIF Web site.
Page County Sportsmen Team-up to Train Young
Turkey Hunters March 29
The Page Valley Sportsmen's Club, Inc. and the
Skyline Strutters Chapter of NWTF are sponsoring a
turkey hunting training opportunity for new and
novice youth hunters. The event is scheduled March
29, 2008, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Luray.
Adults are welcome to attend with their children.
This event will cover turkey hunting techniques and
offer a live-fire patterning session in the
afternoon. Participants are encouraged to bring
their shotguns and provide ammunition. There is no
charge for the event and lunch will be provided to
participants. This event is limited to 35 registered
participants. For more information and to register
contact Art Kasson at (540) 622-6103 or email
artkasson@yahoo.com. More details on the
special youth spring gobbler hunt date are
available on the VDGIF Web site.
Kid's
Fishing Day Events Provide Family Fun
Each
spring, numerous local angling groups partner with
VDGIF to host KID'S FISHING DAYS events. Details on
events coming in April and May will be posted in the
March 26 edition of the Outdoor Report and
listed on our Web site!
 Kid's
Trout Fishing Event in Fredericksburg March 15
VDGIF will host a Kid's Trout Fishing Event at
Old Cossey Pond in the City of Fredericksburg March
15, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The event is
open to youth ages 1-15, free. Rods and reels are
available to borrow, registration is on-site
beginning at 8:00 a.m. For details contact VDGIF
Regional Office (540) 899-4169.
Kids Heritage Trout Day Moved to Rose River in
Madison April 5
The Rapidan Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Graves
Mountain Lodge and VDGIF will sponsor a Kids Fishing
Day on the Rose River on April 5, 2008 for kids 12
and under, starting at 9:00 a.m. This popular annual
event has been changed this year from the third
Saturday in March to the first Saturday in April to
have a chance at warmer weather and the location has
been changed from the Robinson River to the Rose
River. This is the longest running Kids' event in
the state and is anticipated as a larger event due
to more planned activities. In addition to fishing,
eighteen groups will have exhibits and
demonstrations available ranging from fly casting,
insect monitoring on streams to ATV safety
demonstrations. All children participating will be
eligible for prizes which will be given out every
hour. Virginia Wildlife magazine will feature an
article in the April issue describing the history of
this long running event. For a map, directions and a
complete schedule of activities,
visit the Graves Mountain Web site. Additional
information is available from Graves Mountain lodge
at (540) 923-4231 or Trout Unlimited Marcia Woolman
at (540) 253-5545 or email
marcia@woolmancane.com.
Men Shouldn't Have All the Fun! Becoming an
Outdoors Woman Event April 4-6
Backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and
shooting are just some of the courses available for
women at our Becoming an Outdoors Woman weekend!
Courses range from outdoor cooking to wilderness
survival. According to VDGIF Outdoor Education Supervisor
Karen Holson, "BOW workshops are designed for women
who are beginners, so no experience is necessary!
Equipment and instruction are provided and our
professional instructors work hard to create a
comfortable and supportive atmosphere." The workshop
takes place April 4-6, 2008, at the Holiday Lake 4-H
Center in Appomattox. Participants to the BOW
workshop must be at least 18 years of age.
Gather your friends and register today! (PDF)
Regenerative Design Workshop Features Habitat
Restoration April 4
The Virginia Chapter of American Society of
Landscape Architects is sponsoring a day-long
workshop featuring presentations on Regenerative
Design at their Spring Conference, April 4, 2008 in
Richmond. VDGIF Habitat Education Coordinator,
Carol Heiser, will present the plenary session on
Restoring Wildlife Habitat and Connecting Children
to Nature Through Conservation-based Landscape
Design. The talk will provide an overview of
critical issues facing Virginia's children,
communities and natural resources that can be
reversed through thoughtful, sustainable, ecological
design. Carol's current focus is on providing
technical assistance and education outreach to
landscape architects, designers, builders and land
use planners about conservation landscaping
practices that improve wildlife habitat and connect
people with nature. In addition to other
presentations the event will also tour Maymont
Gardens and the James River historic Canal
Development Trail. For information and required
registration visit the VA-ASLA Web site at
www.vaasla.org
or call (757) 685-4580.
Jack Randolph River Fest April 5 in Hopewell
The Jack Randolph River Fest and Big Cat Quest
will be held in Hopewell Saturday, April 5, 2008, from
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the City Marina. There
will be fishing and boating related displays by
numerous vendors and organizations till 4:00 p.m.
The Displays then come down at 4:00 p.m. so that the
Cat Quest weigh-in and the band music and fish fry
(pay event) can be started. This event is named for
Jack Randolph, who was a previous Director for VDGIF
and had encouraged Hopewell to do this event to
promote the fishing potential in the State. Jack was
also well known for his articles on fishing and the
outdoors and weekly fishing reports in regional
publications. For more information, contact Deborah
Randolph at
drandolph@cffc.com.
Little Switzerland Strutters Chapter Hosts JAKES
Youth Fishing Event April 20
The NWTF Little Switzerland Strutters Chapter in
Highland County is hosting a JAKES Youth Fishing
event designed for youth 15 years of age and younger
on Saturday April 20, 2008. This event will offer
opportunities for youth to participate in fishing,
archery, hunting safety, basic survival and a BB gun
live fire range. The event begins at 1:00 p.m. on
the McCray Farm. For more information, contact
Michael Hillbert at (540) 468-3884.
The Virginia Wildlife Special
Photography Contest Issue Now Available
There's an old saying that a picture is worth a
thousand words. If that's true, then the March issue
of Virginia Wildlife may be just one of the
most informative and entertaining issues of the
magazine ever published.
Nationally-renowned wildlife photographer Lynda
Richardson, who was selected to oversee the judging
of the contest, helped to narrow down the more than
3,000 photographs that were submitted by hundreds of
talented photographers. The final award winning
selections will offer you an incredible visual
journey across the Commonwealth, from the Eastern
Shore to the Blue Ridge Mountains, including some of
the most awesome wildlife photographs ever published
in the magazine.
Wild Game Recipe Columnist Joan Cone Passes
Noted wild game recipe columnist, Joan Cone
passed away in January. Joan was the author of
numerous cookbooks and had a feature page in
Virginia Wildlife magazine for many years with
full meal recipes for all seasons and occasions. We
will miss Joan's delicious offerings and her humor
and ability to take the mystery out of wild game
cooking and create practical, simple and tasty
dishes from the sportsmen's harvest.
 Need
a Warm Sweatshirt for Cool Spring Weather?
Visit the
Virginia Wildlife Outdoor Catalog!
Virginia Wildlife sweatshirts clearance
priced!
Get yours today!
Be Safe... Have Fun!
Make Your Spring Gobbler Hunt a Safe One!
This edition features numerous workshop
opportunities sponsored by sportsmen's groups in
partnership with VDGIF, encouraging special training
for youth and novice hunters to participate in the
upcoming Spring Gobbler season. To ensure a safe and
enjoyable day afield, VDGIF recommends reviewing the
following guidelines for a safe Spring Gobbler
hunting experience for young and old, novice and
experienced alike:
- Because a gobbler's head is distinguished by
its bold white, blue and red colors, NEVER
wear white, blue or red clothing - not even
socks or undershirts - because a flash of white
could be mistaken for a turkey. Even a red
bandana or blue snack food wrapper could be
misread in the woods during turkey season.
- Never shoot at a sound or movement.
Wait until you have a good, clean shot at a
legal bird. Never move, wave or make turkey
sounds to alert another hunter of your presence.
Instead, call out in a loud voice and remain
hidden, until the other hunter acknowledges your
presence.
- When you harvest a gobbler, carry it out of
the woods draped in blaze orange. Otherwise,
another hunter might just see the bird and not
you.
Get more tips on how to stay safe during your Spring
Gobbler hunt! »
Habitat Improvement Tips
Each month we feature a habitat article by
Donna Cottingham, a freelance writer for many years
who is currently a Master Naturalist volunteer from
the Riverine Chapter. The Master Naturalist program
is a statewide volunteer network dedicated to
providing education, outreach and service for the
benefit of Virginia's natural resources. For more
information, go to
www.virginiamasternaturalist.org.
Springtime Brings Vernal Pools and Salamanders
March is a good time to look for salamanders
during moist spring weather as they move out of
dormancy to breed in vernal pools. What appears as a
mud puddle to an untrained eye, is actually a small
natural phenomenon – and an important ecosystem in
the delicate balance of life for frogs, turtles and
salamanders. See the mole salamander feature in this
edition for more information on these interesting
amphibians. For more information about vernal ponds
and habitat protection,
read the entire article on
the VDGIF Web site.
Forestry Department Offers Specialty Seedlings
It's tree planting time! If you want to improve
habitat on your property, the Virginia Department of
Forestry (VDOF) has a variety of native trees and
shrubs for reforestation projects on cutover and
idle land. Landowners may now purchase seed mixes,
shrubs and quality bare root tree seedlings in
specialty packets for wildlife habitat enhancement,
water shed protection, fall and spring colors, and
timber management. For product information, pricing
and ordering
go to VDOF's Web site.
Hunters - Did You Remember To...
The following notes are quick reminders of
things you may have overlooked getting ready for
hunting season, or reports from numerous calls we
received recently at our information desk, or
experienced afield.
Visit our Web site if you would like to learn
more about
skill
building workshops for novice outdoorsmen, or
hunter education instructor opportunities.
Planning to Take a Youngster on a Spring
Gobbler Hunt? Schedule a Hunter Education Class Now!
Now is the time to enroll in a Hunter Education
Class for spring gobbler season.
Class schedules are available on the VDGIF Web
site. Hunter Education is mandatory for all
hunters age 12 and older.
Don't forget about the special
Youth Spring Turkey Hunt that will take place on
April 5, 2008 for youth age 15 and under. Youth
hunters between the ages of 12-15 must have
appropriate valid hunting licenses. Hunters
under the age of 12 are not required to have a
license, but must be accompanied by a licensed
adult.
See the Department's Web site or Hunting &
Trapping in Virginia Regulations and Information
digest for more information on Hunter Education
requirements. The youth turkey hunt is a great way
for an experienced hunter to introduce a youngster
to the great outdoors.
Check the UPCOMING EVENTS calendar for
numerous hunter training workshops around the state
sponsored by youth oriented organizations like NWTF
JAKES, 4-H Shooting Sports Clubs and others
dedicated to continuing our rich hunting heritage to
a new generation.
 Beagle Wins "Top Dog" Award
"Uno", a beagle hound, won out over 2600 other
dogs, representing 160 breeds to win the coveted and
prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show
Award. The nation's new top dog was clearly the
fan favorite, and drew a roaring, standing ovation
from the sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden
when he was picked. Uno is the first beagle hound to
win in over 130 years of the national contest. With
the current Hunting With Hounds Study, Uno
ironically has possibly added a touch of class and
different perspective to the debate. Of course
beagle owners have known these lovable, hard
hunting, faithful, family companions to be "just the
best" for years! Way to go dawg! As Uno melodically
howled "ah-oooh" to the delight of the crowd, could
American Idol be next?!
Fishin' Report
Anglers throughout
Virginia and neighboring states want to know "how
are the fish bitin'?" To provide some answers, more
than 25 license agents, marinas, fishing guides and
bait shops have volunteered to serve as contacts for
information on recent fishing conditions for primary
rivers and lakes throughout the state. Sarah White,
outdoor writer and regular contributor to
Virginia Wildlife magazine, prepares this
Fishin' Report from interviews with these contacts
the week prior to publication of the Outdoor
Report.
The Fishin' Report
is only available as part of your free subscription
to the Outdoor Report.
 The rivers and lakes featured in the
Fishin' Report
are listed by VDGIF Administrative Regions so you
can quickly locate the area in which you are most
interested. Consult the regional location map to
find the major river or lake you want to know about.
Want more
information on the lakes and rivers listed below?
Visit the
Lakes
and
Rivers pages on the Department's Web site!
For regulations and
conditions on saltwater fishing, visit the
Virginia
Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) Web site.
New Regulations for Anadromous Fish in
Southern Tidewater
New regulations went into effect January 1, 2008
for blueback herring and alewives on the North
Carolina drainages in Virginia according to
VDGIF Tidewater Region Fisheries Biologist, Eric Brittle.
The new regulations are in effect on the North
Landing, Northwest, Nottoway, Blackwater (Chowan
Drainage), and Meherrin Rivers and Back and their
tributaries. For more information call (757)
465-6829, or email
eric.brittle@dgif.virginia.gov.
|
Species |
Creel Limit |
Minimum Length Limit |
|
Striped bass |
2 fish per day |
18 inches |
|
American shad & Hickory shad |
10 fish in aggregate |
None |
|
Alewife & Blueback herring |
No Possession |
-- |
WANTED - American Eels From The Roanoke River
Basin
 The
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is
cooperating with Dominion (Virginia/North Carolina
Power), the North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission and federal resource agencies in a study
investigating the presence of American eels in the
Roanoke River basin upstream of Roanoke Rapids Lake,
North Carolina. The study is being conducted as part
of a program to restore American eels to the Roanoke
River basin by providing passage upstream of dams
owned and operated by Dominion. Any eels caught by
anglers from the Roanoke (Staunton) River or its
tributary streams (including the Hyco, Pigg and Dan
Rivers), or from Lake Gaston, Kerr Reservoir,
Leesville Reservoir, Smith Mountain Lake or Philpott
Lake are of interest.
If you catch an American eel from the Roanoke
River basin, it would benefit the study if anglers
kept the eel and contacted Bob Graham of Dominion at
(804) 271-5377, or
bob.graham@dom.com.
Bob will make arrangements with you to collect the
eel for scientific study. As soon as possible after
catching the eel it should be bagged and frozen. If
facilities are not available to freeze the eel, it
should be kept on ice. Cooperation in the study will
be greatly appreciated, and will benefit efforts to
restore American eels to their historic range.
Crappie Week Features Kid's Rodeo and Crappie
Techniques School
Kerr Reservoir at Clarksville will be the host
site of Crappie Week, a week long festival sponsored
by fishing organizations and area attractions
scheduled for March 24-30, 2008. A tournament will
be held in conjunction with the Crappie Techniques
School March 27-28 presented by Fish Harder Co.
March 26 will include an "Outdoors Media Tournament"
in the morning, followed by lunch and awards. The
tournament on March 29th is open to all crappie
anglers with the weigh-in at the Occoneechee State
Park, Main Boat Ramp. A free kid's fishing rodeo
will be held at the weigh-in site during the morning
on March 29th. Kids should bring their own pole and
baits. Prizes will be awarded and all participating
kids will get a prize. For additional information on
the Crappie Tech School and times for other events
contact Larry Thornhill at (919) 603-5681 or e-mail:
lthornhill@msn.com, or
visit the event Web site.
March Madness is Trout Madness
Last summer and fall brought some of the worst
drought the Commonwealth has ever experienced.
Virginia's trout hatcheries were challenged by lower
spring flows and warmer water than they typically
experience…to the point where fish could not be fed
on a regular basis, resulting in slower growth and
some trout mortality. Anglers did experience smaller
fish and fewer numbers than they were used to last
fall, and some waters were too dry to stock as
scheduled.
Water flows have recovered somewhat (although
they are still below normal), and with cooler water
temperatures, fish are feeding more aggressively and
growing in the hatcheries. While total trout numbers
are slightly lower than in past years, anglers
should experience good sized, healthy, vigorous
trout this spring. Streams that were too dry to
stock last fall now have adequate flow to support
stocked trout.
In addition to the regular stocking sized trout,
hatcheries will include several broodfish, which
include two to three and four pound brook trout, and
two to six, and seven pound brown trout in many of
the waters.
For the
current trout stocking schedule (updated daily),
see the Department's Web site.
Reporter's Notes... Sarah
White
While daylight savings time leaves most of us
grumbling about having to get up earlier to go to
the salt mines, for the angler there is a positive
side - it marks the beginning of fishing season.
Expert fishers know what to do to prepare, but for
the novice, I called Mickey Hopkins at Green Top
Sporting Goods and asked him for advice. Mickey told
me that there is a difference in preparing to fish
in lakes or ponds and preparing to fish in rivers.
For the lake or pond angler, the best attractant is
live bait. Crappie and ring perch go for small
minnows; while bass require large or jumbo. Every
angler should check his or her rod and reel,
replacing the line with new clean monofilament. In
fact, the line should be replaced at least once a
year, according to Mickey. As for the rod, make sure
that the guides and tip are OK. Also check the reel
seat. Then to, it wouldn't hurt to go get some
spinners and swimbaits.
Now for you river anglers, the best lures are
silver buddies blade baits, jigging spoons,
spinnerbaits, crankbaits and jigs. Due to the
current, a lure in a river needs more weight on it.
Check your tackle box wherever you fish.
The most emphatic point that Mickey made is to
take your kit to the local bait and tackle store and
let an expert check it out and advise you. He
guarantees that they will be happy to give you their
time and expertise. So to all anglers – don't groan
so much when the alarm goes off - cause it's "time"
to go fishin!
We welcome nine new reporters for
Chickahominy Lake, Briery Creek Lake,
Occoquan River, Occoquan Reservoir, Burke Lake, Lake
Anna, Nottoway River, Blackwater River, and the Potomac
River that met Sarah at the Richmond
Fishing Expo and signed up to send us these reports.
They are highlighted for your convenience.
Region 1 - Tidewater
Chickahominy Lake: Guide Jason Burkholder
told me that Capt. Art Conway of Conway's River Rat
Guide Service reported that schools of baitfish are
attracting crappie, bass, small blue cats and
pickerel. Live minnows, blade baits and crappie
tubes are your best bet. The water is clear and in
the 50s.
Beaverdam Swamp: Chuck Hyde tells us that
fishing has been "hit or miss for the last few
weeks". Crappie and bass have been cooperating
occasionally. Micah Toups from Wicomico reported
landing four big bass. There will be a Big Bash
tournament on March 15th, with the weigh-in at 3PM.
There will also be a crappie tournament on April
12th there is limited space for this one, so it is
suggested that you register early. The lake is 44
degrees and clear.
Blackwater/Nottoway Rivers: Jeff Turner
with the Blackwater/Nottoway Riverkeepers reports he
was on the Nottoway below the VDGIF ramp at Route
671 on both March 1 and 2. Water temps were 47
degrees and the water was low and fast. He caught
nine stripers to 19 inches. One on a shad rig, four
on a Silver Buddy blade bait jigged off the bottom
and the other four on a stick type crank bait. He
also fished for shad both days but never got a hit.
Jeff talked to one person that said they had caught
a few on that Saturday below the narrows. Note
the new regulations for anadromous fish for this
river system featured above.
Norfolk Lakes: Drew Dixon from Dashell's
Show Room reports that folks have not been out
angling a lot in the past few weeks. The crappie
have been "hit or miss" The brown or raccoon perch,
however has been doing well. The bass are also doing
well. There have been several bass tournaments, and
the winning lures seem to have been jigs and
crankbaits. The water is around 50 degrees and
clear.
North Landing River and Back Bay: Dewey
Mullins told me that not a lot of angling has been
going on in his area. A few folks have landed some
crappie using live bait. The white perch are going
for both artificial and live attractants, with the
artificials being small spinners. The bass are going
for small crankbaits. The water is 50 degrees and
clear. Note the new regulations for anadromous
fish for this river system featured above.
Region 2 - Southside
Briery
Creek Lake: Guide Jason Burkholder
reports that he heard from Jesse at Worsham's
Grocery that fishing remains good. A 25 inch, 8.5 lb
largemouth was landed on March 2nd. Crappie are
going vigorously after small minnows. The water is
clear and warming.
James at Lynchburg: Tom Reisdorf of
Angler's Lane reports that the recent rains have
left the water too high and muddy to be a good
fishing spot. The folks on Kerr Reservoir have been
landing crappie with jigs, but they are the only
lucky anglers in the area. The waters are muddy and
warming.
Kerr Reservoir: Bobby Whitlow Jr. of Bob
Cat's Lake Country Store says that fishing has been
fairly good. The bass are attacking jigs and
jerkbait. Trolling rigs are also a good bet. Catfish
are hitting cut bait. A few stripers have been
brought to boat. The water is stained and in the
50's.
Philpott Lake: Shawn Perdue of Franklin
Outdoors tells us that crappie are doing well with
minnows and small tube jigs. There are also a lot of
white perch there for the taking. The lake is clear
and in the 50's.
Smith Mountain Lake: Mike Snead says that
crappie are gathering around submerged trees and
other submerged structures about 8-16 feet down.
It's best to go for them with number 4 and 6 hooks
with minnows or small jigheads with plastic curl
tail grubs. The stripers have been cooperating, look
for where the gulls are gathered, the birds are
going for the same fish the stripers eat. Bucktails
or Flukes attached to a weighted jig head. Should be
effective, as are popping surface baits and jerk
baits. Largemouth bass are coming for the jigging
spoons and drop shot rigs. The water is clear and 45
degrees.
Region 3 - Southwest
Claytor Lake: Wyatt Blevins of Rock House
Marina reports that there has been a lot of large
mouth action on the lake. They are going for either
live shad or crankbaits that look like shad. The
crappie seem to be in hiding, as have the perch. The
bass are hitting jerkbait or jig and pigs. The water
is clear and in the 40's.
Lower New River: John Zienius of Big Z's
told me that due to the recent rains the river is
too full to fish well. Anglers should wait a few
days for the water to get lower and the temperatures
to rise. Currently the river is clear and warming.
New River and Claytor Lake: Victor
Billings of Sportsman's Supply says that largemouth
bass are dong well, going for spot remover jigs. A
few crappie have been brought in on minnows.
Walleyes have been coming in big. Wayne Padgett
landed one over 15 lbs, bellow the Fries Dam. The
water is murky and in the 40's.
Region 4 - Mountain and Valley
Lake Moomaw: Larry Andrews at The Bait
Place tells us that fishing has been slow. A few
trout have been brought in on jigs or minnows. Some
yellow perch have responded to the same baits. The
water is 41 degrees and stained.
The North Fork of the Shenandoah: Harry
Murray reports that the bass streams in the North
and South fork of the river are starting to show
some small and largemouth bass and some fallfish.
The temperatures there are from 45 to 48 degrees and
the water is clear. Trout streams in the valley such
as Mill Creek and Stoney Creek Passage are producing
some good rainbows. The best flies to use are
Murray's stonefly nymph and Murray's pearl marauder,
both at size 12. The waters there are clear and 40
to 45 degrees. Mountain streams are still too cold
to fish. For angers who want to know more, Harry has
a Web site which has a report on angling in the area
that comes out on Tuesdays and Fridays. It can be
found at
www.murraysflyshop.com.
Region 5 - Northern Piedmont
Potomac River: Guide Charlie Taylor has divided
the river into three sections for angling purposes
and I will follow his lead. The river in the D.C.
area is showing some action with white perch that
seem to like nightcrawlers or bloodworms. The
channel cats are going for smelt or cut bait. The
bass are in the pre-spawn stage and are 10 – 15 feet
down and are going for jig and pigs, small grubs and
spinnerbaits. Crappie are schooling and moving to
shallow water where they can be caught with minnows
and tiny jigs. Carp are going for 3 inch smoke metal
flake grubs brought back slowly, "with a swimming
motion". The river below the Woodrow Wilson
Bridge is giving up bass on its main points, jig and
pig and plastic grubs being the lure of choice.
Crappie are attacking minnows and plastic grubs, and
blue cats love cut shad. The upper region of
the river shows smallmouth going for small hair jig
and pigs and plastic grubs. Walleye in the area are
hitting minnows and nightcrawlers.
Occoquan River: Charlie Taylor reports
that yellow perch are attacking minnows and vertical
jigs like Silver buddies; however commercial fishing
is starting, which limits angler's chances. Crappie
are to be found around boat docks and will go for
minnows. Bass are near the bottom of the rock walls
on the North side of the river and they are
interested in small grubs and jig and pigs. The
water is clear and warming
Occoquan Reservoir: Charlie Taylor says
that bass are going for jig and pigs and large
spinnerbaits. Crappie like minnows and are hanging
out near submerged brush. The water is clear and
warming.
Burke
Lake: Charlie Taylor tells us that bass
in the lake are going for crankbaits and
spinnerbaits retrieved slowly. The water is clear
and around 40 degrees.
Lake
Anna: Guide Jason Burkholder reports that
Jim Hemby of Lake Anna Striper Guide Service told
him that largemouth are going for jerkbaits and can
be found on primary and secondary points. In the
upper part of the lake bass favor clay banks and
backs of pockets and go for shallow diving and
lipless crankbaits. The water is clear and warming.
Get your kids hooked on fishing!
Got Tips?
Got Tricks?
Adventure Stories?
The one that got away?
The one that didn't?
email your
material to
fishing_report@hotmail.com
and it might get used in the Fishin' Report!
Virginia Conservation Police
Notebook
 |
To increase awareness
of the activities of our dedicated
Conservation Police Officers, previously
called game wardens, the "Virginia
Conservation Police Notebook" provides
an overview of the variety of activities
encountered by our officers who protect
natural resources and people pursuing
outdoor recreation in the fields, woods and
waters of Virginia. |
Region 4 - Mountain and Shenandoah Valley
Officers recognized for
teamwork in rescuing injured hunter...
Virginia Conservation Police Sgt. Steve Bullman and
Senior Officer Neil Kester were recognized on
February 4 at a special ceremony by the Fraternal
Order of Police, Central Shenandoah Lodge #24 as
"Cops of the Quarter" for their successful rescue of
a critically injured hunter from a remote area of
Augusta County during the past deer season. This is
a quarterly award given by Lodge 24 to recognize
outstanding efforts by local law enforcement
officers. The award was presented by Lodge #24
Secretary Phil Lynch who is a retired New York City
Police Lieutenant.
Original story from December 12
Edition...
Radios, Cell Phones and
CPO's determination save hunters life. On
Friday morning November 23, 2007 at approximately
8:00 a.m., Conservation Police Sgt. Steve Bullman
was notified by Augusta County EOC dispatchers of a
reported hunting accident on Shenandoah Mountain in
Augusta County. A hunter had shot himself in his arm
and needed immediate medical care. The victim was
reported to be behind a locked National Forest gate
several miles in. Sgt. Bullman responded to the area
and drove in behind the gate encountering a downed
12 inch diameter tree top blocking the road. He
radioed for a chain saw to be brought to the area.
While waiting, Sgt. Bullman began to cut the tree
using a 'Pulaski Tool' that he carries in his patrol
vehicle. Sgt. Bullman had the tree cut in two as
help arrived to clear the road with the chain saws.
Conservation Police Senior Officer Neil Kester,
Hunter Education Specialist Kris Dougherty, and EMTs
arrived to assist in the rescue. The victim was
located off an old logging road over two miles from
the gate. Chain saws were used to clear this trail
to facilitate getting an emergency equipped 'Gator'
to the scene. Officer Kester found the victim
outside of a ground blind and being helped by a
hunting companion who had placed a tourniquet on the
victim's right arm. The victim's .30-06 rifle had
discharged in the blind, striking him in the back of
the right triceps area and causing massive tissue
damage.
The victim had called for help
using his FRS radio and had tried to administer a
tourniquet on his own arm. When his hunting
companion arrived he effectively applied the
tourniquet, then called for help on his FRS radio.
His plea for help was heard by another hunter in the
Jennings Gap Area of Augusta County approximately 9
air miles away. This hunter then used his cell phone
to call Augusta EOC and dispatch help to the victim.
The victim was transported out of the mountain on
the 'Gator' while being attended too by an Air
flight Nurse. The victim was then transported by
Churchville Rescue Squad to a waiting Med Flight
helicopter at West Augusta and flown to UVA Hospital
in Charlottesville. Surgeons attempted to save the
victim's arm, but were unable to due to extensive
tissue damage and bone loss. The right arm was
amputated just above the elbow.
The victim reported to Sgt.
Bullman during an interview at the hospital that he
had heard a deer behind him and had turned around in
the blind and knelt down. He had his rifle propped
on the seat and another branch used to make the
blind. When he reached into his backpack he slid the
rifle with his arm and it discharged. He does not
know how the safety was pushed to the fire position
or what caused the rifle to fire. The victim is very
grateful to all the people that came to his rescue.
For more information contact, Lt. Kevin Clarke (540)
248-9360.
Hunters are reminded to double
check to be sure the safety is ON and not to
prop a gun where it may be knocked over.
Region 2 - Southside
Meeting with sportsmen: an
important component for law enforcement officers...
CPOs took time from field work to help staff the
VDGIF exhibit at the Roanoke Sportsmen's Classic
from February 22 - 24. During this period, officers
spent time interacting and being available to answer
general public and sportsmen's questions. Community
Policing is a valuable law enforcement education,
crime prevention and educational tool for these
officers. For more information on becoming an
officer, contact Lt. Tony Fisher (434) 525-7522.
Region 3 - Southwest
Justice served to wildlife
violators with heavy fines, jail time and loss of
license privileges... Officers Dan Hall and
Jamie Davis had a very busy day in Smyth County
General District Court on February 15. The officers
had over 145 game and game related cases uncovered
during the course of the hunting season in November
and December 2007. The cases were in relation to
violations uncovered during patrol activities and
investigations conducted during this period. A total
of 114 cases were adjudicated with a total of $
11,737 in fines/costs and replacement fees levied in
the cases. The cases included 15 charges for
Taking/Attempting to take deer with lights
(spotlighting), 9 charges for Taking Deer/Turkey
during closed season, and 2 charges for Hunting Deer
after obtaining the seasonal limit. Replacement fees
for 7 deer were also levied as well as charges for
the costs of required licenses for those individuals
found hunting without the required licenses. Five
persons received 30 day jail sentences for taking
deer with the use of lights. The jail sentences will
be suspended upon successful completion of 12 month
supervised probation terms for each. Four
individuals also lost their privilege to hunt until
July 1, 2009. Of the one-hundred fourteen cases
adjudicated, 4 cases related to motor vehicle
violations and drug violations uncovered during the
course of patrols for hunting related activity and
investigations. Thirty-one cases involving
spotlighting and closed season violations related to
deer were continued to another court date pending
plea agreements through the Smyth County
Commonwealth's Attorneys Office. Officer Davis
recently completed a Felony firearms possession case
which involved a spotlighting incident in Washington
County. The Washington County Circuit Court accepted
a plea agreement in which the defendant received a
five year sentence with three years suspended. The
defendant also received a three year active
probation sentence and was ordered to pay $1150.00
in court costs. For more information contact Lt. Rex
Hill (276) 783-4860.
Region 5 – Northern Piedmont
Goose hunters break all the
rules... On February 2 at approximately 9:00
a.m., while patrolling in Prince William County,
Officer Mark Sanitra observed several individuals
field hunting geese on a farm off Kettle Run road.
To get a better vantage point Officer Mark Sanitra
entered the back of the farm and once in position
observed two hunters walking on top of the ridge and
3 hunters dragging a sled with decoys walking across
the field. When the first 2 individuals returned to
the truck, Officer Sanitra identified himself and
made contact. Once the other hunters returned to the
vehicles Officer Sanitra conducted field interviews.
After conducting the field interviews the following
charges were made: 3 summons for missing Virginia
Waterfowl Stamps, 3 federal charges for missing
Federal Waterfowl Stamps, and several written
warnings for various other violations. For more
information, contact Lt. John Cobb (540) 899-4169.
If you suspect or
witness a violation, report it to the Wildlife
Crimeline at 1-800-237-5712.
Don't let the
actions of a few outlaws tarnish the reputation of
Virginia's sportsmen!
In Case You Missed It...
Editor's note:
With numerous new subscribers each issue, we realize
that some of the seasonal features are important and
timely enough to bear repeating. So readers can
easily review these seasonal items, we have retained
the headlines and information links in this section "In case you missed it..."
We hope you enjoy the new,
electronic Outdoor Report and invite you to share this
information with your friends and colleagues.
Simply visit the
Department's Web site and click on the Outdoor Report
link to
subscribe. New editions are sent directly to your email
address the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. Stay informed on issues and
opportunities about Virginia's outdoors!
In
upcoming editions of the
Outdoor Report, look for:
- VOWA Youth Writing Contest
Award Winners
- Kid's Fishing Day Events
- Spring Gobbler Forecast
- CWD Update - No Chronic
Wasting Disease Found in Virginia
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