Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.

xtrails
@earthlink.net

Bill Cochran's Outdoors

Recent columns

• Elk advocate finally gets his day
• Turkeys are plentiful, so why are hunting regulations so tight fisted?
• Anglers say closure of the point of Cape Hatteras is for the birds
• Every boat operator must take exam; might as well get started
• Column archive

Bill's Mailbag

• Recommendations for Virginia’s Wild Turkey Management Plan
• Where to take a father-in-law fishing
• Mail archive

Bill's Field Reports

• Big striper smashes Optimist tournament record
• Cave Spring Optimist Club tournament making its 44th run
• Field reports archive

Resources

• Trout stocking schedule

Sportsmen who advocate active timber management on national forest land in Virginia for the benefit of wildlife have a new ally in Gov. Bob McDonnell.

The Virginia governor has asked the U.S. Forest Service to incorporate more timber management on a greater number of acres held by the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia. The George Washington is undergoing a forest plan revision.

Many popular species of wildlife, including grouse, turkey, deer and bear, along with numerous song birds, benefit from the nesting, feeding and cover provided by a newly cut, early successional forest.

In recent years, the forest service largely has carried out the wishes of environmentalists who have a no-cut, old-growth agenda that emphasizes wilderness and roadless areas.

In a letter to Maureen T. Hyzer, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests Supervisor, McDonnell said:

“Wilderness designations and roadless areas are valued and important aspects of our national forest system, but vastly reduce the multiple-use benefits mandated under the Organic Act. Therefore, we support and encourage active forest management on a greater number of acres within national forestlands.”

One Department of Game and Inland Fisheries wildlife biologists called the governors action “good news.”

McDonnell said forests “are the heart of Virginia’s $27.5 billion forest products industry, an industry that employs more than 144,000 Virginians.” He also underscored their tourism and recreation value, but could have been more forceful in stressing the value of timber management to wildlife.

MORE DAYLIGHT FOR DOVE HUNTERS

Virginia hunters will have additional opportunities to hunt doves all day during the coming season. Only seven days, from the Sept. 4 opening day to Sept. 10 will be limited to a traditional noon start. The rest of the season will provide hunting one-half hour before sunrise until sunset.

This extra hours could be useful to hunters dealing with failed agricultural crops that are expected to keep the birds scattered this season (See Cochran Column).

The season will provide a traditional three-way split and a 15-per day bag limit that has been enforced the past two seasons.

The dates:

Sept. 4-Oct. 12

Oct. 20-Nov. 6

Dec. 27-Jan. 8

The September Canada goose season is little changed from last year, offering hunting Sept. 1-25 that include a number of days sportsmen can hunt as late as a half-hour after sunset. The idea is to try to keep this species in check with its habitat.

A split woodcock season has been established for Oct. 30-Nov. 13 and Dec. 27-Jan. 10. The bag limit is three daily.

The rail season is Sept. 8-Oct. 2 and Oct. 4-Nov. 17. The bag limit is 15 for Clapper and King rails counted together and 25 for Sora and Virginia rails.

The common snipe season is Oct. 7-Oct. 11 and Oct. 22-Jan. 31 with an eight-per day limit.

A Sept. 20-30 teal season will offer hunting for blue-winged and green-winged teal east of I-95 only with a four per day limit.

OUTDOOR BRIEFS

• John Crews of Salem is one of 12 elite anglers who will fish in the July 24-31 postseason 2010 Toyota Truck Championship on Alabama’s Lake Jordon and Alabama River. The big prize is the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year citation, worth $200,000.
• Angler Julie Ball of Virginia Beach, who frequently is featured on this site with her world-record catches, has written a stirring piece on her return to the Gulf Coast, where she grew up, and her emotions upon looking out onto the bright, crystalline sand that could be damaged by the oil spill. See it at hamptonroads.com.
• More women than men took up hunting last year, according to the National Sporting Goods Association. Muzzleloading was the major attraction for women. While the total number of hunters in the U.S. decreased slightly (.05 percent) the number of female hunters increased 5.4 percent, netting 163,000 new hunters, the association reported.
• Omega Protein Corp, the big processor of Chesapeake Bay menhaden in Reedville, didn’t help itself when it failed take part in a panel discussion on the future of this important forage fish. A spokesman for Omega said the company was concerned that the panel of legislators, environmentalists, marine industry officials and sport fishermen had preconceived notions about this fishery and the health of menhaden.
• The 70-page “2010-11 Hunting and Trapping in Virginia Regulations” booklet is available from agents who sell hunting licenses and at Department of Game and Inland Fisheries offices at no charge.
• The top-three vote getters in the NRA 2010 board election were Oliver North, 93,880; Ted Nugent, 89,447 and Sandra Forman, 85,734.
• West Virginia has extended its bear and fall turkey hunting seasons. Ten counties will be open to bear hunting Sept. 27-29; nine open Sept. 27-Oct. 2; 10 open Nov. 22-Dec.4. All 55 counties will be open Dec. 6-31. Fall turkey hunting will be open Oct. 23-30 in 13 counties; Oct. 23-Nov. 6 in 12 counties and Oct. 23-Nov. 22 in 14 counties. More information on www.wvdnr.gov.
• Surveys by HunterSurvey.com and AnglerSurvey.com reveal that 44 percent of hunters and 33 percent of anglers rely on magazines as the major source of information on their sport. The second most popular source for anglers is Web sites while 15 percent of hunters said they relied most on television. Way down the list were newspapers, no doubt reflecting cuts in outdoor coverage by numerous newspapers.

BILL

SALTWATER FISHING TOURNAMENT

The Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament enjoyed a productive week, with its first entries in the gray triggerfish, Spanish mackerel and tuna categories and new leaders for black drum, croaker and dolphin. Here are the standings:

BLACK DRUM: 90 pounds, James Johnson, Jr., Gloucester, Mobjack Bay Reef.

BLUEFISH: 16 pounds, 5 ounces, Pete Kelley, Virginia Beach, Cigar.

BLUELINE TILEFISH: 19 pounds, 5 ounces, Demetrius Arnold, Chesapeake, Norfolk Canyon.

COBIA: 85 pounds, Jules Warren, Virginia Beach, Fourth Island Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

CROAKER: 3 pounds, 12 ounce, James Egaw, Jr., Davidson, N.C. Mattaponi River.

DOPLHIN: 30 pounds, 6 ounces Robert Smalley, Providence Forge, NOAA Buoy 44014.

FLOUNDER: 11 pounds, 15 ounces, Tilford Williams, Jr., Virginia Beach Concrete Ships off Kiptopeke.

GRAY TRIGGERFISH: 4 pounds, 6 ounces, Karen Baranski, Virginia Beach, Third Island Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

GRAY TROUT: 9 pounds, 8 ounces, Eric Cafini, Suffolk, Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.

KING MACKEREL: 26 pounds, 12 ounces, Willard Marshall, Syracuse, N.Y., Hot Dog.

SEA BASS: 5 pounds, 9 ounces, Byron Farlow, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

SHEEPSHEAD: 14 pounds, 5 ounces, Alan Bunnell, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

SPADEFISH: 11 pounds, 12 ounces, Joshua Proffitt, Manassas, Chesapeake Light Tower.

SPANISH MACKEREL: 5 pounds, Mardis Wallace, Manchester, Md., Inshore wreck off Virginia Beach.

SPECKLED TROUT: 12 pounds, 6 ounces, Michael Whittaker, Chesapeake, Elizabeth River.

SPOT: 1 pound, 2 ounces, John Guthrie, Sutherland, lower York River.

STRIPED BASS: 64 pounds, Michael Collier, Sandston, off Sandbridge.

TAUTOG: 16 pounds, 14 ounces, Alexander Thompson, Deale, Md., Chesapeake Light Tower.

TUNA (bluefin): 196 pounds, Brian Davis, Virginia Beach, Cigar.

TUNA (other): 77 pounds, Lily Yoder, Virginia Beach, Cigar.

BILL

MEETINGS, SEASONS AND EVENTS

James River float trip and picnic, sponsored by Coastal Conservation Association of Virginia, July 24, Centersville to Westview (4 miles), for canoes, kayaks, johnboats, tubs, meet 7 a.m. at Wal-Mart, 11400 West Broad Street, Richmond, food furnished at end of trip, except bring your own drinks, information from Keith Workman, 804-402-2419.

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is asking for public comments on a proposed trout catch-and-release area on Shavers Fork in Randolph County. An open house has been set for 6-to 8-p.m. July 26 at the DNR’s Operation Center located on Ward Road in Elkins.

Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, 7 p.m. Aug. 9 Moneta Community Center.

Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show sponsored by the Virginia Deer Hunters Association, Aug. 13-15, The Showplace, Richmond.

Sporting Clays shoot to benefit the Ruffed Grouse Society, Aug. 15, Dublin Clays, Dublin, Va., 1 p.m. registration, $40 for 100 targets, $30 for 50 targets, $150 for four-man team, dinner, door prizes and awards. Information from www.claytargetsonline.com/club.php/1915 and from W.J. Worrell Jr.

3D archery tournament August 15, register 9 a.m. to noon, Triangle Bowhunters range in Blacksburg near Corning Plant, sponsored by Whitetail Outfitter, hosted by Triangle Bowhunters, variety of classes, shooting stakes and food, shooting fee $12; $25 for a family and $6 for youngsters.

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, 9 a.m. August 17 at the agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond

Smith River Trout Unlimited Chapter cleanup day on the river, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 21. Assemble at the Trent Hill canoe ramp, near Virginia 666 Bridge in the Bassett area at 8:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided and there will be time after the clean up for fishing. The straw boss is Darrin Doss.

Roanoke Valley Friends of NRA banquet, Aug. 28, Salem Civic Center.

September Canada goose hunting season, Sept 1-25, 10 per day

Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, Sept. 3, Moneta Community Center.

Dove hunting season opens noon, Sept. 4, 15 per day bag limit.

Rail hunting season, Sept. 8-Oct. 2 and Oct. 4-Nov. 17

Eastern Regional Big Game Championship, Sept. 11 & 12, Southampton County Fairgrounds, Franklin, information from Kenneth Pickin, 804-633-0275

3D archery tournament Sept. l9, register 9 a.m. to noon, Triangle Bowhunters range in Blacksburg near Corning Plant, sponsored by Whitetail Outfitter, hosted by Triangle Bowhunters, variety of classes, shooting stakes and food, shooting fee $12; $25 for a family and $6 for youngsters.

Early teal hunting season, Sept 20-30, east of I-95 only.

Hunters for the Hungry banquet, Sept. 25, Moose Lodge on Virginia 311 at foot of Catawba Mountain in Roanoke County (3233 Catawba Valley Drive), $20 singles, $35 per couple, kids under 12 free, advanced tickets only, contact Ralph and Lois Graybill, 540-427-5125 or Fred and Phyllis Wells, 540-992-3874, banquet benefits feeding the needy.

Western Regional and State Big Game Championship, Sept. 25 and 26, Rockingham County Fairgrounds, Harrisonburg, contact is John Ritenour, 540-434-8028.

Virginia Hunter Skills Weekend, Oct. 1-3, Holiday Lake 4-H Center, Appomattox, sponsors include Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, weekend of instruction on a variety of outdoor skills, $100 includes meals, lodging and instruction, register at holidaylake4h.com or 434-248-5444.

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, 9 a.m. October 5 at the agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond.

Common snipe hunting season Oct. 7-11 and Oct. 22-Jan. 31.

The Eastern Shore of Virginia Birding and Wildlife Festival, Oct. 7-10, headquartered at Cape Charles, information from www.esvafestivals.org

Woodcock season Oct. 30-Nov. 13 and Dec. 27-Jan. 10.

Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.