Thursday, July 02, 2009
DGIF training new generation of leaders
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
The next decade is going to see a big change in the leadership of the staff of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Most department heads and many field biologists and conservation police officers are reaching retirement age. The same can be said of Bob Duncan, the agency’s executive director, who has been with DGIF for 35 years.
In an effort to avoid a leadership crisis, DGIF has initiated a leadership development program. The first class has involved 40 employees who have stepped up to prepare themselves for future leadership roles.
The agency has allocated $554,403 for training in its 2010 budget.
BILL
GROUSE CHAPTER CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY
The H.C. Edwards Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society will be celebrating its 20th anniversary at its Sept. 19 banquet in Fisherville. During its existence it has netted $376,000 for the society, making it the most successful chapter in Virginia and one of the best in North America.
The national office of the society has announced that local chapters will be allowed to keep more banquet proceeds to be used for local projects.
“This is really great news because we have a large amount of public land nearby where the money can be put back into the resources, in our back yard,” said Cliff Rexrode, a member of the banquet committee.
The grouse population in Virginia has been declining rapidly, the result of less timber management on national forest and other lands.
The H.C. Edwards Chapter has held its banquet in November in the past, so the September date will be a change. It will be held at Expoland. Additional information is available from Rexrode at cliffandoma@ntelos.net.
BILL
OUTDOOR LIFE OFF TARGET
Outdoor Life Magazine is endorsing a plan to move the U.S. Forest Service from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of the Interior, a concept that is under consideration on Capitol Hill.
John Snow, the magazine’s shooting editor, said for more than a century the forest service has been the source of wood products, but that has changed with the focus now on conservation and sustainability. It should be a part of the agency that handles national parks, he said.
The problem with that is you can’t hunt on most park land nor can you manager such land for wildlife habitat through timber harvest.
Earlier this month, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries cut back on deer hunting regulations on a big chunk of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests because of a startling decline in deer numbers. One of the reasons behind the decline, wildlife biologists say, is the lack of timber management. The same can be said of declines in the grouse and woodcock populations. Fact is, most every species, including bear and turkey and song birds benefit from new forest growth, something surely Outdoor Life should understand.
Snow wrote in the June/July issue of the magazine that “Many conservationists think it would be wise to unite the forest service with other agencies.” I am sure that is the case for preservationists, but not the hunters that Snow’s magazine represents.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
- "Milk has a longer shelf life than the gas they are selling now.” That’s a quote from Vince Taylor, owner of a marine business on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Taylor told the Eastern Shore News that 90 percent of his boat repair business is related to problems caused by ethanol in gas. “The sad thing is they [boaters] can do everything right and still have problems,” he said.
- The 2009-2010 Federal Duck Stamp features a long-tailed duck and decoy designed by South Dakota artist Joshua Spies. This is the 75th anniversary of the stamp program, which has generated more than $700 million for the preservation of 5.2 million acres of waterfowl habitat.
- Fishery regulators recently told charter boat captains in North Carolina that they want them to catch more bluefin tuna, but they also want suggestions on how to rebuild the stock. Do what? Yeah, some captains wonder how you can catch more tuna and rebuild the stock at the same time. The problem is, the U.S. isn’t meeting its bluefin quota and there is concern that the quota could be lowered.
- ICAST, the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, is sold out as it heads for Orlando, Fla., July 15-17.
BILL
VIRGINIA SALTWATER FISHING TOURNAMENT
The Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament has registered its first non-bluefin tuna of the season and has a new leader in the sheepshead category. Here are the standings:
BLACK DRUM: 84 pounds, 12 ounces, William Brown, Hampton, Inner Middle Ground; C-13
BLUELINE TILEFISH: 20 pounds, 4 ounces, David Akridge, Jr. Norfolk, caught at Norfolk Canyon.
COBIA: 105 pounds, 2 ounces, Keith Cole, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
CROAKER: 4 pounds, 4 ounces, David Morris, Hampton, Fort Monroe.
DOLPHIN: 39 pounds, Robert Manus, Ark, Triple Zero’s.
FLOUNDER: 10 pounds, 9 ounce, James Breen, Newport News, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
GRAY TRIGGERFISH: 4 pounds, 4 ounces, Julie Ball, Virginia Beach, wreck off Virginia Beach.
SEA BASS: 8 pounds, 4 ounces, Rob Collins, Norfolk, wreck off Virginia Beach.
SHEEPHEAD: 14 pounds, 4 ounces, Lesley Inge, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Bay.
SPADEFISH: 10 pounds, Joseph Hall, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Light Tower. Chesapeake Light Tower.
SPECKLED TROUT: 13 pounds, 14 ounces, Michael Whittaker, Chesapeake, Elizabeth River.
SPOT: 1 pound, 2 ounces, Chris Brooks, Virginia Beach, Elizabeth River.
STRIPED BASS: 66 pounds, 8 ounces, Pete Johnson, Hampton, Smith Island.
TAUTOG: 21 pounds, 13 ounces, Skip Feller, Virginia Beach, wreck off Virginia Beach.
TUNA (BLUEFIN): 119 pounds, Ryan Masters, Ellicott City, Md., Cigar.
TUNA: 180 pounds, 4 ounces, Michael Mella, Norfolk, 100 Fathom off Virginia Beach.
WAHOO: 51 pounds, Steven Carter, Heathsville, Norfolk Canyon.
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, July 10, 7 p.m., program on rod building by Paul Carven, Moneta Community Center.
South Holston Fly Fishing Fest, July 18, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on South Holston River near Bristol, Tenn., anglers, artists, activities, vendors, $5 entry fee.
Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, Aug. 7, 7 p.m., program on fly fishing with Dover England, Moneta Community Center.
Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament, North Carolina Outer Banks, Aug. 10 and 11, information form Kevin Crum.
Triangle Bowhunters of Montgomery County 3D tournament Aug. 16, check vfaa.org for for details or contact Jim Overfelt.
Roanoke Valley Friends of NRA banquet, Aug. 29, Salem Civic Center. Address questions or ticket purchase to Mike Kessler or Al Milton.
Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, Sept 4, program by Captains Spike and Kathy Franceschini, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center.
Hunters for the Hungry banquet, Sept. 12, 5:30 p.m., Roanoke Moose Lodge #284, 3233 Catawba Valley Drive, Roanoke County, $20 single, $35 couple, children under 12 free, tickets from Dave Sarmadi Mitsubishi, Jeff Fletcher, 540-985-6523 or Fred and Phyllis Wells, 540-992-3874.
Virginia Big Game Western Regional Contest, Sept. 12 and 13, Rockingham County Fairground, Harrisonburg, information from vpsa.org or John Ritenour, 540-434-8028.
Triangle Bowhunters of Montgomery County 3D tournament Sept. 13, check vfaa.org for details or contact Jim Overfelt.
Virginia Big Game Eastern Regional and State Championship, Sept. 26 and 27, Southampton County Fairground, Franklin, information from vpsa.org or Kenneth Pickin 757-229-0409.
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.
