Thursday, August 30, 2007
Deer disease expands its terrain
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
The deer show up emaciated and lame. They have a high fever. Their hooves crack, peel and even slough off. Some die.
They are suffering a viral infectious disease called Hemorrhagic Disease, or HD.
It is fairly common late summer in counties east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but this time it is showing up in the west, where it is rare. And it is showing up early.
All this has wildlife officials disturbed.
“Two things are unusual,” said Matt Knox, deer project leader for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. “First, it is early and second it appears to be popping up in areas where HD is very rare -- west of the Blue Ridge. We are getting reports from Shenandoah all the way down to Scott County."
The first case of HD was confirmed in Cumberland County, and other animals are being tested. Since late July, wildlife officials have been investigating reports of suspected outbreaks in Allegheny, Shenandoah, Nelson, Essex, Bedford, Scott and Hanover counties.
“I have been here 15 years and in that time we have only had two confirmed HD cases west of the Blue Ridge, one in Bath and on down in Wythe, and both were years ago, very localized and very small,” said Knox.
There is no vaccine or medication to combat the disease. Once an outbreak begins it will continue until there are enough hard frosts to slow down the insects that carry the virus.
Deer deaths from HD generally are low enough as to not cause a significant change in the population; however, there have been instances of as many as 50 percent or more of the herd being lost.
Knox expects deer hunters west of the Blue Ridge to express some real concerns, because they are not accustomed to dealing with HD.
A Google search reveals that a number of other states are dealing with HD. DGIF has good information on HD at dgif.state.va.us/wildlife/diseases/hd.asp.
BILL
HUNTERS FOR THE HUNGRY OFFERS NIGHT OUT
Looking for a fun-filled evening for the whole family, with a great meal and a chance at some really nice prizes, all at a reasonable price with the proceeds going for a gallant cause?
That’s a description of the WSLS-10 Sportsmen’s Banquet to benefit Hunters for the Hungry. It is set for 6 p.m., Sept. 8 at the Dave Sarmadi Mitsubishi dealership in Salem.
Tickets cost about half what you would expect to pay at most sportsmen's banquets: $20 for a single; $35 for a couple. Kids are encouraged to attend and those under 12 get in free. There aren’t many places you can enjoy a special family night out for $35.
This is a fund-raiser to help Hunters for the Hungry process its 2007 goal of 360,000 pounds of venison to feed the needy (See this week's Cochran column).
While it is called a sportsmen banquet, considerable effort is being devoted to also making it attractive to non-sportsmen. As committee member Robert Harper says, “It isn’t about hunting; it is about feeding the hungry.”
Harper and his business partner, Dave Sarmadi, at the Mitsubishi dealership in Salem, are major sponsors, providing the banquet facilities at no charge. Channel 10 was so impressed with the cause during a telethon last year that it requested to be the lead sponsor. A host of other individuals and businesses have donated a truckload of items that will be auctioned or given away. They include:
>Three days, four nights trout fishing in Pennsylvania at Kettle Creek Lodge
>Guided turkey hunting trips, including one in Texas
>Overnight stay and breakfast at Hotel Roanoke
>Overnight stay, meals and fishing at Paint Bank
>Guns
>NASCAR items
>Golf items
>Tech and UVA sports items, including Tech homecoming tickets.
>Restaurant and theatre gift certificates
>Art prints
>Jewelry
>Kid’s items
Tickets are available at Dave Sarmadi or Iron Sports Customs (3922 Trinkle Ave.) or by phone from Jeff Fletcher, 540-985-6523 or Fred and Phyllis Wells, 540-992-3875.
If you have questions, e-mail me.
BILL
DOES MORE CORN MEAN MORE DOVES?
One of the best spots to launch a dove hunt in Virginia is from a freshly harvested cornfield.
Corn is grown in virtually every county of the state, and it is on the increase. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Virginia farmers planted 530,000 acres of corn this year. That’s about 10-percent more than the previous year.
In some cases cotton fields are giving way to corn. The increasing demand for ethanol is one of the reasons behind the accelerated corn planting; however, nearly 50 percent of Virginia’s corn crop goes to feed livestock.
Do all these extra cornfields mean more doves, or will doves just be scattered over larger areas?
“That’s a good question,” says Gary Costanzo, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries dove/waterfowl project leader.
“Whether it means more doves or not, I’m not sure,” he said.
What is certain, doves have enjoyed a good production year in Virginia and surrounding states, according to a multi-state trapping and banding program.
“We’ve seen a lot of young birds,” said Costanzo.
The question: will there be enough corn harvested by the Saturday, Sept. 1 opening day to provide hunting spots?
Dry weather has impacted the corn crop, and harvesting has taken off in earnest in some areas. The sportsman who has permission to hunt a newly harvested corn field will be ahead of the game, especially if that fiend is in an area where little harvesting is taking place.
The dove hunting dates are Sept. 1-29; Oct. 5-27 and Dec. 26-Jan. 12. The bag limit is 12 daily.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
>Lynn Stevenson of Afton was so happy to win the Hunters for the Hungry ATV raffle that she immediately donated $500 to the program, which provides venison for the needy. The raffle brought in $40,540 for the program. Another $3,100 was gained through a muzzleloading rifle raffle at the recent outdoor show in Roanoke. The winner was James Kelly of Natural Bridge.
>Hunters who pursue migratory game birds, such as doves, ducks, woodcock and geese, must have a federal HIP number. The number may be obtained free of charge through VAHIP.com or 1-888-788-9772.
>The top boat in the weekend Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament was the “Hunter” with 12 releases. The runner-ups, “Sca Pink,” “Special D,” “just Right” and “Bluewater,” had eight releases apiece.
>People who live in Washington, D.C. would be allowed to hunt game in Virginia with the same license as residents under the Equitable Access for D.C. Hunters Act introduced by Jeff Miller, a Florida Republican. The same act also applies to Maryland.
>A recent Zogby International poll conducted for Associated Television News found that 66 percent of the American voting public rejects the idea that new gun control laws are needed.
BILL
VIRGINIA SALTWATER TOURNAMENT
Here are the standings in the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament:
BLACK DRUM: 95 pounds caught by James Tran of Virginia Beach in Lynnhaven Bay.
BLUEFISH: 16 pounds, Peter Carey of Fredericksburg in the lower-eastern Chesapeake Bay.
BLUELINE TILEFISH: 20 pound, 7 ounce, Robert Holtz, Virginia Beach, ocean off Virginia Beach.
COBIA: 93 pounds, 8 ounces, Kara Maples, Hampton, lower-western Chesapeake Bay.
CROAKER: 8 pounds, 11 ounces, Norman Jenkins, Portsmouth, off New Port Light.
DOLPHIN: 53 pounds, 9 ounces, Greg Welch, Charlotte, N.C., ocean off Virginia Beach.
FLOUNDER: 13 pounds, 7 ounces, Dennis Curcio, Philadelphia, Pa., lower eastern Chesapeake Bay.
GRAY TRIGGERFISH: 4 pounds, 10 ounces, Geoffrey Filer, Chesapeake, ocean off Virginia Beach.
KING MACKEREL: 63 pounds, 1 ounce, state record, Susan Smith, Virginia Beach, off Virginia Beach.
KINGFISH: 1 pound, 11 ounces, Jimmy Nicastro, Chesapeake, off Virginia Beach.
POMPANO: 2 pounds, 2 ounces, B.W. Wild III, Virginia Beach, off Virginia Beach.
SEA BASS: 7 pounds, 7 ounces, David Howard, Leesburg, ocean off Virginia Beach.
SHEEPSHEAD: 13 pounds, Al Phipps, Virginia Beach, lower-eastern Chesapeake Bay.
SPADEFISH: 14 pounds, Mark Ottarson, North, lower-western Chesapeake Bay.
SPECKLED TROUT: 12 pounds, 10 ounces, Michael Tomesch, Chesapeake, Elizabeth River.
SPOT: 1 pound, 4 ounce, Edward Farrah, Virginia Beach, off Virginia Beach.
STRIPED BASS: 62 pounds, 1 ounce, Wayne Rickman, Mechanicsville, off Virginia Beach.
TAUTOG: 22 pounds, 2 ounce, Lester Johnson, Newport News, off Virginia Beach.
BLUEFIN TUNA: 573 pound state record, Bo Haycox, Virginia Beach, off Virginia Beach.
TUNA: 241 pounds, Eric Kuester, Ashland, off Virginia Beach.
WAHOO: 67 pounds, Chad McAliser, Stuarts Draft, off Virginia Beach.
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Dove hunting season, Sept. 1-29; Oct. 6-27 and Dec. 25-Jan. 12, daily limit of 12.
September goose season, Sept 1-25, daily limit of five.
Smith River Trout Unlimited Chapter meeting, Sept. 6, 7 p.m., Ranias’ Restaurant, Martinsville, Robert Wood chapter president; Al Kittredge, vice president.
Hunters for the Hungry banquet, Sept. 8, Dave Sarmadi Mitsubishi dealership, Salem, inquire about tickets at Hunt4hungry@cs.com.
The Western Regional Championship of the Virginia Big Game Show, Sept. 8-9, Rockingham County Fairgrounds near Harrisonburg, information from vpsa.org.
Rail season Sept. 10-Nov. 7.
Early teal season, Sept. 17-26 east of Interstate 95.
The Eastern Region and State Championship of the Virginia Big Game Show, Sept. 22 & 23, Southampton County Fairgrounds in Franklin, information from from vpsa.org.
David H. Horne Memorial Hunters for the Hungry Annual Golf Tournament, Oct. 3, 1:30 p.m., London Downs Golf Course, Forest, captain’s choice, $280 per foursome, includes greens fee, cart, awards, hole prizes, door prizes, beverages, catered dinner. Proceeds benefit Hunters for the Hungry.
Early duck season Oct. 4-8.
Snipe season Oct. 4-28; Oct. 22-Jan. 31.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, Oct. 16, 9 a.m. at agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St.
Roanoke Valley Friends of NRA banquet, Oct. 20, Salem Civic Center, tickets $40 single, $70 couple, tickets or information from Mike Kessler, 540-884-8917; Al Milton, 540-563-1422 or Harvey Bulaski, 540-343-9040.
Youth waterfowl hunting day, Oct. 20
Woodcock season Oct. 27-Nov. 10; Dec. 22-Jan. 5.
Snow goose season, Nov. 1-Dec. 1; Dec. 8-March 10.
Opening of Atlantic zone Canada goose season, Nov. 17-Dec. 1; Dec. 21-Jan 26.
Reopening of duck season, Nov. 17-Dec. 1.
Western zone Canada goose season Nov. 17-Dec. 1; Dec. 15-Jan. 14; Jan 15-Feb. 15.
Atlantic brant season, Nov. 24-Dec. 1; Dec. 8-Jan. 26.
Tundra swan season, Dec. 1-Jan. 31.
Reopening of duck season, Dec. 8-Jan. 26.
Reopening of western zone Canada goose season, Dec. 15-Jan. 14.
Reopening of Atlantic Zone Canada goose season, Dec. 21-Jan. 26.
Back Bay Canada Goose season, Dec. 24-Jan. 26.
Reopening of western zone Canada goose season, Jan. 15-Feb. 15.
The Greater Virginia Sports and Big Game Show, Feb. 15-17, 2008, Rockingham County Fairgrounds, Harrisonburg, vasportsshow.com. .
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.
