Thursday, March 06, 2008
Bill Cochran's Field Reports: Hound hunting advisory committee named
Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.
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The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries named 16 people to its stakeholders advisory committee on hound hunting. Half of them were hound hunters.
Who was left out is as important as whom was chosen. Missing are board members of the Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance, a group that claims to be the largest hunting organization in Virginia and has been a vocal opponent of the DGIF study. Also missing is representation from the Virginia Hunting Dog Owners’ Association.
“This isn’t a very representative group and not one qualified to represent Virginia hunting houndsmen,” said Bob Kane, president of the Virginia Hunting Dog Owners’ Association.
The Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance said it had been assured a spot on the committee and that 70 percent of the committee members would be hound hunters.
“DGIF still has a lot to learn and a long way to go before we will ever trust them again,” the group is quoted on a Web site.
Here is the committee list with a brief comment on their interest and background:
David Steger, bear hound hunter active in the Virginia Bear Hunters Association.
Jim Hackett, deer hound hunter
John Payne, deer hound hunter
John Rawls, Jr., deer hound hunter
Joyce Fendley, member of Virginia Foxhound Club.
Lt. Col. Dennis J. Foster, fox hound hunter
Lyndell Price, raccoon hound hunter
Buddy Fowler, rabbit hound hunter and legislative aid to Frank Hargrove, R-Glen Allen.
Greg Scheere, corporate land manager for Westvaco.
Woody Lipps, chief law enforcement officer for the George Washington and Jefferson national forests
Carroll Dickenson, non-hound hunter
L. Nick Hall, non-hound hunter and vice president of the Virginia Deer Hunters Association.
Ben Fulton, private landowner
David Shelor, private landowner
Wilmer Stoneman, private landowner and Virginia Federation of Farm Bureaus staff person.
Emmett Edmonds, animal control officer from Halifax County.
BILL
FLOUNDER REGULATIONS SET
Flounder fishermen have told the Virginia Marine Resources Commission they can live with a longer minimum-size limit in order to have a higher catch limit and fewer days closed to fishing.
So the state agency selected 2008 flounder fishing regulations that call for a 19-inch minimum size limit, a five-per day catch limit and a closed season July 21-30.
That is what 38.6 percent of the people responding to a VMRC poll said they wanted. Only 28.5 percent said they preferred an 18.5-inch minimum size limited and were willing to live with a catch limit of three daily to get it. The poll attracted 319 votes.
Last year’s regulations were an 18.5-minimum size limit, a five fish catch limit and closed dates Jan. 1-March 31 and July 23-28.
The 2008 regulations favor anglers who fish the lower Chesapeake Bay where flounder average heavier than they do along the Eastern Shore. Look for a significant number of throwbacks on the seaside ports of the Shore, places like Chincoteague, Wachapreague, Quinby and Oyster, where flounder are an important species to the local economy.
Fishermen, along with those in business to serve fishermen, have rallied behind a Save the Summer Flounder Fund, a campaign to raise awareness and money in an effort to change the way the flounder resource is managed.
Joining that effort is the American Sportsfishing Association, which is donating a 17-foot Mako boat to be used in a fund-raising raffle.
Anglers were allowed to vote on five options designed to meet a mandated 21.6-percent reduction it Virginia’s flounder quota for the 2008 season.
There really weren’t any good options to pick from, said Chris Snook, owner of Chris’ Bait and Tackle just north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. The experienced flounder fisherman likely will fare well, she said, but the vacationing families and casual fishermen probably will have to begin fishing for other species.
BILL
LEFTY KREH: A STRANGE BIRD
Lefty Kreh turned 83 last week, which means the time has come for his friends to gather and say some nice things about him. Such an event, “Celebrating Lefty, a Lifetime of Conservation,” is slated to be that kind of forum in Annapolis, Md., March 19.
This is a $500-per plate affair, to benefit Maryland’s chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association. Guests will include nationally-known anglers Bob Clouser, Bob Popovics, C. Boyd Pfeiffer, Bob Hutchinson, D.L. Goddard and Capt. Norm Bartlett.
When it comes to fishing, Lefty simply is the best. I have had the joy of fishing with him on a number of occasions, for trout in Craig County; for stripers at Smith Mountain Lake; for bluefish in the surf of the Outer Banks; for a variety of saltwater species along the coast of Virginia.
There are a bunch of nice things to be said about Lefty. For one, he can cast a fly a country mile. He invented one of the best know fly patterns every created, the Lefty Deceiver, which has been featured on a U.S. Postage stamp. He has written a bunch of books on fishing, starting with the mid-'70s classic, “Lefty Kreh Fly Fishing in Salt Water.” His tips on improving your fly fishing will fill volumes. He is an accomplished photographer and banquet showman. For years, he was outdoor editor of the Baltimore Morning Sun. He is a master teacher and conservationists. Lefty never has grown tired of sharing his fishing, writing and photography skills with people of all walks of life.
Kreh might best be known for his ribald stories. He can tell them throughout a day’s fishing, then continue into the night.
This is get-back time. Look for biting comments from Lefty’s friends during the open microphone part of the fun-raiser.
BILL
A LOBBYIST’S FAREWELL
Bob Kane is stepping down as lobbyist of the Virginia Dog Owners’ Association, a position he has filled with an often fiery, take-no-prisoners approach. Kane has ruffled his share of feathers, but he also has been an important advocate of hunting dog ownership since 2000. He is the chairman emeritus of the Sportsmen and Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance, which has a presence in 50 states.
“Hunting dogs are my passion,” said Kane, who has owned Brittany spaniels since 1970 and has hunted them across a large chunk of the country.
Kane, who is 70 and lives in Madison County, said he had “some serious health problems that forced me to reconsider my personal priorities.”
The 2008 Virginia General Assembly, which handled more than 25 animal bills, was particularly tiring, Kane said.
“The in-fighting and lack of cooperation between major dog owner groups totally wore me out,” he told supporters this week. “Younger and stronger people will shortly represent the Virginia Hunting Dog Owners’ Association. “I believe VHDOA’s General Assembly lobbying efforts will improve,” he said.
“The challenge is getting Virginia dog club principals to understand bill language, how to lobby effectively and to stop undercutting each other.”
A major foe of hunting dog owners is the growing presence of the powerful and deep-pocketed Humane Society of the United States, which uses Virginia “as a laboratory and training ground,” Kane said. Just this week, HSUS won a victory when HB 538 was passed by the Senate on a 34-5 vote, he said. The HSUS-backed bill, sponsored by Bobby Orrock, R-Thornburg, is viewed by Kane as an anti-breeding regulation that is “dog owners’ worse nightmare.”
He told members of House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee that “the disingenuousness, misinformation and anti-animal welfare deal-cutting on HB 538 were unprecedented, in my 30 years of lobbying experience.”
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
>>Shortly after winning the 2008 Bassmaster Classic, Alton Joes received a call from the president of the United States. George Bush not only congratulated Jones, a 44-year-old from Waco, Texas, he invited him and his family to the Oval Office March 25.
>>For decades, anglers have battled environmentalists over the use of ORVs on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Places like Cape Point near Buxton are extremely popular with surf fishermen in beach vehicles. Now two environmental groups, the Defenders of Wildlife and the National Audubon Society, have filed a lawsuit through the Southern Environmental Law Center to make beach use more restrictive in an effort to protect breeding birds.
>>Greasy Creek Outfitters currently is guiding for trout and walleye in Southwest Virginia, and will go after New River smallmouth bass in April and May. Add to that something new this year, trips to the Bahamas through Grand Bahamas Outfitters. www.grandbahamaoutfitters.com. The first scheduled Bahamas trip is for May 25-30. Greasy Creek Outfitters is based in Willis under the direction of Mike Smith.
>> Thousands of bats have been found dead or dying in caves and mines in New York. Officials in other states are concerned that the mysterious condition known as “White Nose Syndrome” will spread. The issue is scheduled to be discussed at a Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board committee meeting in Richmond March 17.
BILL
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Smith River Trout Unlimited Chapter meeting, 6 p.m. March 6, Ranias’ Restaurant, Martinsivlle, program on Trout in the Classroom, guests welcome, can order a meal, information from B.J. Walker, 434-728-1419, or Al Kittredge, 910-868-5235.
Smith Mountain Striper Club March Madness, March 7 and 8, BBQ, Swap Shop, Fishermen’s Flea Market, members/guest tournament, information from Angie Behan, president.
National Capital Boat Show, March 7-9, Dulles Expo Center, information from agievents.com.
Mid-Atlantic Kayak Fishing Symposium, March 15, Great Neck Community Recreation Center, Virginia Beach, information from 575-431-8566.
Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, April 4, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center, program by Dan Wilson, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologist.
New River Valley Friends of NRA banquet, March 8, 5:30 p.m., Custom Catering in Blacksburg, tickets $40; $60 couples, information/tickets from 540-357-0150.
Augusta County Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation, JAKES event, March 22, 8-4, register by calling 540-248-4564.
Youth spring gobbler day, April 5
Spring gobbler season, April 12-May 17.
Chester Ducks Unlimited Banquet, Kings Korner Restaurant, Chester, April 12, tickets $55/$80, information from Kenny Bowman.
Virginia Mountains Chapter Ruffed Grouse Society banquet, Roanoke Plaza Hotel (formerly Wyndham), April 12, 6 p.m., tickets and membership $55, spouse $30, information/tickets from Brandon Harper.
Seventh Annual David H. Horne Memorial Hunters for the Hungry Golf Tournament, May 7, Birkdale Golf Course, Richmond, contact Braxton Bell, 804-739-3010.
Twenty-fifth annual Bluefish Derby, June 13 & 14, Reedville, information from Jett’s Hardware, 804-453-5325.
Roanoke Valley Friends of NRA banquet, Oct. 18.
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.
