Thursday, April 03, 2008
DGIF says statements are false
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has lashed out sharply at Bob Kane, president of the Virginia Hunting Dog Owners’ Association, saying statements he made linking DGIF board vice chairman Richard Railey to an anti-hunting group were “false accusations.”
In an e-mail, Kane claimed that Railey, an attorney who lives in Courtland, was representing an employee of PETA accused of stealing a tracking collar off a hunting dog.
In a statement sent to the media that was posted on the DGIF Web site, Railey said Kane’s charges weren’t factual and could damage his reputation. He said he had met with individuals criminally charged in the Southampton County dog case, but when he determined the nature of the case he told them he was an avid hound hunter and turned down their request of representation.
When reached in Oregon, where his is on a trip, Kane said: “Railey’s name was listed as defense attorney of record in the early court filings.”
Last week, a judge dismissed a misdemeanor charge against the PETA worker who had been accused of stealing the tracking collar. The judge called Ondrea Harris, 26, a “meddlesome do-gooder” for picking up a hunting dog in Southampton County and removing its collar. An earlier charge of felony theft had been dropped.
In the mind of some hound hunter, the riff between Kane and Railey was overshadowed by the dismissal of charges against Harris.
Meanwhile. PETA officials praised the dismissal and said money spent on the trial could have better been spent investigating the "poor conditions and abandonment of hunting dogs.”
DGIF officials said numerous inaccurate statements have been circulating in wake of the agency’s study of hunting with hounds. The one that hurts most is an accusation that DGIF has been secretly colluding with anti-hunting interests to eliminate certain types of hound hunting in Virginia.
“That could not be further from the truth,” said the DGIF statement.
BILL
BIG CHANGES FOR TROUT HATCHERY
The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has outlined plans for a major revision of Coursey Springs Fish Culture Station, where about 40 percent of the trout are raised for Virginia’s stocking program
Cost of the project could be as high as $12 million. Plans call for replacing old-style raceways and earthen ponds with circular tanks located in a giant building where quality control and protection from predators is better achieved. The huge spring that provides water for the operation would be better protected, said Gary Martel, DGIF fish chief.
Lisa Cahill, of Watershed Services in Ashland, appeared before the DGIF board Tuesday to protest that too much money is being proposed for the project when a special fence could provide protection for trout at a fraction of the coast of what is being proposed.
BILL
ELECTRONIC IGNITIONS FOR MUZZLELOADERS
When the modern muzzleloading deer hunting season was established in Virginia in 1973, firearms used were primitive side locks. Through the years, technology and regulations have changed them to inline guns that aren’t that much different from modern firearms, with the exception that you have to load them by the muzzle one charge at a time.
That evolution of the muzzleloader took still another step this week when the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries proposed removing references to flintlock and percussion in the official definition of a muzzleloader. This will allow the use of the new electronic ignition systems being marketed by some gun manufacturers.
In January, a representative of Connecticut Valley Arms attended a DGIF board meeting and asked for adoption of the new electronic ignition systems.
This week the board proposed to remove all references to specific ignition types, which will cover even newer system that may come along in the future.
The proposal is scheduled for a final vote in June, and if that goes well hunters will be able to use the new ignition systems during the upcoming fall seasons.
BILL
BACK TO THE OLD WAY FOR GAME LAWS
The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is going to make changes in the way it establishes hunting, fishing and boating regulations, according to Bob Duncan, executive director of the agency. In many ways, it is a matter of going back to an old way of doing business.
For one thing, the regulatory process for establishing hunting laws will be separated from the one for fishing laws. During recent sessions, hunting, fishing, trapping, boating and non-game regulations have all been tossed into one giant regulatory effort.
There will be more fact-to-face interaction with constituents, Duncan said. Recent sessions have relied heavily on input via the Internet. Electronic interchange will continue, but there will be a move back to public hearings, Duncan said, admitting that some of these were poorly attended in the past.
The new way of doing things will involve keeping constituents better informed on proposals being considered by the DGIF staff by posting them earlier in the process, Duncan said.
A House Joint Resolution of the 2008 General Assembly called for the DGIF regulatory process to provide greater public involvement; however, the measure is one of the few yet to be signed by the governor.
BILL
TROUT FISHING LIKE THE OLD DAYS
Saturday (April 5) is Trout Heritage Day, when the clock will be turned back on 16 streams and ponds that will be opened to fishing at 9 a.m. after being closed the day before for stocking. This is a remnant of opening day, which was phased out a number of years ago when Virginia went to a year-round trout season.
Streams/ponds that are part of the heritage program are:
Beartree Lake, Washington County.
Bark Camp Lake, Scott County
Cripple Creek (Ravens Cliff), Wythe County
Jennings Creek, Botetourt County
Lake Witten and Lincolnshire Lake, Tazewell County
Liberty Lake, Bedford County
Middle Fork Holston River, Smyth County
Passage Creek, Shenandoah County
Pedlar River (upper) Amherst County
Pigg River, Franklin County
Robinson River, Madison County
Tinker Creek, Roanoke City
Also include in Heritage Day are the three Department of Game and Inland Fisheries pay fishing areas, Clinch Mountain, Cripple Creek and Douthat Lake, but they are closed to fishing March 31-April 4.
BILL
TRI-COUNTY TO TALK TURKEY
If you leaf through many outdoor magazines you are certain to come across the byline of Bruce Ingram. A teacher at Lord Botetourt High School, Ingram is a prolific writer who has purchased 486 acres of land with income from his outdoor articles and books. Some 392 acres of that has been placed under conservation easements, a cause that Ingram actively supports.
Ingram will be the featured speaker at the April 7 dinner meeting of the Tri-County Forestry & Wildlife Association in Fincastle. His subject will be turkey management and hunting. The program is open to the public; a $10 meal fee will be charged. It starts at 6 p.m. at the Fincastle Fire House. Reservations are required. Call Ellen Horn at Hunter’s Den, 540-864-6701.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS’
>>The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Tuesday gave final approval to regulations that put into effect mandatory boating education as directed by the General Assembly. The education requirements will be phased in starting next year and continuing through 2016.
>>C.T. Hill, a high-ranking SunTrust bank official from Midlothian, has been nominated board chairman of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The vice-chair nomination is William T. Greer, Jr. of Norfolk, president of Virginia Wesleyan College. The nominations are subject to a final vote in June. Hill, who became a board member in 2005, has been a leader in getting the DGIF back on track following a period of mismanagement and improprieties.
>>Recent trophies landed at Smith Mountain Lake include a 40-plus inch muskie for Jesse Saunders and a 26-pound, 9-ounce striped bass for Macky May. Claytor Lake has been producing some hefty stripers weighing 19 to 24 pounds apiece.
>>Southside Electric Cooperative has been recognized by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for providing crews and equipment to install nearly 80 pilings at Powhatan Lake in the building of five handicap-accessible piers.
>>Virginia’s new apprentice hunting license should attract newcomers to hunting when it goes on sale at midyear. That has occurred in other states. Since 2004, more than 87,000 apprentice licenses have boon sold in other states, according to the National Wild Turkey Federation. Overall hunting license sales have increased 10-11 percent in states that have such a license.
>>The Rapidan Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Graves Mountain Lodge and Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will sponsor a April 5 kid’s fishing day on the Rose River. It starts at 9 a.m. and is for youngsters under 12. Note, this is an earlier date for the event than in the past. Check gravesmountain.com/kidday.htm.
>>Think of it as MySpace for fishermen. That is the way a new fishing resource Web site, Hooked-in.com, is being described. Members get their own bragging board. Although just started, the site has more than 400 members.
BILL
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, April 4, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center, program by Mike Snead on basic striper fishing.
Youth spring gobbler day, April 5.
Heritage Trout Fishing Day, April 5, check dgif.virginia.gov.
Wilderness Fist Aid training, April 5 and 6 in Blacksburg, $200, information from http://wfa.net.
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.
Virginia Fly Fishing Festival, April 19 and 20, South River in Waynesboro, vaflyfishingfestival.org.
The Optimist Club of Cave Spring 40th annual Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Tournament, May 2-4, $40 for tickets, $15,000 in prizes offered, includes fourth annual Bill Cochran Youth Tournament, Saturday, May 3, kids when 12 and under fish free with paying adult, tickets available at businesses around the lake or in nearby towns, money benefits the club’s youth programs, information from Ike Harris, 540-989-8488.
Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, 7 p.m. May 2, Moneta Community Center, annual lake report by Dan Wilson, biologist of Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
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.
Eastern Regional Big Game Championship, Sept. 13 and 14, Southampton County Fairgrounds, Franklin, sponsored by the Virginia Peninsula Sportsmen’s Association, more information from Kenneth Pickin, P.O. Box 1860, Williamsburg, Va. 23187-1860; 757-229-0490. This is the contest for deer, bear and turkey killed east of the Blue Ridge. Additional information from vpsa.org.
Third annual WSLS 10 Hunters for the Hungry banquet, 6 p.m. Sept. 27, Dave Sarmadi Mitsubishi, Salem, tickets $20 singles; $35 couples, kids 12 and under free, to benefit the organization’s feed-the-needy program, tickets from Jeff Fletcher, 540-985-6523 or Fred and Phyllis Wells, 540-992-3874 or may be purchased at Dave Sarmadi Mitsubishi, additional information from hunt4hungry@cs.com.
Western Regional and State Big Game Championship, for deer, bear and turkey killed west of the Blue Ridge or advanced from the Eastern Championship, Sept. 27 & 28, Rockingham County Fairgrounds, Harrisonburg, more information from Jon Ritenour, 2041 Spaders Church Rd., Harrisonburg, VA 22801, 540-434-8028. Additional information from vpsa.org.
Roanoke Valley Friends of NRA banquet, Oct. 18.
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