Thursday, May 15, 2008
Farm bill ready to take effect -- finally
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
Following months of extensions, House and Senate conferees have reached an agreement on the main parts of the 2008 Farm Bill. If passed -- and it is expected to shortly -- it would provide an additional $4 million in new funding for conservation programs.
The Farm Bill is considered the single biggest funding effort for conservation and wildlife and has received the support of a number of conservation organizations. Here are some of its major elements of the bill:
CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM: Funding for this program has been cut from $39.2 million to $32 million; even so, it is considered by many to be the most successful conservation effort in U.S. history when it comes to wildlife habitat.
CHESAPEAKE BAY: Some $372 million for new programs to target conservation practices to enhance the wellbeing of the bay.
OPEN FIELDS: A new program to help states provide more access to private land for sportsmen. The sum is $50 million.
CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP/ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY: Programs that encourage conservation efforts on private land.
WETLAND RESERVE PROGRAM: Efforts to conserve wetlands.
BILL
TURKEY FEDERATION HAS A PLAN
The National Wild Turkey Federation, criticized recently for living in the past, has announced plans to write what it calls the next chapter in the wild turkey success story: a North American Wild Turkey Management Plan.
The plan will improve habitat of the wild turkey and other wildlife species and will focus on providing more opportunities for hunting access, the NWTF said. In addition, it will be a source of information for volunteers, helping them to make better use of the funds they spend on turkey management.
Additional information is available at <a href="http://www.nwtf.org/nwtf_newsroom/press_releases.php?id=12544">nwtf.org/nwtf_newsroom/</a>
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
>> Eleven deer testing positive for Chronic Wasting Disease have been detected this spring in Hampshire County, W.Va., near the Virginia line. No CWD cases have been documented in Virginia. All the newly discovered deer were found in the Slanesville/Augusta area of the county, bringing West Virginia’s CWD deer total to 31 since the first discovery Sept. 2005. All have been found in Hampshire County.
>>Lee Albright, who lives on a farm in Montebello, received the annual Woodmen of the World conservation award for using the Freedom of Information Act and other means to expose shortcomings at the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, including misuse of fund and management problems.
>>A 4-pound, 3-ounce blackbelly rosefish caught off Virginia Beach by William Davis of Forestville, Md., is a pending world record for the species, according to Dr. Julie Ball, the region’s International Game Fish Association representative.
>>June 6-8 are free fishing days in Virginia, when a license will not be required to fish fresh or saltwater, with the exception of designated streams and impoundments stocked for put-and-take trout fishing. The free fishing is designed to hook newcomers on angling.
>>Hooked For Life, a Roanoke based ministry that combines faith and fishing, has a new blog.
>>West Virginia has a new law requiring anyone born after Dec. 31, 1986 to pass a boating education course before operating a watercraft.
BILL
SALTWATER FISHING TOURNAMENT
Frequent winds have kept many sport fishing boats in port, but Russell Willoughby of Norfolk managed to get offshore long enough to enter a new leader -- by 1 ounce -- in the blueline tilefish category of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. Here are the standings:
BLUEFISH: 19 pounds, 4 ounces, Richard Brown, Richmond, off Virginia Beach.
BLUEFIN TILEFISH: 18 pounds, 4 ounces, Russell Willoughby, Norfolk, Norfolk Canyon.
FLOUNDER: 10 pounds, 8 ounces, Thomas Horsley, Gloucester, off Cape Charles.
SEA BASS: 7 pounds, 8 ounces, Reggie Myrick, Portsmouth, off Virginia Beach.
SPECKLED TROUT: 9 pounds, 15 ounces, David Hester, Chesapeake, Elizabeth River.
STRIPED BASS: 73 pounds, state record, Frederick Barnes, Chesapeake, off Virginia Beach.
TAUTOG: 20 pounds, 6 ounces, Michael Shreve, Glen Burnie, Md., Monroe Wreck. .
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Triangle Archer’ s 3D tournament, May 18, Blacksburg, fee $12 or $25 per family, information from James Overfelt.
Third annual Oregon Inlet (N.C.) Tuna Roundup, May 29-31, sponsored by Pirate’s Cove, $88,000 payout. Information from pcbgt.com.
Smith River Trout Unlimited fishing and cookout, May 31, meet 8:30 a.m. at Mirrow Factor for fishing and 3:30 p.m. at the foot of Philpott Dam for cookout. Members will act as guides for newcomers. Public welcome.
3D archery shoot and fun day sponsored by Hunters for the Hungry and Quality Deer Management Association (Heart of Virginia Branch) June 1 at Wild Turkey Ridge Archery Range, Bedford, to register or for information contact Gary Arrington, 434-665-7658.
June 6-8 free fishing days in Virginia, when a license will not be required to fish fresh or saltwater, with the exception of designated streams and impoundments stocked for put-and-take trout fishing.
Twenty-fifth annual Bluefish Derby, June 13-14, Reedville, information from Jett’s Hardware, 804-453-5325.
Hunters for the Hungry 5th annual sporting clays benefit shoot at Edmund Farms in Halifax, June 21-22, information form Clarence Morris, 434-572-6986, ext. 268 or 434-575-5493.
Triangle Archers 3D tournament, June 22, Blacksburg, fee $12 or $25 per family, information from James Overfelt.
Shenandoah River Rodeo, July 19, Bentonville’s Low Water Bridge Campground, $40, to benefit Shenandoah Riverkeepers, pig roast, bluegrass, fishing, canoeing, camping information from Shenandoah Riverkeepers, P.O. Box 405, Boyce, Va. 22620.
Triangle Archer’s 3D tournament, Aug. 17, Blacksburg, fee $12 or $25 per family, information from Triangle Archers 3D tournament, June 22, Blacksburg, fee $12 or $25 per family, information from James Overfelt.
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.
Triangle Archer’s 3D tournament, Sept 14, Blacksburg, fee $12 or $25 per family, information from James Overfelt.
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.
Fall Optimist Club of Cave Springs Fishing Tournament, Oct. 3-5, Smith Mountain Lake.
Saltwater striped bass tournament opens Oct. 4.
Roanoke Valley Friends of NRA banquet, Oct. 18.
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.
