Thursday, September 04, 2008
Scouting key to squirrel hunting success
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
Hunters need to scout if they are to be successful when the squirrel season opens Saturday. They key to success is locating areas that hold quality mast, such as hickory nuts, acorns and beech. This is where squirrels will concentrate.
These hot spots can vary from season to season, depending on weather conditions and mast production, said Marc Puckett, small game biologists for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
“Squirrel populations have been generally stable for the past 10 years,” said Puckett. But “hunters should not simply go back to their favorite woods on opening day expecting to find squirrels.”
For example, the hickory grove on a ridge top that has been so productive in past seasons may have been hurt by poor nut development and early drop due to drought conditions. So the squirrels may be in the stream bottoms where the mast could be of better quality, and where soft mast, such as dogwood berries and black gum fruit, might be more abundant.
“Those who scout and find a good source of food should be overrun with squirrels,” said Puckett.
“Beech is a wild card,” he said. “I suspect beech may be the honey this year. Since it tends to grow in damp coves, if you find it producing, you’ll be in squirrel Utopia.”
BILL
VIRGINIA CWD PLAN IN FORCE
As far as wildlife officials are aware, Virginia’s deer herd is free of Chronic Wasting Disease, but there is a case just 2.5 miles over the West Virginia line that is so close the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has kicked its CWD surveillance and management plan into gear.
The plan involves collecting approximately 1,000 deer samples from a surveillance area in Frederick County west of I-81 and in Shenandoah County west of I-81 and north of Virginia 675. These are the areas nearest to the disease in Hampshire County, West Virginia.
Samples will be obtained from deer taken by hunters, and will be mandatory on opening day of the muzzleloading season, opening day of the general firearm’s season and the last day of the deer season, according to Bob Ellis, chief of the DGIF wildlife division.
The plan is scheduled to be publicized in the surveillance area this month.
BILL
MAST CROP LOOKS PROMISING…BUT
I have been coming out of the woods impressed with the amount of mast I am seeing. Some white oak trees have as many acorns as I’ve even seen in a long time, and there are red oak acorns, hickory nuts and walnuts, along with an ample assortment of soft mast that includes autumn olive, dogwood berries and black gum fruit.
Beech looks especially good, and could be a major draw for squirrels and turkeys.
But how badly did the drought hurt the quality of acorn mast? It is an important food source for deer, bear, turkeys, squirrels, grouse and other species.
Drought can cause poor nut development and early drop. I have seen some white oak acorns that are small for this time of the year and hickory nuts that are poorly developed. I’ve also seen exceptions to that. Conditions are going to vary from area to area, which underscores the importance of scouting out a hunting area to find the best spot for locating squirrels or turkeys or for erecting a treestand to watch for deer.
The recent rains came too late to make much difference in the amount and quality of this year’s mast. But from what I have observed, conditions overall are not bad in my neck of the woods.
BILL
CAN WE HAVE TOO MUCH WILDERNESS?
The George Washington National Forest has scheduled two public meeting this month related to the revision of its Land and Resource Management Plan. The plan will guide forest activities the next 15 years.
One thing on the agenda is additional wilderness, which could place about 42 percent of the GW in wilderness and roadless area where there will be no activities to enhance habitat for wildlife.
Most wildlife species that are hunted require early succession forest to prosper. That is true of grouse, woodcock, deer, turkeys and a number of songbirds. Areas designated wilderness and roadless are off limits to practices designed to benefit wildlife.
Many hunters will support reasonable amounts of wilderness, but they also want habitat improvement for wildlife through timber harvests, wildlife clearings, waterholes and daylighting of roads.
Hunters will be given the opportunity to make that known during the meetings this month: Sept. 11, 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Turner Ashby High School in Bridgewater and Sept. 13, noon to 4 p.m., at Rockbridge High School in Lexington.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
>>A task force team of 30 Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries law enforcement officers towing 27 boats were called back while on their way to Louisiana to assist law enforcement agencies dealing with the impact of Hurricane Gustav. It turned out that they weren’t needed when the storm caused less damage than anticipated. DGIF is to be reimbursed for its expenditures by Louisiana. The call had gone out to wildlife police because Louisiana said they proved best suited for the task following Katrina.
>>Art Greason of Virginia Beach experienced the catch of a lifetime when he landed a tarpon on a fly while fishing out of Oyster on the Eastern Shore.
>>A permit will be required to drive on Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches at night (10 p.m.-6 a.m.) Sept. 16-Nov. 15. The beaches will be permit-free Nov. 16-April 30.
>>Angie Behan has been reinstated as president of the Smith Mountain Striper Club.
>>The recent Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Classic at the Salem Civic Center attracted 2,836 participants according to the sponsor.
>>The NRA is elated with the choice of Sarah Palin as the Republic vice president candidate. Palin is one of the association’s own, a lifetime NRA member. “When it comes to guns, the two prospective vice-presidents are as far apart as the states from which they hail,” the NRA said in a statement lauding Palin.
>>It became illegal to feed deer in Virginia beginning Sept. 1. The prohibition runs through Jan. 3. The ban does not restrict planting crops for deer. Feeding deer comes with a number of problems, according to wildlife officials, including unwanted population increases, crop damage, disease transmission, human/deer conflicts.
>>The smallmouth season has been a good one in the New River, even with low-water conditions impacting this the state’s best smallmouth stream. That is the word from Mike Smith of Greasy Creek Outfitters. “As summer comes to a close, we are turning our attention to big fall smallies on top,” he said. “This is the time of year when we routinely catch citation-size fish on buzzbaits and other top-water lures, as well as large poppers on fly rods.”
>>The American Kennel Club has announced the formation of a program designed to preserve and promote the working heritage of coonhounds. Participants in the program receive awards for “nite” hunt titles earned by enrolled hounds.
>>The White House Conference on North America Wildlife Policy is set for Oct. 1-3 in Reno, Nev. The goal is to establish a 10-year plan to improve wildlife conservation and boost hunting populations on private land. President Bush will address participants.
>>Joe Malat’s Outer Banks Surf Fishing School has been around for 15 years and is set for this year’s session Oct. 9-12 in Nags Head, N.C. It features a full day of class instruction and a day and one-half of fishing and hands-on instruction. Tuition is $295. Information from joemalat.com.
>>BASS has announced a new Norther Open Series that will feature its first tournament April 16-18 on the Chesapeake Bay hosted by Cecil County, Md. This is the first BASS tournament on the Bay since the 1991 Bassmaster Classic won by Ken Cook. The open event will advance two competitors to the Bassmaster Classic and qualify seven for the Bassmaster Elite Series.
BILL
SALTWATER FISHING TOURNAMENT
Here are the standings in the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament:
BLACK DRUM: 87 pounds, 3 ounces, Paul Elliott, Surry, Latimer Shoals (C-2 Buoy).
BLUEFISH: 19 pounds, 4 ounces, Richard Brown, Richmond, off Virginia Beach.
BLUEFIN TILEFISH: 18 pounds, 14 ounces, Chris Boyce, Hampton, Norfolk Canyon.
COBIA: 90 pounds, 10 ounces, Charles Thain, Birdsnest, Inner Middle Ground, C-13.
CROAKER: 4 pounds, 8 ounces, Michael Whittaker, Chesapeake, 664 Bridge Tunnel; Monitor.
DOLPHIN: 58 pounds, 6 ounces, Burt Whitt, Norfolk, Cigar.
FLOUNDER: 13 pounds, 4 ounces, Brian Ashley, Suffolk, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
GRAY TRIGERFISH: 4 pounds, 13 ounces, Jason Judd, Newport News, Tiger Wreck.
GRAY TROUT: 9 pounds, 8 ounces, Joseph Hudgins, Jr., Chesapeake, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (4th island).
KING MACKEREL, 62 pounds, 3 ounces, James McDonald, Virginia Beach, Sandbridge Pier.
KINGFISH: 2 pounds, 3 ounces, Bill Pope, Norfolk, Sandbridge surf.
POMPANO: 2 pounds, 4 ounces, Jared Wilson, Norfolk, Ocean View Fishing Pier.
SEA BASS: 7 pounds, 8 ounces, Reggie Myrick, Portsmouth, wreck off Virginia Beach.
SHEEPSHEAD: 14 pounds, 5 ounces, Kay Alley, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. .
SPADEFISH: 14 pounds, 1 ounce, Josh Durvin, Dunnsville, The Cell.
SPANISH MACKEREL: 6 pounds, Alfred Simpson, Virginia Beach, Sandbridge Pier.
SPECKLED TROUT: 9 pounds, 15 ounces, David Hester, Chesapeake, Elizabeth River.
SPOT: 1 pound, 8 ounces, Michael Whittaker, Chesapeake, 664 Bridge-Tunnel.
STRIPED BASS: 73 pounds, state record, Frederick Barnes, Chesapeake, off Virginia Beach.
TAUTOG: 20 pounds, 6 ounces, Michael Shreve, Glen Burnie, Md., Monroe Wreck.
TUNA, BLUEFIN: 226 pounds, Kim Schwallenberg, Edgewater, Md., off Wachapreague.
TUNA: 93 pounds, 6 ounces, Harry Barr, Virginia Beach, Norfolk Canyon.
YAHOO: 68 pounds, Ron Fair, Cheriton, off Wachapreague.
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Smith Mountain Lake Striper Club Fishermen’s Flea Market/Swap Shop, Sept. 5, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center.
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.
An evening with bass pro Jimmy Houston, Sept. 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Sportsman’s Warehouse, Roanoke, no charge, information from 540-366-9700.
Sixteenth annual Eastern Shore Birding and Wildlife Festival, Sept 18-21, brochure from info@esvachamber.org.
Botetourt Longbeards National Wild Turkey Federation JAKES event for youth 7 to 17, Sept. 20, 9-3, at Richard Simmons Farm in Lithia. Shooting, turkey calling, safety education. Information, 540-254-2349.
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.
National Hunting and Fishing Day, Sept. 27.
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 Road, 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, $10,000 for biggest muskie, $15,00 additional for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, catfish and striped bass categories, entry fee $40, P.O. Box 1276, Salem, VA 24153, 540-721-2451.
Saltwater striped bass tournament opens Oct. 4.
Roanoke Valley Friends of NRA banquet, Oct. 18.
Virginia Outdoor Sportsmen’s Classic, Roanoke Civic Center, Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2009, vaoutdoorsportsmensclassic.com.
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.
