Thursday, September 11, 2008
Court upholds urban archery
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
The urban archery season in Virginia opened Saturday, a week earlier than in the past and with new protection from the Virginia Supreme Court.
In July, the high court upheld a lower court ruling stating that bowhunting is a safe, science-based tool of wildlife management and citizens can practice it on their own property when the right to hunt is conferred by the state’s constitution.
Mark that as a solid victory for hunters and a successful test for the right-to-hunt amendment to the state constitution.
The court made its ruling when the Archery Trade Association took legal action against the Reston Homeowners Association for barring homeowners from hunting in the 1,350-acre planned community about 20 miles from Washington, D.C.
The Archery Trade Association didn’t just win its case, but stands to recover all of its legal fees incurred while defending bowhunting.
“This is a huge victory for bowhunting, not only in Virginia, but quite likely nationwide,” said Jay McAninch, president and CEO of the archery association.
Bob Duncan, executive director of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, called it a “benchmark ruling,” saying it underscores that bowhunting is “a vital part of Virginia’s game-management program and it’s protected in our state constitution.”
Under the DGIF urban archery season, communities have the opportunity to request a hunting season in an urban area to control deer numbers while providing recreation for hunters. The season, which included a week earlier beginning this year, is Sept. 6-Oct. 3 and Jan. 5-March 28. Only antlerless deer may be taken.
Cities that have an urban season this year include Colonial Heights, Danville, Emporia, Franklin, Lynchburg, Martinsville, Radford, Richmond and Winchester. Towns with a season are Altavista, Amherst, Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Farmville, Independence, Purcellville, Richlands, Rocky Mount, Tazewell and West Point. Fairfax County also has the season.
Regulations vary from location to location. For details, check dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/special_urban_archery.html.
BILL
JIMMY HOUSTON IN ROANOKE
Jimmy Houston will be induced into the International Game Fish Association Fishing Hall of Fame Oct. 25 in Dania Beach, Fla., but before that he is scheduled to appear at the Sportsman’s Warehouse in Roanoke.
An evening with this veteran bass tournament fisherman and TV fishing show host is set for Sept. 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m. There is no charge to attend.
Houston, who is an accomplished entertainer as well as angler, won his first professional bass tournament in 1966. He earned his first BASS “Angler of the Year” title in 1976. He has produced the popular Jimmy Houston Outdoors TV show for more than 30 years. Houston was inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in 2002.
Others to be inducted into the IGFA Hall of Fame are:
>Henry Chee, a Hawaiian charter boat skipper who pioneered in the production and rigging of trolling lures.
>Dr. Roy Dean, a light-tackle fishing expert who explored the coastlines of Mexico and Costa Rica, conducted research on billfish migrations and promoted catch-and-release. He founded the International Light Tackle Tournament Association more than 60 years ago.
>Kay Rybovich, one of the three founders of the International Woman’s Fishing Association in 1955, an early proponent of catch-and-release and long-time supporter of fisheries research and conservation.
>Karl Wickstrom, founder and editor-in-chief of Florida Sportsman magazine, who helped ban gill nets to revitalize Florida’s inshore water.
BILL
DEER FOR THE RECORD BOOK
There are many trophy deer contests in Virginia, but only one is recognized as the route to the record book provided by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. It is known simply as the “Virginia Big Game Trophy Show” and is in its 69th edition this year, making it one of the oldest such contests in the country.
The event is divided into two parts, an eastern championship in Franlkin for deer killed east of the Blue Ridge Mountains and a western championship in Harrisonburg for deer taken in the western part of the state. Each year, the state championship alternates between the two venues and will be in Harrisonburg this time.
This year’s eastern championship is set for Sept. 13 and 14 at the Southampton County Fairgrounds. The deadline for entering deer is 6 p.m. Sept. 13. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 13 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 14. Awards are scheduled to be made at 3 p.m. Sept. 14.
Information is available from Kenneth Pickin, 757-229-0490. This portion is sponsored by the Virginia Peninsula Sportsmen’s Association.
The western championship and this year’s state finals will be held Sept. 27 and 28 at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds. The deadline for entering deer is 2 p.m. Sept. 27. Heads can be submitted beginning 9 a.m. Sept. 26. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 27 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 28. Awards are scheduled for 3 p.m. Sept. 28.
Information is available from Jon Ritenour, 540-434-8028. This portion is sponsored by the Rockingham-Harrisonburg Chapter of he Izaak Walton League, while the state contest is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
In addition to deer taken the past season, the show also judges bear and turkeys.
BILL
Jere Humphrey with his state record snowy grouper.
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
>>A 68-pound snowy grouper has been certified as a Virginia record. Jere Humphrey of Norfolk landed the fish Aug. 17 while “deep-dropping” in 50 fathoms of water near the Norfolk Canyon off Virginia Beach. His fish also is a pending IGFA world record. The species became eligible for state record recognition in the fall of 2006 and this is the third time it has been broken.
>>A flurry of good shad fishing in the James River near Richmond this spring resulted in three world records which were certified in the latest International Game Fish Association report. Emily Watkinson landed a 2-pound, 2-ounce hickory shad that set a world record for the 4-pound line class; Robert Irby weighed a 1-pound, 5-ounce shad, a record for 16-pound line class and Roger McDaniels registered a 1-pound, 1-ounce shad that is a 20-pound line class record.
>>Recently reappointed to the board of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries by the governor were James Hazel, Oakton, Randy Kozuch, Alexandria and Charles Yates, Cleveland.
>> Links to hunting, fishing, wildlife, nature, where-to-go and cooking information on TV can be found on myoutdoortv.com.
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: 19 pounds, 9 ounces, Sidney Long, Jr., Branchville, Norfolk Canyon.
COBIA: 94 pounds, 6 ounces, Wesley Smith, Virginia Beach, Bluefish Rock.
CROAKER: 4 pounds, 8 ounces, Michael Whittaker, Chesapeake, 664 Bridge Tunnel; Monitor.
DOLPHIN: 58 pounds, 6 ounces, Burt Whitt, Norfolk, Cigar.
FLOUNDER: 13 pounds, 9 ounces, Christopher Mounie, Suffolk, Third Island of the 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
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.
