Thursday, September 18, 2008
Bargains at Hunters for the Hungry banquet
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
I keep telling my friends that the Sept. 27 Hunters for the Hungry banquet is one of the best bargains in town. I know, I’m biased. I am a member of the banquet committee.
But consider this: Tickets are just $20 for a single; $35 for a couple. Kids in the family under 12 get to attend free and will be treated to special events and prizes just for them.
Compare these prices with most outdoor banquets, which usually charge $70 for a couple. A family would have a hard time eating at a chain restaurant for $35.
The Hunters for the Hungry banquet not only will provide a huge spread of good eats, but also entertainment and the opportunity to buy or win many neat items -- everything from guns to women’s jewelry; fishing/hunting trips to furniture; handmade quilts to college football tickets.
Don’t let the name fool you. This isn’t just for hunters.
Byron Taber, a trick bow shooter, who can hit birds in the air with his longbow, will provide entertainment and a challenge. But the heart of the event is the fund-raising auctions, raffles and drawings designed to raise money for Hunters for the Hungry. (See this week’s Cochran Column)
My wife, Katherine, and I have been volunteers of this organization for a number of years. We think it is more than worthy of our time and money.
Significant contributions to the event have been made by companies, businesses and individuals. Some of the big hitters are WSLS-10, Dave Sarmadi Mitsubishi and Sportsman’s Warehouse.
The program begins at 6 p.m., but you’d be wise to arrive earlier to look over the merchandise. The banquet will be held at Dave Sarmadi Mitsubishi, 1830 West Main St. in Salem. That’s right, a car dealership. You will find it to be an excellent location.
Tickets can be purchased at the Dave Sarmadi dealership or from Fred & Phyllis Wells, 540-992-3874, or Jeff Fletcher, 540-985-6523.
Sept. 27 also is National Hunting and Fishing Day. Coming to the banquet is a great way to celebrate.
BILL
NO SHOWS AT DGIF MEETINGS
Few sportsmen have bothered to show up at the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries series of 19 public hearings across the state to consider hunting and trapping regulations.
At some meeting, DGIF personnel have outnumbered sportsmen. One in Eastern Virginia was composed of six sportsmen and seven DGIF officials, reported Penn Riggs of Norfolk. A meeting in Wakefield drew one participant from the public.
“I think that the hunting public needs to wake up and take a good look at the fact that DGIF is trying to manage hunting for the good of the future, and that we need to get involved and work with them to make it all happen,” Riggs said. “DGIF has had its problems, but the staff is working hard to continue the good fight.”
The two final meetings are set for 6 p.m. tonight at the Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg and the Gander Mountain Store in Fredericksburg.
“We have never had much turnout at these fall regulation scoping/fireside chat type meetings,” said Matt Knox, DGIF deer biologist.
Participation can be expected to grow as the process continues into June 2009. Following the current meetings, DGIF board members will address hunting and trapping regulatory issues at their Oct. 23 meeting in Richmond. Additional public comment will be received at that time.
Next, public discussion will continue from Nov. 4, 2008 through Jan. 5, 2009. During this period, written comments and discussion on regulatory issues will be solicited for citizen submission either via the DGIF Web site, by mail, or by email.
At the Feb. 26, 2009 meeting of the board, the process will continue. The board will receive the DGIF staff’s first full recommendations for regulatory changes at this meeting. Public comments will be heard and the board will propose regulation amendment.
This will be followed by a round of public comment on the board’s proposals from March 10 to May 11, 2009. The public comment will be received through a range of channels, including another statewide meeting series, and written comment.
Finally, at its June 2, 2009 meeting, the board will hear staff’s final recommendations. Public comments on these recommendations will be received and the final amended regulations will be adopted or rejected. Those adopted will be part of the 2009-2010 and 2011-2012 hunting and trapping seasons. Amendments will take effect August 1, 2009.
BILL
DEER ASSOCIATION REQUESTS HELP
The Virginia Deer Hunters Association has sent a plea to its members for financial help.
“Over this past year we have encountered some of the most severe conflict in the history of our VDHA,” said Tex Sadler, president of the group.
The source of concerns isn’t the expected anti-hunters or extreme environmentalists, but hunters themselves, Sadler said.
“This conflict has come from inside our own ranks where we, the bowhunters, black-powder hunters, turkey hunters and hound hunters have begun to quibble and squabble publicly among ourselves, thereby splitting us more effectively than the tree huggers and radicals could have dreamed.”
The organization needs help to explore compromises between hunters and landowners, he said.
Members have been requested to help sell raffle tickets that offer a rifle, shotgun and muzzleloader. The organization’s Web site is www.virginiadeerhunters.org.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS:
>>Twenty-one Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Conservation Police Officers were dispatched to Jennings, La., to provide maritime law enforcement support in response to Hurricane Ike. Gov. Kaine activated the response. The recipient state is supposed to pay for the venture. Conservation Police, for the most part, are funded by Virginia hunters, anglers, trappers and boaters.
>>Anglers who enjoy driving the beaches of Outer Banks, N.C., suffered a setback when a Senate committee killed legislation that would have been less restrictive that that recently established by a federal judge. Environmental interests say birds and turtles are rebounding following the restrictions, but businesses say tourism has been hurt.
>>Quail hunters desperate for some good news will find it, although sparingly, in the annual preseason report of Quail Forever. The organization has reported that quail populations are stable or increasing in areas where habitat initiatives are taking place and the new Farm Bill is providing assistance in this work.
>>The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is looking for bowhunters willing to help with a survey designed to provide information on deer population trends. If you would like to participate, tell biologist Mike Fies by e-mailing him. Participants will receive a survey form.
>>Jacib Powroznik of Prince George, Va., finished fifth in the $1 million Wal-Mart FLW Series on Lake Champlain, N.Y., with a four-day, 20-bass catch that weighed 71.05 pounds. His payoff was $18,595. The winner was Chip Harrison of Bremen, Ind. whose 20-bass catch weighed 73.13 pounds and was worth $125,000.
>>West Virginia Salmon and Trout has received a $75,000 federal grant to raise salmon and trout commercially in West Virginia’s Logan and Mingo counties. The company is a subsidiary of Blue Ridge Aquaculture based in Martinsville, Va.
>>The Outdoor Industry Association has reported that retail sales for outdoor recreation equipment were 10 percent better this July than July of 2007. Camping gear drove the big increase. Sales of kayaks and other paddle product were about the same. Boat sales for the first seven months of 2008 were down 26.4 percent compared to the same period in 2007, according to Spader Business Management Association.
BILL
SALTWATER FISHING TOURNAMENT
Citations in the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament are running about 275 fewer this year than the same time last year. Here are the standings:
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
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.
Ladies ’day handgun and shotgun clinics, Cavalier Rifle & Pistol Club, Montpelier, Oct. 4 or Nov. 1, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., $55, reservations required, 804-370-7565, H.Baskerville@Comcast.net. Handgun instructions meets concealed weapons permit standards.
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.
