Thursday, September 25, 2008
Best Eastern buck an 18-pointer
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
Taylor with wining 18-point buck.
An 18-point Culpepper County buck killed last season by James Taylor was the top deer in the eastern region of the Virginia Big Game Contest held in Franklin. The buck scored 245 4/16 under Virginia’s measuring system.
The eastern winners will advance to the western/state finals scheduled Sept. 27 and 28 at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds near Harrisonburg (see Meetings/Events/Seasons below).
The eastern region competition was sponsored by the Virginia Peninsula Sportsmen’s Association. Details can be found on the association’s Web site: www.vpsa.org.
“The number of entries were up slightly (193 deer, eight bear, 60 turkeys),” said Buddy Faison, VPSA vice president. “Quality was about average.”
BILL
HUNTING LICENSE TO BE TOUTED AT TECH GAME
Virginia’s new apprentice hunting license will be introduced to the 60,000 fans expected at Virginia Tech’s homecoming football game in Blacksburg Oct. 4.
The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is scheduled to position staff members, including conservation police officers, outside the stadium to hand out folders on the new license. The license allows newcomers to try hunting under the direction of a licensed hunter before having to invest in a minimum of 10 hours of hunter education training. And it can save the recruit some money, too.
“We are doing our best to get information to folks about the new apprentice hunting license, especially to outdoor groups and organizations,” said Lee Walker, DIGF information and education manager.
The presence of the DGIF at the Tech game also will be used to recruit new conservation police officers and to introduce the agency to the public, Walker said.
“We recognize the importance of the Roanoke Valley and New River Valley as a key location of people who enjoy hunting and fishing, and we want to do a better job of reminding them of who we are, what we do, and that we are here to help them enjoy the outdoors in a safe and fun manner,” he said.
Walker said it could take a year to successfully get the word out on the apprentice license. One of the challenges is to link a would-be hunter with an established hunter wiling to be a mentor.
“I am in the process of working with our 800-plus hunter education instructors on spreading the message across the state and I am personally hitting the pavement working outdoor shows and events,” said Walker.
BILL
GAS PRICES TO KEEP HUNTERS CLOSER HOME
High gasoline prices are destined to keep some hunters closer home this season. Forty percent of the hunters in a recent Southwick survey indicated high fuel prices would cause them to reduce their outdoor activities or shorten their travel distance.
“For many hunters, that 300-mile drive to deer camp may be put on hold this year,” said a National Shooting Sports Foundation news release.
Several states, including Virginia, offer help to sportsmen in locating hunting opportunities closer home, where game often can be abundant. “FIND GAME” is the name of Virginia’s map program, findgame.org.
“We have received very favorable comments on the information that is offered,” said Lee Walker, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries information and education manager.
“The good news is that no matter where you live in the state you are less than an hour’s drive from a wildlife management area, state park, national forest or other refuge, not to mention a wealth of hunting opportunities on some of our military bases, which is where I do 90 percent of my hunting,” Walker said. “With a few clicks of the mouse, I’m sure most folks could find some excellent hunting opportunities.”
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
>>Mary Croft of Bedford finished 18th in the final women’s event of the 2008 Bassmaster Tour on Clark Hill Lake, Ga. Her three-day total of 12 pounds, 9 ounces earned her $875. The winner was Cindy Hill of Smyrna, Tenn. with 24 pounds, 12 ounces worth $51,000. Third in the co-angler division was Barbara Gaskins of Suffolk.
>>The Sportsmen’s and Animal Owner’s Alliance has endorsed 166 candidates running for political office Nov. 4, including Republican Jim Gilmore, candidate for the U.S. Senate from Virginia.
>>South Dakota is reporting its highest number of pheasants in 45 years. More than 2-million roosters were killed in the state last year. Also looking promising for pheasant hunters are North Dakota, Kansas, Minnesota and Nebraska. Iowa is an exception due to harsh weather that impacted pheasant production. The good old days of pheasant hunting may not last, because of habitat loss, reports Pheasants Forever.
BILL
SALTWATER FISHING TOURNAMENT
There are new leaders in the dolphin and gray triggerfish categories of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. 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: 66 pounds, Todd Conner, Midlothian, Norfolk Canyon.
FLOUNDER: 13 pounds, 9 ounces, Christopher Mounie, Suffolk, Third Island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
GRAY TRIGERFISH: 5 pounds, 8 ounces, Nick Wright, Virginia Beach, inshore waters of Virginia Beach.
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
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 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, $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. Harrisonburg, Va. 22801, 540-434-8028.
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.
