Thursday, October 02, 2008
Record falls at Big Game Show
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
A 25½ pound turkey bearing an 11-inch beard and 1¾-inch spurs established a Virginia record at the 69th annual State Big Game Show in Harrisonburg Sunday. The gobbler, which scored 80 points, was killed May 1 in Suffolk by Darrell Tomlin of Carrsville.
The tom was called in late morning, a time when many hunters are leaving the woods.
“He was gobbling early that morning, but had grown quiet,” said Tomlin, who has been hunting turkeys for about 15 years.
The hunt took place along a wooded section along the Nottoway River. Although the tom was silent at the moment, Tomlin called and the big bird came into range in about 20 minutes, strutting along the way.
The previous record scored 79 14/16 points and was killed in North Thumberland County by Franklin Hatton Jr. during the 2002 season.
Gary Owens entered the biggest bear from the 2007-08 season, a 425-pound animal he killed with a bow on national forest land in Frederick County. It scored 30 7/16.
“It was the first time I went bear hunting with a bow,” said Owens, who established a stand along a trail where he had seen some bear sign.
The state record bear scored 31 2/16 at the 1994 big game show and was killed by Roger Wyant in Rockingham County.
BILL
FALL TROUT STOCKING
October trout stocking in Virginia is being impacted by the weather and by construction at the Coursey Springs Hatchery in Bath County. Let’s look at the weather first:
Many streams are running low, due to long-term dry weather. Until enough rain falls to bring up water levels, some streams simply won’t be stocked.
Stocking information is available by calling 434-525-3474 or by checking the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Web site: HuntFishVA.com. Updates on what has been stocked generally are available on weekdays after 4 p.m.
Even with the recent hot, dry weather, hatcheries have a good supply of trout, DGIF officials report.
Renovation construction at the Coursey Springs Hatchery has shut down production at this important facility until the spring of 2010. Officials are coping with less space to raise trout by reducing the number of times hatchery trucks will roll to streams and lakes.
Category A water will see a reduction of eight to six stockings between October and May. Category B water will go from five to four. Category C, delayed harvest and urban water from three to two stockings.
The total number of fish stocked will be down, but not significantly because more fish will be carried per truck visit, officials say. Trout stocking allocations have increased the past 12 years, and even with current reduced stocking frequency, the allocated number of fish for 2008-09 season is just 6 percent less than the number in 1994, the last year there was an opening day.
BILL
SPORTSMEN FOR WARNER
Fifty people with an interest in hunting, fishing and conservation have endorsed former Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner for the U.S. Senate under the banner of “Sportsmen for Warner.”
The effort is headed by Sherry Crumley of Buchanan. She is one of 10 current Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ board members who are carrying the Sportsmen for Warner banner. Four members of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission also are onboard.
The only DGIF board member whose name isn’t listed is Randy Kozuch of Alexandra, the national director of state and local affairs for the National Rifle Association.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
>>The Hunters for the Hungry banquet in Salem Saturday night attracted a turn-away crowd of 350 guests. “This is the biggest thing we’ve ever done,” said a delighted Gary Arrington, special events coordinator for the organization which processes and distributes deer donated by hunters to feed needy people.
>>Banks aren’t the only businesses having trouble these days. So are some bait shops. The Bait Place, along the road to Lake Moomaw north of Covington, has announced it is closing. Operated by the Andrews family, for years it has been the place for anglers, boaters and hunters to stop on the way to the lake or to the tailrace fishery of the Jackson River. Larry Andrews says business is down, having declined along with catches of trout and yellow perch.
>>The new Bass Pro Shop in the Richmond area opened Wednesday and features an exhibit that honors the late outdoor writer Bob Gooch of Troy.
>>The Oct. 18 Roanoke Valley Friends of NRA banquet at the Salem Civic Center is going to look a good bit like a gun show. The banquet will offer nearly 30 firearms through drawings, prizes, games and bidding. Money from the annual event helps fund shooting programs in the area, especially those directed at youth. Tickets are $40 for singles; $70 for couples and can be purchased from Mike Kessler, 540-884-2917, Harvey Bulaski, 540-343-9040 and Al Milton, 540-797-7777.
>>President Bush has signed an amendment to the 1995 Executive Order on recreation fishing that ensures federal agencies must maintain recreational fishing on federal lands and water, including marine protected areas.
>>The conservation movement headed by anglers and hunters is facing a troublesome horizon, according to several leading sportsman groups including the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. The challenge comes from a decline in the number of sportsmen which, among other things, could impact funding for state wildlife agencies.
>>Brenda Valentine has been named the officials spokeswomen of the National Wild Turkey Federation. She will make appearances on the federation’s television shows and will contribute to “Women in the Outdoors Magazine.” Earlier, Michael Waddell was named spokesman of the federation.
>>Captain Mike Ostrander, best known as a trophy catfish guide on the lower James River, has come out with what he is calling “my new educational fishing kit.” The kit is composed of a custom-stocked tackle box with an eight-page instruction manual to teach kids and adults the sport of freshwater fishing. It sells for $49.95. Check www.shopjamesriverfishing.com.
>>The Sportsmen’s and Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance (SAOVA) has endorsed Sen. John McCain for president and Sarah Palin for vice president. “The McCain-Palin ticket best aligns with the views of Americans who hunt, fish, own and breed animals and are aware of animal rightist organizations’ intentions to remove these rights,” the alliance said in a statement.
SALTWATER FISHING TOURNAMENT
The Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament has a new leader in the pompano category. 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, 8 ounces, Ron Pennington, Annandale, Kiptopeak 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
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.
Early bow season, Oct. 4-Nov. 14
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..
October 18 youth fall turkey hunting day for kids15 and under.
Roanoke Valley Friends of NRA banquet, Oct. 18, Salem Civic Center, tickets--$40 for singles, $70 for couples-- can be purchased from Mike Kessler, 540-884-2917, Harvey Bulaski, 540-343-9040 and Al Milton, 540-797-7777.
Fall turkey hunting season opens Oct. 25.
Grouse hunting season October 25-February 14.
Early muzzleloading season Nov. 1-14.
Quail hunting season, Nov. 1-Feb. 28.
General firearm’s deer season opens Nov. 15.
Virginia Outdoor Sportsmen’s Classic, Roanoke Civic Center, Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2009, vaoutdoorsportsmensclassic.com.
Youth spring turkey hunting day, April 4, 2009.
2009 spring gobbler season, April 11-May 16.
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.
