Monday, March 28, 2005
Crossbow hunting advances
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
The establishment of a crossbow hunting license in Virginia raced through the General Assembly without a glitch, but it faced a challenge at the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting in Richmond Thursday.
What's the hurry, was the question of several leaders of bowhunting organization.
The General Assembly put the bill on an emergency track that gives the DGIF authority to rush the license into place by the fall hunting seasons. That's the goal of the department, but some bowhunters are likely to have a different view during a series of hearings scheduled across the state.
Several bowhunting critics of the license said they did not oppose crossbows, they just don't want to share their archery season with them.
The new license fee would be $12.50. Supporters say the license would attract new hunters and bring additional revenue to the DGIF. Crossbows, they say, aren't that much different from compound bows.
I will have more about this in an upcoming column.
BILL
KAINE SPEAKS OUT ON DGIF
Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine is predicting changes for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries if a state audit of the agency reveals questionable purchases by its employees.
The presumptive Democratic candidate for governor, Kaine said he had been asked about the game department investigation at every stop.
"That's obviously been a hot issue all over the state," he said during a recent visit to the Eastern Shore.
Some supporters of Kilgore, the Republican candidate for governor, have been disappointed that their man has not made more hay out of the DGIF controversy, which has occurred on the Democratic watch.
BILL
REGULATION REVIEW UNDER WAY
The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries began its periodic review of hunting, fishing and wildlife diversity regulations Thursday during a hearing at the agency headquarters in Richmond.
The process schedule this time is a bit different than in the past. Thursday the staff discussed in general terms some changes it is considering. Citizens will get their chance to discuss the issues during a series of public hearings, after which proposals will be drafted and voted on.
Issues under consideration include:
>Discontinuing length limits or largemouth bass.
>Improving the quality of striped bass and walleye fishing in reservoirs.
>Boosting trophy fishing opportunities for smallmouth bass, muskie and blue catfish.
>Adjusting hunting regulations to increase the antlerless deer kill.
>Addressing problems associated with artificial feeding of deer.
>Enhancing opportunities for small game hunting and bear-hound training.
>Dealing with non-native species.
I will look at these items and others in more detail and provide information on how you can register your opinions in an upcoming column.
BILL
DGIF TIGHTENS SPENDING CONTROLS
The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has put into place guidelines designed to increase its scrutiny of expenditures for travel, events and other charges to state charge cards. A committee, including three staff members and a board member, was installed to oversee pre-purchase approval for expenses exceeding $2,500. All purchases more than $1,500 will be subject to monthly review, and there will be a monthly random check of 10 percent of purchases made with state-issued American Express cards.
The new guidelines are a response to criticism of the department's spending practices. The agency is being investigated by the state internal auditor. John Montgomery, a Richmond attorney, will be the board's representative on the committee.
BILL
FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR WILDLIFE
It you want money to help develop wildlife habitat on your property, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has good news. Funds for cost-sharing programs are available under the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. Virginia landowners can apply for their share of more than one-half million dollars available, but the money is going fast. One official said 20 percent of the funds have been spoken for.
Landowners can obtain information on the program from the nearest NRCS district conservation office.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
>The George Washington and Jefferson National Forest is trying to find loggers interested in bidding on a tract of timber on High Know in far Southwest Virginia. No bids were received in two prior attempts. The planned cut has been opposed by projectionists groups and advocated by the National Ruffed Grouse Society.
>Sgt. Henry 'Hank' Garner was named State Game Warden of the Year for 2005. He has been a Field Training Officer for nine years, acting as a leader and a mentor for the officers in the Middle Peninsula region. He lives in Glen Allen.
>A high-tech, airborne imaging system is under consideration to size up the Chesapeake Bay's menhaden population. The system would help officials determine whether this important baitfish is being overharvested. Menhaden are a food source for striped bass other species. They filter phytoplankton from the water and are harvested for the manufacturer of a number of products, including chicken feed, fertilizers, food additives, pet food and fish oil.
>Bass Fan reports that Ray Scott, founder of BASS, could emcee some BASS tournaments in the future. Scott once dominated that job, and then it went to Fish Fishburn, who recently stepped down.
>Boat batteries can be the weakest link to a day of fun on the water. CELLTEC Industries has a new battery monitoring system that sounds an alarm when battery problems occur. It keeps track of alternator output and level of battery charge. Details from celltec.biz.
SALTWATER TOURNAMENT
Sea bass, speckled trout and striped bass have provided several hundred citations in the early stages of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. Here are the standings:
SEA BASS: 6 pounds, 14 ounces, Chad Stoker, Chesapeake, caught off Virginia Beach.
SPECKLED TROUT: 11 pounds, 3 ounces, Brain Pomije, Chesapeake, Elizabeth River.
STRIPED BASS: 63 pounds, 8 ounces, state record, Paul Leckner, Greenbackville, Bradford Bay.
TAUTOG: 15 pounds, Vernon Wilson, Virginia Beach, off Virginia Beach.
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, 7 p.m., April 1, Moneta Community Center.
Tidewater Boat Show, April 1-3, Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, Va. 804-425-6556.
Trout Heritage Day, April 2, 16 streams to open after being stocked, information from www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/TroutGuide/trout_heritage_waters.html.
Youth day spring gobbler hunt, April 2.
Smith River Trout Unlimited Chapter meeting, 7 p.m., April 7, Rania's Restaurant, downtown Martinsville (147 E. Main St.), dinner, guest is Marcia Woolman, of Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited, who will talk about preservation of brook trout.
Spring gobbler season, April 9-May 14.
Virginia Mountain Chapter of Ruffed Grouse Society banquet, April 9, Wyndham Roanoke Hotel, tickets $50 for individuals and $70 for individual and guest, society membership included, ticket information from Mike Taylor, 540-977-0087 (B) or 540-890-5133 (H).
Becoming an Outdoors Woman program, three days at Holiday Lake 4-H Center near Appomattox offering a variety of courses for women on outdoor subjects, information from Jimmy Mootz at Jimmy.Mottz@dgif.virginia.gov.
Cave Spring Optimist Club Tournament, Aprils 29, 30 and May 1, Smith Mountain Lake.
Virginia Fly Fishing Festival, April 16 & 17, Waynesboro, information from vaflyfishingfestival.org.
Basic trapper education class, April 30, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Bedford Moose Lodge, bring bag lunch drinks provided by Virginia Trappers Association, information from Jim Swanson, JSWANY56@aol.com, 540-586-2688.
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's American Outdoor Experience, Bristol Motor Speedway, May 13-15, information from americanoutdoorexperience.com.
Wilderness First Aid, May 17-18, Blacksburg, an 18-hour, two-day class that results in a two-year certification, $160, registration/information from http://wfa.net.
Western Division of Virginia Big Game Contest, Sept. 10 and 11, Rockingham County Fairgrounds near Harrisonburg, see vpsa.org for details.
Eastern Division and state finals of Virginia Big Game Contest, Sept. 24 and 25, Southampton County Fairgrounds, Franklin, see vpsa.org for details.
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net
