Thursday, April 21, 2005
Bill Cochran's Field Reports: Deer do in tree planting
Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.
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It sounded like a fine idea. We would convert some of the old hay field on our West Virginia farm into stands of trees. So last spring we planted our first field with a combination of white pines, black cherry, white ash and yellow poplar.
This spring we worked on the second field, adding black walnut to the mix. When we finished, we decided to check the first field and replant the four or five hardwoods that we noted last summer that had not survived. When we reach the field there wasn’t a single pine left. Deer had ravished them. The hardwoods were protected in tubes.
The point has been reached that it is difficult, if not impossible, to plant trees of any kind because of deer damage, even when you hunt the animals hard. Deer also are disrupting the natural regeneration of trees in our forests. They are a major problem. Had this been the case nearly 30 years when we began our Christmas tree plantation, our efforts would have failed.
Here’s the ironic point. The West Virginia Department of Natural Resources has announced that there will be no doe hunting this fall and winter in the county where our trees were ravished. Officials say that’s because the deer herd is declining.
BILL
SUNFISH ON THE RUN
Sunfish -- call them bluegills, bream, shellcrackers, redears -- are becoming increasingly active, much to the delight of anglers. These popular panfish can be landed in numerous impoundments and streams across the state, but are at their best in small lakes and farm ponds.
Lakes where they are providing peak action include Lake Prince, Western Branch Lake, Chickahominy Lake and Briery Creek Lake.
Never overlook farm ponds when it comes to stalking sunfish. Ponds are a prime habitat for this species.
BILL
WILDLIFE REFUGE GETS HIGH MARKS
The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, has received high marks from its visitors. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 98 percent of the refuge visitors in a survey gave Chincoteague a “satisfied” or “very satisfied” rating.
“This is heaven on Earth. Thumbs up.” Said one visitor.
The refuge offers excellent wildlife habitat along with opportunities for wildlife watching, photography, fishing, hunting within a reasonable drive of large centers of population.
BILL
HUNTING SEASON DATES
About this time of the year hunters begin setting late-year vacation time, and they need to know the season dates. For the most part, the seasons this year will be the same as last. Here’s a look at several
Bowhunting: Oct. 1-Nov. 18 and Dec. 5-Jan. 7
Urban archery: Sept. 17-30 and Jan. 9-25
Muzzleloading, East: Nov. 5-18
Muzzleloading, West: Nov. 12-18
Muzzleloading, late: Dec. 17-Jan. 7
Deer, East: Nov. 19-Jan. 7
Deer, West: Nov. 19-Dec. 3
Turkey, fall: Oct. 31-Nov. 12; Nov. 24 and Dec. 12-Jan. 7
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
>A New River angler reported catching smallmouth bass that measured 18.5, 20, 22 and 22.5 inches while casting spinnerbaits and plugs to a single hole.
>Researchers from the USGS Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit at Louisiana State University are working with Ducks Unlimited and numerous other partners to help identify why lesser scaup, also known as bluebills or scaup, are experiencing a population decline.
>Stripers Forever, an Internet-based recreational fishing organization, is critical of a new striped bass management plan proposed by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. Stripers Forever says it would benefit fewer than 270 commercial fishermen while penalizing many of the state’s more than one-half million recreation anglers. It would impose a 28-inch size limit for recreational anglers depriving most the chance of catching a keeper, Stripers Forever said.
>Interior Secretary Gale Norton has commended the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Wal-Mart for developing an innovative conservation partnership under which Wal-Mart will contribute $35 million over the next 10 years to conserve and protect vital wildlife habitat across the country.
>Many outdoorsmen grew up with Roger Tory Peterson’s field guides, especially his “A Field Guide to the Birds.” I’ve had a copy of that one since I was 10 years old. George H. Burgees has a new field guide, not for birds, flowers or plants, but sharks. Yes, there are that many species of sharks -- more than 400 -- in Burgees’s book. It is titled “Sharks of the World,” and is reported to be the first book to cover all species of sharks, much like Peterson covered birds. The publisher is Princeton University Press.
BILL
SALTWATER TOURNAMENT
Here are the standings in the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament:
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, 8 ounces, Barclay Shepard, Poquoson, ocean off Virginia Beach.
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Kids fishing outing sponsored by TOG, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 23 at Lock Haven Lake in Roanoke County. Activities for youngsters ages 4 to 15. Register on www.togkids.com.
Virginia Ducks Unlimited State Gun Dog Championship, April 23, 10 a.m., Ruritan Park in Hanover Courthouse, information from Jeff Ford, swampdog112@aol.com.
Cave Spring Optimist Club Tournament, Aprils 29, 30 and May 1, Smith Mountain Lake.
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.
Wildflower program by Leonard Adkins at Byrd Visitor Center, Milepost 51, Shenandoah National park, May 7, 1 p.m. Adkins will introduce his latest book, “Wildflowers of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains.”
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s American Outdoor Experience, Bristol Motor Speedway, May 13-15, information from www.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.
Mountain Lake Migratory Bird Festival, May 20-22, Mountain Lake Hotel in Giles County, information from www.mountainlakebirding.com.
Western Division of Virginia Big Game Contest, Sept. 10 and 11, Rockingham County Fairgrounds near Harrisonburg, see www.vpsa.org for details.
Eastern Division and state finals of Virginia Big Game Contest, Sept. 24 and 25, Southampton County Fairgrounds, Franklin, see www.vpsa.org for details.
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.
