Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.

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Bill Cochran's Outdoors

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Deer hunters faced challenging conditions this past year, including a savage Nor’easter in November followed by frigid temperatures and heavy snow during the waning days of the season.

Even so, when the final kill tally is announced some weeks from now it just may top the previous year’s record by settling on 256,000.

“It may be up slightly or it may be down slightly,” said Matt Knox, deer project coordinator for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

The electronic count -- phone and online -- is up about 5 percent from last season, but that could reflect an increase in the use of this method, which has been growing in popularity.

As for the challenging weather, that can hurt counties that have a modest number of doe days, Knox said, but “because the deer seasons are so long it all tends to even out over time.”

SALTWATER STRIPERS STILL ACTIVE

The Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout in Virginia Beach the past weekend turned up some excellent catches and was an encouragement that extreme cold temperatures have not ended the winter saltwater striper fishery.

The top team in the tournament’s artificial lures division entered three stripers that totaled 136.85 pounds. That was worth just over $59,000.

The four top teams in the division averaged more than 40 pounds per fish.

The anglers who used live or cut bait weren’t as productive as the contestants who used artificial lures. The top team in the bait division weighed three fish that totaled 109.1 pounds.

This week, anglers are enjoying a warming trend, with temperatures Friday expected to be well in the 50s. This could keep the fish in Virginia water longer.

BILL WOULD REQUIRE KIDS TO WEAR LIFE JACKETS

Legislation that would require children 12 and under to wear a life jacket in most boating situations has been introduced in the 2010 Virginia General Assembly.

The U.S. Coast Guard already has such a law in place, but Virginia has voted down the chance to duplicate it on the non-navigable water of the state. In the past, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has been cool when it comes to support. This time, the bill appears to have a decent chance of being approved.

Sponsored by Brenda Pogge, R-Yorktown, the bill provides for a civil penalty of up to $100 for boat operators who fail to comply. The penalty may be waved if the person charged completes a safety education course.

The requirements of the bill would not apply to boats moored or anchored or to youngsters who are below deck or in an enclosed cabin.

BILL WOULD ALLOW BIGGER CHECK-OFF FOR THE HUNGRY

For several years, a special check-off system has allowed hunters to donate $2 to Hunters for the Hungry when they purchase a hunting license. Just $2, no more; no less.

HB 131, introduced by Albert Pollard, D-Lively, would allow donations of more than $2.

This is a good move, considering Hunters for the Hungry has been held back by the lack of funds to the point that it had to terminate processing deer the final days of the hunting season.

The weak point of the bill is the fact that very few hunters take advantage of the current check-off program. While it has the potential of drawing well over a half-million dollars it has been yielding about $12,000 to $15,000 annually, which has been a major disappointment.

Along with the new legislation there needs to be new efforts to educate the public on the value of the check-off system.

ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY FAVORED IN LAND ACQUISITIONS

Two major chunks of land have been set aside in Rockbridge County as state property under Gov. Timothy Kaine's goal to preserve 400,000 acres in the name of conservation during his term. The governor announced that the statewide total was 424,103.

Rockbridge was one of the big players with two major areas set aside:

MOORE’S CREEK: Some 2,353 acres on the headquarters of Moore’s Creek in the southwest corner of the county will become a state forest. Once held by the city of Lexington, the area, bordered by the national forest, harbors a variety of wildlife, including trout and black bear.

SHORT HILLS: Some 4,232 acres shared with Botetourt County, a rugged area with mixed hardwood and conifer forest that will be managed by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for hunting and wildlife viewing. A big chunk of money comes out of the pocket of DGIF to make the purchase, a fact that has some sportsmen concerned.

FISHING EXPO 2010 IN RICHMOND THIS WEEKEND

Virginia’s biggest fishing show, the Richmond Fishing Expo 2010, is set for this weekend, Jan. 14-16 at the Richmond Raceway Complex. This popular show dates back to the old Bassarama.

Highlights include seminars by BASS Elite pros Gerald Swindle and John Crews. Capt. Jimmy Price is scheduled to talk about flounder fishing; Capt. Scott Cannon on James River catfish; Capt. Max King on saltwater striper fishing and Capt. Steve Chaconas on Potomac River fishing.

For there kids, the Virginia Bass Federation will sponsor “Reel Kids” casting competition and there will be a trout fishing pond.

The show will feature the latest in tackle and fishing boats.

Hours are Fri. 10-8; Sat. 9-8 and Sun. 10-5. Admission is $8 for adults; $7 for seniors; $5 ages 6 to 12 and kids 5 and under free.

OUTDOOR BRIEFS

• Doug Domenech will be Virginia’s new state secretary of natural resources in the McDonnell administration. His background includes a four-year stint as chief of staff to the secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior under President George W. Bush. Natural resource agencies, including the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, answer to the secretary of natural resources.
• Only two Virginians are in the field of 95 anglers qualified for the 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series. They are familiar names: John Crews of Salem and Rick Morris of Lake Gaston. Crews ranks 12th while Morris ranks 55th.
• After closing the sea bass fishing season, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council voted under pressure from angler to reassess the 2010 quota recommendations.
• Hunters for the Hungry will sponsor an open turkey calling contest Feb. 20, 1 p.m. during the Feb. 19-21 fourth annual Greater Virginia Sports and Big Game Show at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds near Harrisonburg. The contest last year netted $1,400 for feeding the hungry. Check vasportsshow.com.
• One of the big attractions of the Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 19-21 on Lay Lake near Birmingham, Ala., will be the new Skeeter FX 20 boat with the newly designed 4-stroke VF250 by Yamaha. Look quickly, because this $70,000 rig is blazing fast. The Yamaha is lighter, quicker out of the hole and more economic to run than similar two-cycle engines.
• The National Shooting Sports Foundation has scheduled a news conference Jan. 20 during the SHOT Show in Las Vegas “to educate hunters and shooters about America’s most misunderstood firearm -- the AR style rifle, the modern sporting rifle.”

MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS

Virginia Boat Show, Richmond Convention Center, Jan. 22-24.

Richmond Fishing Expo, Jan. 15-17, Richmond Raceway Complex.

Youth Rabbit Hunting Workshop, Jan. 16, Pittsylvania County, information from Jimmy Mootz

Winter Wildlife Festival, Virginia Beach, Jan. 30, information form Jeff Trollinger.

Quail and squirrel seasons close Jan. 30.

Mid-Atlantic Sports and Boat Show, Feb. 12-14, Virginia Beach Convention Center.

Grouse season closes Feb. 13.

Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 19-21, Lay Lake, Birmingham, Ala.

The Greater Virginia Sporting and Big Game Show, Rockingham County Fairgrounds, Feb. 19-21. Includes Hunters for the Hungry turkey calling contest. Feb. 20 1 p.m. vasportsshow.com.

Western Virginia Sporting Show, Augusta Expoland, Fishersville, Feb. 26-28

Rabbit season closes, Feb. 27

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, 9 a.m. March 2 at the agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond

Youth spring turkey hunt day, April 3, 2010.

Spring gobbler season, April 10-May 15, 2010.

BASS Elite Blue Ridge Brawl, April 15-18, Smith Mountain Lake.

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, 9 a.m. April 20 at the agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond

North Carolina State University Sport Fishing School, May 30-June 3, 2010, Hatteras, N.C.

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, 9 a.m. June 8 at the agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, 9 a.m. July 13 at the agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, 9 a.m. August 17 at the agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, 9 a.m. October 5 at the agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond

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