Thursday, March 04, 2010
Bill Cochran's Field Reports: Another take on the angler registry
Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.
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The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has a suggestion on how to handle the federally mandated National Saltwater Angler Registry (See Jan. 21 Cochran Column) which has stimulated a tea party folly in the General Assembly over SB 668.
In its original form, SB 668 would have adjusted Virginia’s saltwater fishing license structure to bring the state into compliance with the federal mandate through state license purchases. That would have kept anglers from having to send as much as $25 apiece to the federal program.
To be sure, some anglers who have been exempt from buying a state saltwater license would have to purchase one, but that would be far less intrusive than the high cost and limited benefits of the federal program.
When the bill went to the House, members there voted 81-to-15 to approve an amendment that (1) chastises the feds for establishing the registry; (2) maintains the current saltwater license structure: (3) recommends anglers complain to their congressman and (4) directs state law enforcement officers not to enforce the federal law.
In reality, law officers of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission are sworn to uphold federal regulations; in fact, VMRC gets something like $1 million in benefits to do so. Even without federal compliance, the U.S. Coast Guard and other federal authorities can enforce the registry, so the House amendment is a bunch of hype that does little more than confuse anglers and is destine to get many into trouble.
On Tuesday, the DGIF entered the fray. You might ask, what does a freshwater agency have to do with all this? Plenty. DGIF estimates that as many as 20,000 anglers fish freshwater areas where striped bass and other anadromous species penetrate, at least during the spawning season. If they catch one of these fish they’d best have their name on the angler registry.
DGIF has this suggestion. Why not handle the angler registry like the federal registry of migratory game bird hunters, a program that is called HIP? The participant simply obtains a registration number via telephone or Internet at no direct cost to him/her.
If this concept was applied to the angler registry, it would give the feds their data base at a reasonable cost and the current saltwater license structure could remain in place.
It appears that SB 668 is headed toward a conference committee and no telling how it will come out.
BIGGER TROUT AND MORE OF THEM
The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has gotten behind in its trout stocking program, the result of heavy snows that have blocked roads in many mountain areas.
But watch out. When the weather breaks the stocking will resume in full steam and that is going to result in some excellent fishing, according to Gary Martel, DGIF fish chief.
There should be above average numbers of trout and the fish should be larger than normal because they have been held extra days in the hatchery, he said. Add to that, the stream conditions should be in excellent shape for serious fishing.
BILL
MORE DATA ON RECORD DEER KILL
We asked Matt Knox, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries deer project leader, for his take on Virginia’s record deer kill (see last week’s Cochran Column). Here are his answers:
Q. Were there any aspects of the 256,512 deer kill that surprised, troubled or delighted you?
A. The total is about the same [as the previous year], but the buck kill was down about 4,000 and the antlerless kill was up about 4,000. You might recall we were very proactive in increasing either-sex days on private land across Virginia this past fall. Most of the counties that showed large increases in deer kill can be traced back to the doe day regulation changes.
Q. While you wanted to see more does killed on private land in many areas, you wanted the exact opposite on national forest land. How did that come out?
A. The national forest deer situation went from bad to worse. We significantly cut the doe days on national forest land, wanting a 50 percent cut in the number of does killed. We about got that, but the buck kill also dropped very significantly and we did not expect or want that.
Q. It was a record kill and you don’t like records because they can indicate an overpopulation of deer; albeit, this one represented an increase of less than one percent.
A. Yes, regrettably, it was a record. I have just over 10 years to retirement and I am hoping this is the last time I will have to see the term “record!” Overall it was a good outcome.
Q. The use of the phone and Internet system by hunters to register their deer increased significantly, from 44 percent to 66 percent. That had to make you happy.
A. I had a lot of hunters tell me when we instituted the phone system the deer kill would fall in half. My hypothesis was always the opposite. I predicted and expected the deer kill would go up. I will never be able to prove it, but I think the record deer kills we have seen over the past five or so years are as much due to the phone system as the deer herd. We have developed a better mouse trap. I am convinced now when a deer is not checked we are dealing with a very, very lazy deer hunter or a real violator.
Q. Do you think all the snow we have had has impacted the deer herd?
A. So far, we have not had any reports of deer mortality/starvation to my knowledge. You will recall back in 1993 after a March storm we had deer dying in the Alleghany Highlands following a mast failure. Well, we pretty much have the same set-up now. I do not have an opinion as if we will lose any deer. If we were, I would predict it would again be in the Alleghany Highlands, but the deer populations in this area have shown a significant decline over the past decade, so maybe we are safe.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
- Next week the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is scheduled to begin moving trout into the recently revamped Coursey Springs Facility in Bath County. The first phase, which should take place Tuesday or Wednesday, will involve moving 200,000 fingerling rainbows from the Paint Bank Hatchery to Coursey Springs. “More and bigger fish (for anglers) is what this means,” said Bob Duncan, DGIF executive director (see 12/24 Cochran Column).
- Senior Officer Dan Hal, who works out of Smyth County, was honored by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Tuesday in Richmond as the agency’s Conservation Police Officer of the Year.
- Dr. Julie Ball of Chesapeake registered citations for 16 different species of fish last year in the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament to become the top Virginia Saltwater Expert Angler of 2009. Runner-ups with 14 citations apiece were Ken Neill, of Seaford, and Sean Doran, of South Mills, N.C. A total of 40 fishermen earned expert status by registering six or more citations each for a different species.
- The water flow is great and the rainbow trout are bruiser size on Little Reed Island Creek in Carroll County where Mike Smith of the Greasy Creek Outfitters offers fee-fishing for fly anglers. When the weather breaks, Smith plan to begin construction of a new lodge that should be ready by summer.
- The National Wild Turkey Federation has named Peggy Anne Vallery of Arizona as its chairperson. She has been on the board 10 years. Jim Hinkle of Arkansas will serve as president of the board.
BILL
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, March 5, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center, swap meet.
Franklin County Longbeards Chapter banquet, March 6, 6 p.m., Pigg River Community Center in Rocky Mount, tickets from Tom Brown, 540-489-1315, or Bill Kidwell, 540-489-4210.
Orange County Fishing and Sportsman’s Expo, March 6 and 7, Orange County High School, 80 exhibitors, $5 entry fee.
Appalachian Highlands Chapter Ruffed Grouse Society Sportsmen’s Banquet, March 13, 5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 101 W. Springbrook Drive, Johnson City, Tenn.; information from Spencer Young.
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Virginia Big Game Banquet, March 13, Richmond, contact Wayne Martin.
Virginia Trappers Association annual fur sale, March 13, 8 a.m., Augusta Expoland, Fisherville.
Smith River Trout Unlimited meeting, March 18, 6:30 p.m., Rania’s Restaurant, Martinsville, update on Smith River fishery by Scott Smith, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologist, information from Shane Pinkston.
March 27 end of urban archery season.
Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, April 2, 7 p.m. Moneta Community Center.
Youth spring turkey hunt day, April 3, 2010.
Trout Heritage Day, April 3
Highland Drummer Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society banquet, April 17, 5:30 .p.m. Blackwell Restaurant, Lewisburg, W.Va.
Spring gobbler season, April 10-May 15, 2010.
BASS Elite Blue Ridge Brawl, April 15-18, Smith Mountain Lake.
Virginia Fly Fishing Festival, April 17-18, Waynesboro.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, 9 a.m. April 20 at the agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond
Botetourt Longbeards National Wild Turkey Federation banquet, May 1, Lord Botetourt High School, Daleville.
NRA annual meeting, May 14-16, Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, N.C.
Virginia Hunter Skills Weekend, May 14-16, Holiday Lake, detailed classes on a number of outdoor pursuits, ages 11 and up, $85 includes meals, lodging and instruction, information and registration.
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
Hunters for the Hungry banquet, Sept.25, Moose Lodge on Virginia 311 at foot of Catawba Mountain in Roanoke County.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, 9 a.m. October 5 at the agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.
