Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.

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Bill Cochran's Outdoors

Recent columns

• Drum fishing on Virginia’s Coast comes in two colors
• Elk advocate finally gets his day
• Turkeys are plentiful, so why are hunting regulations so tight fisted?
• Anglers say closure of the point of Cape Hatteras is for the birds
• Column archive

Bill's Mailbag

• Putting down a bear cub brings complaint
• Recommendations for Virginia’s Wild Turkey Management Plan
• Mail archive

Bill's Field Reports

• A. Willis Robertson great name for new DGIF headquarters
• Big striper smashes Optimist tournament record
• Field reports archive

Resources

• Trout stocking schedule

Some of the people who wrote Gov. Mark Warner to express concern over the operation of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries received correspondence last week from W. Taylor Murphy, Jr. Secretary of Natural Resources.

“This continues to be a difficult time for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries,” Murphy said. “I remain convinced that the report from the Internal Auditor was a necessary first step in moving the Department in a positive direction. It was important to get the facts and it was important to have a thorough assessment of the concerns to be addressed. We now have developed a road map to correct the issues at DGIF and set in on a solid path into the future.”

Murphy expressed confidence in Col. Gerald Massengill, former superintendent of the State Police, who is the acting director of DGIF. The board received the resignation of Bill Woodfin, who served as director for a decade, May 24.

“Col. Massengill will continue to make decisions based on a fair and complete assessment of the facts and is the perfect person during this transition. In the meantime, the Board will conduct a nationwide search for a permanent Director to the Department,” said Murphy. The board met Tuesday to discuss the search process.

The day before, the DGIF Policy Committee discussed the need for a new policy manual, training for board members, a stronger relationship with the Secretary of Natural Resources and better communications with the public.

Woodfin was back in the news this week when the Richmond Times-Dispatch carried an article on his severance package. The speculation that Woodfin received a sweet deal has been the subject of e-mail outrage.

HUNTING DOG OWNERS STAGE BOYCOTT

The Sportsmen’s and Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance, a nationwide group of hunting dog sportsmen, has called for a boycott of the American Kennel Club, indicating that the large canine registry organization has threatened dog owners’ interests. At issue, according to Bob Kane, an alliance spokesman from Virginia, is the AKC's collaboration with the Humane Society of the U.S. in developing Sen. Rick Santorum's, R-Pa., newly introduced bill, S1139, called the “Pet Animal Welfare Statute of 2005” (PAWS)

“I was dumbfounded to learn that the AKC was supporting legislation that required individual hobby breeders, rescuers and owners of hunting, security and breeding dogs to become federally licensed,” Kane said. “Federal licensing is designed for commercial entities. It's costly and burdensome. This just didn't make any sense.”

Santorum’s has collaboration unsuccessfully with HSUS in the past. “This isn't about animal welfare, it's a competitive struggle over registration business. We tried to talk with the AKC about this, but were ignored. Hopefully, if their customers send the message that they're prepared to boycott the registry, the AKC will at least withdraw its support,” Kane said.

Additional information can be found on saova.org/1139.html.

GAS PRICES IMPACT OUTDOOR RECREATION

Gas prices play a role in outdoor recreation. When they go up, so does the cost of boating, RVing, four-wheeling and traveling to and from destinations.

Even when you are using equipment operated by someone else, you pay. Some charterboat skippers, for example, have added a surcharge to their fees to cover the extra cost of fuel.

How many people do high prices keep home? Joe Stevens, director of communications at Snowshoe Mountain Resort in West Virginia, ponders that.

“Gas prices might keep some folks from visiting the mountains of West Virginia,” he said.

To counter that, Stevens said Snowshoe, which offers warm-weather biking, fishing and other activities, is offering a $25 gas card to help cover travel expenses for anyone who books two or more nights of summer lodging.

Twenty-five bucks won’t buy you much gas nowadays, but it is the thought that counts.

LITTLE CONTROVERSY OVER TOURNAMENT

Time was when a striped bass tournament on Smith Mountain Lake would draw the ire of many anglers. The Cave Spring Optimist Club withdrew a striper category in its annual contest years ago when many anglers protested. Back when the lake’s striper population was on a boom a national tournament drew widespread controversy and resulted in the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries establishing a permit system for such events. The promoter never returned.

Time have changed. A tournament sponsored by the National Striped Bass Association the past weekend created little adverse comment, even though the lake’s striper population has sharply declined as a result of a parasite.

Two Missouri anglers who were fishing the lake for the first time won the tournament: Paul Giesenhanger Sr. and his son, Paul II. They entered a four-fish catch that weighed just over 35 pounds. Guide Dewayne Lam was second with four fish that weighed just under 30 pounds.

OUTDOOR BRIEFS

>West Virginia’s spring gobbler kill was up a modest 231 birds from the previous season, which was a poor one. Officials of the state’s Division of Natural Resources reported a kill of 10,804.

>The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund has endorse Jerry Kilgore in the June 14 Gubernatorial Primary Election. “As the former Virginia Attorney General, and a former Secretary of Public Safety, Jerry Kilgore understands that the key to reducing violent crime lies in strictly prosecuting violent criminals -- not increasing firearm regulations,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA chief lobbyist, stated. NRA members participated in a series of “Cookouts for Kilgore” across the state Tuesday.

>Jack Shoosmith, from Chester, has resigned as board member of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

>Rains have caused debris, sewage and animal waste to wash into the tidal waters of Virginia from Northern Neck to Virginia Beach, state health officials report. As a result, the Virginia Health Department has closed several areas to shell fishing.

>The sale of Triton Boat Company to Brunswick Corp. has the boating/angling community buzzing. Brunswick is the parent company of Mercury Marine, a major outboard manufacture. It also owns Ranger, Stratis, Champion, Lund, Lowe, Crestliner, Boston Whaler, Hatteras, Sea Ray, Trophy and other boat brands. Triton has become a popular craft for bass pros

>The Second Annual Sankehaed Roundup has been scheduled June 10 at Columbia Island marina on the Potomac River at Arlington. The even is designed to bring attention to the threat to native fish posed by aquatic invasive species. Information can be found at www.marinaassociation.org.

>Few saltwater flies are better known than the Lefty Deceiver and the Clouser Minnow. The originators of the two patterns, Lefty Kreh and Bob Clouser, have provided tying and other information on a new 90-minute DVD titled “The Fly Tying Techniques of Bob Clouser & Lefty Kreh.” It can be ordered through reelresources.com at the cost of $29.95.

SALTWATER TOURNAMENT

The first spadefish and kingfish of the season have been entered in the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. Also there is a new leader in the tautog category. Here are the standings:

BLACK DRUM: 93 pounds, 6 ounces, John Quigley, Baltimore, Md., lower-eastern Chesapeake Bay.

CROAKER: 3-pounds, 12 ounces, Victor Williams, Wicomico Church, lower Potomac River.

FLOUNDER: 11 pounds, 7 ounces, Michael Behe, Sr. Franklin, Pa., Wachapreague.

GRAY TROUT: 12 pounds, 12 ounces, Troy Major, Hayes, upper eastern Chesapeake Bay.

KINGFISH: 1 pound, 8 ounces, Edward Keiper, Woodbridge, off Virginia Beach.

SEA BASS: 6 pounds, 14 ounces, Chad Stoker, Chesapeake, caught off Virginia Beach.

SPADEFISH: 11 pounds, 11 ounces, Michael Hanhart, Port Haywood, lower-western Chesapeake Bay.

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, 10 ounces, John Scappari, Monroe Township, N.J., ocean off Eastern Shore.

MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS

Eastern Shore Chapter of Ducks Unlimited banquet, June 11, Island House Restaurant in Wachapreague, 6 p.m., local artwork will be auctioned, tickets $50 per person, $75 per couple, tickets from Hunt Addison, 757-331-2359.

Triangle Bowhuners 3D archery shoot, entire family can participate, June 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., information form Jim Overfelt: James.Overfelt@vfaa.org.

Return to Nature fund raising banquet, guests are Richard Petty and Ward Burton, July 19, Cattle Annie’s in Lynchburg, $60 per ticket, funds go for reaching youngsters with a conservation message. Doors open 5:30 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. Information from return2nature@aol.com. Tickets at 434-847-4671 or www.ballowax.com.

Western Division of Virginia Big Game Contest, Sept. 10 and 11, Rockingham County Fairgrounds near Harrisonburg, see vpsa.org for details.

Urban archery season, Sept. 17-30 and Jan. 9-25.

Eastern Division and state finals of Virginia Big Game Contest, Sept. 24 and 25, Southampton County Fairgrounds, Franklin, see vpsa.org for details.

Bowhunting season, Oct. 1-Nov. 18 and Dec. 5-Jan. 7.

Fall turkey hunting season, Oct. 31-Nov. 12; Nov. 24 and Dec. 12-Jan. 7.

Muzzleloading season east of Blue Ridge Mountains, Nov. 5-18.

Muzzleloading season west of Blue Ridge Mountains, Nov. 12-18

Deer hunting season west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Nov. 19-Dec. 3

Deer hunting season east of Blue Ridge Mountains, Nov. 19-Jan. 7

Late muzzleloading season, Dec. 17-Jan. 7.

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