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

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has pledged support for Virginia’s project to stock elk in Buchanan County. The Montana-based foundation did not provide specifics, but said the possibilities could include funding assistance, technical expertise and/or volunteer labor. Virginia wildlife officials say a management program that involves the stocking of 75 elk could $2.8 million.

“Hats off to the citizens of Virginia, and especially those of Buchanan County, who understand there is no higher calling in conservation than restoring a native game species to sustainable, hunt-able, balanced populations,” said David Allen, the elk foundation president and CEO.

Opposition to elk restoration has been strong, led by the Virginia Farm Bureau. A number of county boards of supervisors have opposed the project, including Dickenson and Wise, which are near the proposed stocking site.

“I believe you’ll be convinced over time that this was the right decision, the right thing to do, the right way to go about it,” said Allen.

NO NRA ENDORSEMENT FOR SEN. MAJORITY LEADER

The NRA Friends Banquet at the Salem Civic Center Saturday attracted a vibrant crowd of just over 200 and is expected to net around $20,000 for shooting sports, according to Chairman Mike Kessler.

The highlight for many participants was a brief speech by Jim Land, secretary of the NRA and former Marine sniper and a Legion of Merit recipient for his service in Vietnam.

Land created loud cheers when he went to the podium and said, “I guess you’ve heard we will not endorse Sen. [Harry] Reid [Democrat House Majority Leader from Nevada].”

No, it wasn’t a joke.

When it comes to political endorsements, the NRA has an incumbent-friendly policy that supports pro-gun lawmakers seeking re-election over newcomers. Reid’s record on the Second Amendment isn’t perfect, but for the past five years it has been pretty good, according to the NRA. Trouble is, a vote for Reid can be viewed as a vote for a party and president that often is hostile to the right to keep and bear arms.

Thus, the NRA appeared to break with its tradition of overlooking party affiliation when it announced Reid wouldn’t get its endorsement.

It will be interesting to note how far this trend comes down the ranks, if at all. The 9th Congressional race in Virginia involves a Democrat and Republican who have strong pro-gun backgrounds, incumbent Rick Boucher a 28-year Democrat from Abingdon, and Republican state Del. Morgan Griffith of Salem. Griffith attended the Friend’s Banquet; Boucher didn’t.

Both have excellent gun-right’s backgrounds. Under the NRA’s normal way of doing business, the endorsement easily would go to veteran Boucher. But these hardly are normal times. Some NRA members are in a “throw them all out” mode and want the endorsement to go to Griffith and the party they see as most favorable to gun rights. NRA officials admit that tempers are running high.

Land told participants of the Friends banquet that when it comes to endorsements they needed to trust Roanoke native Wayne LaPierre, chief executive officer of the NRA, and Chris Cox, executive director of the NRA’s political arm.

“You are the heart and soul of this organization,” said Land, who ran the NRA annual meeting in Charlotte this summer, which attracted 70,000 participants.

Twenty-five percent of the NRA’s budget goes to legislative and political activities, he said.

The bulk of the NRA endorsements are expected to be released closer to the Nov. election.

COCHRAN Q/A: FEEDING DEER

September activates a regulation that prohibits the feeing of deer through the first Saturday in January.

Q. Why is it illegal to feed deer?

A. The negative consequences outweigh the benefits, according to biologists of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Q. What negative consequences?

A. Wildlife officials believe that maintaining the wild nature in deer is best for deer and for people. When you feed deer you create unnatural behavior and can increase the population in the feeding area, which can lead to habitat damage, disease, and human-deer conflicts.

Q. Are there any exceptions to the September-early January ban?

A. Yes. Feeding is illegal year-round in Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah and Warren counties where the DGIF has a Chronic Wasting Disease management program.

Q. Does the feeding ban mean hunters can’t use supplementary foods, salts and other attractants available at sports stores?

A. Right, they are illegal.

Q. So this ban just applies to hunters?

A. No. It applies to everyone, including people who feed deer in their backyard for the joy of seeing them.

Q. Can you still put out backyard bird feeders?

A. Yes, but don’t try to turn them into deer feeders. If you do, the conversation police may ask you to remove them.

Q. Won’t feeding deer keep them from starving?

A. That isn’t a legitimate reason to feed deer, biologists say. Even during harsh winters, deer mortality is low. Besides, we do not need more deer in Virginia, we need fewer, biologists say.

Q. What if I am caught feeding deer?

A. The conservation police could visit you and a fine may be the result. DGIF officials even are asking people to report violators to its crime line, 1-800-237-5712.

Q. Is it still OK to plant wildlife patches to attract wildlife?

A. Yes.

SOURCE: Matt Knox and Nelson Lafon, DGIF deer biologists.

OUTDOOR BRIEFS

• The informal working group on menhaden management in Virginia has set is second meeting for Sept. 23 and will feature two scientists who will speak about the status of this important forage fish. The menhaden group is co-chaired by Sen. Ralph Northam, D-Norfolk, and Sen. Richard Stuart, R-Westmoreland. The meeting begins 10 a.m. in Lee Hall on the campus of the University of Mary Washington.
• This site gets requests from women who want to take up shooing or hunting but don’t know where to start. The Ridge Rifle Club has the answer. On Oct. 9 it is sponsoring a “Woman on Target” event at its range in Botetourt County. Beginning 9 a.m., it is open to women of all ages who will receive a safety class, lunch and guns and ammo to use. The fee is $20. Contact Bob Bendl, 540-366-5341 or visit ridgerifle.com.
• The Mountain Pass Baptist Church on Virginia 311 at the foot of Catawba Mountain in Roanoke County has scheduled a benefit dinner for Hunters of the Hungry Sept. 11 4-7. It will feature Hudson Studer, a certified outdoor education instructor whose life was changed in a tree-stand accident. A $5 donation will be requested for Hunters for the Hungry. Seating is limited, so RSVP Wesley Blankenship, 380-2201 or the church, 384-6720.
• What’s happening at the Hunters Den, a gun/bow/hunting shop operated by Ellen Horn on Virginia 311 just south of New Castle? High-end guns are selling, but less expensive ones aren’t because the economy has been tough on blue-collar workers, Horn said. Interest in bows has been strong, but crossbows aren’t doing so well.

SALTWATER FISHING TOURNAMENT

There is a new leader this week in the gray triggerfish category of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. Here are the contest standings:

BLACK DRUM: 90 pounds, James Johnson, Jr., Gloucester, Mobjack Bay Reef.

BLUEFISH: 16 pounds, 5 ounces, Pete Kelley, Virginia Beach, Cigar.

BLUELINE TILEFISH: 21 pounds, 12 ounces, Pete Knott, Virginia Beach, Norfolk Canyon.

COBIA: 107 pounds, 6 ounces, David Otts, Elizabeth City, N.C., Fourth Island Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

CROAKER: 3 pounds, 14 ounce, Michael Whitaker, Chesapeake, Elizabeth River.

DOPLHIN: 38 pounds, 8 ounces, Frederick Avitto, Virginia Beach, Cigar.

FLOUNDER: 12 pounds, 10 ounces, Pete Knott, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

GRAY TRIGGERFISH: 4 pounds, 8 ounces, Bill Perron, Virginia Beach, First Island Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

GRAY TROUT: 9 pounds, 8 ounces, Eric Cafini, Suffolk, Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.

KING MACKEREL: 38 pounds, Ed Boekestyn, Jasper, Canada, Dump Site Buoy off Virginia Beach.

SEA BASS: 5 pounds, 9 ounces, Byron Farlow, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

SHEEPSHEAD: 14 pounds, 8 ounces, Edward Toto, Chesapeake, Seagull Pier, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

SPADEFISH: 11 pounds, 12 ounces, Joshua Proffitt, Manassas, Chesapeake Light Tower.

SPANISH MACKEREL: 5 pounds, 1 ounce, Brandon Bartlett, Yorktown, Cape Henry.

SPECKLED TROUT: 12 pounds, 6 ounces, Michael Whittaker, Chesapeake, Elizabeth River.

SPOT: 1 pound, 2 ounces, John Guthrie, Sutherland, lower York River.

STRIPED BASS: 64 pounds, Michael Collier, Sandston, off Sandbridge.

TAUTOG: 16 pounds, 14 ounces, Alexander Thompson, Deale, Md., Chesapeake Light Tower.

TUNA (bluefin): 196 pounds, Brian Davis, Virginia Beach, Cigar.

TUNA (other): 102 pounds, Frank Broskey, Cranberry, Pa., Cigar.

WAHOO: 53 pounds, Jim O’Donnell, Toms River, N.J., Cigar.

MEETINGS, SEASONS AND EVENTS

Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, 7 p.m. Sept. 3, Moneta Community Center, tips on fishing upcoming tournament...

Dove hunting season opens noon, Sept. 4, 15 per day bag limit.

Rail hunting season, Sept. 8-Oct. 2 and Oct. 4-Nov. 17

Eastern Regional Big Game Championship, Sept. 11 & 12, Southampton County Fairgrounds, Franklin, information from Kenneth Pickin, 804-633-0275

Sept. 16 is the closing date for on-line public comments on Department of Game and Inland Fisheries fish and wildlife proposals. See HuntFishVA.com

3D archery tournament Sept. l9, register 9 a.m. to noon, Triangle Bowhunters range in Blacksburg near Corning Plant, sponsored by Whitetail Outfitter, hosted by Triangle Bowhunters, variety of classes, shooting stakes and food, shooting fee $12; $25 for a family and $6 for youngsters.

Early teal hunting season, Sept 20-30, east of I-95 only.

Meeting of menhaden management group co-chaired by Sen. Ralph Northam, D-Norfolk, and Richard Stuart, R-Westmoreland, 10 a.m., Lee Hall on campus of the University of Mary Washington, information from Matthew Strickler, 757-818-5172.

Hunters for the Hungry banquet, Sept. 25, Moose Lodge on Virginia 311 at foot of Catawba Mountain in Roanoke County (3233 Catawba Valley Drive), $20 singles, $35 per couple, kids under 12 free, advanced tickets only, contact Ralph and Lois Graybill, 540-427-5125 or Fred and Phyllis Wells, 540-992-3874, banquet benefits feeding the needy.

Western Regional and State Big Game Championship, Sept. 25 and 26, Rockingham County Fairgrounds, Harrisonburg, contact is John Ritenour, 540-434-8028.

Members Only Fishing Tournament, Smith Mountain Striper Club, Sept. 25, first place $1,000, director is Frank Skillman, 540-721-1220.

Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, Oct. 1, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center.

Virginia Hunter Skills Weekend, Oct. 1-3, Holiday Lake 4-H Center, Appomattox, sponsors include Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, weekend of instruction on a variety of outdoor skills, $100 includes meals, lodging and instruction, register at holidaylake4h.com or 434-248-5444.

H.C. Edwards Chapter Conservation and Sportsmen’s Banquet in behalf of Ruffed Grouse Society, Oct. 2, Augusta Expoland, Fisherville, dinner 7:30, tickets $55 each; $80 for families of two, information from Kenny Wilkinson, 46 Pine Trail, Stuarts Draft, Va. 24477, 540-337-1298, rkjpinetrail@verizon.net.

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

Early duck season in Virginia, Oct. 7-11

Common snipe hunting season Oct. 7-11 and Oct. 22-Jan. 31.

The Eastern Shore of Virginia Birding and Wildlife Festival, Oct. 7-10, headquartered at Cape Charles, information from esvafestivals.org

“Woman On Target” event to teach women to shoot and hunt, Oct. 9, Ridge Rifle Club, Botetourt County, 9 a.m., for all ages, safety class, lunch, guns and ammo provided, $20, Bob Bendl, 540-366-5341, http://riderifle.com.

Youth waterfowl hunting day, Oct. 23

Woodcock season Oct. 30-Nov. 13 and Dec. 27-Jan. 10.

Nov. 20-Dec. 4 mid portion of Virginia’s duck season

Dec. 11-Jan. 29 late portion of Virginia’s duck season.

Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.

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