Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.

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Bill Cochran's Outdoors

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• Hunters and anglers still in the conservation business
• 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?
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• Trout stocking schedule

The 60-day duck season set by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has a has a few new twists. The dates are Oct. 6-10; Nov. 19-Dec. 3 and Dec. 10-Jan. 28. There will be a youth waterfowl hunting day on Oct. 22.

The daily bag limit of ducks will be five, with restrictions on some species. Federal officials allowed a six-per-day limit, but DGIF officials say Virginia hunters appear to prefer the more restrictive limit.

The general Canada goose season includes a western and Atlantic season. The Atlantic zone encompasses a section along the coast where migratory geese are most likely to be found. That season is set for Nov. 19-Dec. 3 and Dec. 23-Jan. 28. There will be a two-per day limit.

The larger, western zone will have a three way split goose season: Nov. 19-Dec. 3; Dec. 15-Jan. 14 and Jan. 16-Feb. 15. The limit during the first two portions is two per day. It will be five per day during the last portion.

A Sept. 1-24 Canada goose season with a five-per-day limit already is in place.

Here are some of the new features of the waterfowl season:

>For the first time in 16 years, Back Bay will have a Canada goose season. It will be Jan. 12-28 with a one-per-day limit.

>The merganser bag limit of five daily, only one of which may be a hooded merganser, will not be part of the duck bag limit; however, hunting dates will coincide with the general duck season.

>The scaup limit has been reduced from three to two birds daily.

>The 30-day restriction on pintail hunting has been lifted, but the limit remains one-per-day.

>The bag limit for Canada geese in the Eastern Zone has been increased from one to two throughout the season.

>A new three-way-split season for snow geese gets the season underway sooner than in the past. The hunting dates are Oct. 26-Dec. 3; Dec. 10-Jan. 28 and Feb. 4-March 10. The limit is 15 daily.

MENHADEN VICTORY

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has imposed a first-ever cap on the commercial harvest of menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay. The fish is an important food source of striped bass and a variety of other fish sought by anglers. It also is a valuable catch of a fleet of commercial ships out of Reedville operated by Texas-based Omega Protein.

The Commission rejected Omega’s offer to cap the annual catch at 131,000 metric tons annually, which is higher than its average catch. The figure adopted was 105,000 metric tons a year from the Virginia part of the Bay.

Environmentalists and sport fishermen said that should make a difference, but the case is not closed. The cap must be approved by the General Assembly, a body that historically has blocked efforts to regulate the menhaden industry. And Omega has threatened to sue. This means sportsmen have a huge amount of work if they hope to realize the hoped for cap.

There were cheers in the room when the Commission members from Maine to Florida voted down the Omega offer. Virginia and North Carolina posted the only negative votes in the proposal that was adopted. They are the only Atlantic states that continue to allows the commercial take of menhaden.

BOATING REGULATIONS PROPOSED

When your boat is stopped for a safety check in the future, look for state game wardens to scrutinize more closely your personal flotation device and fire extinguisher.

Under new proposals, wardens will be examining life jackets and other personal flotation devices to make certain the size and use is in accordance to requirements and restrictions posted on the manufacturer’s label. For example, some have weight restrictions and some devices are legal on boats but not on personal watercraft.

Fire extinguishers will be checked to make certain they have an efficient charge and are in good and serviceable condition.

OUTDOOR BRIEFS

>The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has adopted a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, a 923-page document that calls for better protection of the state’s wildlife and wildlife habitat. The report lists 925 species of wildlife that need attention. The plan was mandated by Congress and funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

>Grouse hunters in the Martinsville/Henry County area are looking for help in organizing a chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society. A meeting is planned 6 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Burger King in Collinsville. The contact is Robert Woods: kfboyd@kimbanet.com. Hunters in the area have advocated a longer season, and one has been proposed by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

>Kenneth Penrod is hot. He believes people are polluting the upper Potomac River and no one is doing anything about it. He told Gene Mueller of the Washington Times that the river is bank to bank with sludge and algae. There are no ospreys, eagles, turtles, white millers, nothing but carp. He wants to know who is messing up his favorite fishing water. He wants names.

>David Whitehurst, director of wildlife diversity at the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, has been awarded the Henry Mosby Award from the Virginia Chapter of the Wildlife Society. “David Whitehurst has made substantial contributions to wildlife in Virginia,” said Allan Boynton, who made the presentation in behalf of the Chapter.

>The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, an organization dedicated to conservation issues, has a new website that it says should be more user friendly. The address is www.trcp.org.

>The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries sold approximately 1,900 licenses during the recent Outdoor Show in Richmond. That was about 700 more than the previous year. July boat registrations, however, were down sharply from July of last year. Officials believed boaters are slower registering their craft because of high fuel prices.

>The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is accepting application for the position of executive director. Plans call for a new director to be announced in March and to be on the job in April. John Montgomery, Jr., chairman of the search committee, said the committee will “cast our net very wide.” The search is for a “highly motivated natural resource professional with outstanding leadership ability.” Information is available on the DGIF website: www.dgif.virginia.gov/jobs.

SALTWATER TOURNAMENT

There is a new leaders in the wahoo division of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. Here are the standings:

BLACK DRUM: 93 pounds, 9 ounces, Willie McWhite, Jr., Richmond, lower eastern Chesapeake Bay.

COBIA: 89 pounds, Mark Shaffer, Fredericksburg, upper eastern Chesapeake Bay.

CROAKER: 4-pounds, 8 ounces, Elliott Souldourian, Virginia Beach, lower western Chesapeake Bay.

DOLPHIN: 47 pounds, 1 ounce, David Deyoung, Des Moines, Iowa, ocean off Virginia Beach.

FLOUNDER: 17 pounds, 2 ounces, Hopie Firth, Poquoson, lower western Chesapeake Bay.

GRAY TRIGGERFISH: 4 pounds, 4 ounces, Keith Trewick, Virginia Beach, lower western Chesapeake Bay.

GRAY TROUT: 12 pounds, 14 ounces, William Flipin, Hayes, upper eastern Chesapeake Bay.

KING MACKEREL, 47 pounds, Frank Riganto, Virginia Beach off Virginia Beach.

KINGFISH: 1 pound, 12 ounces, Damon Moore, Sterling, off Virginia Beach.

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

SHEEPSHEAD: 16 pounds, 2 ounces, Bob Lee, Portsmouth, lower-eastern Chesapeake Bay.

SPADEFISH: 12 pounds, 8 ounces, Jerry Carnell, Jr. Oxford, N.C. upper eastern Chesapeake Bay.

SPANISH MACKEREL: 8 pounds, Charles Lewis III, Pasadena, Md., ocean off Eastern Shore.

SPECKLED TROUT: 11 pounds, 3 ounces, Brain Pomije, Chesapeake, Elizabeth River.

SPOT: 1 pound, 4 ounces, Robert Richardson, Richmond, Elizabeth River.

STRIPED BASS: 63 pounds, 8 ounces, state record, Paul Leckner, Greenbackville, Bradford Bay.

TAUTOG: 18 pounds, 4 ounces, Larry Larue, Virginia Beach, ocean off Virginia Beach.

TUNA (BLUEFIN) 129 pounds, Andrew Kidd, Richmond, ocean off Virginia Beach.

TUNA: 90 pounds, 2 ounces, John Mackey, Virginia Beach, ocean off Virginia Beach.

WAHOO: 83 pounds, 3 ounces, John Hamilton, Norfolk, ocean off Eastern Shore. BILL

MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS

Inaugural Highland Drummer Chapter Ruffed Grouse Society banquet, Aug. 27, Brier Inn, Lewisburg, W.Va. $45 per person, $65 for couple, ticket information from Todd Spencer, 304-645-7039.

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries public hearing on hunting, fishing and wildlife proposals, 6:30 p.m., Aug. 29, Virginia Highland Community College, Abingdon

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries public hearing on hunting, fishing and wildlife proposals, 6:30 p.m., Aug. 31, Northside High School, Roanoke

Virginia’s dove season opens Sept. 3.

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries public hearing on hunting, fishing and wildlife proposals, 6:30 p.m., Aug. 30, Wytheville Community College, Wytheville

Dove shoot sponsored by the Kanawha Valley Chapter of Ruffed Grouse Society, Sept. 3, Mountain Meadows Hunting Preserve, Greenville, W.Va., $100, contact Larry Rodgers, 304-206-3303 or Steve Cale, 304-757-6465.

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries public hearing on hunting, fishing and wildlife proposals, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 6, Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors Meeting Room, Woodstock

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries public hearing on hunting, fishing and wildlife proposals, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 7, Augusta County Government Center, Verona

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries public hearing on hunting, fishing and wildlife proposals, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 8, Izaak Walton League Building, Centerville

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

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

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries public hearing on hunting, fishing and wildlife proposals, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 19, Madison Fire Department Fire Hall, Madison.

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries public hearing on hunting, fishing and wildlife proposals, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 20, DGIF Headquarters, Richmond

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries public hearing on hunting, fishing and wildlife proposals, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 21, Halifax County High School, South Boston

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries public hearing on hunting, fishing and wildlife proposals, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 22, Holiday Inn, Suffolk

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

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries public hearing on hunting, fishing and wildlife proposals, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 26, Rappahannock Community College, Warsaw

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

Roanoke Valley Friends of NRA banquet, Oct. 15, Salem Civic Center, $30 single, $50 couple, 27 firearms and other items to give away, proceeds go to grants and programs for youth and sports shooting programs, information from Chris Kessler, 884-3259.

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

Board meeting of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Nov. 29, 9 a.m., DGIF headquarters, 4000 W. Broad Street, Richmond.

Board meeting of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Dec. 16, 9 a.m., DGIF headquarters, 4000 W. Broad Street, Richmond.

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

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