Thursday, December 15, 2005
Hunters for the Hungry falling short of goal
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
Hunters for the Hungry has processed 180,000 pounds of venison during the current deer season, which is a little over one-half of its goal of 350,000 pounds. Last year the organization processed a record 333,536 pounds.
“We are hoping another 3,500 deer will be donated before the season ends,” said Laura Newell-Furniss, the program’s director.
That many deer would mean the program would be about $35,000 short in processing fees, Newell-Furniss said. It costs about $35 to process each deer.
Financial contributions have not been keeping pace with donations of deer. Program workers believe that people who normally would generously contribute to Hunters for the Hungry are sending some of their funds to natural disaster relief work. High gasoline and heating expenses also could be a factor.
Contributions can be sent to Hunters for the Hungry, P.O. Box 304, Big Island, VA 24526. Information on the program can be found at www.h4hungry.org.
FLW COURTS BASS FEDERATION
Irwin Jacobs, chairman of FLW Outdoors, says he would be wiling to merge the BASS Federation into his tournament operation.
The Federation and its parent organization, BASS, have been warring. BASS recently dismissed several Federation leaders, including Roger Fitchett of Virginia Beach.
A Bass Fan report said that Jacobs had offered the Federation an open door, saying he would provide dollars to help grow grassroots bass programs.
BASS would not be able to survive without the Federation, said Jacobs.
“These people at BASS are single-handedly destroying the Federation,” he said..
Jacobs had unkind works for Ray Scott, the founder of BASS. Scott has taken the side of BASS against the Federation, Jacobs said.
BEAR HUNTS MAKE VIRGINIA LOOK GOOD
Bear hunting practices in Virginia look good compared with recent hunts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The December six-day bear season in New Jersey saw hunters and animal-rights advocates clashing. Nearly 300 bear were reported killed and several unruly animal-rights people were arrested. Two hunters were charged with illegal activities.
Wildlife officials said that the hunt, designed to keep the state’s bear population in check, attracted 4,434 hunters, about 1,000 fewer than for the previous season in 2003. A handful of protesters were arrested on charges of harassing hunters and demonstration where they did not have permits.
In Pennsylvania, thousands of hunters participated in an intense three-day hunt that accounted for about 3,500 bear, a record take. Fourteen of the animals were estimated to weigh in excess of 600 pounds (life weight), one of them a 733-pound male.
Virginia’s bear season is spread across the calendar, offering action for bowhunters, rifle hunters and hound hunters. The kill during recent season has been around 1,000 bears.
SMALLMOUTH REINSTATED TO RECORD BOOK
A 11-pound, 15-ounce smallmouth bass, caught July 8, 1955 in Dale Hollow Lake, along the Tennessee/Kentucky line, has been reinstated by the International Game Fish Association as the world record for the species. David Hayes of Litchfield, Ky. is credited with the catch which measured 27 inches in length.
Hayes had weighed the fish at a lake marina and entered it for record status with Field & Stream Magazine, the keeper of records at the time. Field & Stream designated it the heaviest smallmouth ever taken on rod and reel. The bass was given world all-tackle record status by IGFA when it became the record keeper in 1978.
Later it was discovered that Raymond Barlow had submitted an affidavit to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stating that Hayes’ fish had weighed 8 pounds, 15 ounces and had been stuffed with metal to reach record status. When IGFA discovered that report in 1996, it rescinded Hayes’ record.
Recent investigations, including polygraph tests, revealed that Hayes’ fish had not been tampered with and is the record. This week, IGFA reinstated the catch as a world record.
FISHING REPORT
*Striped bass are keeping anglers busy in Virginia saltwater. It took a 32.8-pound striper to win the recent CCVA-Greentop Rockfish tournament at Deltaville. Eels have been productive bait at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Stripers also can be found in the ocean from Virginia’s Rudee Inlet to Duck Pier in North Carolina. Many of these fish are in the 30-inch class, with an occasional 40-incher. The majority of the migrating big stripers are reported to be north of Virginia.
*Fishermen who don’t let cold weather bother them have been landing jumbo blue catfish in the Chick hominy and James rivers. Steve Dressler caught a 47-pounder and Mike Newman a 50-pounder while fishing the Chickhominy River. Both anglers are from Lanexa. Jimmy Wyatt of Suffolk landed cats from the James River that weighed 43 and 50 pounds.
*One of the joys of angling is the fact you never know what the day might bring. For example, Larry Moody of Petersburg went to Little Creek Reservoir with the idea of catching some crappie and sunfish. When he saw surface action in the back of a creek he unlimbered his fly rod and proceeded to catch striped bass, including a couple of 10-pounders.
LET LEONARD SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM
Outdoorsmen can be difficult to shop for at Christmas. They probably already have everything you can think of or they may want something specific that is difficult to buy, not to mention expensive.
So here comes Leonard Atkins to the rescue. Atkins, who lives in Botetourt County, is a prolific writer of hiking and nature guidebooks. They evolve out of his keen interest of hiking and the outdoors and the fact that he has hiked 17,000 miles. Go that far and you are bound to have something to write about.
Atkins has written 14 books, and they make great gifts. Among my favorites are “A Guide to the Trails of the Blue Ridge Parkway,” “Wildflowers of the Appalachian Trail,” “50 Hikes in Southern Virginia,” “50 Hikes in Northern Virginia” and “50 Hikes in West Virginia.”
Atkins will be signing copies of his books at three stores his weekend:
Dec. 16, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Blue Ridge Outdoors, Valley View Mall, Roanoke. Dec. 17, 3 to 5 p.m., Ram’s Head Book Shop, Towers Shopping Center, Roanoke. Dec. 18, 2 to 4 p.m., Barnes & Nobles Booksellers, Tanglewood Mall, Roanoke.
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
*The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has announced that it has scheduled seven board meetings next year. At its Mach 21 meeting, the board’s search committee is scheduled to announce the name of the agency’s new executive director. The new director will be in place at the board’s April 25 meeting.
*When business slowed at his Buck and Bass Sporting Goods in Honaker, proprietor Jeff Hess decided to grab his crossbow and try the late bow season. In a short time he had killed an excellent 8-point buck.
*Waste Management of Virginia Inc. says it will design watertight containers if the General Assembly allows it to operate trash barges on the James River as part of a compromise between the company and the James River Association.
*When a net of a commercial fisherman broke loose north of Cape Point along the Outer Banks of North Carolina it was adrift full of fish headed toward Cape Point, a popular sport fishing spot off-limits to commercial fishermen. When the net was recaptured, it was reported to hold 125 big red drum and 100 stripers. The net was cut to free the drum, but some had bellied up.
*Waterfowl on the famed Prairie Pothole Region of Canada will benefit from a partnership between Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Canadian government. The focus is to identify and develop scientifically based, on-farm beneficial management practices to be included in Canada’s Agricultural Policy Framework.
*Takahiro Omori, the popular 2004 Bassmaster Classic Champion from Japan, failed to qualify for the 2006 Classic at Kissimmee, Fla., Feb. 24-26.
*Yamaha Marine says it will hold the line on price increases for its outboard motors.
SALTWATER TOURNAMENT
There is a new leader in the croaker category of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. Here are the standings:
BLACK DRUM: 93 pounds, 9 ounces, Willie McWhite, Jr., Richmond, lower eastern Chesapeake Bay.
BLUEFISH: 18 pounds, Carolyn Brown, Virginia Beach, ocean off Virginia Beach.
COBIA: 96 pounds, Michael Goodove, Virginia Beach, lower western Chesapeake Bay.
CROAKER: 4-pounds, 10 ounces, Brandon O’Berry, Chesapeake, lower western Chesapeake Bay.
DOLPHIN: 52 pounds, Willi Fenske, Hopewell, ocean off Virginia Beach.
FLOUNDER: 17 pounds, 2 ounces, Hopie Firth, Poquoson, lower western Chesapeake Bay.
GRAY TRIGGERFISH: 4 pounds, 12 ounces, James Daughtrey III, Suffolk, lower eastern 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: 2 pounds, Joseph Phelan, Virginia Beach, off Virginia Beach.
POMPANO: 3 pounds, 2 ounces, Mark Ottarson, North, Mobjack Bay.
SEA BASS: 7 pounds, 1 ounce, Newman Merritt, Chincoteague, ocean off Eastern Shore.
SHEEPSHEAD: 20 pounds, 12 ounces, Arun Nhek, Newport News, pier of Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
SPADEFISH: 12 pounds, 8 ounces, Jerry Carnell, Jr. Oxford, N.C. upper eastern Chesapeake Bay.
SPANISH MACKEREL: 9 pounds, 2 ounces, Bob Tolhurst, King George, upper western Chesapeake Bay.
SPECKLED TROUT: 11 pounds, 3 ounces, Brain Pomije, Chesapeake, Elizabeth River.
SPOT: 1 pound, 8 ounces, Willie Fleetwood, Hampton, lower James 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) 158 pounds, Eric Holum, Silver Springs, Md., ocean off Eastern Shore.
TUNA: 90 pounds, 8 ounces, John Mackey, Virginia Beach, ocean off Virginia Beach.
WAHOO: 83 pounds, 2 ounces, John Hamilton, Norfolk, ocean off Eastern Shore.
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Striped Bass World Championship, coastal Virginia, through Dec. 31, prizes valued at nearly $10,000, information on www.StripedBassWorldChampionship.com.
Late archery season through Jan. 7.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, 9 a.m., Dec. 14, DGIF headquarters 4000 W. Broad Street, Richmond.
Late muzzleloading season, Dec. 17-Jan. 7.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, Jan. 17, 4000 W. Broad Street, Richmond.
Richmond Chapter Ducks Unlimited banquet, Feb. 16, Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond, details on www.durichmond.com.
Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 24-26, Lake Tohopekaliga in Kissimmee, Florida.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, March 21, 4000 W. Broad Street, Richmond.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, April 25, 4000 W. Broad Street, Richmond.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, June 20, 4000 W. Broad Street, Richmond.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, Aug. 22, 4000 W. Broad Street, Richmond.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, Oct. 17, 4000 W. Broad Street, Richmond.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, Dec. 12, 4000 W. Broad Street, Richmond.
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