Thursday, January 12, 2006
Bill would revamp DGIF board
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
The 11-members currently on the board of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries would be dismissed and replaced with an expanded, 13-member board under a bill introduced by Scott Lingamfelter, R-Woodbridge.
Lingamfelter, a co-chairman of the Sportsman’s Caucus, said, “I want to make sure that the actions of the board are above reproach.”
The bill, HB 362, calls for the Speaker of the House to appoint four board members; the Senate Rules Committee three members and the governor six members. Under the current system, one member from each of the congressional districts is appointed by the governor.
Lingamfelter’s bill specifies that at least one board member be appointed from the following regions: Northern Virginia, Central Virginia, Hampton Roads and Southwest Virginia. The remainder would be at large. The majority of board members would have to be associated with hunting and fishing interest and others would represent conservation interests, wildlife biology and “marine” biology. Boating and wildlife watching, important aspects of DGIF, are not mentioned.
The DGIF, which is under the Secretary of Natural Resources, would be reassigned to the executive branch of state government.
The bill also calls for the minute books and other records of the DGIF to be open to examination by members of the General Assembly and that the appointment of the director be confirmed by the General Assembly.
“The events of late I think warrant more of our involvement,” said Lingamfelter.
As for involvement, look for a number of other pieces of legislation aimed at revamping the DGIF.
BILL
STILL MORE BILLS
>Localities would be able to decide if they wanted to have Sunday hunting under HB 711 introduced by Onzlee Ware, D-Roanoke. HB 632, introduced by Clarence Philips, D-Castlewood, would permit hunting on Sunday west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
>The price of a state forest hunting or trapping permit would jump for $10 to $15 under HB 260, introduced by Watkins Abbitt, I-Appomattox.
>HB 252 is an attempt to regulate commercial menhaden fishing, an important food source of game fish in the Chesapeake Bay. The fish also is valued by commercial fishermen.
Recreation anglers have suffered major defeats in the past when they have supported legislation that would move the management of menhaden from the General Assembly to the Marine Resources Commission.
This bill directs the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to adopt the menhaden management plan of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, a multi-state coastal agency that regulates many Atlantic fish. Virginia’s plan could not be more restrictive than the multistate plan. The bill was introduced by John Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake.
>SB 84 would limit the annual harvest of menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay to 105,783 metric tons, in accordance with the cap placed on the fishery by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. It was introduced by Sen. John Watkins, R-Midlothian.
>Trappers would have to check their submerged Conibear-type traps less often under SB 83. Current law says all traps must be visited daily. SB 83, introduced by Watkins, would require trappers to visit their sets once every 72 hours. The House has received a similar bill, HB 575, introduced by Samuel Nixon, Jr. R- Richmond.
>Nixon has another trapping related bill, HB 574, which would establish a $10 trapping license for youngsters 16 and under.
>Many people agree that it is important to crack down on unwanted animals, but some casual breeders say SB 55 goes too far. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Roscoe Reynolds, D-Martinsville, requires “companion animal dealers” to purchase a $150 annual license and to have their pups sterilized and fitted with a microchip. This bill would be harmful to people desiring to maintain a bloodline of hunting dogs, its critics say.
BILL
WARDEN FORCE REORGANIZED
It was pretty obvious that the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ game warden force had become brass heavy, but how could you return it to the proper supervisor to subordinate ratio without pay cuts and hurt feelings?
Col. Gerald Massengill, interim director of the agency did it this way. He restructured the division, handing out new work titles and roles. The old system of rank was composed of game warden, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major and colonel. The new structure is game warden, senior warden, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major and colonel. No warden will receive a pay cut. Some will get raises.
The reorganization puts more emphasize on field -- not office -- work. Field supervisors will have the rank of sergeant and mid-level management officers will have the rank of lieutenants, more in line with standard enforcement models.
BILL
FISHING REPORT
>Even spring-like weather this week wasn’t enough to jumpstart the ocean striper fishing off Virginia Beach. The fish are scattered into small pods, said Claude Bain, director of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. If you troll across a pod you may hook a fish, then it could be an hour or so before you find another, he said.
“There is not as much bird activity as it has been in the past,” Bain said. Diving birds can help locate fish.
Most of the action is south of Virginia Beach near the North Carolina border.
A 50-pound fish won the Mid Atlantic Rockfish Tournament last weekend, an event that attracted 150 boats.
>Big catches of big catfish continue to delight anglers in the tidal James River. Some of the cats are just under the 60-pound mark.
>Three citation striped bass were reported caught at Smith Mountain Lake , which is a huge start for the 2006 season, considering this fishery was set back by a major die-off of large fish.
Bobby Fowler reported that he had been catching stripers at Smith Mountain at depths of 40 to 60 feet.
Striper fishing is classified as “hot” in Lake Anna. Two fishermen at Anna reported taking limits each day during a four-day outing.
JACK RANDOLPH/BILL
SWEETER POT FOR BASS FEDERATION
BASS has waved a peace flag to its warring Federation members, offering a new program that it called “taking a bold step into the next generation of BASS State Federation chapters.”
BASS said it will improve the lagging communications with its federation members and offer more funding for conservation and more support for youth and education. Tournament competition also will be revamped. BASS recently dismissed several leaders of the federation.
In the meanwhile, a new organization, called he National Association of Bass Clubs, is vying for the attention of disgruntled BASS Federation members. The organization is offering an association newspaper, an interactive Web site and annual tournaments. Access to the Web site is www.BassFacts.com.
The Web site for BASS is www.bassmaster.com.
BILL
LEASING LAND TO HUNTERS
If you own a farm and/or woodland, it may be a good move to lease your property to a hunt club or group of hunters. The benefits are bountiful. You can tell the strangers knocking on your door with a request to hunt, “Hey, I would like to let you, but I have leased the hunting rights.”
The lease holders will care for your property as if it were their own. You have solved the deer over-population problem. You have made a bunch of people happy and earned yourself some income.
But how do you make all of this work?
That will be the subject of a program by the Tri-County Forestry and Wildlife Association 6 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Hanging Rock Moose Lodge.
Three experts who represent both sides of the lease setup will be featured: Dr. Pete Bromley, retired coordinator of Fisheries/Wildlife at North Carolina State University; Lanier Frantz, a Craig County landowners whose property is leased to the Humble Harvest Hunt Club and Harry Steeves, best known as a fly angler and author, but also Hunt Master of the Humble Harvest Hut Club.
Visitors are welcome. There will be a $10 dinner fee and you must pre register. You can register through Ellen Horn at the Hunters Den in Craig County, (540) 864-6701.
BILL
CODE OF ETHICS FOR DGIF BOARD
The board of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is expected to adopt a five-page code of ethics and conduct at it Jan. 17 meeting in Richmond. The document states that board members shall act with integrity and in an ethical and professional manner in their interactions with each other, the Director of the Secretary of Natural Resources, members of the General Assembly, department employees, consultants, advisors and the public.
The State Internal Auditor came down heavy on the board last year for failing in its responsibility to oversee the agency’s finances and operations. The board’s chairman resigned and the agency’s executive director was fired. A new executive director is scheduled to be named in March.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
>The Bassarama has been around sine 1980, and this year promoter Ronnie Bache is promising more displays, more pros, more of everything anglers delight in seeing. The event is set for Jun. 27-29 at the Richmond Raceway Complex. Details are available at www.bassarama.com.
>Five Virginians are scheduled to participate in the inaugural ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series National Championship, Jan. 19-21 on East Lake Tohopekaliga in Kissimmee, Fla. Up for grabs are the $500,000 grand prize and one slot in the 2006 Bassmaster Classic at the same spot Feb. 24-26. The Virginians are Chris Atwell, Mechanicsville; Mark Cox, Hiawassee; Thomas Little, Chester; Dough Luper, Alexandria and Craig Owens, Chesapeake.
>A Virginia Beach man has been charged with murder in the death of his 44-year old wife who was killed with a crossbow.
>BASS is soliciting participants for its tour event scheduled Oct. 26-28 at Smith Mountain Lake. Interested competitors can register at www.bassmaster.com or by calling 1-877-BASSUSA. First prize is a Triton boat.
> Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell recently signed a bill which authorizes that state’s game department to establish a mentored youth hunting program with the idea of introducing more young people to the sport of hunting.
>FishAmerica Foundation is offering grants of up to $50,000 each to sporting clubs, conservation associations and local and state agencies for restoring marine and anadromous fisheries habitat. Grant packages are available on www.fishamerica.org.
>For the 16th consecutive year, the Labrador retriever is the most popular purebred dog in America, according to AKC registration figures released this week. The Golden Retriever held onto the number two spot and the Yorkshire terrier made significant gains, beating the German shepherd and Beagle to become the third most popular dog in the country.
BILL
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
The 22nd annual Fishing Expo & Boat Show, Timonium Md., Jan. 12-15, www.fishingexpo.com.
Central Virginia Boat Show, Jan. 13-15, Greater Richmond Convention Center, www.macevents.com.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, Jan. 17, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond.
Bassmaster University , Jan. 21-22, Radisson Hotel, Hampton, two days of instruction by Kevin VanDam, Mike Iaconelli, Jimmy Houston, Woo Daves, Gary Klein and Randy Howell, $139, information and registration at www.Bassmaster.com.
Baltimore Boat Show, Jan. 21-29, Baltimore Convention Center, www.baltimoreboatshow.com.
Chesapeake Fishing & Outdoor Expo, Jan. 21-22, Showplace Arena, Upper Marlboro, Md. , www.chesapeakefishingoutdoorexpo.com.
Bassarama, Jan. 27-29, Richmond Raceway Complex, information from www.bassarama.com.
4-H Natural Resources Weekend, Holiday Lake 4-H Center, Appomattox , Jan. 27-29, tops cover everything from wildlife identification to GPS basics, to hiking and fishing. Fee is $78, which includes meals. To register, call: 434-248-5444.
Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show, Feb. 4-12, State Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg , Pa. , www.easternsportshow.com.
Mid-Atlantic Boat Show, Feb. 4-12, Virginia Beach Convention Center.
Richmond Chapter Ducks Unlimited banquet, Feb. 16, Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond , details on www.durichmond.com.
Virginia Mountains Chapter Ruffed Grouse Society banquet, Wyndham Hotel, Roanoke, Feb. 18, information or tickets from Mike Taylor, 540-977-0087 or 540-890-5133.
Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 24-26, Lake Tohopekaliga in Kissimmee, Fla.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, March 21, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond.
Wilderness First Aid Class, March 25-26, Blacksburg , two-days of classroom study, hands-on practice that results in a two-year certification, $160. For additional information and to register, phone 703 836-8905 or visit http://wfa.net.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, April 25, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, June 20, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, Aug. 22, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, -Oct. 17, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond.
Bassmaster tour event, Smith Mountain Lake , Oct. 26-28, register on www.bassmaster.com.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, Dec. 12, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond.
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