Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.

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Bill Cochran's Outdoors

Recent columns

• Less freedom at Hatteras for surf casters
• Here’s the scoop on hunting shed antlers
• Want more grouse? Get used to hearing chainsaws
• Sunday hunting bills aplenty, but some hunters hold out
• Column archive

Bill's Mailbag

• Hunting for a book on rabbit hunting
• More comments on Sunday hunting
• Mail archive

Bill's Field Reports

• Winterize your boat? Heck no! Keep on fishing
• Senator gets attention of DGIF
• Field reports archive

Resources

• Trout stocking schedule

BILL: Thanks for your article on the menhaden (see last week’s Cochran Column) and bringing the situation to our attention. One questions: What should we do, call our congressman or state senators? I live in Richmond and have a boat in Hampton.

RON: I hate to tell you, but the debate is over. The bills that would have shifted the management of menhaden from the General Assembly to the scientists of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission were quickly defeated by the power of the commercial menhaden industry, thanks to its lobbyist and campaign contributions. Sport fishermen didn’t have a chance this time, but there will be opportunities in the future and I thank you for your interest.

BILL: What would you say is the most dangerous animal that we hunt?

F.A.: I’m probably going to surprise you and say the white-tailed deer. According to North American Whitetail Magazine, each year more than 300 people die in vehicle-deer collusions.