DEM MONITORING FISH KILL IN THE SEEKONK AND PROVIDENCE RIVERS

 

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

PROVIDENCE – Scientists from the Department of Environmental Management are monitoring a large fish kill of adult menhaden in the Seekonk and Providence Rivers. Based on field observations and water quality measurements, the ongoing incident is being caused by low oxygen levels in the bottom waters.

  Initial reports indicate the fish kill began in the upper Seekonk River in the evening or early morning hours of July 17-18. A field investigator from DEM’s Marine Fisheries section surveyed the area on July 20, measured water quality in the Seekonk River and performed a count of dead fish. Approximately 100 dead menhaden were found during the shoreline count at Bishop’s Cove and the Pawtucket boat ramp and pier area. Dead fish were also strewn along inaccessible shoreline areas, and so the estimated total count was in the low hundreds. Oxygen levels below ~ 3 feet were very low in the channel near the Pawtucket boat ramp and pier on the Seekonk River, and the likely main factor in the fish kill.

  DEM has been collaborating with the Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) to monitor the hypoxic (low oxygen) conditions in the affected waters. NBC field staff performed a regularly-scheduled water quality survey in the Seekonk and Providence Rivers on July 21 and 22. They shared their data with DEM and took fish samples for analysis. The data showed that the low-oxygen water extended all the way to India Point Park, and that almost the entire length of the Seekonk River is experiencing a severe low oxygen event. Menhaden are often pinned in by predators like bluefish that attack them when they attempt to move out of these poor water quality areas, forcing them to remain in these low-oxygen areas.

  Reports early this week indicate that dead menhaden are being found along the East Providence shore in the Providence River. This suggests that the low-oxygen water has extended further south and is affecting the lower Providence River this week. A survey of the upper third of Narragansett Bay by Brown University and the University of Rhode Island will be conducted this week. Scientists will have a better picture of the extent of the hypoxia when that data is available.

  The hypoxic conditions are brought on by excess nutrients from various sources that cause algae to grow rapidly and often color the water. The Seekonk River is presently a brown color due to a large bloom of nontoxic algae. As algae die (they only live for a short period) they sink to bottom waters, and bacteria in the bottom waters use oxygen to decompose their bodies. Large algae blooms often result in low oxygen levels that are lethal to fish. Major wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs) in Rhode Island remove a large percent of the nutrients through tertiary treatment before releasing their treated effluent into the state’s waters. However, other sources of nutrients such as fertilizers in storm water runoff and discharges from WWTFs that do not provide tertiary treatment are significant sources of nutrients, especially on the Blackstone River. DEM will continue to compile information on the extent of this low-oxygen event. The Department expects that additional fish kills will occur while large schools of menhaden continue to congregate in the Providence and Seekonk River areas, until weather conditions such as a strong wind from a local storm or a cooling weather pattern comes through.

 

Virginia School Places 1st at National Archery School Program ( NASP) World Tournament

   Posted by Wayne G. Barber
An archery team from Virginia's Ronald Reagan Middle School in Prince William County beat teams from Canada, the United Kingdom, Namibia, South Africa, and the United States to win the 3D Archery Challenge at the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) World Tournament held in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday.
 There were 236 schools competing in the NASP archery competition with a total of 2,633 boys and 2,238 girls entered. The tournament consisted of a bullseye target competition at 10 and 15 meters, as well as a NASP-IBO 3D target challenge. In the 3D challenge teams of 12 archers shoot at six 3D animal targets from a distance of 10 and 15 meters, as well as from 4 unknown distances. The team from Ronald Reagan placed first in the Middle School Division in the 3D challenge with a score of 1407.
 "It's rewarding to see these very gifted and talented students recognized for all their hard work and dedication," said Karen Holson, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries' State NASP Coordinator. "The level of success these students have achieved is a testimony to the benefits of the National Archery in the Schools Program and its ability to build skills and develop confidence in students."
 Along with taking first place in the Middle School Division, one of the team members from Ronald Reagan Middle School, Amanda Kreamer, placed 5th in overall score for Middle School Females in the 3D NASP – IBO Challenge with a total score of 284.
 Other Virginia teams competing in the NASP World Tournament were Chickahominy Middle School from Hanover Co; Monelison Middle School from Amherst County; Northside Middle from Roanoke; Atlee High School from Hanover County; Elon Elementary from Amherst County; and Richneck Elementary from Newport News.

Committee votes to return canoe nationals to Penobscot for next two years

Posted by Wayne G. Barber
When Scott Phillips and his fellow race organizers worked to stage the Penobscot River Whitewater Nationals Regatta, they were hoping the races wouldn’t end up being a one-time event.
  Before the four-day championships wrapped up on Sunday, Phillips learned that attendees were duly impressed: During a Saturday meeting of the American Canoe Assocation’s competition committee, members voted to return to Old Town and stage the next two editions of the championships on the Penobscot River.
“The organizing committee has been so competent,” said Keith Havens of Deer Lodge, Tenn., the chairman of the committee, who also competed in the event. “The sponsorships, the community support, and of course the venue [were impressive]. This is just a beautiful river.”

Ryan Linehan and his son, Ryan, dump their canoe during the junior-senior race in the Penobscot River Whitewater Nationals Regatta that started in Old Town and ended in Eddington Thursday. The competition committee of the American Canoe Association voted on Saturday to return to the Penobscot for the next two whitewater open canoe national championships in 2016 and 2017. Ashley L. Conti | BDN

 

Some paddlers expected the decision to favor a return to Old Town, citing a recent precedent: The Nantahala River in North Carolina served as host for the nationals for three straight years beginning in 2012.
  Before that, however, the national competition had been held at a different venue each year, including rivers in Massachusetts (2011), Colorado (2010) and Maine (2009).
Havens said holding the event in the same spot for a three-year period makes sense, both for organizers and competitors.
Phillips, who served as race director, said there was a short debate before the vote was taken.
“The majority of the paddlers, and the people that can vote [on a proposal] liked what went on here,” Phillips said. “They liked the course, they liked the organization, and what was going on in town.”
One adjustment will be made, Phillips promised: Instead of a late-July event, next year’s nationals will take place about a month earlier in order to take advantage of predictably higher water conditions.
“I would say right now we’ve been paddling at 3.25, 3.50 [feet of water on a gauge in Eddington], and I would suspect it will probably be somewhere between four and five feet [next year],” Phillips said. “That makes it much more challenging, faster. It’s a different river [at that level]. You can run different lines through a lot of the drops.”

“People learn about the venues, the restaurants and the hotels,” Havens said. “And they realize they can make it down the river and plan on coming next year and doing better and bringing friends.”
Source: BDN Ashley L. Conti Blog Share

Wayne's Rifle !

Posted by Wayne G. Barber


John Wayne was as prolific as he was iconic. He appeared in more than 170 movies, starred in more than 140, and often had several movies in theaters simultaneously. He could make almost any movie he wanted, with anyone he wanted, for any salary he wanted. Yet with all that flexibility, there was one specific rifle he chose to use again and again in his cowboy appearances.

It was the same rifle that had help make him a star. Director John Ford took the then-struggling actor and featured him in Stagecoach as Henry "the Ringo Kid," the rifle-slinging criminal bound for revenge and redemption at the end of a dusty wagon trail. Wayne's character was given a signature firearm: a big-looped Winchester Model 92 Trapper with the barrel chopped short.

VT Peregrine Falcon Nesting Cliffs Reopened for Hikers

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

On August 1, Vermont Fish & Wildlife will reopen the cliffs closed to hiking and access earlier this spring to protect nesting peregrine falcons.

"The young peregrines have fledged, and nesting data suggest Vermont falcons had a good year," said Vermont Fish & Wildlife's migratory bird biologist John Buck. "This is due, in part, to cooperation from hikers and rock climbers who observe a respectful distance from nesting falcons during this critical period. Peregrine nesting success is also helped by the more than 40 volunteers who monitor the nest sites statewide from March to the end of July."

According to Audubon biologist Margaret Fowle, who coordinates the monitoring effort on behalf of the Fish & Wildlife Department, biologists and volunteers monitored a record 49 peregrine pairs that occupied Vermont cliffs in early spring and summer. Preliminary results indicate of the 49 pairs, at least 43 pairs nested, and 34 pairs successfully produced a minimum of 61 young. Five new nesting sites were discovered this year indicating the population continues to expand.

"We greatly appreciate the time and effort volunteers put into monitoring the population this year, and we thank landowners and recreationists for their cooperation in protecting nesting peregrines from human disturbance," said Fowle.


Vermont Fish & Wildlife and Audubon Vermont partner to monitor and protect peregrine nesting sites in Vermont. Peregrine falcons were removed from the state's Threatened and Endangered Species List in 2005. Ongoing cooperation from recreationists and continued monitoring efforts by Vermont Fish & Wildlife and Audubon Vermont will help ensure the peregrine's remarkable recovery in future years.

Greenfield Lake (NH) Boat Ramp Repaired and Open to the Public

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

GREENFIELD, N.H. -- The NH Fish and Game Department has completed a major renovation of the boat ramp at Otter Lake in Greenfield, NH. The ramp and small gravel parking area had been in a state of disrepair including cracked bituminous pavement and scattered concrete slabs leading up to the ramp. The conditions made launching boats difficult and allowed eroded sediment from the ramp and parking area to enter the lake.

A single lane 12-foot wide precast-concrete-plank boat ramp has been constructed to replace the degraded ramp. The refurbished boat access facility includes a larger parking lot with nine trailer parking spaces, including one handicap accessible space. The parking area surface is constructed with a durable paving grid incorporating graded pea stone above a gravel base that provides increased infiltration and storage of storm water. Drainage swales along the perimeter of the site redirect storm water to two bio retention areas, one with a level spreader to control erosion and prevent sediment deposition in the lake.

The public boat ramp at Otter Lake is located off Forest Road about 1.4 miles west of the town center. The lake is approximately 135 acres in size and is an excellent warm water fishery managed by the NH Fish and Game Department. Fish populations include of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch and horned pout.

New Hampshire's Public Boat Access Program is funded through boat registration fees and federal Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration funds. Fish and Game's Facilities Construction and Lands Division acquires land for public water access sites, refurbishes existing sites and builds new public boat access areas. Visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/access for more information.

CONTACT:
Garret Graskamp, Public Boat Access Program Coordinator: (603) 271-1748
Becky Johnson: (603) 271-3211

Vermont's Lemon Fair WMA Lands Grand Opening Tomorrow

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Lemon Fair WMA Lands Grand Opening –10:00 a.m., Tues., July 28

WHAT: A public event to celebrate the addition of 330 acres of land to the Lemon Fair Wildlife Management Area in Cornwall and Bridport, Vermont. The event will include a reception with speakers (listed below), followed by the option of attending one of two 1-hour field trips of the property.

The Lemon Fair Wildlife Management Area contains a slow-moving stream that meanders through wetlands, farm fields, and some of the most productive wildlife habitat in this region of Vermont. It represents the single largest land purchase using Vermont Duck Stamps. It is also the first property that will benefit from the new Vermont Habitat Stamp program.

WHEN: 10:00 a.m., Tues, July 28, 2015
Speakers commence at 10:30, field trips at 11:30

WHERE: 1683 West Street, Cornwall, VT
Directions: If you are coming from Route 125 heading west out of Middlebury, make a left onto West Street. If you are headed east on Route 125 from Bridport, make a right onto West Street. The event will be 1.8 miles to the south on the right. If you are headed west on Route 74, make a right onto West Street and if you are headed east on Route 74, make a left onto West Street.
The event will be 1.6 miles to the north on the left.

WHO:
ANR Secretary Deb Markowitz
Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter
NRCS Vermont State Conservationist Vicky Drew
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Biologist Chris Smith
Waterfowl Advisory Committee Member Lawrence Pyne

Northern Copperhead Snake & 13 Others in the Tri-State Region

       

   Posted by Wayne G. Barber
Snakes are reptiles. There are 14 species of snakes listed for Rhode Island. Only 2 are venomous. Rhode Island snakes are often maligned but do not tend to be aggressive. If you leave them alone, they are going to leave you alone. Our snakes, including the 2 vipers, only bite if handled or threatened.
Snakes are actually helpful, eating many of the small rodents that cause trouble and thus keeping their population at a manageable level.

• Venomous Snakes

• Copperhead
• Timber rattlesnake

The northern copperhead is a pit viper, so named because of two heat-sensing pits located between the eyes and nostrils. Copperheads are venomous. They are stocky snakes with copper-colored, brown or reddish-brown hour-glass-shaped bands along their body against a lighter background color. Their bellies are pinkish and may have dark markings. Their heads are much wider than their necks and have a triangular shape. They have yellow or coppery eyes. Unlike the eyes of the non-venomous snakes in Rhode Island and in Connecticut, a copperhead's eyes have vertical pupils. Copperheads also have 2 openings on each side of their head in contrast to the 1 opening present in Connecticut's non-venomous snakes. Northern copperheads can be 24 to 37 inches long.
There are several copperhead subspecies that range through the eastern states of the US; the range is generally from southwestern Massachusetts west to extreme southeastern Nebraska and south to the Florida panhandle and south-central Texas. Northern copperheads are found in the southern, central and north central portions of Connecticut. They are not found in the northeastern and northwestern corners of the state.
Copperhead habitat includes open woods, the edges of wetlands and meadows, rocky hills, talus slopes and rock ridges.
Mating season occurs primarily in May in New England. Some snakes may mate in the fall. A male will track the scent of females with his tongue. When a female is located, he will approach and try to rub her with his chin, follow if she moves away, and continue to try to place his head on her and align his body with hers. An agreeable female will wave or whip her tail back and forth or vibrate it. If she is ready to mate she will lift the rear part of her body a little bit so the male can place his tail underneath hers and mating can occur. Mating can last 3 to 8 hours. Males will try to mate with more than one female.
The female will bear live young after a 3-9 month gestation period, usually in September. A snake that has mated in the fall will likely not give birth until the following spring. 3-10 babies are born and are not cared for by their mother. They are about 7 to 9 inches long and have fangs and venom from the start.
Copperheads are more likely to be out basking during the day in spring and fall. Snakes cannot regulate their body temperature internally and must warm themselves in the sun. Over the warmer months they are more nocturnal. They hibernate in the winter from about late September or October to about April. Dens in rock crevices or old burrows are generally used, and these snakes often den communally. They can share winter dens with other copperheads or with other snake species. They will often use the same den for years.
Northern copperheads eat insects, mice, other rodents, small birds and frogs. They hunt by lying motionless in ambush for their prey. They locate prey by sight, smell and can sense body heat with their sensory pits. When prey animals come near, the snake strikes.
Northern copperheads have fangs for delivering venom. These are hunting tools and their design is fascinating. The two fangs are attached to the upper jaw and fold back against the roof of the mouth in sheaths. Each fang has a duct that is connected to one of the snake's venom glands in the gum. When the snake strikes prey, the fangs move forward and out and puncture the animal. Muscles force venom out of the gland, through the fang and into the prey. Periodically fangs are shed and replaced with new ones that have developed in the gum behind the pre-ceeding fang.
The venom kills the small animals these snakes eat very quickly. After striking, the snake tracks the animal by heat and scent until it has been overcome by the poison and the snake can swallow their meal whole. It is worth noting that, although copperheads will bite in self-defense if surprised, threatened or handled, they are NOT out to get humans. We are much too large for their tastes. They will try to avoid contact, and wish to be left alone. A copperhead does not deliver enough poison to kill the average, healthy, adult human being. That being said, a bite that delivers venom (sources say around 25% percentage of defensive bites are "dry" meaning no venom is delivered) can be extremely painful, cause tissue injury, and make a person quite sick. Bites are dangerous.
To avoid trouble, don't harass or approach snakes, don't try to handle one, watch where you step, and if you see a copperhead, move away slowly. They really don't want to interact with you.
The current recommendations for snakebite first aid from the Center for Disease Control are as follows: First, after moving away from the snake, get medical help for the victim as soon as possible. This is something for which 911 should be called. Keep the bitten person calm and quiet. Have them lay down or sit down with the bitten area lower than the heart if possible. Wash the bite with soap and water and cover with a clean dressing. Do not pursue the snake and try to catch it. Do not apply a tourniquet or cut the puncture wounds with a knife. Do not attempt to suck out venom. Do not immerse the wound in water or use ice. Do not let the victim drink alcohol or caffeine.
The non-venomous eastern milk snake, Dekay's brown snake and eastern hog-nosed snake are often mistakenly thought to be copperheads. It is worth noting that, although copperheads will bite in self-defense if surprised, threatened or handled, they are NOT out to get humans. We are much too large for their tastes. They will try to avoid contact, and wish to be left alone. A copperhead does not deliver enough poison to kill the average, healthy, adult human being. That being said, a bite that delivers venom (sources say around 25% percentage of defensive bites are "dry" meaning no venom is delivered) can be extremely painful, cause tissue injury, and make a person quite sick. Bites are dangerous. 
  The non-venomous eastern Dekay's brown snake and eastern hog-nosed snake are often mistakenly thought to be copperheads.

Non-venomous Snakes

Black racer

Dekay's brownsnake

Eastern ratsnake

Eastern ratsnake (juvenile)

Garter snake

Hog-nosed snake

Milk snake

Northern watersnake

Redbelly snake

Ribbonsnake

Ring-necked snake

Smooth greensnake

Worm snake

Sprayed By A Skunk: How To Wash Your Dog

Posted by Wayne G. Barber
“Artie’s been sprayed”, were the first words out of my youngest son John Wayne's mouth when he walked in the door. A couple friends were over and I was about to throw burgers on the grill. A quick double check confirmed the reality. The dog had been blasted at point blank range. The acrid smell permeated everything.
Given enough time it happens to all of them. Dogs get sprayed by skunks, bird dogs a bit more often. Skunks live in nearly every part of the country and in all sorts of environments. Dogs have a way of seeking them out like laser guided missiles. It’s not a matter of if, but when, your dog will be sprayed.
In the event of the inevitable, you have no choice but to deal with your reeking dog. Filling the bath tub with tomato juice to bathe your fowl smelling canine is a bad idea. First you do not want to let your dog in the house under any circumstance. You will regret it.
  Second, using tomato juice or sauce to get rid of the smell is an old wives tale. Tomato only masks the smell, it does not remove it.
But you are not out of luck. Mix the following ingredients in a bucket, put on rubber gloves, grab the hose and get to washing your pup. A second washing might be needed, but you’ll be ahead of the game before you know it:

• 1 quart of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide (available at your local pharmacy)
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap

To help increase your odds of success get a friend to help hold the dog. Then pay close attention to the areas around the collar, ears and nose, which likely received the brunt of the blast. You might smell whiffs of skunk for days. It has a way of lingering in your nose or on anything it came into contact with during the cleaning process. Best of luck!  Source: Steven Brutger

5 Tips for better photography when Fishing

Posted by Wayne G. Barber
  Wayne recently shared some hard learned advice for how to get better fish photos when handling fish in front of the lens. Well, it takes two to tango, and the one holding the camera also has a lot to do with how the final product turns out. Here’s a handful of behind the lens tips to help you capture fishing images that do the fish, and your experiences, the justice they deserve.

Don’t take pictures of fish– Fish are gorgeous and photos of them can be too. But alone, they hardly scratch the surface when it comes to telling the story of fishing. In the last two months, I shot fishing images on 14 different occasions. I realized in reviewing the thousands of images which resulted that I only photographed one fish. Believe it or not it was not the only fish caught in my presence. All of the details, people, and activities that go into fishing provide great insight as to why we fish. Consequently, some of the most memorable fishing shots don’t have a fish in them at all.

Capture a piece of the action–  Many of your classic grip and grin shots are static. Capture instead the moments that show the action and excitement of fishing. Fighting, netting, and releasing fish; high-fiveing a buddy; the look of dejection after losing a good one – all of these actions are full of emotion that will come through in your images and get at the heart of what makes fishing great. In addition to high action, look for some of the more reflective moments or subtle details, such as an angler reading the water in the early morning, or retying a rig.

Good Light– True of pretty much all photos, good light is often the difference between a good image and a great image. Fish pictures are no exception. Early morning and evening light give the incredible colors and details of fish a chance to shine. Try backlighting a fin by framing the sun behind your catch, or capturing reflections off the water to add an extra dimension to your shot.

Focus on the eye– What qualifies as a good photo is subjective in many ways, and nearly every so called rule is made to be broken. But with that said, when there’s a fish eye in my frame, I always want it to be in focus. We are drawn naturally eyes. I often shoot with a shallow depth of field to highlight certain parts of the fish. Even then though, I want the eye to be tack sharp. In general, when the eye is out of focus, the image doesn’t makes the cut.
Source: Steven Brutger & Stalking the Seam

Go wide or tight– Folks commonly  take  hero shots at a medium distance, framing both the entire person and the fish. Consider abandoning that middle of the road approach next time, and go wide or tight instead. Wide shots, where the fish is often just a small element of the whole picture, can be great for conveying the beauty or feel of the environment where you are fishing. Fish, after all, rarely live in ugly places. Conversely, shoot up close or tight. The gill plates, eyes, fins, and markings of fish are all worthy of dedicated attention, so go ahead and get up close and personal.

Women in the Outdoors Event, Aug. 15 at Buck Lake

           

Posted by Wayne G. Barber
MONTPELIER, Vt. – The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and Vermont chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation are putting on a one-day "Women in the Outdoors" introductory course on Saturday, August 15 at Buck Lake in Woodbury.

"This is a great opportunity if you want to learn about some of the exciting outdoor activities we have in Vermont that enable us to actively enjoy our fish and wildlife resources," said Nicole Corrao, a Fish & Wildlife Education Specialist. "We will have a guided wildlife identification walk, basic shooting instruction, turkey hunting tactics, fly fishing basics, and more – all taught by highly experienced instructors."

The 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. course will be held at the Green Mountain Conservation Camp at Buck Lake in Woodbury. Women must be 18 years of age or older, although anyone younger may attend if accompanied by parent or guardian. Information is available on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife website (http://www.register-ed.com/events/view/65227). Pre-registration through Ron Lafreniere with the National Wild Turkey Federation costs $35. Registration fee includes lunch and all materials for the day.

For more information and to register, contact Ron at 802-434-4274.

"One of the nice take-away benefits of the course is that you will meet other women you will be able to network with in the future to share knowledge about these outdoor activities," said Corrao.


Media Contacts: Ron Lafreniere (NWTF) 802-434-4274
Kim Barrett (VTF&W) 802-828-1193
Nicole Corrao (VTF&W), 802-318-1347

Vermont Hunters Reminded to Apply for Antlerless Deer Permits

      

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

MONTPELIER, Vt. – The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department reminds hunters they can apply for muzzleloader season antlerless deer permits for use in the December 5-13 muzzleloader season.

Hunters can apply on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department's website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). A quick-link to the information and application is provided on the home page. Or, they can apply with a paper application available from license agents.

"The online application is a really swift and easy process that ensures you are immediately entered into the lottery," said Mark Scott, director of wildlife. "Plus, it saves you postage. We encourage you to use the online application because it is more efficient for you and for us. Be sure to apply before the August 28 deadline."

Like in the past, a person may apply in the lottery category, or as a landowner. It is a violation for a landowner to apply for a landowner antlerless permit if they are posting their land against hunting. Fish & Wildlife says it will be closely monitoring landowner applications and listing permit winners in both categories on its website.

The number of December muzzleloader season antlerless permits is 9,650 distributed in 10 of Vermont's 21 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs).

"The number of muzzleloader season antlerless deer permits was reduced from the 17,050 issued last year due to a decline in deer numbers caused by two severe winters in 2014 and 2015," said Scott. "The department's recommendation for antlerless deer hunting is based on population trend estimates, biological data, deer sighting rates reported by hunters, and winter severity data, as well as input from game wardens, foresters and the public."



Contacts: Scott Darling, 802-786-3862
Mark Scott, 802-777-4217

New Hampshire Newborn Lifetime Combination Hunting and Fishing License Available

     Posted by Wayne G. Barber

New Hampshire Newborn Lifetime Combination Hunting and Fishing License AvailableCONCORD, N.H. – The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department now offers the best baby gift ever for the outdoors family! The Newborn Lifetime Combination Hunting and Fishing License is now available.

New Hampshire's Newborn Lifetime Combination Hunting and Fishing License is a special gift certificate. The holder of the certificate, upon reaching the age of 16, will be able to redeem it for a lifetime New Hampshire freshwater fishing license and (upon completion of the Hunter Education requirement) a lifetime hunting license.

This is an opportunity to provide children under one year of age who are NH residents with perpetual future access to New Hampshire's hunting and freshwater fishing adventures at the one-time price of $300 (plus $4.50 for habitat and agent fees).

Specially designed NH Fish and Game camo-themed onesies, in sizes 6-months and 12-months, may be purchased separately, and make a great gift to be presented with the certificate.

Purchase of a Newborn Lifetime Combination Hunting and Fishing License gift certificate can be made only at the Fish and Game's headquarters office in Concord, NH, or by mail. The applications are available on the Fish and Game website at wildnh.com/licensing/forms.html. The application process requires a copy of the child's birth certificate and a copy of one parent's (or legal guardian's) valid N.H. driver's license or non-driver picture identification to establish residency.

If you have questions, visit wildnh.com/licensing/newborn.html or call the N.H. Fish and Game Licensing Office at (603) 271-3422.

Proceeds from Newborn Lifetime Combination Hunting and Fishing License sales go to a special New Hampshire Fish and Game Department trust fund, helping to ensure that healthy fish and wildlife resources and opportunities for outdoor recreation will be here for future generations.

Buckley Appointed Director of Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Posted by Wayne G. Barber
Jack Buckley was recently appointed Director of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) by the Fisheries and Wildlife Board. Buckley has been with MassWildlife since 1988 as Deputy Director of Administration.

"I am very grateful to the Board for giving me this extraordinary opportunity," said MassWildlife Director Jack Buckley. "While there are challenges ahead, I believe the future looks bright, and I look forward to working with hunters, anglers, trappers, environmentalists, and all citizens to fulfill our public trust responsibility to the people and natural resources of the Commonwealth."

As a senior agency manager, Buckley has been directly involved with the development of fisheries and wildlife management and policy initiatives at MassWildlife. He has provided general management and research guidance to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program; represented the Division's interest to the legislature; worked with various constituent groups to implement agency initiatives; supervised the Federal Aid Program; provided supervision and guidance to the Information and Education staff; and coordinated programs with the Department of Fish and Game, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and other conservation partners.

In addition, Buckley has represented MassWildlife on several committees with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, including Legislative Affairs, Federal Budget, and International Affairs. He serves as the regional representative for the Northeastern states to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Technical Working Group.

Prior to working for the Division, Buckley was the Chief of Fisheries Management in Washington D.C. for the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. He was also a Project Leader at the Massachusetts Cooperative Fishery Research Unit at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he directed a multi-agency funded research project on the behavioral ecology and population dynamics of the endangered Shortnose Sturgeon. Buckley earned a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Fisheries Biology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Bachelor's degree in History from Ripon College in Wisconsin.

Waterfowl Meetings -- Aug. 4, Whitehall, NY -- Aug. 5, Essex, VT

       

Posted by Wayne G. Barber
ESSEX, Vt. -- Public meetings on the status of waterfowl populations and waterfowl hunting seasons for the State of Vermont and Lake Champlain zone in New York will be held Tuesday, August 4, in Whitehall, New York, and Wednesday, August 5, in Essex, Vermont. The annual meetings are being held by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.

The August 4 meeting will be held at the Skenesborough Rescue Squad building in Whitehall, New York. The August 5 meeting will be held at Memorial Hall, 5 Towers Road, Essex, Vermont. Both meetings will run from 7 to 9 p.m.

Vermont and New York waterfowl hunters are encouraged to attend one of these meetings and share their preferences and opinions with other waterfowl hunters and Vermont and New York wildlife personnel.

Under Federal regulations, waterfowl seasons, bag limits, and shooting hours in the Lake Champlain Zone must be uniform throughout the entire zone. Therefore, waterfowl seasons in New York's portion of the Lake Champlain Zone must be identical to the waterfowl season in Vermont's portion of the Zone.

Comments received at the August meetings, as well as input and recommendations from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, will be reviewed by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board.


**Please note that the Vermont meeting is in Essex**


GPS Address
5 Tower Road
Essex, VT 05452
44.512346 073.059717

Additional parking can be found at a park and ride located at 3 Jericho Road (Route 15).

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request at the Vermont meeting. Please include a description of the accommodation you will need. Individuals making such requests must include their contact information. Requests should be made as early as possible, for example an interpreter must be requested at least two weeks in advance, if possible. Please send an e-mail to:
David.Sausville@state.vt.us or call the office staff at 802-878-1564 (voice), 1-800-253-0191 (TTY).
Source: The Outdoor Wire Media Press Release

NH Early Migratory Game Bird Seasons Set

   

Posted by Wayne G. Barber
CONCORD, N.H. -- The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has finalized the 2015 hunting season dates and bag limits for early season migratory game birds, with no changes in bag limits from last year. The 2015 seasons for these game birds are as follows:

Resident Canada geese: The daily bag limit is five birds per day, statewide, during the September season, which extends September 1 through September 25, 2015.

Youth Waterfowl Weekend: This year, the youth weekend falls on Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27, 2015. All regular season waterfowl regulations, including bag limits, shooting hours, use of non-toxic shot, etc., apply during the youth weekend. For more on youth hunting in N.H., visit http://www.huntnh.com/hunting/youth.html

Woodcock: October 1 – November 14, 2015. Daily bag limit is 3 birds per day.

Snipe: September 15 – November 14, 2015. Daily bag limit is 8 birds per day.

Sea ducks: October 1, 2015 – January 15, 2015. Daily bag limit is 7 birds per day, with no more than 4 scoters, 4 eiders or 4 long-tailed ducks.

Crows: August 15 - November 30, 2015. Next spring's two-week crow season will be March 16-31, 2016.

To hunt for migratory birds, a resident must have a current Regular NH Hunting, Combination or Archery License. A nonresident must have a Regular NH Hunting, Combination, Archery or a Small Game License. No license is required for youth hunters (under age 16); youth must be accompanied by a properly licensed adult age 18 or older. In addition, duck and goose hunters 16 and older must have a:

• NH State Migratory Waterfowl License;
  
• National Migratory Bird Harvest Information or "HIP" certification number to hunt ducks, geese, woodcock and snipe; and a
  
• Federal Duck Stamp with the hunter's named signed across the face.

The Federal Duck Stamp can be purchased at many U.S. Post Offices or at Fish and Game headquarters in Concord (or Region 2 Office in New Hampton
HIP permit numbers can be obtained by calling 1-800-207-6183, or go to the "Buy Your License Online" section of the Fish and Game website huntnh.com to receive a permit number (there is no charge). This number should be written on the hunting license. Harvest information from HIP allows Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to make more reliable estimates of the number of all migratory birds harvested. Each year, a random selection of hunters is asked to complete a voluntary harvest survey.

Hunters are asked to report all banded birds by calling toll-free to 1-800-327-BAND. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will send a certificate with information about the bird.

For more information on waterfowl or other New Hampshire hunting seasons, or to buy licenses and permits online, visit http://www.huntnh.com/hunting/waterfowl.html


CONTACT:
Jessica Carloni: (603) 868-1095
Jane Vachon: (603) 271-3211
Source: The Outdoor Wire Media Press Release

Big Fish at Block Island, R.I.

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Block Island is known for it's big striped bass.  This year is no different but the bass have been harder to find, and when you find them they can have lock jaw.  Local captains will tell you the numbers of fish are down but the ones that are aroud are big.  30lb fish are the norm - for the ones who can find them.  Live eels usually do the trick but soft plastic lures like sluggo's and Hurley sand eels also work.  Some Captains have been using a light leader. 15lbs, to ilicit a strike.  Smaller fish have been caught off the East beaches and the bottom of Mohegan Bluffs.  If not using lures, anglers are getting them on whole clams.
   The Coast Guard Station has also held bass from dusk till dawn - feeding on the sand eels coming through the harbor.  The limit is one per person at 28' or above.  For those grumbling over the reduction this year, all you need to do is go try to catch a few and see how hard it can be and how few there are and you may change your mind.     Block Island has long been known as striper territory, a long time hold out for big bass throughout the season.  When this hallowed ground goes sterile then what?  We encourage catch and release and only keep what you will eat, and stick to the smaller ones, 28-34" fish are the healthiest for you and the lingevity of their populations.
~ Capt Chris, B.I. Fishworks

N.H. Spring 2015 Gobbler Season Results

Posted by Wayne G. Barber
CONCORD, N.H. -- New Hampshire hunters took 4,005 turkeys during the May 2015 season, 2.4% more than last year, according to N.H. Fish and Game Department Turkey Project Biologist Ted Walski. In 2014, spring turkey hunters took a total of 3,911 turkeys.

 The youth hunt weekend of April 25 – 26 saw 446 gobblers taken, or 11.1% of the total. Opening day of the regular season (May 3) saw 906 turkeys registered (22.7%).

 The statewide harvest was comprised of 1,358 jakes (young males, 34%) and 2,635 toms (66%), or approximately two toms harvested for each jake.  The breakdown of age classes was:  34% 1-year olds, 37.9% 2-year olds, 20.1% 3-year olds, 6.7% 4-year olds and 1.3% 5+ year old birds.

 Heavy gobblers were numerous during the May 2015 season.  The largest were:  28.5, 27, 26.5 and 26 pounds, followed by nine that weighed in at 25+ pounds and 24 that were 24 pounds.  Six gobblers had beards of 11+ inches.  The two longest were 13.5 and 12.0 inches.  The longest spurs on a gobbler were one of 1.5 inches and two at 1 3/8 inches.

Of the 18 wildlife management units in the state, those from southeastern New Hampshire continue to have the highest harvests.  The units with the most gobblers harvested were:  Unit J2 (620), Unit M (474), Unit K (445), Unit H2 (428) and Unit L (402).

 The turkey harvest per town varies statewide and some towns have an impressive harvest.  Four towns took 50 or more turkeys, ten towns had 40 to 49 turkeys taken and twenty-two towns had 30 to 39 turkeys taken.

 

Don’t forget to report sightings of turkey broods at Fish and Game’s online summer Turkey Brood Survey at http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/surveys/turkeybrood.html

For more on turkey hunting in New Hampshire, visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/hunting/turkey.html

Vermont Moose Hunting Permit Winners Are Drawn

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

 BARRE, Vt. -- The winners of Vermont’s 2015 moose hunting permits were determined Thursday, July 16, at a lottery drawing in Barre. 

  Governor Peter Shumlin, standing alongside Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter, started the computer-generated selection process that randomly picked 265 winners from more than 9,500 lottery applicants. 

  The drawing is done by a random sort of applications that were submitted by a June 17, 2015 deadline. 

  As part of the regular lottery drawing, a “special priority drawing” was held for five permits to go to applicants who have received, or are eligible to receive, a Campaign Ribbon for Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.  The unsuccessful applicants from the Iraqi-Afghanistan drawing were included in the larger regular drawing that followed.  All applicants for both drawings who did not receive a permit were awarded a bonus point to improve their chances in future moose permit lotteries.

  The lottery was held for 40 moose permits to be used in the Vermont’s October 1-7 archery moose hunting season and 225 moose permits for the October 17-22 regular moose season. 

  “Today’s lottery drawing helps celebrate one of Vermont’s successes in science-based wildlife management,” said State Wildlife Biologist Cedric Alexander.  “Vermont’s first moose hunt was in 1993, when 25 moose were taken with 30 permits issued.  We expect close to 120 moose will be taken this fall in a carefully regulated hunt.”

Winners in this year’s moose hunting lottery are posted in a searchable database on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). 

 

If your name wasn’t drawn, you can still bid in Vermont’s auction for five moose hunting permits, which is open until August 13.  Sealed bids must be received by Vermont Fish & Wildlife by 4:30 p.m. that day.  Contact the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department to receive a moose permit bid kit.  Telephone 802-828-1190 or email (cheri.waters@state.vt.us). 

 

Vermont has about 2,400 moose statewide with the greatest concentration in the Northeast Kingdom.  

Connecticut Ospreys Continue to Rebound

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Once almost wiped out in Connecticut by the use of pesticides, ospreys are continuing to make a remarkable comeback, according to Connecticut Audubon Society officials.
The society’s volunteers have counted and mapped 492 osprey nest in Connecticut this year, an increase of more than 18 percent over 2014.
“Early indications are that Connecticut’s osprey population is thriving,” Alexander Brash, president of the Connecticut Audubon Society, said in praising the 134 volunteers who have worked on the Society’s “Osprey Nation” program this year.
“Ospreys are abundant and our map shows that they are nesting throughout the state,” said Brash.
 

Osprey Nation is Connecticut Audubon Society’s citizen science partnership, launched in the summer of 2014, to monitor the health of our state’s Ospreys. The goal of Osprey Nation is to create a long-term record of data that will give the conservation community a better understanding of the health of Connecticut’s Osprey population. In its first season, Osprey Nation’s 100-plus stewards located 414 nests in five counties and 42 towns, and monitored 174 of those nests. We plotted all the nests and the data submitted by the stewards on the map below. Osprey Nation stewards confirmed that 78 young Ospreys were successfully fledged in 2014, a number that we’re confident is low. The project is off to a great start but we still need your help and expertise! If you live near an active Osprey nest and can volunteer about an hour or two a month to be part of our network of stewards, email us at Osprey@Ctaudubon.org. Among our goals for 2015 are to add nest locations to the map, learn more about nests that are not yet being monitored, start to look for trends that would indicate whether the state’s Osprey population is declining or increasing, and what those trends might tell us about water quality and fish populations. It was only several decades ago that the widespread use of DDT brought these great fish-eating raptors to the brink of extinction. But with a ban on this toxic pesticide and the efforts of government biologists, conservation groups and individuals, Ospreys have made a dramatic comeback.
  Our network of Osprey Nation stewards collects and sends us data on the birds’ arrival dates each spring, the location of nests, nesting success and departure dates. We enter the data on a map for everyone to view. Osprey Nation is a partnership with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and we will be submitting the data to DEEP biologists. We also ask the stewards to monitor the condition of Osprey nesting sites, especially poles, and to work with Connecticut Audubon and the Connecticut DEEP to make sure they are safe and secure.

Cody Spink Lands a Large Bucketmouth !

A new leader on the 2015 Largemouth Bass Board 7.4 oz  Cody Spink

My Grandson Cody Spink has been hunting and fishing since 4 years old with his family, friends and grand father Chucky Spink who always took him Raccoon Hunting with his dogs through out New England and won quite a few awards participating. From Whitetail with Archery ,Rifle, Black Powder, trapping or fishing ,fresh or saltwater from shore or Mike Feuti's boat for Sharks or Tuna, or Striped Bass.
 He worked in our Bait and Tackle Shop for a while growing up and I could not be more prouder of the all around true Sportsman that he has become. I will never forget the time we delivered a truck to North Carolina and every time we passed a lake or river in 6 States it was the same response from Cody; "Bet there's a Big One" in there Grampa.

New Wildlife Damage Website Available

Posted by Wayne G. Barber
  

Got a skunk under the porch or deer nibbling your garden peas?  Help for these and other common wildlife issues is now just a mouse click away. A new user-friendly website designed to assist people with wildlife damage issues is now available at http://www.wildlifehelp.org.

 

This new online resource is supported by the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the Northeast Wildlife Damage Management Cooperative.  Wildlife species in thirteen eastern states and the District of Columbia are represented, along with damage control information specific to managing wildlife in those jurisdictions.

   The site presents a number of common wildlife problems and widely accepted solutions to resolve those conflicts.  To get started, you first need to select your state. Then the site walks you through several ways to select information about a wildlife damage conflict, depending on whether or not you can identify the animal and what type of situation you are encountering. If you need the professional services of a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator, a partial listing of local professionals is included on the website.

  “We’re hopeful that this website will provide viewers with helpful ideas and the knowledge to solve a multitude of common wildlife damage issues, without necessarily requiring that they call us first,” said Rob Calvert, Animal Damage Specialist for N.H. Fish and Game and USDA Wildlife Services.  “It’s a 24/7 resource for people with general wildlife problems, and it’s also a valuable educational resource.”

  Additional help for wildlife damage issues can be obtained by calling USDA/Wildlife Service Office at (603) 223-6832.  Wildlife Services provides New Hampshire citizens a science-based integrated wildlife damage management program through both technical assistance and direct control operations for a wide range of wildlife conflicts statewide.Source: NH Wildlife Media Press Release