 New England’s Snakes Are on the Move

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Fall marks the time when New England’s snakes may travel long distances to return to their den sites for the winter.  The New England Fish & Wildlife Department's are asking people to keep an eye out for snakes while driving to avoid running them over and also to report any snake they see while out and about. These sightings will help to document the distribution of different snake species in New England. 

 

According to Jim Andrews, coordinator of the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas, roads can be great places to find snakes in the fall, but they can also be deadly for the reptiles. 

 

“To a snake, a road is essentially a warm and sunny ledge that serves as a perfect place to bask and raise its body temperature,” said Andrews, who is collaborating with the Department to document and conserve snakes in Vermont.  “Sadly, this often results in a fatal encounter with a car.  We’re asking people to please try to avoid hitting them on the road whenever safely possible.” 

 

Wildlife biologist Doug Blodgett works to conserve snakes for the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.  According to Blodgett, snakes provide important services to people like eating disease-carrying rodents and garden pests.  He believes that while some people may fear snakes, the creatures are too often misunderstood. 

 

“Vermont’s snakes are generally harmless.  Even timber rattlesnakes, which live only in isolated pockets of western Rutland County, are extremely shy and nearly always try to hide or avoid an encounter with people,” said Blodgett.  “Despite their low profile, snakes are extremely important animals in the ecosystem.”

 

Blodgett and Andrews are asking the public to help efforts to conserve snakes by submitting sightings that document where different species are found.  Citizen reports will also be useful in indicating where important road crossings exist so that appropriate road crossing structures can be considered. These sightings might also raise early warning signs, such as if species seem to be absent where they used to be common, or other trends that indicate when additional conservation action may be needed.

 

“Our knowledge of the current range of snakes is largely dependent on photos provided by citizens who happen to find them during their day-to-day activities outdoors,” said Andrews.  “Keep your eyes open this fall and, if you do encounter a snake on the road or anywhere else, please snap a photo and send us a report.”

 

To send a report, go to vtherpatlas.org, or email Andrews directly at jandrews@middlebury.edu.

Introducing Cora - NH Fish and Game's newest K-9 Trainee

New Fish and Game Conservation K9 Trainee Makes Her Debut

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

CONCORD, NH -- The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s K-9 Conservation corps has a lively new recruit. "Cora" is a ten-week old black Labrador retriever donated by Wes and Belinda Reed of Rise and Shine Retrievers in Barnstead, NH.  The donation was made through the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire.

Cora was just two months old when she was first presented to her new partner, Fish and Game Conservation Officer James Benvenuti earlier in September.

"Cora has been going to work with me every day and has already been exposed to turkey and deer kill sites," said Benvenuti. "Time is spent working on basic obedience, tracking and exposure to both evidence and fish and wildlife daily."

Along with Fish and Game’s other canines and handlers, Cora and CO Benvenuti will be travelling for basic training at least once a month to the Vermont K9 Academy in Pittsford, Vermont, until next summer. In July, the pair hits "boot camp" -- the 36th basic canine patrol school, also in Vermont.  The school is 544 hours and runs from July until November.  Upon completion of the course, Cora and CO Benvenuti will receive certification in tracking, evidence detection (specifically gun powder and anything with human scent), and fish and wildlife detection (deer, turkey and fish).

Cora’s name refers to the acronym for the Conservation Officers Relief Association (CORA).

Learn more about Fish and Game Law Enforcement’s canine conservation teams at www.wildnh.com/law-enforcement/k9.html. A plan is in place to chronicle Cora’s progress on this page as she trains to become a full-fledged Fish and Game Conservation K9.

You can help support the NH Fish and Game Canine Conservation unit by sending a donation to the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH – Canine Fund, PO Box 3993, Concord, NH 03302, or donate online at nhwildlifeheritage.org/donate (specify Canine Fund).

Regenerating state forests takes planning, patience

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

You're driving on your favorite stretch of Michigan road. The sun is shining, the windows are rolled down, and you're singing along to that catchy song drifting out of the speakers. As you round a familiar curve in the road, you know you're approaching a special place, near the campground you

r family used to frequent when you were a kid.

You turn your gaze to the left to take in the sight of that beloved stand of trees you've admired for years. When you see it, your eyes go wide and your foot jerks away from the gas pedal to the brakes.

The space where your cherished gentle giants once stood is now bare. Branches, logs and other debris are strewn around an opening where aspen once grew tall. A few individual trees remain, looking small and sad amid the ruin.

Your treasured forest land has been clear-cut.

OK, maybe this is a slightly dramatic example, but if you ask Bill O'Neill – Michigan's state forester – about clear-cuts, the first thing he'll tell you is this: "They're ugly."

"There's no sugar-coating it, clear-cuts aren't pretty," said O'Neill, who also serves as chief of the Forest Resources Division in the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

"We understand that folks don't like seeing harvesting, especially near the places that served as the backdrop for the camping trips and hunting seasons of their memories," he said. "But it's important to remember that any activity that takes place on state-managed forest land is driven by science and by what is, in the long term, best for the resource. Clear-cutting is an essential and proven forest management tool.

"We know it's hard to believe. Just because a recently harvested area is unsightly now, that it doesn't mean it will be ugly forever. In fact, that area grows back even faster than you'd probably believe," O'Neill said.
Forest regeneration is the practice of establishing young trees after the previous stand has been removed. It is part of a process that begins with planning and coordinating timber harvests, and is just another part of a DNR forester's day-to-day job – they're planning the makeup of the new forest long before a single tree is cut.

"We can plan the type of timber harvest so the harvest itself is the tool to regenerate. We use artificial regeneration as a supplement," said Jason Hartman, a DNR silviculturalist. A silviculturalist is responsible for the development and care of the trees in a forest.

Last of a kind.

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Toughie, the last Rabb’s fringe-limbed tree frog known to exist in this world, has died and his species is now extinct. You may recognize him from the OPS documentary film Racing Extinction. I had the honor of meeting Toughie twice and I wrote this article about meeting him: The Loneliest Frog in the World: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…/the-loneliest-frog-in-the_b… He was a small, brownish frog with hands that looked like Gollum’s - appropriate, because he too, was precious.... I know

 Toughie was not majestic in the way that elephants, polar bears, orcas, tigers and some other endangered creatures are. But to me, and to Mark Mandica (his caretaker), Toughie was as majestic as they come. Meeting him was like meeting a little unicorn - the last of his kind.

 My dear Toughie, I am so sorry we couldn’t save you and your kind. Your sad story will be a voice for the other frogs in danger of extinction. May the four winds blow you safely home where you will forever glide from treetop to treetop like the tiny little brown superman you are. Goodbye little frog prince.

IFA Kayak Tour Championship Set for Panama City, Florida

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Championship features increased payouts

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – The IFA Kayak Tour Presented by Hobie Fishing will visit Panama City, Florida, for the 2016 championship event, Oct. 7-8. The two-day event will feature increased payouts and contingency prizes while bringing together the best inshore kayak anglers from Texas to the Carolinas.

"We are thrilled to have the most skilled kayak anglers competing together in our rich waters," said Jennifer Vigil, president and CEO of Panama City Community Development Council, Inc. "This season's IFA Redfish Open held here in April was a great success and we want to show the kayak anglers the same hospitality and let them experience all that Panama City offers."

The championship event will begin with registration on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 5-7 p.m. at The Shrimp Boat Restaurant (1201 Beck Ave., Panama City, Florida 32401) followed by the captain's meeting. Anglers will launch Friday and Saturday from the location of their choice with the weigh-ins set at Sunjammers St. Andrews (1129 Beck Ave., Panama City, Florida 32401) Check-in times will be announced at the captain's meeting on Thursday.

All anglers who entered at least two regular-season kayak events and competed in one event will qualify for the $50 entry-fee championship. First-place prize at the IFA Kayak Championship Presented by Hobie Fishing, regardless of field size, is a Hobie Mirage Pro Angler kayak valued at $2,549. Second and third place finishers will be awarded cash prizes of $1,500 and $750, respectively.

In addition, the Divisional Anglers of the Year will square off during the championship for the Overall Angler of the Year award. The winner will receive $1,000 and paid entry fees for 2017.

IFA events are made possible through the sponsorship and continued support of these well-respected brands: Hobie Fishing, Ranger Boats, Cabela's, Lucas Oil, Yamaha Outboards, RAM, Berkley Gulp!, Berkley Gulp! Alive!, PENN Reels, Spiderwire, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Power-Pole, BoatU.S., Amphibia, Arctic Ice, Protect the Harvest, General Tire, SuperClean, Valley Fashions, ENGEL Coolers, T-H Marine, ATLAS, G-Juice Powertex Group, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, The Shrimp Boat Restaurant, Sunjammers St. Andrews and the Panama City Community Development Council.

For more information or to become a member of the IFA, the fastest-growing inshore fishing tournament series in the United States, go online to www.ifatours.com. To discover more about kayaking and Hobie Fishing go to www.hobiefishing.com.

B.A.S.S. Raises Maximum Rod Length To 10 Feet In 2017

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 40-year-old rule that has limited Bassmaster tournament competitors to rods that were 8 feet or shorter will be changed for 2017, allowing competitors to use rods as long as 10 feet.

The new rule will apply to all B.A.S.S. trails, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens and all B.A.S.S. Nation and youth events.

"This is something that the anglers wanted," said B.A.S.S. Tournament Director Trip Weldon. "After discussing it during our annual rules committee meeting, we saw no reason not to expand to 10 feet."

The rule in question is tournament rule C8, which currently reads in part: "Only one casting, spin casting or spinning rod (8-foot maximum length from butt of handle to rod tip) and reel may be used at any one time."

Bassmaster Elite Series angler Skeet Reese of California said during the ICAST trade show in Orlando, Fla., in July that he planned to suggest a change to the rule, believing it would help the sport grow. The change was formally proposed and discussed during last month's Elite Advisory Board meeting in Waldorf, Md.

"You can fish a 16-inch swimbait with a 400-pound-test leader if you wanted," Reese said. "There are no reel-speed restrictions. Having the length limit makes no sense. It's antiquated."

Some rod makers agreed with Reese about the rule change's impact on the industry.

"St. Croix is excited about the change B.A.S.S. is making to increase rod lengths," said Jesse Simpkins, marketing director for St. Croix Rod. "It grows the market and broadens product lines. It will be interesting to see what this opportunity does in the hands on the world's best bass anglers. Ultimately — as it has always been — it will be the anglers who drive the development process."

Restrictions on rod length began in the West, and they were the catalyst for the development of the popular and effective "flippin'" technique. Dee Thomas of California, the "Father of Flippin'," began winning tournaments in that state by "dipping" jigs in stands of tules with a 14-foot surf casting rod. When competitors complained, Thomas developed the flipping presentation, which delivered the lures to the same spots with a 7 1/2-foot rod.

The 8-foot maximum was added to B.A.S.S. rules by B.A.S.S. founder Ray Scott and Tournament Director Harold Sharp in 1976. Back then, competitors were paired by random draw and took turns controlling the boat. There were no pro anglers and co-anglers; everyone was fishing for the same prize, two to a boat.

Scott and Sharp believed a rod longer than 8 feet gave the angler operating the boat a distinct advantage over the other.

Today's Elite Series events pair one angler with a marshal or cameraman who is not fishing. Opens tournaments involve a pro angler or "boater" who is fishing for a larger prize and a co-angler or "non-boater" who is restricted to the back of the boat.

With the format changes, anglers like Reese have long wished for a change to the rule.
"It has bothered me for years," he said. "I've never understood it. I've always wanted an 8 1/2-foot spinning rod for fighting smallmouth in open water. With a longer crankbait rod, we could cast a lure longer distances and get the rod down further to help it dive. Think of what you could do with a longer punching rod — that kind of leverage over the fish would be amazing.

"I don't see any disadvantage, and it would give the industry new products and new techniques."

An article in the September 2016 B.A.S.S. Times Magazine — written well before the rule change was formally proposed — noted that some tournament circuits in the Western United States began allowing longer rods years ago to accommodate the growing popularity of large, heavy swimbaits. Elite Series anglers also like longer fishing rods for smallmouth bass techniques, including the float-and-fly method, which is impractical with a rod shorter than 9 or 10 feet.

The float-and-fly technique involves using a 1/8- or 1/16-ounce jig suspended 10 or more feet beneath a plastic bobber on line as light as 4-pound test, and it is particularly popular on smallmouth fisheries during the cold winter months. That means it could come into play early, as the Bassmaster Elite Series begins its 2017 regular season on Tennessee's Cherokee Lake, Feb. 9-12.

Weldon said he is pleased with the rules committee's decision regarding rod length.

"We always listen when anglers make suggestions or express concerns," he said. "Obviously, we can't accommodate all of the requests. But this was one that made sense, and we think it's a good change."

Gauvin and Wilde Win Bronze at Archery World Cup Final

Posted by Wayne G. Barber
ODENSE, Denmark - The Archery World Cup Final began today with compound finals, where Crystal Gauvin and Reo Wilde racked up bronze finishes for the U.S. The Archery World Cup Final culminates a long summer of qualifying events as the top seven archers in each division plus one archer from the host nation in each category are invited to this prestigious, annual showdown event.

Gauvin faced USA teammate Dahlia Crook (Piedmont, Kansas) in the sixteen year-old's World Cup Final debut for the first match of the day. Crook is the youngest of the archers competing this weekend and made a strong run at the quarterfinal, but Gauvin took the win with a six-point margin. "I've been watching this event on YouTube for years," commented Crook. "It's so cool to be here, just to actually be in the World Cup Final. It's a great experience to be competing with the best eight archers of the season."

Gauvin continued to the semifinal against eventual gold medal finisher, Italy's Marcella Tonioli. Gauvin posted a second 139 of the day to Tonioli's 144 to move on to the bronze final with Turkey's Yesim Bostan. Guavin opened with a strong lead, up three points by the second end. Her lead slipped to only one point when Bostan scored a perfect 30 in the fourth end, but with a tied score for the final three arrows, Gauvin clinched the win with her strongest score of the day 144-143.

"I was really mad about my second match," Gauvin told World Archery. "I went and watched the boys shoot, tried not to think about it too much. I came here to win, I thought I had a really good shot. I'm happy with the bronze, but it's definitely a disappointment. I have the world field next week, so on to that."

Wilde has competed at seven World Cup Finals since the event's inception in 2006, which he won. Since then, he has competed each year from 2011-2016 and has picked up two silver medals and including today, two bronze finishes. In the 2015 Final Wilde fell first round to Turkey's Elmaagacli, and this morning faced Turkey's Evren Cagiran. The outcome went his way today as he clinched the win 144-143 after retaining a one-point lead from the second end in a very tight match.

In the semifinal, South Africa's Seppie Cilliers bested Wilde 144-143 after a perfect 30 in the third and fifth ends gave him a slight edge in the score. Wilde came back with his strongest scores of the day, posting only four arrows out of the 10 ring to clinch the bronze win 145-144 against Croatia's Domagoj Buden.

Competition continues tomorrow with the recurve finals where 2016 Olympic medalists Brady Ellison (Globe, Arizona) and Zach Garrett (Wellington, Missouri) take the stage. Garrett makes his World Cup Final debut, while Ellison makes his seventh repeat appearance as history's most decorated World Cup Final Champion with an unprecedented three titles. Complete scores from the competition can be found at www.worldarchery.org and live video is available at www.archery.tv.

About USA Archery
USA Archery is the National Governing Body for the Olympic sport of archery in the United States. USA Archery selects and trains Olympic, Paralympic, World Championship, and World Cup teams, as well as developing archery at the grassroots level across the United States. For more information, visit http://www.usarchery.org.

Fish stories: Reeling in bass from Beavertail

Posted by Wayne G.Barber

“Since the haul of bass at Beavertail, fish stories have been as thick as mosquitoes, and a person can safely divide by 10 what he hears,” reported the Newport Journal in August 1887.
Perhaps the editors were thinking of the reported 72-pound striper, which old-timers say was caught in 1881 from the Beavertail rocks. In the days before easily snapped photographs and calculated weighing, accurate sizes were harder to record than today.
Many of the striped bass caught in Jamestown in the late 19th century were taken from one of the fishing stands anchored to the rocks around Beavertail Point. The one-man piers, mostly maintained by private fishing clubs, brought fishermen over deeper water where bass were more plentiful. D.R. Watson, a summer visitor staying at the Champlin House, caught a 40-pound bass from one of the stands. According to the Newport Daily News in August 1883, the fish “was captured after an exciting struggle of half an hour.” He used rod and reel, the newspaper reported.
As early as 1900, avid fishermen were complaining that fewer fish were coming into the bay. Some of clubs fell into disrepair. “A few bass are still caught by the local fishermen each year at this point, but not as many or as large,” commented the Newport Daily News in January 1906.
Fishing for stripers at Beavertail still remained popular from late August through early November. While the number of captured bass went down, fishermen continued to land big fish from the rocks.
In late summer 1935, Leon Murphy of Howland Avenue caught a 50-pound striped bass, the largest recorded locally at that time. He didn’t hold the title long. On Oct. 21, 1936, Arthur Clarke, fishing at Hull Cove, caught a striped bass weighing 65 pounds. The fish was 54 inches long and had a girth of 33 inches. It can be seen today at the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum.

BELOW: Arthur S. Clarke with a town record 65-pound striped bass he reeled from Hull Cove in October 1936. Photos courtesy of the Jamestown Historical Society

Clarke’s catch still is the largest striped bass caught from the Jamestown shore. Despite its size, it was never a world record for stripers caught on rod and reel. According to “The Complete Book of Surf Fishing” published in 2008, there was a 73-pound striped bass caught Aug. 17, 1913, off Cuttyhunk Island, Mass., by Charles Church.
The number of Atlantic striped bass in Narragansett Bay and Block Island Sound began to rebound about 2000. Although some are caught from shore, most are landed from charter boats. The b
ag limit is one striper per fisherman.

Although the species is not endangered, conservationists support catch and release, especially for the larger fish. Females grow bigger than the males. A striped bass over 20 pounds is probably a female, with the potential for producing up to 3 million eggs each spring.
Environmentalists suggest fishermen take a picture. Let the photograph be the trophy.

50 years ago — Sept. 26, 1966 (Newport Mercury)
A section of Beavertail owned by the U.S. Navy has reopened to fishermen, U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell told Rebelle Felice, the owner of a bait shop on North Road in Jamestown.
The area was closed in April for security reasons after 12 radio antennae were erected at the naval transmitting station. During the closure, Felice asked Pell for an update, which led to a letter from Rear Adm. F.J. Brush indicating the Navy had completed its site review. Felice was given a photostatic copy of the admiral’s letter.
Source:  Rosemary Enright and Sue Maden  , Jamestown Press

Connecticut Hunting and Fishing Days

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Gerald Swindle Wins Second Angler Of The Year Title At Mille Lacs

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Gerald Swindle of Guntersville, Ala., clinched his second Angler of the Year title since 2004 at the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship at Mille Lacs Lake in central Minnesota.

A total purse of $1 million was paid out to the Top 50 Bassmaster Elite Series pros, along with berths to the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro. Swindle collected $100,000, and the remaining 49 anglers earned shares of the remaining $900,000.

The Top 39 anglers at this event will be competing in the Classic next March on Lake Conroe near Houston, Texas.

Swindle, a 15-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier, struggled to catch competitive limits on Mille Lacs Lake during the first two days of the championship, but he figured out the fish on the final day of the championship today, bringing in a five-fish limit of smallmouth bass that weighed 22 pounds.

"The last thing I wanted was to win this title without catching the kind of fish that Mille Lacs is known for producing," Swindle said. "I left the docks this morning with the full intention of going out and catching them how I wanted to catch them. I threw a jerkbait and a vibrating jig and had an awesome day. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut."

Swindle said a 7-pound largemouth he caught during the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala., in late April was the turning point for his season.

"When I caught that fish, I knew that I was back in the AOY race, and I decided right then and there to ride that momentum to the end of the season," he said. "Of course it was long from over at that point, but looking back, that fish changed the season for me."
An emotional Swindle, with his wife LeAnn by his side, explained how humbled and grateful he is for the opportunity to earn a title of this magnitude.

"My parents were in the crowd to watch me win AOY," Swindle said. "And my wife has stuck by me, through thick and thin — she's kept my head in the game and helped me stay focused when it was most important. I'm so thankful for the support I receive from her and my family. This is a team sport for the Swindles, and it's a victory we all get to celebrate together."

While Swindle was surrounded by media, LeAnn talked about how much this title means when compared to the 2004 AOY title.

"Honestly, I really had no idea back in 2004 how hard it was to win Angler of the Year, and how highly respected the title is," she said. "He puts his heart and soul into this sport, and not because he has to, but because he loves it. We're so blessed to be here, and no one is more proud of him than I am."

The objective of any bass tournament is to catch the most and the biggest bass, but this tournament was won by points accrued throughout the season.

However, Seth Feider of Bloomington, Minn., wowed his hometown crowd after producing an enormous limit of smallmouth bass that weighed 26-2 — his largest limit across the three days, and the best performance of the tournament.

"After the Potomac River event in August, I wasn't sure fishing this tournament was going to be a possibility," Feider said. "It's really a dream come true, and I'm very proud of Minnesota for showing off the best smallmouth bass fishery in the world."

Last week, Feider was able to make a solid comeback during the Plano Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River presented by Favorite Fishing out of La Crosse, where he finished in second place.

"To beat these guys anywhere is an accomplishment not to be overlooked, but to do that at home on two fisheries I care deeply about means the world to me," he said. "Having my friends and family here made it even sweeter."

Feider caught all of his bass on a drop shot rig near large rocks. He said the key was being patient and fishing slowly.

"There were times I'd leave my bait on the bottom for several minutes and not move it," he said. "It took time, but thanks to my Humminbird electronics, I knew the fish were there."

Rounding out the Top 5 in AOY points were Keith Combs of Huntington, Texas, (881); Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla., (852); Jacob Powroznik of Port Haywood, Va, (830); and Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., (830).

The Top 5 in weight at Mille Lacs included: Feider (76-5); Brent Ehrler of Newport Beach, Calif., (69-13); Dave Lefebre of Erie, Pa, (67-12); Tommy Biffle of Wagoner, Okla., (67-5); and James Elam of Tulsa, Okla., (67-3).
Feider earned the Livingston Lures Leader Award of $500 for leading on the second day.

The Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award of $1,500 was presented to Ehrler for weighing in the overall biggest bass of the event — a 6-10 bass caught on Sunday.

Ehrler earned the A.R.E. Top Angler Award of $1,000 for being the highest placing angler using A.R.E. products.

The Toyota Bonus Bucks Award of $3,000 was given to the highest-placing eligible entrant in the program. The second-highest-placing eligible entrant received $2,000.

Dick Cepek Rolling Forward Award of $1,000 will be presented to the angler who makes the largest gain in Toyota Angler of the Year points from tournament to tournament.

2016 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

2016 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Berkley, GoPro, Huk, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats
2016 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, Power-Pole, Rapala, Shell Rotella, Shimano, Academy Sports + Outdoors, A.R.E. Truck Caps, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Livingston Lures

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization's fully integrated media platforms include the industry's leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.

1 Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 908 294-11
2 Keith Combs Huntington, TX 881 290- 5
3 Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 852 285-13
4 Jacob Powroznik Port Haywood, VA 830 303- 1
5 Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 830 300- 0
6 Jordan Lee Grant, AL 829 300-14
7 Chris Zaldain Laughlin, NV 808 282- 7
8 Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 802 294-12
9 Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 797 289- 7
10 Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 780 279- 1
11 Drew Benton Panama City, FL 774 279-11
12 Edwin Evers Talala, OK 770 289-15
13 Hank Cherry Jr Maiden, NC 768 278- 2
14 Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 763 285- 0
15 Alton Jones Lorena, TX 763 275- 9
16 Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 761 274-14
17 Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 759 287- 0
18 Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 753 283- 6
19 Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 750 286- 7
20 Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 749 271-13

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RI Bow Season Story !

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Sportsmen Brian Parenteau

Long story short, another hunter sets up 100 yds from me in the dark. I put a shot on this deer and he runs right to the other gentleman. Shortly after I approach him and he turns out to be a really good guy. It's his first time possibly witnessing a harvest and asks to join. I said absolutely 2 sets of eyes are much better! Found him a long track later with my new friends help. Apparently the arrow took a little deflection upon entry . Kind of special having a hand and showing him his first successful track and field dress. Good memories he'll never forget. 112 lb. 4 pt. down. What a great day to be a Bow Hunter !   Source: Facebook share public

New Hampshire SEACOAST AREA

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

The striper season is not over with fall migration just around the corner! The migration will begin as the water cools and baitfish leave our estuaries and harbors; this is the time for coastal fishing.

 

Preliminary catch estimates through June suggest an increase in striped bass in New Hampshire over the last five years. This may come as no surprise to any avid striper fishermen out there, and the harvest estimates suggest the same thing that anglers have been telling us all year, the fish are small. This year, New Hampshire was abounding with stripers that were just shy of the 28-inch minimum, and there were many reports of MUCH smaller fish as well. But bountiful small fish bode well for the future health of this fishery.

 

A lot has happened around New Hampshire’s coast this year, here is a small sampling:

 

Record river herring runs came through two of our coastal fish ladders. The Lamprey River and the Cocheco River both had over 90,000 river herring pass into the freshwater sections during their spawning run. This came after a couple of significant changes. In the Lamprey River, an additional 7.8 miles of river above the Wiswall Dam, the second dam on this river, were made accessible for spawning fish by the addition of a fish ladder in 2012. In the Cocheco River, modifications that were designed and constructed by our Facilities Construction and Lands Division were completed to allow for operation of the fish ladder as a “swim through” for the 2016 season. This means that the fish are able to swim up the fish ladder and pass through into fresh water on their own; previously the fish were trapped in a large holding area and were netted out and passed into the fresh water portion of the Cocheco River by hand.

 

This summer also marked the start of a transformation in the Exeter River. On July 1, the removal of the Great Dam in Exeter commenced. The most recent dam at this site was built in 1914; however, dams have existed at this location since the 1640s! In 1969, a fish passage structure was built, but passage at this fishway was never very efficient with less than 500 fish making their way upstream in some years. However, many more fish are seen below the dam than make it up the ladder. With a free flowing system, hopes are high for a resurgence of these anadromous fish further up into the watershed.

 

Winter rainbow smelt fishing has been poor for the last few years, but there is hope for future fishing. Although smelt fishermen were not able to fish in 2016 because of a mild winter and lack of ice on Great Bay and its tributaries, record numbers of smelt were captured by biologists during the subsequent spring spawning run. In 2016, catches at the Squamscott and Oyster rivers were the second highest over the last 9 years, while counts in the Winnicut River were the greatest for the same period! The smelt catch at the Winnicut River has been relatively low in recent years, less than 40 smelt per year during the spawning run. However, since the removal of the dam in 2009, the number of spawning adults captured in the area surrounding the previous dam has been steadily increasing. In 2016 the number of captured adults was 738 smelt! In the last few years there has been record low smelt catches during both the winter creel survey and fyke net survey, but the high catches this year during the spring spawning fyke net survey gives us hope that the smelt populations may be improving.

The lobster population in the Gulf of Maine at present time is healthy. A recent population assessment conducted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission determined the population was above the target levels and that overfishing wasn’t occurring. Due to the mild winter of 2015/2016, lobsters began to molt early this past spring. In a typical year lobsters begin to “shed” their shells in late June/early July. This past spring, “soft” lobsters began showing up nearly two months early off the coast of New Hampshire.

 

Lobsters are highly influenced by water temperatures and we’ve been witnessing an upward trend in water temperatures in the Gulf of Maine for the past 30 years. That increase has been even more pronounced over the past decade. In 2016, water temperatures collected from a buoy off the ME/NH coast showed that all months fromJanuary through July were above the 15-year average. To date, our lobster trap survey for this year has shown strong catch rates, and with these recent increases in water temperature, we’ve also noticed a shift in the distribution of lobsters with higher-than-normal catch rates in deeper water.

 

Source: - Becky Heuss, Marine Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

STRIPED BASS fishing will be good to excellent around the full ”harvest” moon. Tis the season for catching some big bass as they feed heavily prior to their migration. Trolling jigs and live lining bunker (Atlantic menhaden) and or an eel on the reefs/shoal areas at dawn and dusk will produce some nice bass (51 inches – 48 pounds, (Long Sand Shoal). Striper spots include the Watch Hill reefs, Ram Island Reef in Fishers Island Sound, lower Mystic and Thames River, the Race, Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip, outer Bartlett Reef, Black Point, the “humps’ south of Hatchett Reef, lower Connecticut River, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef (outer), Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor (Breakwalls) and the upper reaches, Charles Island area, lower Housatonic River, buoys 18 and 20 off Stratford Point, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, Milford Point, Penfield Reef, around the Norwalk Islands, and Cable and Anchor Reef.

STRIPED BASS ANGLERS FISHING IN RHODE ISLAND WATERS - are advised that the state of Rhode Island has adopted the following regulations pertaining to striped bass. These regulations apply to all Rhode Island state lands and waters including the waters around Block Island: “Any person recreationally harvesting a striped bass thirty-four (34) inches or larger shall at the time of harvest have the right pectoral fin removed at a point as close to the body of the fish as possible.”

BLUEFISH fishing is very good. They can be found throughout the sound (find the birds). Large numbers of bluefish can be found in the lower estuaries, rivers and beaches feeding on menhaden/anchovies. The “Top-water” bite continues to be very good (look for the “blow-ups”. Bluefish fishing spots include the reefs off Watch Hill, the Race, Thames River, Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip, lower Connecticut River, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, New Haven Harbor and upper reaches, lower Housatonic River, buoys 18 and 20 off Stratford Point, Stratford Shoal/Middleground, Penfield Reef, and Cable and Anchor Reef. SNAPPER fishing is much better in the western sound with fish measuring 6 to 12 inches in length.

BLACK SEA BASS fishing has been good. You may need to move around from wreck/reef/hump to find good numbers of these tasty bottom fish. The spawn is over and they are feeding heavily on small crabs and squid. Plan a trip on a party/charter boat trip to fish off of Block Island…there are many giant-sized sea bass out there. Eastern Sound (Fishers Island to Block Island and northeast of Montauk) anglers are having better success. For those willing to travel, Block Island Sound is the place to be for humpback sea bass. Closer to home, the rocky reefs from Niantic, to Branford (Falkner Island) have been consistent all season. A reminder to all anglers…if you are fishing in water deeper than 100’, barotrauma can cause released fish to struggle to make it back to the bottom. A descending devise such as the Shelton Fish Descender can help assist the sea bass air bladder to recompress and get safely back down to the depths. See Fishsmart.org for more information.

SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing is a tough go…however those patient anglers who put their time in fishing deep water (90-120 ft) are scoring on large doormat fluke up to 12 pounds. Live lining snapper blues and whole squid in deep water is the preferred method by fluke sharpies. The usual summer flounder spots include the south shore of Fishers Island (Isabella Beach, Wilderness Point), Napatree Point and along the beach, off the Stonington breakwater, mouth of the Mystic River over to Groton Long Point, Twotree Island Channel, Black Point/Niantic Bay including the Bloody Grounds, Sound View Beach, Long Sand Shoal, Falkner Island area, New Haven Harbor, off the mouth of the Housatonic River during the flood tide, and around the Norwalk Islands to Darien.

SCUP (porgy) fishing is the best it has been in decades. Chumming has been very productive. Good shore fishing areas include; Morningside (Milford), Coast Guard Jetty at Southport Beach, Rick Jetty at Calf Pasture beach, South Benson Fishing Pier, Sherwood Island, Pleasure Beach Fishing Pier, St Mary’s by the Sea, Gulf Beach Pier, Bonds Dock (Stratford) and Stratford wall along with Long Beach (excellent shore spots). Other shore spots include The Sound School Fishing Pier/Dock, Rocky Neck State Park, Harkness Memorial State Park, Meigs Point, Hammonassett, Sherwood Island State Park and Fort Trumbull State Park. Fish during the high tide at these shore locations. Locate your favorite Enhanced Shore Fishing Opportunities for these hard fighting and excellent eating “Reef Slammers”.

ATLANTIC BONITO & LITTLE TUNNY fishing is great one day and puzzling the next (where did the go) …you never know with these fast swimming tunas. However, the action in CT is heating up. Big catches of these small tunas have been reported from Bluff Point to Hatchett Reef. Shore anglers are scoring at Ocean Beach, Seaside, Harkness Memorial and Rocky Neck State Park. These small tunas are also cruising around from Pt. Judith, Watch Hill to Pine Island (including Fishers Island Sound), the Race to Little Gull Island, from Bartlett Reef to Black Point. Dawn and dusk is the best time to fish for these

inshore tunas. They feeding heavily of young of the year anchovy. Try casting metal (heavy) lures to feeding fish on the surface. A quiet approach and finding birds (gulls/terns) actively feeding is the key to a successful trip.

WEAKFISH fishing is surprisingly good. From the Mystic River to the Thames River has been very productive. Many scup/seabass/fluke anglers are catching them while bottom fishing. Fish up to 26 inches are being reported from West Haven Beaches/Charles Island area to Norwalk. Also, look for weakfish in Guilford/Madison/New Haven Harbor areas.

HICKORY SHAD fishing is good in the Black Hall River and fair in the Lieutenant River, Housatonic River and the lower Connecticut River (DEEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier). Anglers are still waiting for the fall bite to happen, especially shore anglers. Fishing remains good at Fort Trumbull, Black Hall, Clinton Harbor River systems and the lower Connecticut River (DEEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier). You will also find “schoolie” bass, snappers and hickory shad can all be found schooling together at these locations.

BLUE CRAB fishing is good in all tidal creeks/bays, especially around pilings in the evening with an incoming tide. Remember, all egg-bearing females must be released without avoidable injury. Minimum carapace length is 5 inches for a hard shell crab. Legal gear types include: scoop (dip) net, hand line, star crab trap, circular (topless) trap not exceeding 26 inches in diameter. Maryland Style Crab traps are prohibited. Chicken with the skin on it (along with a long handle net) is the preferred method to capture these tasty crabs. For more information please see the Blue Crab Fact Sheet on our website.

GOT A FISHING REPORT - PLEASE EMAIL US AT deep.marine.fisheries@ct.gov

NOTABLE CATCHES:

Species Length (in.) Weight (lb) Angler

Atlantic Chub Mackerel 14” 1 lb. 2 oz. Brandon Collins

Black Sea Bass 23.6” 4 lb. 6 oz. Randy Manulla Jr.

Smooth Dogfish 41” - Alyssa Zuppe

Atlantic Needlefish 34” - Zacery Martindale

Summer Flounder 25 ¾” 6 lb. 5 oz. Garland Donadio

TROUT- FALL TROUT STOCKING UPDATE: DEEP has been getting a number of questions concerning how the current environmental conditions (low flows, warm water temperatures) would affect our typical fall stocking programs. At this time we are reviewing fall stocking options. Should environmental conditions not significantly improve, it is likely that there will be a number of stocking schedule changes including cancellations, postponements and stockings of alternative water bodies that have better conditions for the stocking of coldwater species.

RIVERS & STREAMS - Conditions should be fair to poor again this weekend. Temperatures are moderating only slowly and many streams are still at or near record low flow. The best trout fishing will be in places with abundant coldwater; the West Branch Farmington River, Mill River (Fairfield), and Salmon Brook (Granby).

Thermal Refuge update: As stream temperatures have dropped slightly, many fish are no longer seeking the cold water plumes of thermal refuges. The prohibition from fishing within 100 feet of these areas expired on 9/15/2016. The only exception is the refuge at the confluence of Furnace Brook and the Housatonic River, Cornwall, which has been extended by the Commissioner of DEEP until 9/29 /2016 inclusive.

Farmington River – Fishing continues to be good and the conditions for this weekend should be good. West Branch flows are clear and moderately low, currently 76 CFS at Riverton with the Still River adding a mere 5 CFS, and water temperatures are in the mid 60’sF.

Hatches/patterns include Tricos (#20-26), Isonychia bicolor (#10-14, fast water, afternoon/evening), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella & Baetis sps., #18, 20-24, mid-late afternoon), Cahill (#12-14), White Fly (#12-14; just after dark), Needhami, Caddis (tan #16-20, all day; green #20-22, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-32, morning), Black Ants (#16-18, mid-day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid-day), Flying Ants (#22-24, mid-day, when windy/humid), and Stone Hopper (#10-12, mid-day).

Housatonic River – fishing remains good and conditions for the weekend should remain good, especially for Smallmouth Bass, Carp, and Fallfish (Cornwall to Kent). Flows are clear, currently 94 CFS at Falls Village and 126 CFS at Gaylordsville). Morning water temperatures are currently in the low to mid 70’s F. The fishing prohibition within 100 feet of signs posted at the mouth of Furnace Brook, Cornwall, has been extended by the Commissioner until 9/29/16 (inclusive).

Smallmouth (and Fallfish) are plentiful throughout the entire river and will eagerly hit a variety of poppers, dry flies, nymphs, and streamers. Patterns to try include White Zonkers, Wooly Buggers (go big- larval dobsonflies can be up to 4” in length and are a favorite food item), Muddlers, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10). Other insects include flying ants (#14-16, mid-day, when windy/humid, September is peak month), Fall Sulfurs (#16-18), Blue Wing Olives (#18-22), Tricos (#20-22), Leadwing Coachman (#10-12 evening, September is peak month), Sulfurs duns (#16-18, below the dam due to low temperatures, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Light Cahill and Black caddis (#14-18, early morning & evening). Golden stonefly nymphs hatch at first light and adults egg-lay after dark. Try Black Ants (#14-20, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day). Don’t forget streamers (morning & evening). Patterns to try include: White, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Woolly Buggers (olive/burned orange or tan #8-12), Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10).

Try nymphing the pockets, deeper riffles and pool heads.

TROUT-LAKES & PONDS - Lakes reporting good late summer trout fishing include West Hill Pond, Highland Lake, East Twin Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington) and Beach Pond.

CONNECTICUT RIVER

The River remains very low (making fishing in some places very difficult).

BLACK CRAPPIE action is improving in the coves up and down the river. Target the backwaters with small shiners.

SMALLMOUTH BASS (some fish up to 4 lbs) are providing action in the river both above Hartford and downstream, where recent catches included a 4.63 lb beauty.

NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported as good in the main stem and coves. Fish have been caught from the Hartford area downstream to Chapman Pond.

LARGEMOUTH BASS are being caught (but you have to work for them) in the Hartford to Haddam area.

CARP are providing action in coves and in the main stem (Hartford to Middletown area).

NEW SHARK REGULATIONS – EFFECTIVE MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016: An Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit is required to take, possess, or land any shark species, other than smooth or spiny dogfish, in this state.

To obtain an HMS permit visit: http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/aps/permits/ or call NMFS Customer Service Center at (888) 872-8862. CT Marine anglers may encounter Sand Tiger and Sandbar (Brown) Shark which are protected and prohibited species and they must be released unharmed. IF YOU DON’T KNOW, PLEASE LET IT GO! Coastal shark information.

Connecticut State Boundary Line in Long Island Sound. Anglers please note: Though Connecticut has reciprocity with neighboring states (New York, Rhode Island, Maine and Massachusetts), residents of Connecticut are required to have a CT Resident Marine Waters Sport Fishing License to fish in the Marine District.

WHALES AND SEALS - see check WHALE WATCHING GUIDELINES. All marine mammals are protected by the Federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. Following these recommended operational guidelines helps minimize chances of harassing or injuring whales and violating Federal law. Guidelines apply to all large whales from Maine through Virginia, except North Atlantic right whales. It is illegal to approach a right whale within 500 yards (1500 feet) unless granted specific exemption or authorization.

NH High School Bass Fishing Tournaments Set For Sept. 22 and Oct. 1

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

CONCORD, NH -- Students from around New Hampshire will soon be competing for top honors in a high school bass fishing tournament. A qualifying tournament with 41 registered schools will take place on Thursday, September 22, out of Lee’s Mills on Lake Winnipesaukee. The top third of the schools from the qualifying round will move onto the state finals tournament on Saturday, October 1, on Lake Winnisquam.

 

Since the student bass tournament first started in New Hampshire in 2013, it has become a popular high school sports competition.

 

At the final tournament, a State Champion will be honored and individual medals will be awarded for the largest total catch (eight fish maximum) and for the largest largemouth and largest smallmouth bass caught.

 

New Hampshire high school bass fishing tournaments are held in the fall of each year. The events are conducted by the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA), with assistance from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and NH B.A.S.S. Nation.

 

The tournaments include a strong educational component. Teams have adult mentors who guide them through learning about New Hampshire's aquatic resources and the responsibility that goes along with being anglers. As a part of this process, NH Fish and Game recently conducted a High School Bass Fishing Education Seminar for participants.

 

"It is exciting to see how enthusiastic the students are about fishing. I hope that fishing becomes a lifelong activity for many of them," said Kyle Glencross, who coordinates the NH Fish and Game Department's Let's Go Fishing Program. Glencross serves on the NHIAA Bass Fishing Committee and provides logistical and volunteer support for the event.

 

Additional information about the tournament can be found on the NHIAA website at nhiaa.org.

Randolph dam removed for benefit of fish

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

An excavator removes metal sections of a dam in Randolph on Tuesday. Photo by Mike Polhamus/VTDigger

Crews removed a sheet metal dam from the Third Branch of the White River in downtown Randolph on Tuesday afternoon, opening nearly 100 miles of upstream habitat to migrating fish.

The dam beneath the Vermont Route 12 bridge at the north end of the village had been installed several decades ago to protect a bridge that was removed in 2007.
Environmental advocates said the dam’s removal offers numerous benefits, including better recreational access, flood protection for local businesses and improved conditions for aquatic creatures.

Workers survey the site of the dam in Randolph before its removal Tuesday. Photo by Mike Polhamus/VTDigger

The structure fell quickly once workers set upon it with earth-moving machinery Tuesday afternoon. About two dozen onlookers cheered occasionally as a heavy equipment operator pulled sections of the dam from the river and piled them on the bank. Within minutes the operator had opened a channel, and water flowed through unimpeded.
The dam had prevented upstream fish migration, said Mary Russ, executive director of the White River Partnership. Her organization is one of several that collaborated over the last several years to bring about the removal, Russ said.
Russ said she’s seen brown trout try to jump the dam to get upstream.
“They’re good leapers, but they couldn’t get over,” she said. “It’s a complete barrier.”
Others involved in the effort include The Nature Conservancy, American Rivers and the state, Russ said.
The dam’s removal gives migrating fish access to important cold-water reaches upstream, Russ said. That gives fish greater resilience in the face of the climate’s warming, she said.
The dam also elevated the river’s flood height and restricted the river’s capacity, she said, thus threatening nearby businesses whose foundations sit not much above river level.
It’s taken environmental advocates almost four years and $200,000 to get the dam out of the river, said The Nature Conservancy’s Vermont state director, Heather Furman.
The Randolph dam is one of about 200 in Vermont that her organization hopes to remove eventually, Furman said.
That number doesn’t include the 1,000 dams that serve some purpose, such as generating electricity or controlling flooding, which ought to remain, Furman said.
The Nature Conservancy and other environmental organizations are seeking legislation during next year’s session to further that effort, Furman said.

Be Alert to Avoid Moose on the Highway

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Photo credit, VT Fish & Wildlife

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Drivers need to be alert and cautious because moose will be on the move, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.  

 

Moose are more likely to be crossing roadways at this time of year, especially after dark or early in the morning.  The peak of their breeding season is late September and the first two weeks of October.

 

“Seeing a moose is one of the most treasured wildlife memories for many Vermonters, an experience they will take with them the rest of their lives,” said Vermont Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter.  “We want you to enjoy seeing them from a distance.  But keep in mind that moose are very active this time of year, and they will be crossing highways more often.”

 

Moose are a threat to motorists, but there are measures you can take to avoid hitting them, according to Fish & Wildlife.

-Always be aware of the danger -- moose cross the road randomly, as well as at their regular crossings.

-Increase your roadside awareness and reduce your speed when you see MOOSE CROSSING signs along the highway.  When on secondary roads, the recommended speed is 40 mph or less in these moose crossing areas.

-Drive defensively and don't overdrive your headlights.  Moose are more active at night and early morning, and they are difficult to see because of their dark color.

-If you see a moose ahead, slow down or stop.  Trying to speed past them before they move can be a serious mistake.

 

Vermont highway sections most frequented by moose:
-Rt.105 from Island Pond to Bloomfield.
-Rt.114 from East Burke to Canaan.
-Rt.2 from Lunenberg to East St. Johnsbury.
-Interstate 91 at Sheffield Heights.
-Interstate 89 from Bolton to Montpelier.
-Rt. 12 from Worcester to Elmore.
-Rt 118 near Belvidere Corners and the Rt. 109 intersection.

Connecticut Fall Archery Deer and Turkey Seasons Open September 15

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

The outlook for the 2016 deer hunting season is expected to be good, depending on weather conditions. The best opportunities are in the southwest corner of the state and many of the shoreline towns, especially for bow hunters.

Photo credit: Paul J. Fusco, CT DEEP-Wildlife Division.

Fall Archery Deer and Turkey Seasons Open September 15

New Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp Replaces Turkey Permits

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) reminds sportsmen that the 2016 fall archery hunting season for deer and wild turkey is open from September 15 to December 31, 2016, on private land and bowhunting only areas on state land in Deer Management Zones 1-10; and from September 15, 2016 – January 31, 2017 on private land in Deer Management Zones 11 (Fairfield County area) and 12 (Connecticut shoreline towns). The archery season for deer and turkey on state land is open from September 15 to November 15 and December 21-31, 2016.

“The outlook for the 2016 hunting season is good as hunting conditions this fall are expected to be better than 2015,” said Rick Jacobson, Director, DEEP Wildlife Division. “The best opportunities are in the southwest corner of the state and many of the shoreline towns, especially for bowhunters. Many landowners use the archery deer hunting season as a safe and effective method of reducing deer populations, especially in the more developed areas of the state where firearms hunting may not be feasible.”

Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp: New legislation (Public Act 16-27), which became effective on July 1, 2016, established a Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp, which replaces turkey permits and the Pheasant Stamp. This new stamp will be required to hunt any resident (non-migratory) game birds, including wild turkey, pheasant, ruffed grouse, partridge, and quail. The cost of the Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp is $28 for adults and non-residents and $14 for Connecticut hunters ages 12 through 17. All revenues from the sale of Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamps will be deposited into a separate, non-lapsing account to use exclusively for the purchase and management of game birds and their habitat.

Wild turkey hunters planning to hunt in fall 2016 will need either a Fall Turkey Permit or a Pheasant Stamp (if purchased on or before June 30, 2016), or a Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp (if purchased after July 1, 2016). Hunters pursuing wild turkeys in fall 2016 will NOT be required to hold both a Fall Turkey Permit and a Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp. Landowners (who own 10 or more contiguous acres) may take turkeys on their property with any of the following: Free Landowner Fall Turkey Permit, Fall Turkey Permit, Pheasant Stamp, Free Landowner Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp, or Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp. There is no additional bag limit for turkeys due to the Free Landowner Game Bird Conservation Stamp.

Sunday Archery Deer Hunting: Sunday archery deer hunting on private lands in 2016 will be permitted in all but three of the state’s Deer Management Zones (DMZs) based on its assessment of the deer population in each of the zones. The three zones where Sunday hunting will NOT be permitted – DMZs 2, 3, and 4A – are in north central Connecticut, including portions of Hartford, Litchfield, and Tolland Counties. Wild turkeys, however, may NOT be taken on Sunday anywhere in the state. The Connecticut Deer Management Zone map can be found on the DEEP website at http://go.usa.gov/3MNPT.

2015 Connecticut Deer Program Summary: The DEEP Wildlife Division recently published a summary of white-tailed deer information for 2015, which is available on the DEEP website at www.ct.gov/deep/hunting.

Harvest Tags: When hunters harvest a deer or turkey, they are required to fill out a Harvest Tag, sign it, and keep the Harvest Tag with the animal until it is processed for consumption. Copies of Harvest Tags and instructions for their use are on page 34 of the 2016 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide, as well as on the DEEP website at www.ct.gov/deep/hunting.

Report Harvest: Hunters are required to report their deer and turkey harvest within 24 hours either on the DEEP website (www.ct.gov/deep/hunting) or by calling a toll free number (1-877-337-4868). Deer hunters in Deer Management Zones 11 and 12 who take advantage of the Replacement Antlerless and Earn-a-Buck tag programs must complete this same tagging and reporting procedure prior to going to a check station that issues replacement tags. A listing of replacement tag vendors is available on the DEEP website. After reporting their harvest via the Internet or by telephone, hunters will be given a confirmation number to write on their Harvest Tag. This confirmation number serves as proof that the harvest was legally reported.

Wear Fluorescent Orange: Bowhunters are reminded that they must wear 400 square inches of fluorescent orange while walking to and from their tree stands during the firearms deer hunting season. However, once in a tree stand, elevated at least 10 feet off the ground, bowhunters may remove the fluorescent orange clothing. All private land archery hunters are required to carry a DEEP consent form signed by the landowner and dated for the current season. Consent forms can be found in the Hunting Guide or at www.ct.gov/deep/hunting. Deer permits and Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamps can be purchased online at www.ct.gov/deep/sportsmenlicensing or at participating town halls, vendors, and at some DEEP offices. Hunters should consult the DEEP website for an up-to-date listing of new state lands open to archery hunting.