72% of Hunters Successful in 2016 New Hampshire Moose Hunt

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

CONCORD, N.H. -- New Hampshire’s 2016 moose season wrapped up on Sunday, October 23. While hunters have until close of business today to register their moose at New Hampshire Fish and Game headquarters or regional offices, preliminary figures show that 52 hunters succeeded in taking their moose during the 9-day season. With a total of 72 permits issued, this represents a statewide success rate of 72%.  That compares with last year's (2015) overall success rate of 69%.

 

The breakdown for the harvest this year was 45 bulls and 7 cows. Final season results will be available upon completion of registration data entry and analysis.

Around the state this year, preliminary numbers show moose hunters having a 91% success rate in the Connecticut Lakes Region; 81% in the North Region; 68% in the White Mountain Region; 50% in the Central Region; 60% in the Southwest Region; and 50% in the Southeast Region.

It was phenomenal,” said successful hunter Tim McGibbon of Amherst, NH, who took a cow moose that dressed out at 640 pounds on the last day of the season.  It was the first big game animal he’s ever taken. “Even if I didn’t get anything, it would have been a great experience.  I spent so much time in the woods over the last nine days, and it was so beautiful.  I felt like I was hunting in a post card.  I was just happy to be there.  I called in moose earlier in the week, but they were never close enough.  Just calling them and having them respond was exciting.”

 

Check out a growing gallery of photos and stories from this year's successful New Hampshire moose hunters at www.huntnh.com/hunting/moose.html.

 

In all, more than 8,000 people entered the moose hunt lottery for a chance to win a permit for the New Hampshire moose hunt. Nearly 85 percent of the permits went to New Hampshire residents.  The overall odds of being drawn this year were 1 in 75 for state residents and 1 in 327 for nonresidents.

 

“The moose health overall looked good,” said NH Fish and Game Moose Biologist Kristine Rines. “Tick levels on harvested moose were similar to what we saw last year.  But it’s too soon to determine the real impact of ticks this year, because that all depends on how long we go without sufficient snow on the ground to kill the ticks and stop them from questing onto moose.  It’s all about the weather, and the shrinking amount of time we are seeing snow-covered ground in New Hampshire.”

 

Vermont Bald Eagles Nest in Record Numbers in 2016

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Bald eagles had a record year for nesting in Vermont thanks to a mild spring.  Photo by John Hall, Vt Fish & Wildlife Dept.

MONTPELIER, Vt. – Bald eagles produced 34 successful young in Vermont in 2016, smashing the most recent record of 26 in 2013 according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.  The birds remain on the list of species protected under Vermont’s state endangered species law, but this strong year has conservationists hopeful for their continued recovery.   

 

This year also saw record nesting success for several other bird species monitored by biologists and volunteers in Vermont.  Peregrine falcons successfully raised at least 81 young birds in 2016, breaking the previous state record of 67, according to Audubon Vermont who monitors nesting peregrine falcons in partnership with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.

 

Vermont also welcomed 80 new birds to the state’s loon population, breaking the previous record of 69.  The Vermont Center for Ecostudies monitors the state’s nesting loons. 

 

The mild weather this spring likely helped boost numbers of all three birds, according to John Buck, migratory bird biologist with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.  “The cooperative weather provided a bump to many species this year, but the continued recovery of these species is the result of a long-term effort by our department and our partners to conserve the habitat these birds need to thrive,” said Buck.

 

Peregrine falcons and bald eagles declined in the Twentieth Century nationwide due to loss of habitat, disturbance to nests, and the effects of the pesticide DDT. Laws such as the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and a ban on DDT have aided in the recovery of these birds. Loons similarly faced dramatic declines as a result of shoreline development and human disturbance of their habitat. 

 

In 2005, peregrine falcons, loons, and osprey were removed from Vermont’s state endangered species list following years of conservation effort.  Bald eagles have recovered in most of the contental U.S. and have been removed from the federal endangered species list, but remain on Vermont’s state endangered species list as they continue to recover locally. 

 

“Vermonters have played a huge role in the recovery of these species,” said Margaret Fowle, biologist with Audubon Vermont.  “We work with a large number of citizen volunteers who help monitor nests, while the general public has aided in recovery efforts by maintaining a respectful distance from these birds during the critical nesting season.  Paddlers have been keeping away from nesting loons, and the climbing community has been helpful by respecting cliff closures and getting the word out about where the birds are.”

 

Vermonters can help researchers in their effort to conserve birds by donating online to the nongame wildlife fund at www.vtfishandwildlife.com or by purchasing a conservation license plate, including the new loon design plate

Vermont’s Moose Hunt Preliminary Total is 73

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. – The Vermont Fish &Wildlife Department says a preliminary count reveals hunters took 73 moose in this year’s regulated hunting seasons.

 

“A preliminary count on October 24 showed that hunters had reported 9 moose being taken by 27 hunters in the October 1-7 archery season and 64 moose taken by 141 hunters in the October 15-20 regular season,” said Cedric Alexander, Vermont’s moose project leader.  He said a few additional reports may still be sent in from other reporting agents.

                                                                                  

Permits were issued for bulls-only in most of the 16 Wildlife Management Units open to moose hunting with a goal of increasing population growth.  Only in northern Vermont were hunters able to take moose of either sex.

 

The overall regular season hunter success rate reported to date is 45 percent, down slightly from 47 percent last year.  Either-sex permit holders enjoyed a 60 percent success rate while hunters restricted to harvesting only bulls averaged a much lower success rate of 37 percent.

 

A final report on Vermont’s moose hunting season will be available in January when all of the 2016 data have been received and reviewed.

New York: Salmon River Flow Returns to Normal

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

The temporary reduced water releases to the Salmon River from the Salmon River Reservoir by Brookfield Renewable in collaboration with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) were successful and the flows have been restored.

This has prompted DEC to open fishing in the Lower Fly Area in the Salmon River today as flows have been returned to 335 cubic feet for second (cfs), the regulated base flow level.

"DEC's fish hatchery system is a vital part of New York State's effort to sustain our popular and economically important recreational fisheries," said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. "The reduced water flows and closure helped ensure that adequate numbers of salmon entered the Salmon River Hatchery in order to provide eggs for salmon stocking that support Lake Ontario and tributary fisheries."

Drought conditions in the Salmon River watershed forced Brookfield Renewable in collaboration with DEC to reduce the amount of water released from the Salmon River Reservoir on September 29. In addition, DEC closed the Lower Fly Fishing Area on the Salmon River.

Flows are being increased due to this weekend's anticipated rainfall and its effect on reservoir water levels. Further, the Lower Fly Area is being reopened because the base flow can now be sustained and Salmon River Hatchery egg-take operations for Chinook salmon are complete.

The quarter-mile section of the Salmon River that comprises the Lower Fly Fishing Area is located immediately downstream of the Salmon River Hatchery and upstream of the County Rt. 52 Bridge in Altmar. The upper boundary of the area is downstream from Beaverdam Brook. This location is a staging area for various species of fish, including Chinook and Coho salmon, as they prepare to enter the hatchery via Beaverdam Brook. A 2007 study estimated the value of these fisheries to New York State's economy at $12.9 million.

Further information on these actions can be obtained by contacting the DEC Fisheries Unit in Cortland at fwfish7@dec.ny.gov or by phone at (607) 753-3095.

Through a Naturalist's Eyes

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Tides, Solunar Table, Fishing and Hunting Reports, Events Calendar and we take live e-mail too at waynewnri@yahoo.com

Tentatively Scheduled for 9:10am will be Author Michael J.Caduto to talk about his new Book !

Enjoy some Stocked Pheasant Hunting

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Small game hunting season is opens now !

Looking Back at Our History... the first recorded release of ring-necked pheasants took place in 1908. Pheasants, which could be produced on game farms, were brought into Connecticut to reduce hunting pressure on native gamebirds, which were declining due to population cycles and changing land uses. Today's pheasant program focuses on the release of adult birds during the fall hunting season and is funded solely by the sale of resident game bird conservation stamps and hunting licenses. Source: Conn. Deep

Take Advantage of this Great Weather

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

What a stretch of weather- We hope you were able to do some fishing. We would love to see some pics of your fishing trips and catches. This beauty of a striped bass (34") was caught on a tube and worm yesterday out of a kayak and released to become the next state record. Source: Conn. Deep

Lynx Spotted in Southern Vermont

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

LONDONDERRY, Vt – A lone Canada lynx was photographed in the southern Vermont town of Londonderry this June, marking the first confirmed evidence of lynx in Vermont outside the Northeast Kingdom in decades. Lynx are listed as 'threatened' under the federal Endangered Species Act and 'endangered' in the state of Vermont.

The lynx was photographed in the back yard of a rural Londonderry home. Biologists with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department confirmed the identification of the animal from the photos and visited the site to confirm the location of the photos.

Since that time, a wildlife camera photo has emerged that biologists suspect is also of a lynx in nearby Searsburg, Vermont. The photo was taken in May shortly before the Londonderry sighting, but was only recently noticed by the University of Vermont student who had set the camera trap out as part of her wildlife research. The animal was photographed while it was passing under Route 9 using a wildlife underpass created in partnership with Vermont Fish & Wildlife and VTrans.

"This was very exciting news for Vermont," said Chris Bernier, a wildlife biologist for the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department who is in charge of lynx conservation. "The fact that this animal chose to travel such a long distance demonstrates why it is vitally important to maintain healthy and well-connected habitat in Vermont. We were thrilled to see the animal using a wildlife underpass that was created for the express purpose of allowing animals to pass safely under the road."

Male lynx are known to disperse long distances, so Bernier believes that there is a strong chance this may be the same lynx in both sightings. Biologists regularly monitor lynx habitat in the area and have not picked up other evidence of the animals locally, indicating that it is unlikely that lynx have established a resident population in southern Vermont. Lynx are strongly tied to large, unbroken forests of spruce and fir trees with high numbers of snowshoe hares, their primary prey species. Forests of this type are mostly found in Vermont in Essex County, and are less common elsewhere in the state.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department actively monitors for lynx in the Nulheegan Basin of Conte National Wildlife Refuge and at the Bill Sladyk and Victory Basin Wildlife Management Areas in partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Plum Creek Timber Co. Survey work in 2016 was unable to detect a resident population anywhere in Vermont despite increased survey efforts.

"Vermont has never had a large or stable lynx population. Records of lynx in Vermont were extremely rare even at the time of the earliest colonists, and have remained infrequent," said Bernier. "We believe lynx may have dispersed into Vermont following a boom in Maine's lynx population in the early 1990s. Maintaining appropriate habitat is vital to ensuring that lynx can exist in this state, even if only as transients." 

Four Unique Vermont Wetlands Slated for Class I Protection

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

The Dennis Pond Wetlands in Brunswick are being considered for Class I designation, the highest level of state wetland protection under the Vermont Wetland Rules.

Montpelier VT:  The Agency of Natural Resources is starting a process to provide special protections for four unique Vermont wetlands by designating them Class I. The four wetlands vary in size, region, and function, but all have been determined to be irreplaceable or exceptional in their contribution to Vermont's natural heritage.

The Agency has reviewed over 20 wetlands with potential for Class I status and is focusing on the following four: Black Gum Swamps in Vernon, Dennis Pond Wetlands in Brunswick, Chickering Fen in Calais, and Sandbar Wetlands in Milton and Colchester. Three wetlands are currently designated as Class I, with the most recent being designated over ten years ago.

"Class I designation has historically been an underutilized tool for managing the State's highest value wetlands. In this effort, we are putting a spotlight on these special wetlands to conserve them, and emphasize the importance of their remarkable natural features and functions," said Agency Secretary Deb Markowitz.

The Black Gum Swamps in Vernon are seven distinct areas of Red Maple-Black Gum Swamp communities, a rare natural community found at the northern edge of the normal range for this type of wetland. These pocket swamps contain some black gum trees aged at over 400 years. Members of the Town of Vernon have been in active support of the proposal.

The 370-acre Dennis Pond wetland complex includes two relatively small open water areas, Mud Pond and Dennis Pond, and about 140 acres of peatland. The diverse habitat is exceptional for wildlife and host a number of rare and threatened species and natural community types. Much of this wetland is part of the West Mountain Wildlife Management Area.

Chickering Fen, locally known as "Chickering Bog," is a 10-acre Fen wetland, a size that is large and rare in Vermont. The wetland provides a home for rare and threatened species, and is exceptional in its value for education and research in the natural sciences. The owners of this wetland, The Nature Conservancy, is in support of the designation.

The Sandbar Wetland is a 1,359-acre wetland delta complex composed of special natural communities that span along the shores of Lake Champlain and the Lamoille River, and is home to many rare wildlife and plant species. This wetland provides a large area for flood waters to be stored where sediments and nutrients are used by wetland vegetation rather than heading straight into Lake Champlain. The dense vegetation prevents erosion along the lake and river, and provides spawning habitat for fish such as Northern Pike.

In order to designate a new wetland as Class I, the Vermont Wetland Rules need to be amended. Proposed changes to the rule are currently posted on the Secretary of State's website, and are on public notice until November 2nd. Three public meetings will be held in proximity to the four proposed Class I wetlands.

To learn more about Class I designations and how your town may help protect these vital resources, visit the Vermont Wetlands Program website athttp://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/wetlands.

New White Perch State Record

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

NEW STATE RECORD: Our staff has confirmed a new state record for White Perch! Val Percuoco of Leominster caught the 3 lb. 8 oz. perch out of Wachusett Reservoir this week, breaking a 1994 record by 3 oz. Congratulations, Val! from the entire Outdoor Scene Nation on wnri.com

N.H. Moose Hunt Opening Weekend Brings 26% Success

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

This year’s Hunt Of A Lifetime permit holder, youngster Arianna Smith of Milan, NH, took a 625-pound bull with a 36-inch antler spread in Unit B (pictured at right; select image for larger size).  Hunt Of A Lifetime is a nonprofit organization with a mission to grant hunting and fishing dreams for children age 21 and under, who have been diagnosed with life- threatening illnesses. The participant hunts prior to the start of the regular season.
   New Hampshire’s moose hunters achieved a 26% success rate during the first two days of the nine-day season. Opening weekend (October 15 and 16) saw a total of 19 moose taken by hunters statewide -- 18 bulls and one cow.

A total of 72 moose hunters are taking part this year -- 69 lottery permit holders, two permits auctioned off by the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire to generate important conservation funding, and one Hunt of a Lifetime participant.

Last year (2015), 31% of moose hunters were successful during the opening weekend.

”Opening weekend saw excellent hunting weather in the North Country. Both Saturday and Sunday mornings were cold, which is good because moose tend to be a little more active. By late Sunday, conditions had deteriorated, with rising winds and heavy leaf fall,” said Kristine Rines, the NH Fish and Game Department’s longtime moose biologist. “Hunters in northern New Hampshire were seeing quite a few bulls.”

The largest fully field-dressed moose checked in during opening weekend was taken by Joe Rogerson of Smyrna, Delaware. His bull, taken in Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) C-1, had a dressed weight of ­­­­­­­860 pounds and an antler spread of ­­­­51 inches.

Marcus Hampers of Plainfield, NH, took the moose with the greatest antler spread so far, an 810-pound bull with a 59 3/4-inch spread, taken in WMU A-2.

Rines explained that in addition to information and samples normally collected at moose check stations, biologists are collecting blood samples to test for West Nile Virus and EEE.

 

Fish and Game manages New Hampshire’s moose population in accordance with density goals defined in its 2016-2025 moose management plan. This plan seeks to meet regional moose population goals by balancing and incorporating social, economic, public safety and ecological factors, using the best available science.

 

New Hampshire’s nine-day moose hunt continues through Sunday, October 23, 2016.

 

For more about moose hunting in New Hampshire, including a list of check stations, visit www.huntnh.com/hunting/moose.html.

Connecticut Fishing Report

Beals-Pig Island Gut Dredging and Disposal Activities Notice

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Good morning,

As per Section/Paragraph no. 8 of our Beals Harbor & Pig Island Gut NRPA/WQC #L-24687-4E-B-N, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is requested to advertise project activities (dredging & disposal) and to conduct outreach via written notice thirty days in advance of the project start date (which is November 8, 2016) to the local fishing industry.

Below is a description of the project:

The proposed work involves urgently needed maintenance dredging to remove shoals in the Beals Harbor and Pig Island Gut Federal Navigation Projects (FNP) in order to restore the projects to their authorized dimensions. About 83,000 cubic yards (cy) of sediment will be removed from the 10-foot anchorage in Beals Harbor, and about 10,000 cy of silty sand will be removed from the 6-foot channel and 6-foot anchorage in Pig Island Gut.  The Beals Harbor anchorage is generally rectangular in area, about 600 feet long and averaging about 800 feet in width.  It has not been maintained since the original improvement dredging project in 1956-57.  The Pig Island Gut FNP consists of a 6-foot-deep, 80-foot-wide channel and a rectangular 5.5-acre (800 feet by 300 feet) anchorage.  It has not been maintained since the original improvement dredging project in 1965.  Disposal will be at the previously-used Mark Island Disposal Site (MIDS), about 500 meters by 500 meters in area,  in Chandler Bay, about 5 miles away.  Dredging and disposal will be done by mechanical means - using a dredge barge with crane and bucket or excavator, tug(s), and scow(s).  These shoals are primarily the result of natural shoaling.  These shoals are creating hazardous conditions especially for the commercial fishing vessels that are based in the harbors.  Recent hydrographic surveys indicate that almost the entire Beals Harbor anchorage has shoaled, and half of the Pig Island Gut anchorage has shoaled in addition to portions of the channel.  Maintenance dredging will be performed during an approximately 3 to 5 month period between November 8th and April 8th.
  Also, the USACE just held the pre-construction meeting with the contractor, Cashman, last week. They anticipates  starting work on November 8 and estimates the entire project will take 60 to 75 days.  Work will begin in Beals Harbor first, then dredge Pig island Gut.

N.H. Moose Hunt Is October 15-23, 2016

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

CONCORD, N.H. -- For nine exciting days, from October 15 to 23, 2016, lucky moose permit holders and their hunting partners will have the experience of a lifetime taking part in New Hampshire’s annual moose hunt.

 

A total of 71 permit holders were drawn in this year’s lottery, randomly selected by computer from a pool of more than 8,000 applicants. In addition, two hunters will have the chance to hunt moose because they were the highest bidders in an annual auction that benefits the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire, and one permit was granted to a youth with a serious medical condition through the Hunt of a Lifetime program.  Last fall (2015), New Hampshire hunters had a statewide success rate of 69%.

 

Each hunter with a moose permit is assigned to hunt in one of 22 wildlife management units throughout the state. Most have spent the past several weeks or months scouting out potential hunting spots in their assigned areas. After taking a moose, hunters must have the animals registered and inspected at one of six check stations around the state.  There, wildlife biologists check each moose to collect valuable information about the overall health and productivity of the moose herd.  Moose check stations draw many interested onlookers, a reminder of the importance of moose in New Hampshire, particularly in the North Country.  You can find a list of moose check stations at www.huntnh.com/hunting/documents/moose-hunt-facts.pdf.

 

The moose hunt has been an annual event in New Hampshire for more than twenty years. The state's first modern-day moose hunt took place in 1988, with 75 permits issued in the North Country.  At that time, New Hampshire was home to about 1,600 moose. Today, New Hampshire has about 4,000 moose.

 

Hunters are reminded to avoid consuming moose liver and kidney. Studies conducted by Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service have revealed high levels of cadmium in some moose livers and kidneys sampled. As a result, officials from the Environmental Health Program at the N.H. Department of Environmental Services recommend that no moose kidney be eaten, and preferably no liver. If individuals do choose to eat moose liver, it should be from moose no older than 1.5 years. If the moose is older than that, consumption should be limited to a maximum of two meals (assuming six ounces per meal) of moose liver per year. Biologists at moose check stations can determine the age of the animal for hunters. If you have questions about this issue, call David Gordon, DES Environmental Health Program, at (603) 271-4608.

 

Visit a photo gallery of past successful N.H. moose hunters -- and find out more about moose hunting in New Hampshire -- at www.huntnh.com/hunting/moose.html.

New Hampshire: Salmon Sunday Nov. 13

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

CONCORD, N.H. -- Bring the kids and explore the life cycle of landlocked salmon, fish prized by anglers on New Hampshire's big lakes, at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's annual "Salmon Sunday" event on Sunday, November 13, 2016, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at Pope Dam in Melvin Village. Pope Dam is nine miles north of Wolfeboro on Route 109 in the town of Tuftonboro, N.H.

"Salmon Sunday is a great chance for everyone to get a close-up look at landlocked salmon from Lake Winnipesaukee in their fall spawning colors," said Fisheries Biologist John Viar. "Kids love to see the big salmon, averaging about three pounds each, and watch biologists collect the eggs."

During the event, fisheries biologists will be busy harvesting, or "stripping," eggs and milt from adult salmon. Standing knee-deep in the cold water of the Melvin River, scientists expertly relieve the colorful adult female salmon of their eggs by stroking their stomachs. Milt from the male fish is obtained in the same way, and mixed with the gold-colored eggs to fertilize them.

This activity is all part of the work the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department carries out each year, with support from the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program, to maintain the landlocked salmon population in New Hampshire's big lakes.

Salmon used for the stripping demonstration are netted from Lake Winnipesaukee during October and early November. They are returned to the lake after their eggs and milt have been collected. The fertilized eggs are taken to Powder Mill Hatchery in New Durham, where they will hatch in three to four months. The salmon are raised in the hatchery for about 18 months, then stocked into Lake Winnipesaukee and other New Hampshire lakes.

Fish and Game staff will be on hand to answer questions about salmon, the egg-stripping process and the stocking program that ensures these beautiful fish continue to be available in the lakes for anglers to catch. Salmon Sunday is a "rain or shine" event. Dress warmly. If you have questions about Salmon Sunday, call (603) 744-5470.

Learn more about fisheries management in New Hampshire, which is funded in part by the federal Sport Fish Registration Program (financed by your purchases of fishing equipment and motorboat fuel) at www.fishnh.com/fishing/fisheries-mgt.html.       

Orvis building in Manchester,VT sold for $2.4 million

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

MANCHESTER,VT — The Keelan Company has sold the Orvis Outlet building to 4382 Main Street Investors LLC for $2.4 million.
The sale closed on Thursday, Sept. 29. Officials with Orvis said the company had recently renewed its lease of the building for a second 10-year term. The company’s public relations coordinator told the Banner on Tuesday that the landlords have changed, but the sale will not affect Orvis’ lease.
The building is formerly known as The Jelly Mill. The Keelan Co. purchased it from Clinton “Clint” Lewis for $717,000 in 1998, according to a press release from The Keelan Co. president Pete Keelan.
The Jelly Mill closed in 2005 after Lewis retired. There were offers to tear down or modify the building, but Keelan was selective about who could lease the property.
“The building is a perfect backdrop for Orvis’ retail offerings and I believe it is one of their top performing outlets,” Keelan said in the release.
The new landlord, Zeb Ripple from San Francisco, was born in Connecticut and has a family home in southern Vermont, the release stated. Ripple also has an extensive commercial real estate resume and Keelan said he was the right fit to own the “iconic property.”
Ripple and Keelan were not available for comment by press time.
From 1890 to 1915, The Jelly Mill was operated as a dairy barn for former Vermont Supreme Court Justice Loveland Munson. In the basement of the building there are still remnants of cow stalls, the release stated.
The Keelan Company is based out of Shelburne and also owns Occupational Consultations P.C., Shamayin Bound Inc., and Dolma LLC. It was founded in 2011.
Orvis is “America’s oldest mail-order outfitter and longest continually operating fly-fishing business” founded by Charles F. Orvis in Manchester in 1856. Since 1965, it’s been privately owned by the Perkins family and accumulated more than $340 million in sales (2012) as an international, multi-channel retailer, according to its website. Source: This article by Makayla McGeeney was first published in the Bennington Banner on Oct. 5, 2016.

MassWildlife Announces $300k in Habitat Management Grants

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Mass Wildlife Announces $300k in Habitat Management Grants

For the second year in a row Mass Wildlife is awarding grants to support private and municipal efforts to manage conservation lands for the benefit of wildlife. The goal of the Mass Wildlife Habitat Management Grant Program is to provide financial assistance to private and municipal landowners of conserved lands to support active habitat management and expand public recreation on these lands. The program also aims to improve habitat for game species, to manage habitat for Species of Greatest Conservation Need as identified in the State Wildlife Action Plan (with special emphasis on State-Endangered and State-Threatened Species), and to expand public recreational opportunities for hunting, fishing, trapping, and other wildlife-associated activities on conserved lands. The application period is now open with a proposal deadline of November 15, 2016. Details on how to apply for the Mass Wildlife Habitat Management Grant are posted at mass.gov/dfw/habitat-grant .

To get a sense of what active management actually looks like on the ground, join us for one of our upcoming public site walks. These walks, led by Mass Wildlife biologists, ecologists, and foresters, will showcase the work done by Mass Wildlife's Habitat Program. These walks allow the public to learn about the management occurring on state lands, to learn why different management practices are chosen, and to understand the resulting impacts on wildlife.

Bass Pro Shops Acquires Cabelas for $ 5.5 Billion

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World

Photographer: RJ Sangosti/Denver Post via Getty Images

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Cabela’s Inc. agreed to be bought by Bass Pro Shops in a $5.5 billion deal, handing a victory to the activist investor that had been pushing the outdoor-sports equipment retailer to put itself for sale.
The offer of $65.50 a share in cash represents a 19 percent premium to Cabela’s most recent closing price, the companies said Monday in a statement. Capital One Financial Corp. is acquiring Cabela’s $5.2 billion credit card receivables portfolio, according to a separate statement.
The deal, which unites two of America’s largest outdoors retailers, comes almost a year after Elliott Associates began pushing Cabela’s to consider a sale. The chain, which had built a following among hunters and outdoor enthusiasts, came under pressure after revenue and profit growth sputtered.

Cabela’s, founded by brothers Richard and Jim Cabela in 1961, said in October of last year that “significant weakness” in its fall apparel and footwear contributed to a disappointing third quarter. Less than a week later, Elliott disclosed an 11 percent stake and said it would push for a shakeup. The company began a strategic review of its business in December.
In winning the bidding for Cabela’s, Bass Pro beat out competition from private equity bidder Sycamore Partners, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

Card Portfolio

Cabela’s card portfolio is issued by its World’s Foremost Bank subsidiary, which employs 700 people and is based in Lincoln, Nebraska. The retailer had about 1.9 million active accounts in 2015, a 6.8 percent increase from a year earlier, according to its latest annual report. The average balance on cards in the portfolio last year was $2,301, the company said.
Bass Pro was founded by Johnny Morris in 1972, working out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri. Morris is worth about $3.3 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Sidney, Nebraska-based Cabela’s rose 15 percent to $63 at 8:34 a.m. in early trading in New York. The shares already had gained 18 percent this year through last week, supported by speculation of a sale. Source: Bloomberg Business Report

Fly Fishing Mourns a Great Ambassador

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

R.I.P. Maggie Merriman
     

In her late thirties Merriman saw a need on the West Coast for a woman instructor to teach women’s classes. As professional fly-fishing instructors were new to the sport in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Merriman honed her casting and teaching skills and apprenticed with some of the early pioneer instructors. One of her first professional jobs was with the San Francisco Sports & Boat Show, where she provided casting tips and casting demonstrations. Merriman was later hired by Ed Rice and made appearances for numerous years at Rice’s International Sportsmen’s Expositions.
In the summer of 1973, she returned to the Nine Quarter Circle Ranch to be the director of their summer fly-fishing school. Merriman continued the California–Montana schedule for a few more years, and in 1978 she founded the Maggie Merriman Fly Fishing Schools. Merriman’s school was the first separate fly-fishing school for women, taught by a woman, in the western United States. The schools were operated through a number of fly shops in Montana, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and California. These women-only schools were popular and filled with enthusiastic students.
From 1978 through 1982, Merriman was busy in the fly-fishing industry. With her new western schools established, she saw the need for women-only schools on a national level, and in 1978 she organized and developed the first-ever two-day women’s school at the Federation of Fly Fishers conclave in West Yellowstone, Montana. The following year, she organized the same women-only classes at the Golden Gate Angling & Casting Club in San Francisco. In 1981, Merriman was hired as a consultant by the rod company Lamiglas and developed her signature Maggie Merriman Rod for women. It was during her work with Lamiglas that she was given the title “Fly Fishing Lady of the West.” Not settling for just a rod, in 1982 Merriman independently designed, manufactured, and released the first women’s fishing vest designed by a woman. Her accomplishments continued in 1982: she launched a series of fishing accessories under her own label, and she permanently located Maggie Merriman Fly Fishing Schools to West Yellowstone.
During her career, Merriman, a past member of the Outdoor Writers of America, wrote fly-fishing columns. For three years she wrote a regular product-evaluation column for Fly Fishing Heritage, and she started a regular column on women’s issues for Flyfisher, the national magazine of the Federation of Fly Fishers. Merriman herself wrote the column for Flyfisher for more than five years, and to this day, the column continues to be part of the magazine.
Merriman has been active with the Federation of Fly Fishers for much of her career. Besides organizing the women-only schools at the annual conclave, she developed and served as the coordinator of their National Women’s Educational Fly Fishing Program from 1995 until 1998. She has received two honors from the federation: Woman of the Year in 1995 and one of the Legends of Fly Fishing in 2003. In 1998, she was the U.S. representative at the prestigious Chatsworth Angling Fair in England.
Merriman continues to run the Maggie Merriman Fly Fishing Schools in West Yellowstone from May through September. She lives in Huntington Beach, California, the remainder of the year, teaching casting and entomology workshops, making appearances at sportsman shows, and traveling to different fishing locations. The Federation of Fly Fishers continues to offer the two-day women’s school. Regarding women making great contributions to fly fishing, Merriman says, “There are many new chapters to be written. I am highly encouraged as I look around at all the women involved in our sport.”