Changes to Permanent Hunting/Fishing Licenses Coming in 2017

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Changes to Permanent Hunting/Fishing Licenses Coming in 2017

Hunters and anglers aged 65 to 68 who don’t have a permanent license
should buy one before midnight on December 31

 

MONTPELIER, Vt. – The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is reminding hunters and anglers of changes to permanent license laws that go into effect starting on January 1, 2017. A permanent hunting and fishing license is currently available to Vermont residents aged 65 and older for a one-time fee of $50. Starting January 1, the eligible age will be raised to 70 and the license will be free. 

 

The department is urging hunters and anglers aged 65 to 68 who don’t yet have a permanent license to purchase one before midnight on December 31. Eligible current 2016 license holders can purchase a permanent license in person at a license agent or Fish & Wildlife Department district office. Those who have not purchased a 2016 license yet can either purchase a permanent license in person at a license agent or district office or go online at www.vtfishandwildlife.com. Hunters and anglers who already have a permanent license do not need to purchase another but should renew theirs in 2017.

Those without a permanent license who will turn 70 before the next hunting or fishing season should wait until their 70^th birthday to pick up a 2017 permanent license, at which time it will be available to them for free.

 

The change in eligibility was made to bring Vermont’s permanent license structures in line with neighboring states. In New York and Massachusetts, hunters and anglers are eligible for a permanent license at age 70. New Hampshire does not offer a permanent license, but instead offers a discount on annual licenses starting at age 68. 

 

A permanent license allows the holder to hunt and fish without purchasing additional licenses for the rest of their lifetime. Vermont’s permanent license includes all regular season tags, including archery, muzzleloader, and turkey tags. An additional tag for second archery, moose and antlerless lotteries, and waterfowl stamps must be purchased separately. Permanent licenses must be renewed every year, which is free of charge online or at any district office.

 

Permanent licenses are different from lifetime licenses, which can be purchased at any age and are generally purchased for young children.   

 

Anyone with questions about the change should see the department website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com) or call the licensing office at 802-828-1190.

Colchester (Vt.) Man Charged After Shooting from the Road

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

CAMBRIDGE, Vt. – A Colchester man faces serious penalties after being caught shooting from the road on the last day of Vermont's November deer hunting season.

After receiving complaints of people shooting at deer from a road, Vermont State Game Wardens deployed an antlered deer facsimile in Cambridge on Sunday, November 27. At approximately 2:15 p.m. the wardens observed a truck stop near the deer facsimile and saw the driver shoot at it from the driver's seat of the truck.

When the wardens announced their presence, the operator left the scene at a high rate of speed. The wardens pursued the truck for several miles on back roads before they observed the truck drive behind a building in Cambridge.

The violator, 22-year-old Justin Andrews of Colchester, was taken into custody for having a loaded long gun in a motor vehicle, shooting from a motor vehicle and failure to stop for a game warden.

Andrews must appear in Lamoille Superior Court, Criminal Division, in January 2017 to answer the charges. If convicted, Andrews will be fined up to $1000 for each offense and lose his privilege to hunt, fish and trap in Vermont for three years. The rifle used to commit the offense would also be forfeited to the state.

Phenology Calendar for the first week of December

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

First Week of December

Chipping sparrows have big appetites: each one will eat 160 times its weight in seeds over the course of a winter.

The delicate fronds of the small fern called maidenhair spleenwort are still green and still clinging to rocks.

Once they find suet hanging by the birdfeeder, hairy and downy woodpeckers will come back to it again and again.

Snowy owls occasionally visit this region. These beautiful daytime hunters often perch on fence posts and low branches.

White Tail Deer are in full Rut and this is the best time for Beaver Pelts .

The mighty Black Bears will be reserving their denning sites now.

Connecticut Pheashant Stocking Up- Date

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

ATTENTION PHEASANT HUNTERS: One more stocking update!
A small allotment of birds has been released at Robbins Swamp WMA and Housatonic WMA. Due to the snow storm, no additional birds will be released this week at Goshen WMA, Skiff Mnt, Housatonic WMA or Robbins Swamp. All four areas will be stocked with birds next week on two separate days.

New Hampshire: Hearing for Free Fishing Day, Other Rules

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

CONCORD, N.H. -- New Hampshire would have an additional free fishing day on the third Saturday in January, under rules proposed by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department that will be the topic of a public hearing at 1:30 p.m. on December 6 at the N.H. Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH.

The State Legislature authorized the addition of a second free fishing day earlier this year in order to provide an opportunity for those interested in trying ice-fishing. On free fishing days, people can fish without a license. All other regulations must be followed, and anyone participating in a fishing tournament must hold a license. Currently, there is a single free fishing day each year in New Hampshire, occurring on the first Saturday in June.

Another proposal to be discussed at the hearing would make it illegal to mutilate (tag, brand, fin clip or otherwise mark) freshwater fish that are caught and then released back into the waters of the state.

The complete rulemaking notice, with original and proposed rule language, can be viewed at www.wildnh.com/legislative/proposed-rules.html (select "Free Fishing Days and Marking of Freshwater Fish Prohibited").

Written comments must be received by December 15, 2016. Send to: comments@wildlife.nh.gov (use the rule name in your subject line); write to Executive Director, N.H. Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301; or fax to (603) 271-5829.

Maine: Two Dams Set for Removal

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

WESTBROOK, ME – Friends of the Presumpscot River (FOPR) and Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) announced today the filing of a long-awaited settlement agreement that will lead to the construction of fish passage and removal of two dams at Saccarappa Falls in Downtown Westbrook. This agreement was reached by the two nonprofit groups, dam owner Sappi Fine Paper, the City of Westbrook, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Maine Department of Marine Resources and filed yesterday with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Removal of the two dams will eliminate a significant barrier to migratory fish, once counted in the millions on the Presumpscot River, and will open a large segment of prime spawning habitat to several species of sea-run fish.

"After engaging in three years of negotiations with Sappi, other parties and our partner Conservation Law Foundation, this settlement agreement will result in vast improvements for our river," said Michael Shaughnessy, President of Friends of the Presumpscot River. "It is an agreement we can all be very proud of. When the dams are removed and fish passage finally constructed, we will have a wonderful result for the river and for the people who live in the Presumpscot's watershed. It will open up the longest and cleanest stretch of riverway in the most densely populated area of the state, and it will greatly enhance the economic and recreational value of the river."

Today's agreement also requires Sappi to either remove the next two dams upriver — Mallison Falls and Little Falls in Windham — or install fish passage facilities at those dams once a threshold number of American shad or blueback herring pass at the Saccarappa Falls site. The settlement agreement would also extend the license and fish passage deadline for two other Sappi dams, Gambo and Dundee.       

Federal Duck Stamps now available through MassFishHunt

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Last year, my friend from Tennesee was visiting me in Rhode Island and wanted to hunt in his former birthplace

Massachusetts to do some hunting. I remembered a fine article on the subject that was in the Athol Daily News by writer Mike Roche. He wanted to go duck hunting but were stymied by the weekend and the Veteran’s Day holiday as we needed to purchase duck stamps which are required to hunt waterfowl. Well, you may now purchase a Federal Duck Stamp through the MassFishHunt online licensing system, at any authorized license agent, or at any MassWildlife office. When purchasing online, a Federal Duck Stamp will be added to your hunting or sporting license and can be used immediately once you have reprinted your license. This eDuck Stamp provides all the privileges of a Federal Duck Stamp on a temporary basis and will expire 45 days from the date of purchase. Before your eDuck expires, a physical Federal Duck Stamp will be sent to you via U.S. mail. As soon as you receive the Federal Duck Stamp, you must sign it and carry it with you while hunting. Federal Duck Stamps are valid from July 1 through June 30.
Along with appropriate state stamps and licenses, the annual purchase of a Federal Duck Stamp is required for waterfowl hunters 16 and older and is valid in any state. Waterfowl hunters 15 years or older must also purchase a Massachusetts waterfowl stamp, valid from January 1 through Dec. 31. The Federal Duck Stamp must be signed across the face in ink. Stamps are required for hunting any ducks (including sea ducks), geese, or brant, but not required for hunting rails, snipe, woodcock, or American coot. Federal stamps are also available at all National Wildlife Refuges, selected U.S. Post Offices, and at usps.com. You may also purchase Federal Duck Stamps to directly support wildlife and habitat conservation. A current duck stamp grants the bearer free entrance into any national wildlife refuge that charges an entry fee.
There was a time when the country was teaming with waterfowl. This resource was decimated in a short time due to several factors.
Market shooting to supply food to restaurants, bounty hunting and unregulated sport hunting, and collecting feathers for the fashion industry all contributed to the loss. Millions of acres of wetlands were drained to feed and house the ever-increasing population, greatly reducing waterfowl breeding and nesting habitat.
In 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act (or Duck Stamp Act), and an increasingly concerned nation took firm action to stop the destruction of wetlands vital to the survival of migratory waterfowl. Under the act, all waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and over must annually buy and carry a Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp – better known today as a Federal Duck Stamp.
Ninety-eight cents of every duck stamp dollar goes directly into the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund to purchase or lease (5.2MB) wetlands and wildlife habitat for inclusion in the National Wildlife Refuge System. This ensures there will be land for wildlife and humans that will be protected for generations to come.
Since 1934, some $800 million dollars has gone into that fund to protect more than 5.7 million acres (102.5KB) of habitat. Little wonder the Federal Duck Stamp Program has been called one of the most successful conservation programs ever initiated. One of the reasons for the Duck Stamp’s success is that anyone can buy the stamp, which can also be used as an annual “pass” to national wildlife refuges charging entrance fees.
Conservationists buy duck stamps because they know that 98 percent of the cost goes directly to conserve wildlife habitat vital for many birds, fish, mammals and plants, and you and your family – and future generations. This small investment brings long-term returns.
Stamp collectors purchase the stamp as a collectible that increases in value. Hunters, who strongly advocated for the Duck Stamp’s creation, willingly pay the stamp price to ensure the survival of our natural resources. And many hunters buy two duck stamps each year – one for hunting and one as a collector’s item and an additional contribution to conservation.
The Federal Duck Stamp has evolved over its more than 80 years of existence. In recognition of the stamp’s growing value as a conservation tool, its formal name was changed to the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp.
The first Federal Duck Stamp was designed by J.N. “Ding” Darling, a political cartoonist from Des Moines, Iowa, who was chief of the Bureau of Biological Survey, the predecessor to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In subsequent years, noted wildlife artists were asked to submit designs to be considered for the stamp.
Here in the Central Zone, ducks and geese are open until Nov. 26 and reopen on Dec. 12.
Source:  MIKE ROCHE ADN Columnist

Geese Hunting Opens in Rhode Ialnd

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

GEESE HUNTING SEASON OPENS THIS WEEKEND

Free waterfowl identification workshop this month

PROVIDENCE - The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announced

hunting season for Canadian geese opens this weekend, running Saturday, November 19 – Sunday,

November 27. Geese hunting is also allowed Saturday, December 3 – Monday, January 30, 2017.

A waterfowl identification workshop will be offered on Wednesday, November 30 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00

p.m. at the Cold Spring Community Center in North Kingstown. The workshop is open to individuals aged 12

and older who have completed a hunter safety course and will include an overview of waterfowl, including

geese, ducks, and sea ducks. Participants will learn about identifying clues, such as wing patterns, and how

to identify waterfowl in a variety of settings. Space is limited and registration is required. To register, send

your name, phone number and email address to Jessica Pena in the DEM Division of Fish & Wildlife at

jessica.pena@dem.ri.gov.

As part of a larger network of recreational opportunities in Rhode Island, hunting plays an important role in

connecting people with nature, supporting quality of life and family traditions, and attracting tourism.

According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, hunting contributes more than $18 million annually to Rhode

Island’s economy. There are approximately 17,000 licensed hunters in Rhode Island. Hunter education is

offered as part of DEM Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Hunter Education Program. Safety training is required by

law in Rhode Island for beginning hunters. To date, more than 40,000 people have completed a hunter

safety course in Rhode Island, helping to dramatically reduce related accidents in the state and elsewhere.

A complete schedule of hunter educational offerings is available at www.dem.ri.gov.

Duck hunting season will be open Wednesday, November 23 – Sunday, November 27 and from Saturday,

December 3 – Sunday, January 22, 2017. The season for sea ducks opens on Thursday, November 24 –

Sunday, January 22, 2017. For more information about waterfowl hunting seasons in Rhode Island, visit

www.dem.ri.gov. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM or on Twitter

(@RhodeIslandDEM) for timely updates.

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What to Expect: States under the Trump Administration on Guns and Ammo

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

This feature focused on what the firearms and ammunition industries might expect under a Trump administration. Today, we're playing "what if" at the state and local level.

There are a dizzying number of options, despite the fact that 33 states now have Republican governors (the most in 94 years) and Republicans control 68 of the 99 state legislative chambers. There are also a record number of Republican state attorneys general- twenty nine.

But, says Jake McGuigan, the National Shooting Sports Foundation's Senior Director for State Affairs, that's no assurance of victory over anti-gun groups nationwide. In fact, McGuigan sees evidence of something he calls "California Creep": a changeover in neighboring states political makeup as liberal Californians move in and begin politically transforming their new homes to reflect their political view.

 There were some victories in the balancing act that is state government. They were significant in Connecticut, Illinois and New York.

Connecticut Republicans picked up enough seats to create a tie in the state Senate. Now Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman (D) will have to cast tie-breaking votes. This may have a bearing on any first time ever Black Bear Hunting Season in the Nutmeg State. ( Population 2,000 Black Bears)

Illinois Republicans gained enough seats to break the Democratic supermajority. Significantly, that means enough Senate seats to sustain Gov. Bruce Rauner's vetoes.

In New York, Republicans appear (not everything's final there yet) to hold a Senate Majority. In anti-gun areas such as these, any ability to stop or delay anti-gun legislation is a good thing.

After high profile defeats on the national stage, anti-gun groups continue (as we first reported months ago) hiring state lobbyists and quietly moving their campaigns there, shifting battles over the battleground state and local campaigns.
Here are a few likely topics and the states where the NSSF predicts initial battles will be fought:

• "Smart gun" mandates with likely battlegrounds being California, Massachusetts and New Jersey
• Dealer licensing laws in Illinois and Maryland
• Bullet serialization in Illinois,
• Modern Sporting Rifle bans (Washington will be a test state for anti-gunners)
• Traditional ammo restrictions in many states
• Universal background checks - the NSSF says "wait and see" about this item.
• When it comes to pushing restrictions on traditional ammunition, there will likely be a shift from emphasizing hunting to "worker-focused" health aspects at shooting ranges and public facilities.
  
  "On ranges," McGuigan reminded everyone, "there are thousands of times the number of rounds fired as compared to hunting." Anti-gun groups, he believes, will be looking to show lead levels in range workers as demonstrating a public-health based need for constraints."
  
  That might seem far-fetched, but the hundreds of millions of dollars pledged by Michael Bloomberg and other anti-gun individuals and groups, is "immeasurable" (McGuigan's word) when compared to the funding of pro-gun groups at all levels.
  
  The secret to combating money- as has been repeatedly demonstrated nationwide, is voter participation. Money helps drive home messages, but it's not substitute to turning out concerned citizens when it comes to getting - and keeping- an elected official's attention.
  
  We may be on the verge of what fewer immediate threats to the firearms and ammunition industries, but It is essential the industry keep paying close attention, especially on the state and local levels.

House Votes to Count Outdoor Recreation Economy as Part of U.S. GDP

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

NMMA General Government Relations

In one of their first acts upon returning to Washington, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the Outdoor REC Act, a critical bill that quantifies the true size of the outdoor economy, including recreational boating. A companion bill passed earlier this year out of the Senate Commerce Committee, with the full Senate hopeful to vote on the legislation before the holidays so that it can be signed into law by President Obama.

The REC Act directs the Secretary of Commerce, through the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), to "conduct an assessment and analysis of the outdoor recreation economy of the United States." A temporary pilot program was enacted by the Secretary of the Interior in April, so Congress's action was needed to make sure that the outdoor economy—and its estimated 6 million jobs and $646 billion in economic activity—receives official government recognition for years to come.

Recreational boating is a significant part of the outdoor economy, representing billions of dollars in economic activity and hundreds of thousands of jobs. NMMA is an active part of the team that will work with the Bureau of Economic Analysis to shape how outdoor recreation is defined and ensure our reach and impact are recognized.       

Tri-state Snowmobile Weekend Set for January 27-29, 2017

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

CONCORD, N.H. -- It’s time to start making plans for the New Hampshire-Vermont-Maine reciprocal snowmobile weekend, coming January 27-29, 2017 (Friday through Sunday). The tri-state event gives snowmobile enthusiasts a chance to explore new trails in northern New England.

 

"This weekend is one of the highlights of the winter for many resident and non-resident riders," said N.H. Fish and Game Major John Wimsatt, who coordinates Snowmobile and Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle enforcement, registration and safety education for New Hampshire.

 

 Following are the ground rules for the weekend:

• All snowmobiles legally registered in New Hampshire may operate in Vermont and Maine during the reciprocal weekend. All other Vermont and Maine snowmobile laws and rules must be complied with, including Vermont’s mandatory liability insurance, safety education certification (if born after 7/1/1983), and youth operation requirements.

• All snowmobiles legally registered to ride in Vermont and Maine may operate on New Hampshire trails during the three-day open weekend. To be legally registered in Vermont, snowmobiles must display, pursuant to Vermont law, a valid Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, Inc. Trails Maintenance Assessment, also known as the Trails Pass. All other New Hampshire laws and rules regarding the operation of snowmobiles must be adhered to, such as speed limits, youth operation standards, etc.

The Tri-State Reciprocal weekend occurs annually in January/February (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), provided that the neighboring states continue to participate. For planning purposes, the dates for the 2018 riding season will be January 26-28, 2018.

 

For information on snowmobiling in New Hampshire, visit: 

• N.H. Fish and Game Department -- www.ride.nh.gov
• N.H. Bureau of Trails – www.nhtrails.org
• N.H. Snowmobile Association -- www.nhsa.com

For information on snowmobiling rules in Vermont, visit www.vtvast.org for information on snowmobiling rules in Maine, visit www.maine.gov/ifw/laws_rules/snowlaws.htm.

Vermont: Late Fall Presents Deer Hunters with Bird Watching Opportunities

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

MONTPELIER, VT
  For many Vermonters, late fall means time spent in the woods hunting deer. Yet, while sitting patiently in deer stands , or sneaking silently through the woods, hunters also see plenty of other wildlife, including a variety of birds.

John Buck is Vermont Fish & Wildlife's bird biologist and an avid deer hunter. Although many of Vermont's birds have migrated out of the state by November, many species remain and can still be observed during the late fall.

Buck encourages deer hunters to watch for common species such as blue jays or ravens, and for even less common species, such as a northern shrike. Even Vermont's state bird, the hermit thrush, may still be spotted foraging through the leafless forest in November if snow is late to arrive.

"It takes a lot of patience and perseverance to hunt deer and those qualities lend themselves well to birding. Deer hunters are among the most observant and knowledgeable birders I have met," said Buck. "Whether it is having a chickadee sit on my shoulder or watching a barred owl take a pass at a red squirrel, some of my most memorable birding experiences have been while sitting quietly in my deer stand."

According to a recent study from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, people who both hunt and birdwatch are more likely to support conservation than any other group, either by donating to conservation organizations or by working to improve wildlife habitat on their property.

This finding doesn't surprise Buck, who has been working with hunters and birders at various points in his career. "Hunters and birders both possess a deep understanding of the need for habitat for all of the species that inhabit Vermont's landscape," said Buck. "This connections is vitally important to our understanding of the natural world and our place within it."

Buck encourages hunters to note the birds they see while out hunting this fall and to submit these sightings to the Fish & Wildlife Department's facebook page, with photos if possible.

Connecticut Broodstock Salmon Report

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

A number of catches reported from the recently stocked areas on the Naugatuck, Shetucket River, and Mount Tom Pond (with some time and effort put forth). A final round of stocking should occur in early to mid-December. Follow us on Facebook and our website to get the stocking updates.

Salmon stocking update. The Naugatuck River was stocked with 75 broodstock Atlantic salmon today (Thursday, 11/10). The upper broodstock area received 30 fish and the lower broodstock area received 45 fish. Most fish (60) stocked today were fish weighing in the 6-20 lb range.

Recap. Approximately 1,500 fish have been stocked earlier this fall. Mount Tom Pond and Crystal Lake (Ellington) were the lakes stocked this fall. Both the Nauatuck and Shetucket Rivers were also stocked. Additional fish will become available from the Kensington State Fish Hatchery later this fall, including more in the 6-20 lb range. 

Maine’s Herons Reveal Their Wintering Grounds

Maine’s Herons Reveal Their Wintering Grounds


Click on Red Highlight for the great story on Heron's

Mushroom Hike

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Mushroom Hike

Take advantage of the outdoors while you can — after all, if you hold off too much longer there could be snow to reckon with! Lace up your hiking boots and join Ryan Bouchard and Emily Schmidt for the Mushroom Hike in Ballard Park in Newport. Bouchard and Schmidt will take you through the park and explain how mushrooms affect the ecosystem and what their role is in the environment. Explore some of the thirteen-acre land through the lens of mushrooms. Learn the plant’s secrets, facts about them, which ones to avoid and which ones to add to your favorite pasta dish.

The Details: Nov. 12 (rain date Nov. 13). 1–3 p.m. $5 donation. Meet at Hazard Road entrance, Newport. To register, call 401-619-3377 or email education@ballardpark.org. ballardpark.org.  

American Museum of Fly Fishing Welcomes New Executive Director

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Manchester, Vermont - The American Museum of Fly Fishing (AMFF) is pleased to announce Robert Ruley as its new Executive Director. The appointment follows an extensive national search led by a Rhode Island search firm in conjunction with the museum's Board of Trustees. Ruley will join the American Museum of Fly Fishing on November 14.

Board President Karen Kaplan expressed her excitement saying, "We are delighted to have Robert Ruley join AMFF as Executive Director. An avid flyfisher, he brings strong experience in financial management and a particular talent for fundraising and community building. We couldn't be happier to have him."

Mr. Ruley has over twenty years of experience working for both non-profit and for profit organizations on Nantucket Island. He comes to the museum from the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, where he worked for ten years as a development professional. He was instrumental in adding hundreds of new members to the Foundation as well as producing a number of events including guided member walks, young member cultivation events and a very popular Cranberry Festival that draws in excess of 7,000 people annually. He seeks to bring the same kind of enthusiasm to the annual Fly Fishing Festival here in Manchester.

Prior to his employment at the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Ruley spent ten years as Director of Operations at Nantucket Island Resorts, LLC., which operates a collection of boutique hospitality properties, a world class marina and an extensive portfolio of commercial property.

He is also deeply rooted in community involvement, having served as an elected member of the Nantucket Harbor Advisory Board as well as serving as a Trustee, Treasurer and Executive Committee member for the Nantucket Lighthouse School, a respected independent school on Nantucket.

Ruley is a lifelong angler. He has spent many hours casting from the shores and water around New England, The Bahamas, and Florida. Though primarily a saltwater angler, he has spent considerable time lately pursuing trout and salmon in Northern New England and he is looking forward to getting to know the waters around Manchester.

The AMFF welcomes Robert's substantial experience in donor relations and cultivation, organizational programming and non-profit operations and management. The 49 year old father of two is excited about the move to Manchester as well, "My family and I could not be happier about our transition to Vermont. We are eagerly looking forward to it."


About the American Museum of Fly Fishing:
The American Museum of Fly Fishing is the steward of the history, traditions, and practices of the sport of fly fishing and promotes the conservation of its waters. The Museum collects, preserves, exhibits, studies, and interprets the artifacts, art, and literature of the sport and, through a variety of outreach platforms, uses these resources to engage, educate, and benefit all. The Museum fulfills this mission through our public programs (including exhibitions, gallery programs, lectures, special events, and presentations), our publications, and our quarterly journal, The American Fly Fisher.

For more information about the Museum and the 2016 Heritage Award please visit our website http://www.amff.org or connect with us on Facebook,Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

ASMFC Considers Alternatives for Summer Flounder Management

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

BAR HARBOR, Maine — The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board initiated development of Draft Addendum XXVIII to the Summer Flounder Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to consider alternative management approaches, including regional options, for the 2017 recreational summer flounder fishery. The Draft Addendum will have options which are designed to achieve the 2017 recreational harvest limit (RHL).

Changes in summer flounder distribution, abundance and availability created problems under the static state-by-state allocations, with overages often occurring. In response, states would implement regulations to reduce harvest, resulting in differing regulations between neighboring states. In 2014, the Board shifted away from traditional state-by-state allocations to a regional approach for managing summer flounder recreational fisheries. A benefit of the regional approach is it provides the states the flexibility to temporarily share allocations. The intent is to set regulations that account for shifting distribution, abundance and availability while providing stability and greater regulatory consistency among neighboring states as well as individual states in achieving but not exceeding the coastwide RHL.

In August, the Board and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) approved a 30% reduction in the 2017 coastwide RHL relative to 2016. This was in response the 2016 Stock Assessment Update which found fishing mortality was higher in recent years and population estimates were lower than previously projected.

The Draft Addendum will be presented to the Board for its consideration and approval for public comment at its joint meeting with the Council in December in Baltimore, Maryland. At that meeting, the Board and Council will also consider extending ad-hoc regional approaches for 2017 black sea bass and scup recreational management in state waters. The Board and Council are scheduled to review the Black Sea Bass Stock Assessment Report and Peer Review Report and consider possible management responses at their joint meeting in February 2017 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

2016 NH Youth Deer Hunt Weekend Results

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

CONCORD, N.H. -- Preliminary reports show that young hunters succeeded in harvesting 246 deer during the 2016 Youth Deer Hunt Weekend in New Hampshire, down 37% from the official 2015 total of 391. This unofficial total does not include information from all registration stations.  The 2016 total is below the average since the special youth deer hunt began in 1999.

 

"Despite very poor hunting conditions with heavy rains on Saturday and strong winds throughout Sunday, many of New Hampshire’s youth hunters were still successful over the weekend in harvesting, what for many was likely their first deer. More importantly, they were safely introduced to the sport by an experienced hunter and hopefully gained some memorable experiences, a new passion, and an appreciation for the state’s wildlife and natural areas," said Dan Bergeron, the NH Fish and Game Department's Deer Project Leader.

 

The youth deer weekend gives young people statewide the opportunity to go deer hunting with an adult mentor. Accompanying adults must be licensed hunters and are not allowed to carry a firearm, so they can devote all of their time and attention to coaching their young companions.

 

Youth also may hunt in New Hampshire during the regular deer seasons. All youth hunters under age 16 must be accompanied by a licensed adult 18 years or older while hunting. "Accompanied" means "within sight and hearing, excluding electronic devices, when actual physical direction and control can be effected," pursuant to RSA 207:1, XXX.

 

New Hampshire also offers special opportunities for young hunters through a youth turkey weekend each spring and a youth waterfowl weekend in September.

 

For the latest harvest numbers on the overall deer season so far in New Hampshire, see www.huntnh.com/hunting/deer-harvest.html.

 

For more information about youth hunting in New Hampshire, visit www.huntnh.com/hunting/youth.html

Connecticut Fall Walleye Stockng Oct.31,2016

Great Ice Fishing Opportunities in Connecticut

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Walleye Stocking Update: Yesterday (10/31) CT DEEP stocked 27,900 young Walleye into 9 waters. These fish will spend the next couple of years growing to reach legal size (18").

  Walleye are one of the most popular gamefish in North America. They grow to a large size, can be caught throughout the year using a variety of techniques, and are known for their exquisite flavor. Walleye are also efficient pelagic predators that play an important role in enhancing balanced fish populations and quality fisheries. The Inland Fisheries Division began stocking fingerling walleyes into a few lakes in 1993 to diversify the State's recreational fisheries. These lakes were selected because they were best suited for walleye, have marginal trout habitat and abundant forage fish populations. In these waters walleyes will create additional fisheries for large open-water gamefish. In addition, a lack of large predatory fishes has been identified as a problem resulting in imbalanced fish populations in many Connecticut lakes.

As part of DEEP Inland Fisheries Research and Mangement Grant (F-57-R), quality walleye fisheries were established in Gardner Lake, Salem and Squantz Pond, New Fairfield. Due to the popularity of the program, two water companies initiated stocking walleye into Lake Saltonstall, Branford and Saugatuck Reservoir, Weston. Also, in 2001, Connecticut expanded the walleye program to include the following lakes: Batterson Park Pond, Farmington; Beach Pond, Voluntown; Coventry Lake, Coventry and Mashapaug Lake, Union. More recently walleye fingerlings were stocked into Lake Zoar, Monroe-Oxford (2011) and Mt Tom Pond, Litchfield; Cedar Lake, Chester and West Thompson Reservoir, West Thompson (2012).

Walleye populations in these lakes are completely supported by annual fall stockings of 4 to 6-inch fingerlings purchased from a commercial supplier located in the mid-west.  Currently the state stocks more than 33,000 fingerlings into 10 public lakes. An additional 10,000 fingerlings are stocked by South Central Regional Water Authority (Lake Saltonstall) and Aquarion Water Company (Saugatuck Reservoir) into their lakes that allow fishing through permit access.  Statewide walleye regulations in Connecticut are an 18-inch minimum size limit and a 2-fish creel limit. Trophy fish awards of walleye catches greater than 23 inches (released) or greater than 6 pounds (kept) have been awarded to anglers from every lake stocked with walleye (since 2001). Most trophy fish awards have come from Lake Saltonstall and Squantz Pond. Check out the link on our Facebook page to see how the Inland Fisheries Division uses electrofishing techniques to sample walleye populations. Inland Fisheries Division is continually exploring new options to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of this program with a priority to assess angler harvest rates to ensure that current walleye regulations are adequate to sustain quality fishing. Please visit one of our walleye lakes and get in on the fast action and excellent table fare that these fish provide!