Wakefield Pond, Pascoag, RI

Posted by Wayne G. Barber &   Photos by Wayne G. Barber

Deep hole of 21 feet on the point to the right of the very steep boat ramp where the resident tarzan swing go's out over the water. Very good choice for the second pond ( Peck Pond 1st )to freeze up north with very little pressure for a steady supply of flags for the angler and young people that you should be mentoring. Always a 5 pounder here at first ice. Work the edges around the deepest hole with Swedish pimple jigs dressed with a meal worm for a nice creel of yellow perch for a tasty winter fish fry.

Wakefield Pond in Pascoag, RI is a pristine freshwater body of 74 acres and a plentiful supply of fish and wildlife to enjoy. Pickerel and Red-Fin Pickerel, Large-Mouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Bluegill,  Pumpkinseed , Red-Breasted Bluegill, Green Pumkinseed, Brown Bullhead, Golden Shiners, Snapping Turtles, Painted Turtles, Leopard Frogs, Bull Frogs, Black Racer Snake, Mallard Duck, Coots, Merganizer Duck,Canadian Geese, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Wild Turkey, White Tail, Black Bear, Northern Coy-Dog Coyote, Red Fox, Grey Fox, Fisher, Raccoon, Opossum, Muskrat

We fished mid day overcast sky with a outside 70 degree temp for 37 fish in two hours of summer non-stop catch and release and a garden night crawler dug by my grandsons caught the largest bass on the this excellent experience of small pond fresh water shore fishing.

Description & Overview:

This RI DEM fishing access site is on the 74 acre Wakefield Pond, which sits in northwestern Rhode Island, right against the border with Connecticut. There is a cement plank boat ramp here and gravel parking lot. The small northern arm of the pond has houses lining the shore but most of the rest of the shoreline is wooded and undeveloped, but privately owned. Outboard motors are not permitted between June 20 and September 20.

This site provides access to the following water bodies: Wakefield Pond.

Location:

Town: Burrillville

Nearest Town Center: Pascoag

Driving Landmarks: From Route 100 west of Pascoag take Buck Hill Road west. Go 1.7 miles and at top of hill where the fire tower sits on the right, look for Wakefield Road branching off to the left. Follow Wakefield Road for half a mile and then turn left onto Lee Circle. In 1/4 mile turn right on the road going down the hill. At the bottom of the hill turn left and look for the boat ramp on the right.

Access & Waters:

Water 'Features' At Site: lake/reservior

Note: Because one boat launch can access, say, both a lake and a river or both the upstream and downstream portions of a river, not all paddling trips at a given site will necessarily encounter all of the features listed.

Type of Access: Boat ramp

ADA Accessible Boat Launch? no

Shoreline: cement plank bank ramp

Float/Dock: no

Parking:

Parking: parking lot, 5 spaces

The southern end has the man made earthen dam and the old boy scout camp beach area and there is a good size island with a healthy amount of largemouth  bass staging there. Night fishing after the weeds emerge is excellent for top water Jitter-Bugs, 3/8ths and 5/8 ths straight or broken back and hula poppers in Leopard Green are hot. Buzz baits, single or double blade catch the larger bass. Blue /Black plastics in jigs, worms or lizards rule on the stained water.

2017 Michigan elk season kicks off Tuesday

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Great American Restoration Story.

2017 Michigan elk season kicks off Tuesday

2017 elk season kicks off Tuesday

Tuesday, Aug. 29, is the first day of the 2017 elk hunting season's Hunt Period 1, taking place for 12 days in total:

• Aug. 29-Sept. 1


• Sept. 15-18


• Sept 29-Oct. 2

A total of 100 state hunters – 70 antlerless-only hunters and 30 any-elk hunters – will get the opportunity to hunt for elk this season.

Elk hunting is open in many counties in the northern Lower Peninsula. See map of Elk Hunt Period 1 units.

"Regulated hunting is the most effective method of controlling elk populations and distribution," said DNR wildlife communications coordinator Katie Keen. "The early season helps to target elk outside of the elk range – the desire is to provide recreation while also offering relief to landowners who may see negative effects of elk on their property."

Elk Hunt Period 2 is Dec. 9-17 and will be open in both the Pigeon River State Forest and Unit L.

elk license plateElk have been hunted in Michigan annually since 1984, and 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of their presence in the state. In 1918, seven elk were brought from the western United States to locations near Wolverine, Michigan. Today's healthy and abundant elk population is a result of intentional land management and increased law enforcement. Help celebrate the 100th anniversary of elk. Look for the DNR elk license plate, available starting Dec. 1, 2017.

Maine: Bear Season Starts Today

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Maine: Bear Season Starts Today

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Maine's bear season begins on Monday, August 28 throughout the state of Maine, and youth hunters get their own day on Saturday, August 26. Last year, 10,936 hunters purchased a permit to hunt bear, with 2,859 hunters harvesting a bear for a success rate of 26%.

"Conditions look promising for hunters to have a better year than last year, but just how successful hunters are depends on the abundance of natural foods and how long those natural foods remain available" said IFW Bear Biologist Jen Vashon.

Maine's black bear population is closely monitored by Department biologists through one of the most extensive, longest-running biological studies in the U.S. The study began in 1975 and continues today. Over nearly 40 years, Department biologists have captured and tracked over 3,000 bears to determine the health and condition of Maine's bears and estimate how many cubs are born each year.

"Over that time, our research has shown that when natural foods are in low supply, hunters have more success taking a bear since bears are more likely to seek out other food sources," said Vashon.

Maine's bear season is divided into three segments, as hunters can hunt with bait from August 28 to September 23, hunters can hunt with dogs from September 11 to October 27, and hunters can still hunt or stalk bear from August 28 to November 25. Maine has one of the longest bear seasons in the country since Maine has one of the largest bear population estimated at over 36,000 animals. In addition to a season that starts in August and ends after Thanksgiving, Maine allows hunters to take two bears, one by hunting and one by trapping.

In 2016, hunters harvested 2,859 bear and 68% were taken over bait, 21% with dogs, 2% by deer hunters, 1% by still-hunting or stalking prior to deer season, and 4% in traps. The remaining 4% was taken without the method of harvest being reported.

Even with the lengthy bear season, only about 25% of all bear hunters are successful. By contrast, 75% of moose hunters were successful last year, turkey hunters enjoy success rates between 30-35% and deer hunters in Maine are successful 14-18% of the time.

Young hunters will once again get their own day on Saturday, August 26. Youth hunters who have a junior hunting license can hunt bear with a firearm, bow, or crossbow on this day. Youth hunters may hunt bear with the use of bait, or still hunt; however the use of dogs during youth hunting day is prohibited. Last year, 27 youth hunters were successful in taking a bear on youth day.

Youth hunters may hunt only in the presence of an adult supervisor who is at least 18 years of age. The adult supervisor may not possess a firearm, bow, or crossbow while the youth hunter is participating in the bear hunt. Any person who accompanies a junior hunter other than the parent or guardian, must either possess a valid adult hunting license or have successfully completed a hunter education course.

While the abundance of natural foods this year is likely to impact hunters, in-state research shows that it is also what drives nuisance bear complaints. In years when there is a good natural food crop, the numbers of complaints drop. In poor natural food years, nuisance complaints increase.

Over a span of 40 years, Maine's bear study has shown that not only does the availability of natural foods drive bear cub survival and bear birth rates, but it also directly influences when bears den for the winter, as well as hunter success rates. In poor natural food years, hunter success is higher than in years when natural food is abundant.

Successful bear hunters are reminded that it is mandatory to submit a tooth from their bear when registering. Tagging agents will provide envelopes and instructions to hunters as to how to remove the tooth. Biologists age the tooth, and the biological data collected help biologists adjust season lengths and bag limits for bears. In August, hunters can learn the age of the bear they harvested the previous season by visitingwww.maine.gov/ifw/hunting_trapping/hunting/bear/index.htm.

Blue Hills , Massachusetts, Third Controlled Deer Hunt Draws Opposition

Posted by Wayne G. Barber


Public hearing draws 75 opponent's at the Wednesday night meeting at the Milton High School
 to the third annual controlled permit White Tail hunt at Blue Hills, Massachusetts. Estimates are that 50 deer per mile needs to thinned to 20 deer per mile to save the native habitat and avoid deer starvation.

This would be the third year of the hunt, with a total of 122 deer being killed in the first two years

Peter Church, the director of forest stewardship of the Department of Conservation and Recreation and Conservation, said the purpose of the hunt is to reduce the deer population which is harming regeneration of the forest.

“We have looked at every option and concluded permitted hunting offers the most success" Church said.
Under the plan, shotgun hunting will be allowed on four days after Thanksgiving, and bow hunting would be allowed on 11 days in limited sections of the reservation. The number of hunters would be restricted to 266 shotgun hunters and 75 bow hunters.
Julie Moffatt of Canton said birth control for deer would be a more effective method of controlling the population.

The lone speaker in favor of the hunt was Paul Johnson of the Plymouth County League of Sportsmen. “This population needs to be controlled for the good of the area,” Johnson said of the deer. “We’ve got to do this in a humane manner.
The bow hunt would be held Monday through Thursday from Nov. 6 through 22. The shotgun hunt will take place on Nov. 28 and 30 and Dec. 5 and 7.

The deadline for comments on the plan is Aug. 31. They can be sent to the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Office of Public Outreach, 251 Causeway St., 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02114. A decision is expected in early September.

NWTF Texas Pledges $191,700 to Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt.

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

NWTF Texas Pledges $191,700 to Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt.


EDGEFIELD, S.C. — National Wild Turkey Federation chapters in Texas budgeted $191,700 to further the Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative within the state for 2017.

"We were very pleased to provide these 2017 Super Funds in Texas for leveraging with partners to help habitat restoration, hunting heritage efforts, wild turkey restoration, and research," said Texas State Chapter President Craig White. "This is a good fit for our recently updated state strategic plan and our vision of more turkeys, more hunters and more places to hunt." said White.

The board of directors for the state chapter approved funding for projects that will control invasive plant species, maintain productive wildlife openings, create healthier forests and help to preserve our hunting heritage.

"The support our Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative receives from our state boards and chapter members is second to none," said Becky Humphries, NWTF CEO. "This super fund money is critical for us to achieve our mission and the Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt initiative."

Projects receiving funding include, but are not limited to:

Habitat Enhancements ($87,000) – on Matador, Gus Engeling, Gene Howe, Angelina-Neches/Dam B, Pat Mayse, Muse, Chaparral, and Yoakum Dunes wildlife management areas, as well as restoration work on wild turkey habitats around Texas.

Scholarships ($10,500) – graduating high school seniors, at the local and state level and graduate students.

Outreach Events ($14,000) – JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) programing, 4-H shooting sports and the National Archery in the Schools Program, Women in the Outdoors and Wheelin' Sportsmen.

Hunting Heritage ($10,000) – American Hunting Heritage Fund, Outdoor Adventures Program and opportunities for hunter recruitment, retention and reactivation work.

Wild Turkey Restoration ($5,000) – assist Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with costs of relation efforts for Eastern wild turkeys.

Research ($3,000) – Rio Grande wild turkey research in Oak Prairie Wildlife District was funded in cooperation with the university.

New 2017 Hunting Laws for Maine

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Printed copies will be out soon, but the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife is urging as many hunters as possible to download the PDF version instead. Here’s why:

1.       It’s convenient. Even without cell or internet service, smartphone users can access their pre-downloaded law book to check a technical rule, confirm legal hunting times, etc. If you always keep your phone on you (and charged) to take photos or use the GPS, this is a no-brainer.

2.       It’s easy. Save yourself the trip to Town Hall, and simply follow these instructions:

From your iPhone: In Safari, go to mefishwildlife.com/huntinglaws. Click the link for the PDF you want to download. When it opens, tap on the first page, then tap Open in iBooks. The file is now saved in your iBooks app.

From your Android: In Chrome, go to mefishwildlife.com/huntinglaws. Tap on the menu (3 dots) on the right, then tap Download. The file is now saved to your Downloads app. (some Android users will also need to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader app).

From your Computer: Go to mefishwildlife.com/huntinglaws to save a copy and/or print just the pages you need.

3.       It’s flexible. You can download the full law book, and/or one of our (new!) quick-reference guides. You can also look up specific laws or rules any time on our website.

4.       It helps the Maine outdoors. Every year, we print over 250,000 hunting law books. That’s (a) a lot of paper, and (b) a lot of money that we think would be better spent preserving Maine’s fish& game and their habitats. Trusting that many of you will agree and opt for the digital version, we reduced the number of printed copies a bit this year, and will base next year’s order on this year’s data and feedback.

Going more digital is just one way we can work together for the Maine outdoors. Are you in?

Yup, I’m in. Take me to the PDF!  

From everyone at MDIFW, we wish you a safe, enjoyable, and successful hunting season!

Bounty for Northern Pike ?

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Colorado: $20 Reward for Each Northern Pike From Green Mountain Reservoir

SILVERTHORNE, Colo. - A cash-based incentive offered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Colorado Water Conservation Board encouraging anglers to catch northern pike at Green Mountain Reservoir resumes this year. Initiated in 2016, the reward program encourages anglers to participate directly in ongoing efforts to remove the illegally introduced predators from the reservoir.

CPW biologists say the presence of the predatory fish in Green Mountain is a significant concern. In addition to the potential impacts to fish in the reservoir, if they escape and take up residency downstream in Gold Medal sections of the Blue and Colorado rivers, sport fishing opportunities for trout could see negative consequences. If the predatory fish eventually reach federally listed critical habitat in the Colorado River, they would prey upon the state's endangered native fishes - the Colorado pike minnow, humpback chub, razorback sucker and bony tail.

"Northern pike are aggressive predators with big appetites and if their population continues to grow in Green Mountain Reservoir, that will likely have profound impacts to local fisheries in the future," said CPW's Jon Ewert, aquatic biologist from Hot Sulphur Springs. "This is beneficial in several ways. Anglers can catch a predatory fish and earn some money, it helps us protect fishing here, and helps with our native fish recovery efforts as well.

According to the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, the presence of predators like northern pike and smallmouth bass in native fish critical habitat significantly increases the difficulty of delisting the endangered fishes.

"We all have an interest in making sure our waters are managed appropriately and we encourage the angling public to stay involved," said Ewert. "We had excellent response last year, and we expect anglers will be eager to take advantage of this opportunity again this year."

To participate, anglers must bring their northern pike to the Heeney Marina along with their driver's license and fishing license.

CPW will keep fish heads for analysis, returning the body of the fish to the anglers. Anglers not wishing to keep northern pike can donate their catch to the Marina for later distribution.

Anglers are encouraged to catch and keep as many smallmouth bass and northern pike as they desire, unless special regulations are in effect on specific waters.

For more information, contact CPW's Hot Sulphur Springs office at 970-725-6200, or Heeney Marina at 970-724-9441

To report illicit stocking or any other illegal wildlife activity anonymously, anglers can call Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648.

Phenology Calendar

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Fourth Week of August

A raptor has many more cones per millimeter than humans do and its visual acuity is more than twice as good as ours.

The flowers, roots, and seeds of evening primrose are edible. You can add the
 flowers to a stir fry or a salad.

The brown thrasher loves to sing, and he has as many as 2,000 songs in his repertoire.

Dog-day cicadas are emerging as adults. The nymphs of these annual cicadas have been feeding on the roots of pines and oaks for the past year.

First Week of September

The milk snake eggs laid early in summer are hatching.

You might still find a delicious edible giant puffball if you spend time walking in fields and are lucky.

Frogs and toads, like snakes, shed their skin as they grow but, unlike snakes, they eat the skin for its nutrients.

Both pileated woodpeckers and flickers are changing from eating insects to eating fruits, including the berries of poison ivy, Virginia creeper, dogwood, sumac, and wild cherries.
Source: Virginia Barlow

Vermont Moose Hunt Auction Nets $30,761 for Wildlife Education

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Vermont's annual auction of five moose hunting permits closed on August 10, with $30,761.50 taken in from the five winning bids. The auction helps fund Fish & Wildlife Department educational programs, such as the Green Mountain Conservation Camps for youths.

Bids do not include the cost of a hunting license ($26 for residents and $100 for nonresidents) and a moose hunting permit fee ($100 for residents and $350 for nonresidents). Winning bidders can choose to hunt in any one of Vermont's Wildlife Management Units open for moose hunting.

The Fish & Wildlife Department held a lottery July 29, when 80 moose hunting permit winners were drawn from the more than 4,900 people who applied.

Hunters are expected to take close to 34 moose during Vermont's moose hunting seasons. Archery moose season is October 1-7. Regular moose season is October 21-26. Wildlife biologists estimate Vermont has 2,000 moose statewide.

Mass. HIP Survey Required

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

HIP Survey Required

Woodcock, snipe, rail, duck, and goose hunters must register with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Harvest Information Program (HIP) each calendar year by taking a HIP survey. HIP surveys are only available through the MassFishHunt system. Non-resident hunters must complete a HIP survey for each state where they hunt. Duck and goose hunters purchasing a state waterfowl stamp are automatically prompted to complete the HIP survey during the transaction. Waterfowl hunters who hunted in January and February of 2017 have already completed the HIP survey for the entire calendar year do need not take any action.

Hunters who only hunt woodcock, snipe, or rail must complete a HIP survey as a separate step during or after their hunting/sporting license purchase. They do not need a waterfowl stamp.

Your hunting/sporting license will show whether you have completed a HIP survey. Check near the top of your license for the words "HIP Survey Completed." If you do not see this phrase, you can take the survey via the MassFishHunt system. You can also visit any MassWildlife office or license agent location to take the HIP survey. Be sure to reprint your license after registering. HIP data gathered from game bird hunters is used by state and federal biologists to evaluate hunter effort and harvest.

Vermont: Deadline for Antlerless Deer Applications is August 24

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Vermont: Deadline for Antlerless Deer Applications is August 24

MONTPELIER, VT – The deadline to apply for an antlerless deer permit to be used during Vermont's December 2-10 muzzleloader deer season is Thursday, August 24.

Antlerless deer hunting permit applications are on Vermont Fish & Wildlife's website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com), and printed applications are available from license agents statewide.
New this year, hunters applying online for an antlerless permit will do so through the online license sales system as if they were purchasing a license or a tag using their conservation ID number, or CID#. Landowners who do not have a Conservation ID number will need to create a profile through the online license sales system to apply for a landowner application even if they do not intend to purchase a hunting license.

The December 2-10 muzzleloader season has 24,500 antlerless permits distributed in 18 of Vermont's 21 Wildlife management Units (WMU), which is estimated to result in 3,608 antlerless deer being taken.

Landowners who post their land may not apply for a muzzleloader landowner antlerless deer permit.

"We recommended an increase in muzzleloader season antlerless deer permits this year to account for the increase in the deer population following another mild winter in 2017," said Nick Fortin, deer project leader for the Fish & Wildlife Department. "Much of Vermont has experienced two consecutive very mild winters. As a result, the recommendation is intended to stabilize or reduce deer densities in some parts of the state while allowing for moderate population growth in other areas."

VTF&W Photo by John Hall
Deer hunters have until August 24 to apply for a Vermont antlerless deer permit for use in the December 2-10 muzzleloader hunting season.

Americans Win Three World Cup Golds, One Bronze in Compound Finals

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

BERLIN - World Archery called it a "strong message from the States' newly-formed worlds squads." Three gold medals and a bronze at the fourth stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup spoke for themselves, as the USA compound women's, men's and mixed teams all clinched the top spot on the podium - and an individual bronze to round out the medal haul.

This week's fourth and last World Cup event of the season - before the World Cup Final and the World Archery Championships - was an important training event for a U.S. compound team that included a solid mix of veterans, like bronze medalist Braden Gellenthien (Hudson, Massachusetts) and relative newcomer Kris Schaff (Billings, Montana). This is the first event in which the entire compound World Championships squad has competed internationally as a team, and it was a resounding success.

According to World Archery, the USA women's squad of Paige Gore (Red Bluff, California), Lexi Keller (Omro, Wisconsin) and Cassidy Cox (Albuquerque, New Mexico) - ranked second after qualification - faced an outperforming number nine team from Great Britain, who upset top-seeded Mexico in the eliminations, in the final.

Tied at 55 points after one end, the British team put in an eight and a seven at the back of the second end to fall behind. They managed to claw ground back over the back half of the match, but a perfect three 10s from the American trio put the match out of Archery GB's reach. It is both teams' best finish of the season in the compound women's team event.

"It was a really tough match. It put us to the challenge with the rain, the wind and how our equipment was, but I think we figured it out really quick and then worked together really well to keep up with the conditions when they were changing," said Keller.

The three young American athletes, none of whom are older than 22 years of age, who were selected to represent Team USA at the next World Archery Championships ahead of more experienced archers, have found quick form prior to the worlds.

There was continued excitement for Team USA fans as the compound men's final with Denmark went down to a shoot-off after the two teams tied at 233 points following the regulation 24 arrows. They then drew again, with perfect 30-point groups in the shoot-off - but the U.S. had an arrow closer to the middle of the target, and was declared the winner.

"This is a good World Cup victory - but we beat them, they beat us and that will probably continue back and forward. The real prize for us is still in October in Mexico," said Steve Anderson (West Jordan, Utah), referring to the Antalya final - where the Danish team won.

"This is our first time shooting together as a team," added Gellenthien. "I think we gained a lot of confidence today and it's going to be a good step moving forward. I'm really excited for Mexico City."

Gellenthien also appeared in the mixed team event, where he and Gore competed against Mexico for the gold medal - and won. The Mexican team was a tough pairing of Linda Ochoa-Anderson and Julio Fierro, with Ochoa ranked fourth in the world. Team USA, however, scored a three-point lead in the second of four ends, and never looked back, finishing atop the podium with a 156-153 win.

The squad's sole individual medal today was guaranteed to Team USA by virtue of a matchup between Anderson and Gellenthien. The pair tied with near-perfect scores in the first and second ends of the match, and then Anderson took a one-point lead in the third end. The match swung in Gellenthien's favor, however, when Anderson dropped a point in the fourth end, tying at 117-all, and Gellenthien was able to shoot a perfect 30 in the last end for a one-point bronze medal win.
Team USA recurve archers Mackenzie Brown (Flint, Texas) and Brady Ellison (Globe, Arizona) will take to the stage tomorrow to compete for mixed team bronze in the recurve finals and last day of competition at the Hyundai Archery World Cup. Results are available at World Archery's website, and the finals will be live-streamed on the Olympic Channel. For more, follow USA Archery on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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.

FREE DEER HUNTING SEMINAR THIS MONTH

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

FREE DEER HUNTING SEMINAR THIS MONTH

 

PROVIDENCE -The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announced it is hosting a free informational seminar on deer hunting this month. The program is designed to educate hunters of all ages and experience on ways to increase their success hunting whitetail deer. 

 

WHEN:      Saturday, August 26| 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

                   

WHERE:     DEM Division of Fish & Wildlife Education Center, 1-B Camp E-Hun-Tee Place, Exeter

 

The workshop is open to the public and will include classroom and field activities.  Participants will learn about where to hunt, clothing and equipment, practicing for success, tree stand tips, scouting, calls and calling, reading signs, animal recovery techniques, and field dressing tips. The session will be led by hunter education instructors from DEM’s Division of Fish & Wildlife. The program will be held rain or shine, and appropriate dress for weather conditions is suggested. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lunch, snacks, and beverages.  Space is limited and registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Jessica Pena in the DEM Division of Fish & Wildlife at jessica.pena@dem.ri.gov.

 

Deer hunting has a long tradition in Rhode Island, supporting family customs and tourism to the state.  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. 

 

Follow DEM on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) or Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM for timely updates.

CMP New England

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

The New England Games is held at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site and is hosted by the Vermont State Rifle and Pistol Association, along with the Burlington Rifle and Pistol Club. A variety of matches fired during the event accommodate both rifle and pistol, new and experienced marksmen alike.

Popular matches such as the Rimfire Sporter, Garand/Springfield/Vintage and Modern Military Match, As-Issued 1911 Pistol Match, Military & Police Service Pistol Match and a Pistol Two-Man Team Match are fired throughout the Games. Additionally, an EIC Pistol Match, .22 Rimfire Pistol Match, Carbine Match and Vintage Sniper Match will be sure to challenge competitors of all ages.

Register on-line at https://ct.thecmp.org/app/v1/index.phpdo=match&task=edit&match=15010.

For more information, visit our website at http://thecmp.org/competitions/cmp-travel-games/new-england-games/.

National Parks Lifetime Pass Fee to Increase on Aug. 27, 2017

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

A stampede of seniors has descended upon America’s national parks, many of them hoping to buy a $10 lifetime pass before an act of Congress causes the cost to spike to $80 later this month.
“Many sites are running out of passes and there’s a high demand,” said Kathy Kupper, a spokeswoman for the National Park Service. “Online orders are generally 100 a day. Right now, it’s 11,000 a day.”
The senior pass, available to people 62 and older, allows the pass holder and a carload of companions to enter any of 2,000 sites throughout the country, including the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park in Woodstock.
Christina Marts, the deputy superintendent for the park and the Saint Gaudens National Historic Site in New Hampshire, said “people are scurrying to get their passes” by Aug. 27, the last day the pass can be purchased at its current price.
“Annually, the two parks sell just over 1,200 senior passes a year,” she said. “This year, we’re already well over 2,000.”
The run caused both locations to temporarily run out of passes, Marts said, though a resupply had allowed them both to stock back up as of Thursday afternoon.
She recommended that people call Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller at 802-457-3368, ext. 222, to make sure they’re in stock before visiting specifically to get a pass.
But she said many people who come to buy a pass are taking a more full advantage of the visit.
“We are certainly seeing an increase in visitation, and we certainly hope that as people are coming to buy their passes that they take an opportunity to enjoy all the parks have to offer and make a day of it,” she said.
The increase, though dramatic, is the first hike in more than 20 years. When Congress first established the senior pass in 1974, they were free, and remained that way until 1994, when the $10 price tag was fixed.
Kupper said the national agency just printed 400,000 more passes to meet demand, and that she expects sales to hit 2.5 million passes, more than triple the usual annual total of about 800,000.
According to the Census Bureau, there are about 48 million people age 65 or older in the country, where the 417 national parks drew 320 million visitors last year.
Though the run, and the price bump, will increase revenue for the National Park Service as a whole, the Upper Valley’s two locations actually may take a loss, because the legislative change, which Congress approved in December, comes with a restructuring of how the money is allocated.
Admission revenues make up just a small percentage of each park’s budget, but they currently are retained within the park in which they were generated.
Under the change, Marts said, all admission revenues will instead go to a national endowment, with individual parks invited to apply for dollars for specific projects. She expressed confidence that the end result would benefit the local parks, but the specifics of the arrangement have yet to be worked out.
“We haven’t seen guidance of how the endowment fund is going to be managed,” Marts said. “We’ll certainly track the details as those develop.”
Kupper said the increase in revenues will help to close a chronic gap between the needs and revenues of the national parks.
“There is a big maintenance backlog,” she said. “So many have infrastructure you don’t think about, sewer systems and electric systems.”
The $80 new price tag on the senior pass will bring it into alignment with the “America the Beautiful” annual passes on sale to National Park-goers of all ages, but after the switchover, there will be a purchasing option that will lessen the impact of the cost increase.
Seniors also will be able to buy an annual senior pass for $20. If they accumulate four $20 passes, they can trade them in for a lifetime senior pass at no additional charge.
Kupper said that, because of the order backlogs, those who purchase a pass online might not get their pass in the mail for months, but will be able to use their receipt to gain admission during the interim.
Though federal law prohibits the National Park Service from recording demographic data on its visitors, the conventional wisdom is that seniors — who often have recreational time and an innate appreciation of nature — make up a majority of the visitors to the sites.
Marts said visitors can challenge themselves on rugged hikes, but the parks also work to include programming for people of different levels of physical ability.
“At Marsh Billings we offer a variety of tours that include the historic home of George Perkins Marsh and Frederick Billings, the mansion and a wonderful collection of artwork,” Marts said.
Source: VTDIGGER.

Connecticut Free Fishing Day

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has designated Saturday, August 12, “Free Fishing License Day” for all anglers in Connecticut.

To fish for free, anyone – resident or non-resident – 16 years of age or older can obtain a free one-day fishing license -- good for both the inland and saltwater fishing areas --through the DEEP online sportsmen licensing system (www.ct.gov/deep/fishing) or at any venue that sells fishing licenses. Those who are 15 or younger do not need a fishing license but can register using the same on-line system to obtain a “Youth Fishing Passport.” Visit www.ct.gov/deep/yfp for details on how to sign up.

Also on August 12 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Fort Trumbull State Park in New London, a special 6^th Annual Saltwater Fishing Day event will also take place. The event is sponsored by DEEP’s No Child Left Inside® program and the Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education (CARE) programs.

To celebrate Saltwater Fishing Day at Ft. Trumbull, there will be fishing and crabbing opportunities for the entire family and a variety of educational activities. State Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police will have a saltwater fish exhibit and be on hand to answer questions. CARE will feature a touch tank with live marine species. Staff from the Connecticut Department of

Agriculture/Bureau of Aquaculture will be doing an oyster shucking demonstration. CT Sea Grant will have information about shellfish and seaweed aquaculture. Mystic Seaport will have a table with information on cod fishing, artifacts related to cod fishery of the 19^th century and a paper dory boat craft activity.

“The designated ‘Free Fishing License Day’ combined with Saltwater Fishing Day, is a DEEP initiative designed to connect people with outdoor activities and Connecticut’s natural resources. This day reflects how fishing is much more than catching fish. For many, the quality time spent connecting with friends and family outdoors is priceless,” said Susan Whalen, DEEP Deputy Commissioner. “Many of those who took advantage of the previous ‘Free Fishing License Days’ have either fished as a youngster or have held a fishing license in past years. We know that once people come out and fish our many lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and Long Island Sound they will be amazed at how much they have been missing.”

“Connecticut has just about every type of fishing, convenient to residents, including trout, bass, pike, panfish, for inland fishing and saltwater species including striped bass, fluke, porgy or bluefish,” added Whalen.

DEEP’s listings of Lakes & Ponds, Rivers & Streams, Coastal Access points and fishing regulations are found in the 2017 Connecticut Angler’s Guide available online at www.ct.gov/deep/anglersguide. Print versions are available at more than 350 locations statewide, including many town halls, bait & tackle shops and other vendors selling outdoor equipment, DEEP facilities, and commercial marinas and campgrounds.

Vermont Bear Hunting Starts Sept. 1

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Over the last 25 years, Vermont's bear population has grown from less than 3,000 to 5,400 today.


MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Vermont's bear hunting season starts September 1, and hunters can improve their chances if they scout ahead of time to find fall foods such as wild apples, beechnuts, acorns, and berries -- where bears will be feeding.

"Fall foods for bears are more abundant than they were last year," said Vermont's bear biologist Forrest Hammond. "Bears will be feeding along power lines and in forest openings and old fields where berries and apples can be found as well as in forested beech and oak stands. They also are likely to be feeding on standing corn, ."
Vermont has two bear hunting seasons. The early bear hunting season, which requires a special bear tag, starts September 1 and continues through November 10. The late bear season begins November 11 and continues through November19. A hunter may only take one bear during the year.

Hammond says Vermont's regulated bear hunting seasons help in managing the state's population of about 5,400 bears.

"Twenty-five years ago Vermont had less than 3,000 bears, and they were found mostly in the mountains and northeastern quarter of the state," he said. "Although we have successfully increased bear numbers, the human population has also risen, resulting in more encounters between humans and bears. Carefully regulated hunting helps control the growth of the black bear population and allows for their sustainable use, while decreasing interactions with humans."

Photo by Jacob Zorn

"A regulation now requires hunters to collect and turn in a small pre-molar tooth from each harvested bear," Hammond added. "The collection of a premolar tooth is critical to the bear project as it provides important data on the age structure of the bear population and for making population estimates."

A video showing how to remove the tooth is on the Fish & Wildlife website and YouTube channel. (www.vtfishandwildlife.com) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n3i91OAXGc&feature=youtu.be)

Hunters took 697 bears last year in 193 Vermont towns.

Hammond asks hunters in southern Vermont to avoid shooting bears with yellow ear tags and GPS collars because they are valuable animals in the Deerfield Wind bear study.

A Guide to Bear Hunting in 2017 -- http://tinyurl.com/y7bun75c
is available on the Fish & Wildlife website.

Maine Pond Surveys Add Insights

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

IFW biologists in central and mid coast Maine depend on stocking programs to create trout fishing opportunities for our anglers. We regularly evaluate these programs to ensure that the stocked fish are providing a suitable recreational fishery, which typically means assessing trout survival and growth. These periodic surveys ensure the best possible use of our valuable and limited resources.

Summer pond surveys give us a snapshot of what's happening in a lake or pond. Our biologists assess water quality in the pond to determine if the water provides suitable habitat for trout (trout need cold water that's well oxygenated), and we collect a sample of the fish to assess their overall condition.

All fish collected are given a thorough examination to determine length, weight, age, and feeding habits. This information tells us whether fish are surviving during the hot summer months, how quickly they're growing, and if our stocking numbers need to be adjusted (more fish or less fish). Since we need to dissect the fish to determine what they're eating, the sampling is lethal to the fish. Rest assured that only a small sample of the fish population is caught during the survey, ensuring plenty of fish for anglers to enjoy.

The Region B fisheries staff recently surveyed Knickerbocker Pond in Boothbay. We found that rainbow trout are surviving to older ages and are growing to larger sizes, and brook trout are also surviving multiple years which is creating a great local fishery. Due to water temperatures and dissolved oxygen levels, water quality in Knickerbocker is on the edge for brook trout survival, so finding these older age brook trout was a pleasant surprise.

After conducting the survey, our biologists took some of the fish to the nearby YMCA camp, where they conducted a discussion about Maine's fisheries and fish biology with some eager campers. The kids were very excited to see the different types of fish that inhabit the pond, and they were amazed at the size of some of these fish! Source: Mark Latti

Phenology Calendar for August

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Second Week of August

Sulphur shelf mushrooms, or chicken of the woods, are often fruiting now. They may do this quite a bit earlier or quite a bit later.

Hermit thrushes are late nesters and might still be singing their beautiful songs. Most other birds have stopped singing by now.

Large white pine sawyer beetles can be seen at dusk following the smell of freshly cut wood.

Goldenrods are lighting up the landscape and providing both pollen and nectar to many species of bees. Source: Virginia Barlow

Peregrine Falcon Nesting Cliffs Reopened for Hikers

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Photo by C.P. Merrill

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Vermont Fish & Wildlife has reopened the cliffs closed to hiking and access earlier this spring to protect nesting peregrine falcons.

“The young peregrines have fledged, and nesting data suggest Vermont falcons had a good year,” said Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s migratory bird biologist John Buck.  “A final report will be issued later this year.  Peregrine nesting success is partly due to cooperation from hikers and rock climbers who observe a respectful distance from nesting falcons during this critical period.  This success would not be possible without the more than 40 volunteers who monitor nest sites statewide from March to the end of July.” 

According to Audubon biologist Margaret Fowle, who coordinates the monitoring effort on behalf of the Fish & Wildlife Department, biologists and volunteers monitored more than 50 peregrine pairs that occupied Vermont cliffs in early spring and summer, and more than 60 fledglings were produced. 

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

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

Vermont Moose Hunting Permit Winners Are Drawn

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Vermont Moose Hunting Permit Winners Are Drawn

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- The winners of Vermont's 2017 moose hunting permits were determined Saturday, July 29, at a lottery drawing at the Barre Fish and Game Club in Barre.

Governor Phil Scott activated the computer-generated selection process that randomly picked 80 winners from 4,971 lottery applicants.

The drawing is done by a random sort of applications that were submitted by a July 3 deadline.

Massachusett's resident Douglas Oakes Jr. North Adams and Connecticut resident Joseph Campbell of Moosup, Ct. will participate and NO Rhode Island winners in 2017 out the 4,971 entries.

As part of the regular lottery drawing, a "special priority drawing" was held for five permits to go to applicants who are Vermont resident veterans. The unsuccessful applicants from the veteran drawing were included in the larger regular drawing that followed. All applicants for both drawings who did not receive a permit were awarded a bonus point to improve their chances in future moose permit lotteries.

The lottery was held for 17 moose permits to be used in the Vermont's October 1-7 archery moose hunting season and 63 moose permits for the October 21-26 regular moose season.

"Today's lottery drawing helps celebrate one of Vermont's successes in science-based wildlife management," said State Wildlife Biologist Cedric Alexander. "Vermont's first moose hunt was in 1993, when 25 moose were taken with 30 permits issued. We expect close to 34 moose will be taken this fall in a carefully regulated hunt."

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

If your name wasn't drawn, you can still bid in Vermont's auction for five moose hunting permits, which is open until August 10. Sealed bids must be received by Vermont Fish & Wildlife by 4:30 p.m. that day. Contact the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department to receive a moose permit bid kit. Telephone 802-828-1190 or email (cheri.waters@state.vt.us).


Vermont has about 2,000 moose statewide with the greatest concentration in the Northeast Kingdom.