Olympic Medalist Kim Rhode Earns ISSF Shooter of the Year Honors

Posted b Wayne G. Barber

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado) As good as she’s been over the past 20-plus years, six-time Olympic medalist Kim Rhode arguably had one of her greatest seasons on record in 2017.  The shooting world thought so too and today she was recognized by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) as the Female Shooter of the Year for 2017.

Three of the top-10 Female Shooters in 2017 were from America’s Shooting Team and all from the shotgun ranks including reigning World Champion Dania Vizzi (Odessa, Florida) and Junior World Champion Katie Jacob (Rochester, Michigan) who finished tied for 10th. 

Joining the 38-year-old Rhode as top honoree was 42-year-old Japanese pistol competitor Matsuda Tomoyuki. Vincent Hancock was the last USA Shooting Team member to earn Athlete of the Year honors from the ISSF following his 2015 season.

Despite six Olympic medals, three World Championship medals and 33 World Cup medals, this is Rhode’s first Athlete of the Year honor.

“It feels amazing! It’s been actually an incredible year for me, I worked so hard leading up to it, and it’s great to see it all come together. This is just an incredible honor, and I’m super excited,” Rhode said. 

With a year that saw so many stellar performances from USA Shooting Team athletes, it took the near-Herculean task of winning two ISSF World Cup gold medals, one ISSF World Cup silver medal, a fourth-place finish at the ISSF World Championship and finishing off the year by winning the ISSF World Cup Final to earn to earn Rhode (El Monte, California) the distinction of USA Shooting Female Athlete of the Year and now ISSF Female Shooter of the Year.

After becoming the first Summer Olympian to win six medals in six straight Olympic appearances following a bronze-medal performance at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, it would have been easy for Rhode to rest on her proverbial Olympic laurel wreath, but that’s never been an option the year following the Games for Rhode. 

“I haven’t deliberately taken any years off after the Olympics,” she said. “It is a lot easier to maintain my shooting at a certain level rather than having to build back up because I didn’t train.” 

With so many highlights to choose from, when pressed, Rhode said that her shoot-off with Olympic champion Diana Bacosi of Italy to win the World Cup Final topped them all.  

“The World Cup Final is the crème de la crème of competitors and by invitation only. You have to be at the top of the game to be invited.  To be competing with that talent and get into a shoot-off and go 22 straight in doubles, it doesn’t get much better.” 

2017 ISSF Female Shooter of the Year Top-10 

1. Kimberly Rhode (USA)
2. Yuemei Lin (CHN)
3. Jessica Rossi (ITA)
4. Shi Mengyao (CHN)
5. Jolyn Beer (GER)
6. Zhang Jingjing (CHN)
7. Dania Jo Vizzi (USA)
8. Ray Bassil (LBN)
9. Andrea Arsovic (SRB)
10. Katharina Monika Jacob (USA),
11. Penny Smith (AUS)
12. The ISSF Shooter of the Year award is assigned by the International Shooting Sport Federation according to the vote of the ISSF Coaches Advisory Committee, the ISSF Athletes Committee and a selected panel of media representatives.
    Matsuda and Rhode will be honored with the trophy during the 2018 ISSF Season, kicking-off in a few weeks in Guadalajara (MEX), where the first stage of the 2018 ISSF World Cup Series will take place from March 1-12.

Maine: DIFW, Partners Work to Enhance Smelt Spawning

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

As a follow-up to the excellent smelt article submitted by Kevin Dunham for the June blog, I would like to provide some additional information regarding the work that has been undertaken in the Penobscot Fisheries Region to address smelt spawning habitat issues.

Populations of smelt have been in decline in several lakes throughout the region, primarily because of lack of access to their spawning habitat. In many instances debris and inactive beaver dams at the mouth of the spawning tributaries have limited or completely eliminated the ability of smelts to successfully spawn in those tributaries. That has become a common problem and an issue that has only one solution, i.e. remove the barrier.

The first task at hand to address this problem was to identify as risk spawning tributaries and then get to work developing a plan to remove those obstructions. It involves a lot of time, labor, collaboration with landowners, and sweat to accomplish, but we set about assembling work crews of interested anglers, campowners and conservationists to assist us in removing these obstructions in a number of lakes throughout the region, including; Nicatous Lake, East Grand Lake, Deering Lake, East Musquash Lake, Hay Lake and a handful of other lakes and ponds that have salmonid fisheries that are dependent upon healthy smelt runs and populations.

Interested volunteers from the Nicatous Lake Association, Chiputneticook Lakes International Conservancy (East Grand Lake Association) along with Regional Fisheries Biologists and Hatchery Fish Culturists, District Game Wardens, Department of Environmental Protection Biologists, Maine Department of Transportation Biologists and others were all participants. Crews were assembled on site, donned chest waders, grabbed a beaver rake or a chain saw, hiked and/or floated into where the obstructions were and went to work. Not very glamorous work to say the least but much was accomplished in every instance. When the assembled crews were finished, smelt once again had free reign to their traditional spawning grounds. In some instances, we have also transferred fertilized smelt eggs to “jump start” the restoration process, especially where the habitat has been unavailable for an extended period.

We have identified additional smelt populations that are at some risk and are making plans to address those problem areas in the near future. I would encourage interested anglers to keep a close eye out for areas that might benefit from this sort of rehab project, and contact your Regional Fisheries Biologist to explore viable restoration opportunities.
Source; MDIFW Fisheries Biologist Nels Kramer

Where the Walleye are.....

Statewide Regulations Minimum Length: 18 Inches Daily Creel Limit: 2 Walleye

Vincent Deledda 15.23 January 2015

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Connecticut has built a fantastic program for the great eating Walleye and includes a pond called Beach Pond in Exeter, RI which borders the two States. The Connecticut State record was landed the thru the Ice in January,2015. Always a few e-mails each week on the Walleye and in 2018 I will be fishing the ponds and lakes and then posting complete stories and helpful fishing and parking tips on each.

Where the walleye are...

Spring: Mouths of inflowing creeks, streams and rivers; at the base of waterfalls and dams; areas adjacent to rapids; shallow, bouldery shorelines exposed to wind; back bays and coves; necked-down channels with current.

Summer: Deep weed lines, especially in shallow lakes that lack structure; boulder-lined shoreline flats next to deep water; classic structure, such as long, underwater points, sunken humps, reefs, bars and saddles; the edges of deep pools and holes in rivers.

Fall: Deep structure in lakes and rivers; necked-down channel areas with current, especially after sunset; mouths of large rivers where they merge with big lakes; rock piles, saddles and bars in large rivers; below dams, waterfalls and major river obstructions.

Winter, where you left the fish in the fall; the base of structure, where the point or shoal merges with the lake basin; deep holes or pockets in otherwise flat, featureless, shallow lakes; the closest structure adjacent to the main-lake spawning areas, particularly in late winter; mouths of inflowing creeks, streams and rivers.

Batterson Park Pond, 456 Alexander Road, New Britain/Farmington, (140 acres). Season: Lake is open year round for fishing.  Access: boats with electric motors only & shore access.

Beach Pond, 205 North Shore Road, Voluntown, (372 acres). Season: Open 6:00 am 3rd Saturday April to last day February.  Access:  State owned boat launch. Shore access in Pachaug State Forest, and R.I.  License from CT or RI valid on entire pond.

Cedar Lake, Chester, (69 acres).  Season:  Open 6:00 am 3rd Saturday April-last day February.  Access:  Limited shore access and State-owned boat launch. (note 6 mph speed limit).

Coventry Lake, 180 Lake Street, Coventry, (373 acres).  Season: Open 6:00 am 3rd Saturday April-last day February.  Access: Limited shore access. State owned boat launch. (Note: Use of live alewives, herring or shad is prohibited.)

Gardner Lake, 147 Old Colchester Road, Salem/Montville-/Bozrah, (529 acres). Season: Open 6:00 am 3rd Saturday April-last day February. Access: Limited shore, State owned boat launch.

Lake Zoar, 290 Scout Road, Monroe-Oxford/Newtown –Southbury, (909 acres).  Season: Lake is open year round for fishing. Access: Shore fishing from Kettletown State Park on eastern shore, State owned boat launch.
Lake Saltonstall, Branford-East Haven, (422 acres). Season: Open 6:00 am 3rd Saturday April-November 30. Access: Shore fishing and boat livery by permit from Regional Water Authority 203-401-2654.  (Note: Use of live fish as bait is prohibited.) http://www.rwater.com/community/recreation/

Mashapaug Lake, 284 Bigelow Hollow Road, Union, (287 acres). Season: Open 6:00 am 3rd Saturday April-last day February. Access: Bigelow Hollow State Park, Shore fishing. State owned boat launch. 

Mount Tom Pond, 1500 Bantam Road, Morris/Litchfield-Washington, (56 acres). Season: Open 6:00 am 3rd Saturday April-last day February. Access: Mt Tom State Park shore access and car-top boat access. 

Lake Pocotopaug, East Hampton, (512 acres). Waterbody Specific Regulations:  Stocked by the town of East Hampton.  2 Walleye per day – 20” minimum length.  Access: Formal public access is lacking. 

 Saugatuck Reservoir, Easton-Weston-Redding, (827 acres).  Season: Open 6:00am 3rd Saturday April/December 31. Access: West shore fishing by permit from Aquarion Water Company (203) 452-3511. http://www.aquarion.com/CT.cfm/section/recr eation/page/Fishing/(Note: Use of live alewives, herring or shad is prohibited.)

Squantz Pond, 174 Shortwoods Road, New Fairfield, Sherman (270 acres).  Season: Open 6:00am 3rd Saturday April-March 31st.   Access: Squantz Pond State Park, Shore fishing, Boat launch: 7.5hp Maximum.

West Thompson Lake, Thompson, (239 acres). Season: Lake is open year round for fishing. Access: Federally owned boat launch. Shore access entire shoreline. 


Visit us online at: www.ct.gov/deep/fishing Fishing licenses can be purchased online at: www.ct.gov/deep/sportsmenlicensing
www.facebook.com/ctfishandwildlife
Updated

Maryland Winter Turkey Season Results Announced

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Hunters reported taking 87 wild turkeys during Maryland’s 2018 winter turkey season, which was open Jan. 18-20 statewide.
Turkeys were harvested in 22 of the 23 counties, with St. Mary’s, Dorchester, Garrett and Washington counties reporting the highest numbers, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Adult males (toms/gobbler) comprised 37 percent of the harvest with the remainder being females (hen) and juveniles (jake/jenny). Eighty-three percent were taken with a shotgun, but some hunters harvested their bird with a cross or vertical bow.

Winter Wild Turkey Season Harvest, 2015-2018
County	2015	2016	2017	2018
Allegany	6	3	9	6
Anne Arundel	3	0	2	4
Baltimore	2	2	7	1
Calvert	5	1	0	1
Caroline	6	8	2	2
Carroll	0	2	2	3
Cecil	0	2	2	2
Charles	5	0	10	4
Dorchester	15	6	14	8
Frederick	4	4	6	6
Garrett	11	4	9	8
Harford	4	3	2	2
Howard	1	1	1	1
Kent	4	1	3	4
Montgomery	4	0	3	2
Prince George’s	1	1	3	0
Queen Anne’s	7	2	5	5
Somerset	3	4	3	2
St. Mary’s	7	6	7	10
Talbot	3	2	1	2
Washington	6	7	11	8
Wicomico	4	0	6	3
Worcester	7	2	1	3
Total	108	61	109	87

This harvest was lower than the record 109 birds taken last year but higher than the 61 birds taken back in 2016. The winter turkey season was established in 2015 to provide hunters an additional hunting opportunities that does not conflict with other hunting seasons.
Turkey populations at one time were limited in Maryland. In the 1980s and 1990s, an extensive department program to trap and relocate wild flocks successfully established populations in every county.

Jason Pollack Big Win in Vermont

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

WEST HENRIETTA, NY -  Lynch Mob Calls Pro Staff Manager, Jason Pollack, has taken home top honors in the Vermont State Championship Turkey Calling Contest in the Open Calling class. This marks the second year that Pollack has taken home the title in the Vermont contest.
“I’m humbled and excited to represent Lynch Mob Calls in these contests,” said Jason Pollack, who serves as the Pro Staff Manager for Lynch Mob Calls. “These contests are a great opportunity for our sport, and gives us a chance to pass some of our heritage down to the next generation. I couldn’t be more excited to head into Grand Nationals this year!”
Lynch Mob Calls proudly supports callers of all levels and encourages them to participate in calling contests supported by the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF).
“I couldn’t be prouder to have someone of Jason’s caliber representing Lynch Mob at these events,” said George Lynch, founder of Lynch Mob Calls. “Jason really showcases what Lynch Mob was founded on: family values. A commitment to quality. Sportsmanship. We’re blessed to have Jason representing all of these values on behalf of Lynch Mob, wherever he goes.”
To learn more about Lynch Mob Calls and the 2018 lineup of turkey calls, please visit www.lynchmobcalls.com.

Phenology Calender

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Sportsmen Brian Parenteau with another nice Pike in 2018

Third Week of January

A turtle's metabolism slows almost to zero and these animals can survive in the mud at the bottom of streams where there is very little oxygen.

If the snow is not too deep, look for the fruiting stalks of ostrich fern. They're feather-shaped and the stalk has a deep groove. You might want to return in May to pick the edible fiddleheads.

Raccoons will be out and about during warm spells. They're dormant when it's cold but they don't really hibernate.

Fourth Week of January

The tufted titmouse isn't likely to be in a flock of its own species but will often join a chickadee flock.

Look for redpolls in the ragweed patch.

Cedar swamps provide cover and food for deer. Moose don't like cedar; for them it's starvation food.

Male dark-eyed juncos are wintering farther north than the smaller females.
Source: Virginia Barlow

RI DEM STOCKING TROUT FOR WINTER FISHING SEASON

PROVIDENCE - The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is stocking ponds across Rhode Island this month with some 4,200 brook and rainbow trout for the winter trout fishing season. 

"Fishing is a popular winter activity for people of all ages, providing an opportunity to connect with nature, unwind, and recharge,” said DEM Director Janet Coit.  "We hope Rhode Islanders will take time to venture outdoors and experience the thrill of reeling in a brook or rainbow trout at one of these prime fishing locations.  What fun!”

 

The one to one and a half-pound, hatchery-raised trout will be stocked in the following waterways from Tuesday, January 23 through Thursday, January 25:

 

• Barber Pond, South Kingstown
• Carbuncle Pond, Coventry
• Carolina Trout Pond, Richmond
• Meadowbrook Pond, Richmond
• Olney Pond, Lincoln Woods State Park, Lincoln
• Silver Spring Pond, North Kingstown
• Little Round Top Pond, Burrillville
• Upper Melville Pond, Portsmouth
• Watchaug Pond, Charlestown
• Wyoming Pond, Hopkinton

 

A current fishing license and a Trout Conservation Stamp are required to keep or possess a trout.  The daily creel and possession limit for trout is two from December 1, 2017 through February 28, 2018.

 

The Department advises anglers to check with individual communities about safe ice conditions on local ponds before ice fishing; DEM does not monitor ice conditions in local communities. Ice must have a uniform thickness of at least six inches before it is considered safe by DEM. It generally takes at least five to seven consecutive days of temperatures in the low 20s and is determined by a number of factors such as the size and depth of a pond, presence of springs or currents, and local temperature fluctuations. For ice conditions at Olney Pond at Lincoln Woods State Park, call DEM's 24-hour ice safety hotline at 667-6222.  View DEM’s ice safety guide online at www.riparks.com/IceSafe for safety tips, information on ice strength, and guidance on what to do if a person were to fall through the ice. The first safety tip: never assume the ice is safe. Among the others: never fish or skate alone or on an untested lake or pond; never use the ice for a shortcut; and never go out onto the ice after an animal or a toy.

 

Anglers are reminded to protect themselves from hypothermia; when in the outdoors, especially in low temperatures, dress in layers and wear a warm hat and gloves. Hypothermia is caused by exposure to cold weather, wind, rain, or submersion in cold water. It can set in when the body core temperature reaches 95 degrees Fahrenheit and is marked by shivering, dizziness, trouble speaking, lack of coordination, confusion, faster heartbeat and shallow breathing. It is important to look for these symptoms in children and the elderly who may not be focused on this hazard. If hypothermia is suspected, call for help immediately; move the victim to a warm environment, remove wet clothing and cover the individual with warm layers of clothing or blankets.

 

For daily updates on stocking locations, follow DEM’s outdoor education page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/rioutdooreducation, or call 401-789-0281.

 

Follow DEM on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) or Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM for timely updates.  Posted by Wayne G. Barber 

RI, Rocky Point pier almost ready for bids

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

A NICE A-PIER-ANCE: A design plan submitted by DEM shows the size and scope of the proposed pier at Rocky Point, which could become a fisherman’s paradise.

(Submitted document)

Rocky Point pier almost ready for bids....

Despite a slight setback, the state-led process which will result in a public pier at Rocky Point Park in Warwick is well underway and nearly out of the design phase, according to Andres Aveledo, an engineer contracted through the planning and development sector of the state Department of Environmental Management.
Aveledo appeared before the Warwick City Council last week to present the final design documents of the pier – which includes an approximately 260-foot-long wooden walkway leading from the existing blacktop path out to a 21-by-111-foot main deck elevated 13 feet off the surface of Narragansett Bay.
There will be an assortment of double wide bench seating, a shaded structure with more bench seating beneath, handrails around the perimeter of the pier and post-mounted, solar-powered lighting. Aveledo said that the deck would be situated perfectly close to a significant drop-off in the oceanic topography, making it a pristine spot for fishing.
The only thing left to accomplish is to get the city council to sign off on an agreement to lease the land, which is owned by the city, to the state so they can advertise for bids to build the pier. The state would pay for the project.
However, that exact cost, Aveledo said, couldn’t be predicted at this time because of two “alternate” pieces to the bid – a floating wooden structure and a larger, 30-by-60-foot steel structure – which the state may or may not be inclined to pay for, depending on the cost estimates they receive from prospective bidders.
Avedelo said that the only hang-up in their presentation to the council, which pushed the lease agreement back a couple weeks, was clerical in nature and not anything significant. The issue will be back before the council once again during their next regularly scheduled meeting on Jan. 17.
Avedelo said once the lease agreement is secured, the project should move forward quickly.
“Within a month of getting the lease agreement approved, we should be out to bid,” he said.

Source: Warwick Beacon, Ethan Hartley

RHODE ISLANDERS INVITED TO GET OUTDOORS AND ENJOY WINTER ACTIVITIES AT STATE PARKS

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

PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is encouraging children, families and individuals to get outdoors and enjoy the recreational resources that Rhode Island state parks and management areas offer.  Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and ice fishing are among the many outdoor activities that residents and visitors can experience at state parks and recreation areas across Rhode Island. 

 

“Our state parks and conservation areas are some of the best places to engage in winter sports, get fit and have fun," said DEM Director Janet Coit. "I hope Rhode Islanders will visit Pulaski Memorial Recreation Area in Glocester or Lincoln Woods State Park to trek through the snow on cross-country skis or snowshoes. These activities are terrific opportunities for children and families to get outdoors, enjoy nature, and participate in healthy activities.  Fantastic!"

The ski trails at Pulaksi Memorial Recreation Area are open daily from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weather permitting. Trail maps are available on-site. Cross-country skiers must bring their own skis and equipment, as rentals are not provided at the management area. Parking is available for 200 vehicles, and heated restroom facilities are available while the recreation area is open for skiing. Skiers may call DEM's 24-hour recorded telephone line at (401) 568-2085 for up-to-date information about trail conditions at Pulaski Memorial Recreation Area.

In addition to its cross-country ski trails, Pulaski also includes several hilly areas where the public may enjoy sledding, hiking, and snowshoeing. However, these activities, as well as animals, are not permitted on the ski trails. While Pulaski Memorial Recreation Area is the only state facility offering groomed and tracked ski trails, Colt, Goddard, and Lincoln Woods State Parks offer open areas where patrons can enjoy snow-related recreational activities such as hiking, sledding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.

George Washington Management Area in Glocester provides designated trails for those operating snowmobiles.  Snowmobiling is also permitted on the roadways in Arcadia, Burlingame, Wickaboxet and Woody Hill Management Areas, Burlingame State Park and Campground, Lincoln Woods State Park, and on open fields at Colt State Park. All snowmobiles must be registered by DEM's Office of Licensing and Registration, located at 235 Promenade Street in Providence. For registration information, call (401) 222-3576 or visit the office weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Be sure to review park and management area rules and regulations for restrictions and timing for snowmobiling at state parks.

With Rhode Island's small game hunting season open, DEM reminds all users of state management areas, and all hunters statewide, that they must wear at least 200 square inches of solid daylight-fluorescent orange material through the end of the season, February 28. The fluorescent orange must be worn above the waist, and must be visible from all directions.

When in the outdoors, especially in low temperatures, dress in layers and wear a warm hat and gloves. Hypothermia is caused by exposure to cold weather, wind, rain, or submersion in cold water. It can set in when the body core temperature reaches 95 degrees Fahrenheit and is marked by shivering, dizziness, trouble speaking, lack of coordination, confusion, faster heartbeat and shallow breathing. It is important to look for these symptoms in children and the elderly who may not be focused on this hazard. If hypothermia is suspected, call for help immediately; move the victim to a warm environment, remove wet clothing and cover the individual with warm layers of clothing or blankets.

 

Winter trout stocking will start the week of January 22. For updates on winter stocking locations, follow DEM's outdoor education page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/rioutdooreducation, or call (401)-789-0281. DEM does not monitor ice conditions in local communities. Anglers and others should contact their local recreation departments about safe ice conditions on ponds before ice fishing, skating or other ice- related activities in individual communities. DEM's Division of Parks and Recreation provides information about Lincoln Woods State Park in Lincoln, Meshanticut State Park in Cranston, and Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick on its 24-hour Ice Information telephone line, (401) 667-6222.

Ice must have a uniform thickness of at least six inches before it may be considered safe by DEM. It generally takes at least five to seven consecutive days of temperatures in the low 20s and is determined by several factors such as the size and depth of a pond, presence of springs or currents, and local temperature fluctuations. View DEM’s ice safety guide online at www.riparks.com/IceSafe for safety tips, information on ice strength, and guidance on what to do if a person were to fall through the ice. The first safety tip: never assume the ice is safe. Among the others: never skate alone or on an untested lake or pond; never use the ice for a shortcut; and never go out onto the ice after an animal or a toy.

Snowy Owl's feel at home in RI

Posted by Wayne G. Barber & Photo by Ed Hughes

The regal-looking owls have been spotted in various places around Rhode Island, including East Greenwich, Middletown, Narragansett and Block Island.
You’ll get a hoot out of this.
This winter’s forecast is predicting cloudy with a chance of snowy owls. The state has seen a recent influx of the owl species, according to wildlife officials.
The regal-looking owls have been spotted in various places around Rhode Island, including East Greenwich, Middletown, Narragansett and Block Island. A recent sighting even had a snowy owl perched on a chimney in Providence.
The raptors live in the Arctic tundra, but every four years or so, the birds travel more southward than usual, in what wildlife conservationists call “irruptions.” The Audubon Society of Rhode Island, a wildlife preservation group, is predicting another irruption year as more than a dozen sightings have been reported since Thanksgiving. According to Lauren Parmelee, Director of Education Programs at ASRI, Canadian scientists found an increase in snowy owl births this past mating season due to more food availability, which led to younger birds traveling long distances as competition for food amped up in the winter.
“Last year, there were maybe one or two sightings in Rhode Island,” Parmelee says. “I saw two snowy owls myself this weekend.”
With their piercing yellow eyes and feathery talons that appear like fluffy slippers, it’s not hard to see why people are flocking to the shores in hopes of getting a glimpse of these birds. If you’re lucky enough to see them in flight, you’ll witness their five-foot wingspan.
“Snowies” are not your average owls. They typically can be found during the day, unlike other owls that are nocturnal, and are usually out in the open (not up in trees) along the coast, on the ground or on a low bush or rock. Parmelee says they will likely stick around the state until towards the end of February.
But ASRI warns the public to respect our visitors from the Arctic tundra and to admire them from a safe distance.
“It’s a stressful situation for them as it is considering their long journey, and you don’t want to put more undue stress on them. My advice is to simply enjoy them briefly from a distance, and then move on,” Parmelee says.
What to do if you spot a snowy owl:

1. Give them a space of about 200 to 300 feet or more. Use binoculars or spotting scopes if you have them.
2. If there is more than one observer, try to stay as a group, but don’t encircle the owl.
3. Do not try to feed them. The snowy owl is a tireless hunter and powerful enough to capture its own prey.
4. The birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA), a U.S. federal law. If you see any violations of harassment against the owls or endangerment, it should be reported to the RI Department of Environmental Management Law Enforcement at 401-222-3070.
5. Try not to overstay your welcome. Your presence may cause stress, and it’s best to observe the owls for a shorter period of time. Make sure to take in its beauty, though, because a snowy owl is a rare sight and majestic to behold.

ASRI encourages people to connect with nature and to explore the outdoors, even in the colder weather.
“Winters in Rhode Island are a great time to go outside because there’s a lot of wildlife during the cold season that isn’t here in the spring and summer months, like harlequin ducks, common loons and, of course, snowy owls,” Parmelee says.
To learn more about Audubon wildlife refuges and to see the events calendar that includes programs like “owl prowls,” visit asri.org.   Source: Rhode Island Monthly           Stephanie Morales    

Vermont Hunters Had Successful 2017 Deer Seasons

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Photo courtesy of VT Fish & Wildlife

Dannie Boyd of Wilmington, VT with the nice buck he got in Vermont’s 2017 November deer season.  Hunters took 9,477 bucks in Vermont in 2017.

MONTPELIER, Vt. – The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department says preliminary numbers show 15,949 deer were taken during Vermont’s 2017 deer hunting seasons.

Reports from big game check stations indicate hunters had successful deer seasons in 2017, taking 3,585 deer in archery season, 1,461 in youth season, 7,272 in rifle season, and 3,631 in muzzleloader season.  The 15,949 deer brought home by hunters yielded more than 3 million meals of local nutritious venison.

“The legal buck harvest of 9,477 was 8 percent more than the previous three-year average of 8,760, and the third highest buck harvest since 2002,” said deer project leader Nick Fortin.  “Harvest numbers increased during the archery, youth and muzzleloader seasons, and the total harvest of 15,949 is also the third highest since 2002.

“The relatively high harvest was primarily due to the mild winters of 2016 and 2017 which allowed more deer to survive.  Additionally, the department issued more muzzleloader antlerless deer permits this year to provide more harvest opportunity and to limit population growth in some parts of the state.”

The primary goal of Vermont’s deer management strategy is to keep the deer herd stable, healthy and in balance with available habitat.  “Maintaining an appropriate number of deer on the landscape ensures deer and the habitats that support them remain in good condition and productive,” said Fortin. 
Each year the department operates biological check stations during deer hunting seasons to gather information on the age, sex, field dressed weight, antler characteristics, and overall health of Vermont’s deer herd.  In 2017, biological data were collected from more than 1,200 deer examined during the two-day youth season and November rifle season. 
To provide additional data, hunters submitted more than 2,800 teeth from bucks harvested during the rifle season.  Fortin adds, “The effort made by hunters and many of our big game reporting stations to collect teeth during rifle season will greatly improve our understanding of Vermont’s buck population.”
The 2017 report on deer hunting seasons with final numbers will be on Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com) in early February.