The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has scheduled an informational open house May 8 in Acme to discuss a proposal to introduce wild turkeys to Whatcom County.

The public meeting is scheduled from 6-8p.m. at the Acme Elementary School, 5200 Turkington Rd.

Representatives from WDFW will provide information on a proposal to release wild turkeys at a site about five to 10 miles northeast of Acme. The possible release site was determined after the department conducted a habitat evaluation of several sites in Whatcom and Skagit counties, said Mick Cope, WDFW upland game bird manager.

Since 2006, WDFW has been discussing the idea of establishing wild turkeys in the northern Puget Sound area with the National Wild Turkey Federation, the U.S. Forest Service, the local Nature Conservancy, the Washington Waterfowl Association and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

“We’ve selected a location that could work as a suitable release site, and we’d like to hear from others who are interested in the project,” Cope said. “Our goal is to introduce a self-sustaining turkey population that could provide recreational opportunities for hunters and wildlife viewers.”

Washington has three turkey subspecies, all of which are non-native and have been introduced within the past 45 years to provide hunting and viewing opportunities. Eastern turkeys can be found in southwestern Washington; Merriam’s turkeys live along the eastern slope of the Cascade Range and in northeastern Washington; and Rio Grande turkeys are found primarily in the southeastern corner of the state.

For more information on wild turkey management, visit WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/turkey/management/.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s 2008 recommendation for the harvest of antlerless deer and youth weekend deer season was presented to the Fish and Wildlife Board on April 9th. The proposal calls for a harvest of 7,662 antlerless deer through a combination of either-sex hunting during the split archery season, an either-sex youth weekend hunt, and through the use of 22,050 muzzleloader season antlerless permits. Typically, 80 percent of the antlerless harvest is adult does, so this amount would be less than 10 percent of the adult doe population.

All WMUs will be open to the taking of antlerless deer during the two-part archery season except WMUs D2 and E. Opening of WMUs I and L is designed to remove overabundant antlerless deer at the western edges of those WMUs. Two deer may be taken during archery season with two archery licenses. One legal buck may be taken anywhere in the state during archery season. In WMUs open to antlerless deer hunting, both deer during the archery season may be antlerless deer.

Youth deer weekend is recommended to be an either-sex season statewide. Bucks may have antlers of any size or shape during this season.

The 22,050 muzzleloader season antlerless permits are for 14 of the 24 WMUs, an increase of 11,000 permits from 2006. The permit increases are focused on WMUs with the highest deer densities and primarily west of the Green Mountains where winter severity was below average.

The increase in antlerless deer hunting permits is in response to growing deer numbers and is designed to keep the deer population in balance with its habitat. The total antlerless harvest with this proposal is estimated at 7,662 deer. Last year, 5,516 antlerless deer were taken by hunters.

Vermont’s lead deer biologist, Dr. Shawn Haskell points out that Vermont’s deer population has increased more than expected along the western side of the state and in the East-central region in WMUs H1, H2, J1 and J2. The deer herd seems to be healthier than it has been in the past 50 years. Thus, reproductive potential in the past few years has been explosive.

“If we send as many deer as we had last December into a severe winter next year, I would expect more of them to die than did this year,” said Haskell. “We also don’t want to severely damage winter habitat and lose our ability to support a healthy deer herd going into the future.” Haskell says Vermont’s deer have not only increased in number but also in size. Fawns taken in the 2007 hunting season weighed an average five pounds heavier than they did ten years ago.

He also reports that the antler regulation change that began in 2005 is contributing to more older bucks being in the population and increased hunter satisfaction. Population and harvest data suggest that twice as many bucks survived the 2007 harvest compared to any of the past ten years, and that about half of the bucks harvested in 2007 were two years-old.

The proposed 2008 season regulations include returning to the three-deer annual limit that existed prior to 2005 to allow more hunting opportunity. About 200-400 deer were taken by hunters who took three deer in those prior seasons. The chance to continue hunting after taking two deer, however, encourages hunters to get out more, especially during the December muzzleloader season for those hunters fortunate enough to draw an antlerless deer permit by lottery. It also encourages hunters to take a second deer earlier, either in archery or November rifle season. This improves the department’s ability to manage deer. The definition of a “legal buck” remains unchanged as any white-tailed deer with at least one antler having two or more points one inch or longer.

The entire proposal, including a map showing the number of permits proposed in WMUs, is posted on the Fish & Wildlife Department’s website “href=”http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com”>ww.vtfishandwildlife.com. The Board voted to approve the proposal as recommended. As with all Board regulations, there will be two more votes at coming monthly meetings.

Antlerless permit applications should be available in late June or early July on Fish & Wildlife’s website and at license agents. The deadline to apply will be August 22.

More hunters will be hunting on some of Utah’s best big game units this fall.

On April 10, members of the Utah Wildlife Board raised the number of permits for many of Utah’s big game hunts.

The Northern Region wasn’t one of those hunts, though. Board members cut 1,000 general buck deer permits from the region for this fall.

“This is a great time to hunt big game in Utah,” says Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. “Utah’s big game herds are doing well, and the state has a wider variety of animals to hunt than ever before.”

Hunters who applied for a 2008 permit will know by April 30 whether they drew one.

Fewer deer permits in northern Utah

After last fall’s hunting seasons, biologists found an average of 18 bucks per 100 does on public land hunting units in the Northern Region. Even though the number of bucks was on the high end of the 15 to 20 bucks per 100 does objective, the biologists recommended 1,000 fewer permits for the region this fall.

“We want to be cautious,” Aoude says. “The deer herds in parts of northern Utah had a tough time this winter.

“When we do our after-winter surveys later this spring, we’ll know better how many deer were lost. But our big game permit drawing happens in April, so the board had to set the permit numbers before we completed our surveys.”

Elk, deer and moose

Limited entry elk and deer and once-in-a-lifetime moose permits are among the permits board members increased. Aoude explains why:

Elk—Biologists manage Utah’s limited entry elk units so those who hunt the units have the potential to take a bull that will fall into one of four age categories: 6 to 7 years old, 5 to 6 years old, 4 to 5 years old, or 3 to 4 years old. The age of the bull a hunter might take depends on the unit he or she hunts on.

Utah has 28 limited entry bull elk units. On 26 of the units, hunters are taking bulls that are older than the age objective for the unit. “For example, a hunter who hunts a unit managed for 5- to 6-year-old bulls can often end up taking a bull that’s one or two years older than the objective for the unit,” Aoude says.

“The board needed to increase the number of permits so hunters could take more bulls,” Aoude says. “Taking more bulls will allow the herds to get closer to their age objectives.”

Deer—Biologists manage Utah’s limited entry deer units so there will be plenty of big bucks for hunters each fall.

The Paunsaugunt and Henry Mountains units are Utah’s two premium limited entry units. Biologists manage these units so at least 35 bucks per 100 does are left in the herds after the hunts are over each fall.

The rest of Utah’s limited entry units are managed so at least 25 bucks per 100 does are still in the herds after the fall hunts.

Only two units in southern Utah aren’t meeting that goal. On the rest of the state’s units, the number of bucks biologists are finding is higher than the buck-to-doe ratio for each unit. “We have plenty of bucks on these units. And that’s great news for hunters. It means more of them can hunt some of these units this fall,” Aoude says.

Moose—Utah’s moose herds are also doing well. In many of the herds, there are almost as many bulls in the herds as cows.

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds hunters to get their gear ready for the upcoming spring gobbler hunting season. The four-week season opens April 28 and closes on May 24, according to Bill Igo, the DNR’s wild turkey project leader. Igo recommends spring gobbler hunters make sure they are prepared with proper clothing, a shotgun that is appropriately patterned, and adequate hunting gear (e.g., turkey calls, knife, rain gear, compass/GPS unit, matches, maps and a pencil for completing field tags). Hunters are advised not to wear clothing with the colors of red, white or blue – the colors of a mature gobbler’s head and neck area.

A special one-day, youth spring gobbler hunt opens on April 26, just prior to the regular Monday season opening. Youth participating in this hunt must be at least eight years of age and no more than 14 years old on the day of the season. The youth must be accompanied by a licensed adult of at least 21 years of age, who cannot carry a gun or bow and must remain close enough to render advice and assistance to the youngster. The only legal weapon that can be used by a youth hunter is a shotgun with shot sizes 4, 5 or 6. Last year, youth hunters harvested 298 toms during the one-day youth spring gobbler season. “This special youth hunt provides an ideal opportunity for seasoned hunters to introduce young people to the joys of spring turkey hunting,” said Igo. “In addition to having a great day afield, these adult mentors pass along their hunting knowledge, create great memories and keep the fine hunting tradition alive for the next generation of hunters.”

Wildlife biologists are predicting a slightly higher harvest of birds this spring when compared to last year’s kill of 9,965. “West Virginia’s brood count was up 12 percent in 2006 over the previous year, but was an average brood count when compared to the last 5 years,” Igo said. “Our data indicate brood counts accurately predict spring turkey harvests two years down the road. With more two-year old birds in the population this spring, a slight increase in overall harvest is expected.”

Igo also advises hunters to be aware that radio transmitters and/or leg bands have been placed on some gobblers. These marked birds are part of a statewide gobbler survival study to determine causes of mortality, effects of hunting and gather more biological data designed to assist the DNR in its efforts to effectively manage the state’s wild turkey resource. Hunters harvesting a banded or radioed bird should contact their local DNR District Office or the Elkins Operations Center.

The DNR, in conjunction with the West Virginia Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, is also conducting the Annual Spring Gobbler Hunting Survey. Cooperating turkey hunters submit daily records of their hunts and complete a brief questionnaire. A hunter does not have to kill a gobbler to provide useful data. Much of the survey information collected involves what a hunter hears, sees or has an opinion about. Any hunter interested in participating in the survey is encouraged to contact Patty Fordyce, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, PO Box 67, Elkins, WV 26241, telephone: 304-637-0245 or email: pattyfordyce@wvdnr.gov.

Spring bear-hunting season opened in New Brunswick on Monday, April 21, and runs until Saturday, June 28. It is illegal for hunters to harvest female bears accompanied by one or more cubs.

A bear licence is valid for all three 2008 bear-hunting seasons: the spring season, fall bow-hunting season, and the regular fall season. The bag limit for each hunter is one bear per year.

Resident bear-hunting licences are available at Natural Resources district offices and several Service New Brunswick centres. Residents may hunt in any wildlife management zone (WMZ) open for bear hunting. Non-resident licences are available directly from qualified outfitters and guides, or the Department of Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife Branch. Non-residents are restricted to hunting bear in the WMZ indicated on their licences.

Outfitters and guides are reminded of the federal regulation restricting movement of black-bear trophies and parts across international borders. This regulation was implemented by Canada in 1992 to comply with the listing of the North American black bear by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Although the North American black bear is not endangered, it has been listed to help control the illegal trade of several bear species that are endangered.

The regulation states that any international exports of live or dead black bears, as well as their parts or derivatives, must be accompanied with a valid CITES export permit. This regulation will affect non-Canadian black-bear hunters in New Brunswick, who must obtain a CITES export permit if they want to leave the country with any part of a black bear. Some exemptions may apply. Contact Natural Resources offices for more information. CITES export permits are available at Natural Resources district offices during regular business hours.

Bear hunters are encouraged to concentrate on sportsmanship, hunter safety and ethics. New Brunswick has many excellent hunting opportunities, and it is up to each hunter to help manage wildlife resources in a responsible manner.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted unanimously to prohibit cervid ranchers from knowingly selling “shooter bulls” to facilities in states that allow the hunting of privately-held wildlife, as part of its formal rule-making on the state’s cervid ranching rules (OAR 635-049-0000).“Any kind of hunting operation that is not under the guise of fair chase is a threat to the fraternity of hunting,” said Dr. Dan Edge, Commission Vice-Chair and head of OSU’s Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife.

The Commission declined to require double-fencing of captive elk ranches and directed staff to consider other alternatives that would make the minimum standard better than the current requirement, such as adding an interior electric fence. It deferred a decision on requiring bonding of elk ranchers to indemnify the state against an escape or disease outbreak.

Before making policy decisions, the Commission heard public testimony from 22 people on both sides of the issue. Because of the complexity and length of the Div. 49 rules, the Commission only provided policy direction today, and asked staff to rewrite proposed rules along those policy lines for formal adoption at the May 9, 2008 meeting in La Grande. No public testimony related to the rules will be taken at this meeting.

Other policies adopted today include:

• Elk ranch licenses will be relinquished if licensee does not hold cervids for more than 180 consecutive days.
• The import of gametes and embryos will be specifically allowed. The ban on the import of live cervids continues.
• Licensees will be responsible for the state’s expenses from an escape or release of captive cervids, though the department has discretion in determining whether to require repayment based on circumstances surrounding the incident.
• Deaths must be reported to ODFW and ODA within 24 hours of discovery; all dead cervids must be tested for disease within 24 hours of discovery.
• License will specify species, subspecies and or hybrid that can be held.
• Policy maintains current limit of 16 Type 1 commercial elk ranching licenses.
• New policy adds decommissioning requirements including perimeter fencing, so wild cervids cannot enter a captive facility until it is deemed disease-free.  

“This Commission is not in any way attempting to put anybody out of business,” stated Chair Marla Rae in her summary of the Commission’s policy on elk ranching. “The Oregon State Legislature has already said that the private holding of cervids is a lawful activity. It is up to this Commission and department to regulate that activity so that it does no harm to wildlife populations.”

In keeping with that, the Commission voted to change the overall policy statement of the Commission from one of opposition to commercial elk ranching to one of concern about the unregulated holding of cervids posing a disease or genetic risk to the public’s wildlife.

The Commission also adopted administrative rules formally recognizing the Grande Ronde Indian Tribe’s stewardship of lands under their ownership and management and providing permits for the annual take for ceremonial purposes of 15 deer, 9 elk and three bears outside of regular hunting seasons in the Trask Wildlife Management Unit (portions of Yamhill, Tillamook County).

Wildlife, shooting, civic or fraternal organizations interested in applying for a grant designed to encourage youth hunting participation or training must submit an application to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department by Dec. 31.

Grant funds will help cover event expenses, including promotional printing; event memorabilia such as shirts, caps or vests; ammunition and targets, and eye and ear protection. Grants can also be used for shooting range improvement or development.

Nonprofit organizations registered with the North Dakota Secretary of State’s office to provide public service are eligible to apply. The organization must have officers, a treasury account, liability coverage and private locations to conduct events.

For more information or to receive application materials, contact Nathaniel Umphrey, Game and Fish Department outreach biologist in Bismarck, at 701-328-6332, or by email at numphrey@nd.gov.

Waterfowl populations face many challenges in the Twenty-First Century. From the loss of nesting habitat to changes in agriculture on Texas wintering grounds, very real threats imperil the future of ducks and duck hunting. That is why Texas Waterfowl book author and executive editor of Texas Fish & Game magazine, Chester Moore, is hitting the road December 8.

“I’m doing what I call the ‘Texas Duck Tour’, hunting seven locations in seven regions of the state in seven days,” Moore said. “The idea is to document the habitat and hunting opportunities in these different areas to show what amazing opportunities we have in Texas, and in turn show what we have to lose if we don’t take action now.” Full documentation of the tour will be posted om the magazine’s website, www.fishgame.com, along with conservation notes specific to the species pursued and various regions of the state.

“One example I could give is the hunts we are doing along the Texas coast, “Moore said. “The conservation problems there include a loss of rice production, which is believed to be causing major problems with pintails and leaving Texas in poor health, and also seagrass conservation in Lower Laguna Madre and in the Coastal Bend. “Waterfowl conservation is complex, and by hitting these different areas I hope to drive home to the people hunting those areas how important the habitat is, and that without successful nesting in the prairies, there will poor fall flights.”

Moore enlisted the help of Ducks Unlimited (DU) on this venture to provide logistical support and help choose key areas with specific conservation issues that need addressing. “DU is the leader in wetlands conservation, period,” Moore said. “We at Texas Fish & Game have a great working relationship with that organization, and Tim Soderquist of DU and I will be traveling together on this excursion, working to profile DU volunteers who are extremely important to conservation work, and making sure we maximize our efforts to raise awareness of important issues.”

Texas Fish & Game Publishing, LLC, released Moore’s Texas Waterfowl book last September, and Moore has pledged to donate 20 percent of the royalty proceeds to DU. “Half will be earmarked for the nesting grounds and the other half will go to the Texas CARE project, which is conserving crucial areas in Texas,” Moore said.

Texas Duck Tour Dates/Locations

Dec. 8 / Winnie
Dec. 9 / Crockett
Dec. 10 / Lubbock
Dec. 11 / Fredricksburg
Dec. 12 / Choke Canyon Reservoir
Dec. 13 / Rockport
Dec. 14 / Wharton

The Indiana DNR has passed a temporary rule establishing an experimental 2008 February Canada goose hunting season in selected areas in an attempt to control the population of breeding Canada geese in and around urban areas of the state.

Counties where geese can be hunted during that season, which runs Feb. 1-15, include Steuben, LaGrange, Elkhart, St. Joseph, La Porte, Starke, Marshall, Kosciusko, Noble, De Kalb, Allen, Whitley, Huntington, Wells, Adams, Boone, Hamilton, Madison, Hendricks, Marion, Hancock, Morgan, Johnson, Shelby, Vermillion, Parke, Vigo, Clay, Sullivan, and Greene.

According to Adam Phelps, Indiana DNR waterfowl biologist, populations of breeding Canada geese in Indiana appear to have leveled off during the past few years at about 125,000. The DNR’s target population for reducing human-geese conflicts in urban areas is 80,000.

“We chose February because it’s when geese are most likely to leave cities and towns,” Phelps said. “Urban ponds are most likely to be frozen in February, and grass is most likely to be covered with snow.

“These two conditions may force urban geese into agricultural fields outside of town to feed, where it is usually safe and legal - in season - to hunt them.”

Indiana has used a September season on locally breeding geese for many years. The new “late” season gives wildlife managers another tool to manage local goose populations, and gives waterfowl hunters more days afield.

The bag limit for the experimental season is five Canada geese per day, with a possession limit of 10, same as for the September season. Shooting hours are from a half-hour before sunrise to sunset.

The same regulations and restrictions that apply during the September season apply during the February season. In addition to a valid hunting license, signed Indiana waterfowl stamp (unless exempt), a federal duck stamp, and an HIP (Harvest Information Program) number, a free permit is also required. Free permits are available at (812) 334-3795, goosehuntingpermit@dnr.in.gov, or any state Fish and Wildlife Area, field office, or reservoir during regular January hours.

Hunters must check all geese harvested at a check station. Geese must have the head, a fully feathered wing, and reproductive parts still attached when the bird is checked. Check station staff will age and sex each bird, and will remove and keep the head of all adult birds checked. These heads are measured to determine whether each bird is a Canadian migrant or a local breeder.

This process is required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine whether more locally breeding geese are being harvested than Canadian-breeding (”migrant”) geese.

Data collected during the season will be used to determine whether the late season will continue to occur in future years. Even if Indiana’s season meets federal guidelines, the season may be closed in future years if local Canada goose populations are sufficiently reduced.

This temporary rule also establishes a one-year Feb. 1 to March 31 season for the lesser snow goose and Ross’s goose. The HIP number and federal duck stamp are not required to take a lesser snow goose or a Ross’s goose.

The DNR director has exclusive authority to adopt temporary rules regarding such issues. Such rules are valid for a maximum of one year and can be renewed by the director for an additional period not to exceed one year.

Taking his or her first deer or turkey is a landmark event in a young hunter’s life. The Missouri Department of Conservation helps turn those milestones into mementoes.

The Conservation Department’s First Deer/Turkey Program gives participants free commemorative certificates suitable for framing. If the application includes a photograph of the hunter with his or her first deer or turkey, the photo is incorporated into the certificate. Photos are returned with certificates.

The tangible recognition of young hunters’ achievements provide permanent reminders that can either substitute for or complement a taxidermist’s mount.

The Conservation Department issues more than 600 First Deer and First Turkey certificates every year.

Any hunter age 15 or younger who kills his or her first deer or turkey can get a certificate. You can download an application by visiting www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/deer/index.htm and clicking on “First Deer Hunting Award,” or www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/turkey/index.htm . Or contact First Deer/Turkey Certificate, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, phone 573/522-4115, ext. 3293.

Applications for the 2008 Minnesota spring turkey hunt now are being accepted wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold.

Spring turkey hunters may apply for one of 37,992 permits to hunt a five- or seven-day season in one of 67 permit areas. Last year, spring turkey hunters harvested 9,412 birds.

“Turkey hunters can look forward to more great opportunities this spring,” said Bill Penning, DNR farmland wildlife program leader. “Turkey numbers remain strong and their range continues to expand into parts of northern Minnesota.”

The 2008 spring hunt will include eight new permit areas. They are:

• Area 152, Mille Lacs Wildlife Management Area
• Area 156, which includes portions of Aitkin, Pine and Carlton counties
• Area 183, which includes portions of Pine and Carlton counties
• Area 241, which includes portions of Otter Tail, Becker and Wadena counties
• Area 243, which includes a portion of Wadena County
• Area 262, which includes portions of Clay and Norman counties
• Area 421, which includes portions of Wilkin, Otter Tail and Grant counties
• Area 423, which includes portions of Grant and Stevens counties.

Hunters also should note that areas 228 and 337, which comprise much of the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area, have been combined into a single area now known as area 601. The same number of permits are being offered in area 601 this year as the combined totals in areas 228 and 337 last year.

A map of permit areas for the 2008 spring turkey hunt is available at < ahref=”http://mndnr.gov”>mndnr.gov.

This spring’s hunt will consist of six five-day and two seven-day seasons. All Minnesota residents must apply no later than Friday, Dec. 7, at any of 1,800 locations where hunting and fishing licenses are sold or by telephone at 1-888-665-4236. A nonrefundable $3 application fee must be paid at the time of application. An additional nonrefundable $3.50 convenience fee will be charged for all applications made by telephone or the Internet. Nonresident hunters may apply by mail or by telephone.

Hunters also will be asked to state a second choice from the three latest spring seasons (May 11-15, May 16-22 and May 23-29). In the event they aren’t successful in the lottery for their first choice of spring season, their second choice will be used. If hunters are successful in the lottery for their second choice and purchase a license, they will lose their preference points for future drawings. Hunters should not specify a second choice if they do not intend to hunt there.

Hunters who are successful for either the first or second choice drawing and choose not to purchase a tag, will lose the current year’s preference point for future drawings but not accumulated preference from past years. Hunters who were not successful in either the first or second choice drawing will be eligible to purchase surplus turkey permits, which are sold on a first-come, first-served basis in mid March.

Archery spring turkey licenses will once again be available to residents and nonresidents. Archery spring turkey licenses may be purchased for the last two time periods (May 16-22, May 23-29) only for any permit area with 50 or more applicants.

Applicants who are successful in the spring permit lottery are ineligible for the spring archery license.

All wild turkey hunters seeking to hunt in spring 2008 must obtain an application booklet at one of the ELS agents or an application worksheet on the DNR Web site at mndnr.gov.

The application booklet contains maps of open wild turkey permit areas, permit quotas, dates and an application worksheet.

The application worksheet should be filled out in advance to ease completion of the application process at an ELS agent. Turkey hunting licenses are made available by a preference system drawing.

A special landowner-tenant preference drawing for up to 20 percent of the permits is also a part of this system. Successful applicants in the drawing will be mailed the 2008 Spring Wild Turkey Hunt Book in February.

For more information, call the DNR Information Center at (651) 296-6157 or toll-free 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367).

The Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that the Lame Duck Foot Access Area (LDFAA) located in 11,000 acres of state forest land in northeast Gladwin County provides walk-in hunting opportunities. Only walk-in access is permitted.

The area is bounded by county roads on the north, east and south and the Tittabawassee River on the west side. The land is managed for timber production and wildlife habitat, just as all other state forest land in Gladwin County, said Gladwin State Forest Unit Manager Courtney Borgondy.

All types of foot travel, including cross-country skiing, hiking and snowshoeing are allowed in the LDFAA. Motor vehicles of any kind are prohibited, including two- and four-wheel drive vehicles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles. Bicycles also are prohibited.

Designated forest trails are open along the perimeter of the area for parking and camping. Road licensed vehicles and camping units are allowed in these areas. Wheelchair access to the area also is available at selected locations. There are numerous walking trails within the area, providing easy access to good hunting areas. There is a parking area near where Hemer Road intersects Alger Road.

For more information on the LDFAA, call the Wildlife Division of the DNR at the Gladwin Field Office at (989) 426-9205, ext. 7630 or 7631. For more information on hunting, visit the DNR’s Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr.

The newly formed Feral Swine Control Committee (FSCC) has prepared a feral hog surveillance plan that will focus on collecting blood samples for the detection of diseases and researching ways to control the population of feral hogs in Louisiana.

“The Feral Hog Disease Surveillance and Population Control Plan’s” overall goals are to: 1) identify diseases carried by feral swine and their prevalence; 2) minimize the effects of the diseases on wildlife; and 3) control the population of feral hogs in Louisiana. This plan reflects a cooperative relationship between the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services.

House Concurrent Resolution No. 192 requested the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) to study all possible methods to reduce the number of feral hogs on private lands adjacent to wildlife management areas. In response to this request, an organizational meeting was arranged with the Feral Swine Control Committee (FSCC) on Nov. 6, 2007 in the Office of the State Veterinarian to discuss measures to aid in the control of feral hog populations. The following people were present:

• Dwight LeBlanc - USDA/APHIS Wildlife Services
• Scott Woodruff - USDA/APHIS Wildlife Services
• Nan Huff - LDWF
• Emile LeBlanc - LDWF
• Dr. Martha Littlefield - LDAF
• Dr. Henry Moreau - LDAF

Blood samples for the detection of diseases will be taken from feral hogs on Jackson-Bienville and Sandy Hollow Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). The different geographical locations of the WMAs will provide a relatively unbiased estimate about the presence (or absence) of swine brucellosis, classical swine fever, and pseudorabies in the feral hog population in Louisiana. Jackson Bienville WMA is comprised of 32,185 acres in North Central Louisiana. Sandy Hollow WMA is comprised of 3,514 acres in Southeast Louisiana.

Wild hogs cause extensive damage to natural wildlife habitat, privately managed food plots for deer and turkey, farm ponds and watering holes for livestock. In Louisiana, the frequency of wild pigs around agricultural areas has caused damage to sugarcane, rice and cornfields. The wild omnivores also compete with native wildlife for food resources, prey on young domestic animals and wildlife, and carry diseases that can affect pets, livestock, wildlife and people.

Recent research suggests that the increasing hog population of western Louisiana is not only causing detriment to terrestrial flora and fauna, but is negatively impacting native freshwater mussels and insects by contributing E. coli to water systems.

The estimated feral hog population in the United States is over 4 million and growing. “We do not anticipate complete eradication of the state’s wild hog population, or for the problems to be solved immediately,” said Nan Huff, LDWF’s wildlife disease coordinator. “The damage by feral hogs did not happen suddenly and the damage will not be resolved quickly. For that reason, this cooperative effort is the most logical and advantageous approach to this challenging problem.”

For more information, contact Nan Huff at 225-765-0823 or nhuff@wlf.louisiana.gov.

Several national wildlife refuges in North Dakota will open to late-season upland game bird hunting the day after deer gun season closes.

Arrowwood, Audubon, Des Lacs, J. Clark Salyer, Lake Alice, Lake Zahl, Long Lake, Lostwood, Tewaukon (pheasants only), and Upper Souris NWRs open Nov. 26.

Contact refuge headquarters for map leaflets designating closed areas and other restrictions: Arrowwood (701) 285-3341; Audubon (701) 442-5474; Des Lacs (701) 385-4046; J. Clark Salyer (701) 768-2548; Lake Alice (701) 662-8611; Lake Zahl (701) 965-6488; Long Lake (701) 387-4397; Lostwood (701) 848-2722; Tewaukon (701) 724-3598; and Upper Souris (701) 468-5467.

Hunters are reminded that use of nontoxic shot is required on all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands. State regulations found in the North Dakota 2007-08 Small Game Guide apply. Seasons for pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge and ruffed grouse close statewide on Jan. 6, 2008.

National wildlife refuges are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Portions of each refuge are closed to hunting.

Friday marks the start of the three day long November Antlerless Season in Iowa.  Geared around the Thanksgiving holiday, this season offers an opportunity for family and friends to hunt together, harvest some quality venison, and help manage Iowa’s deer herd.

Licenses went on sale November 10 for counties that had not filled their antlerless license quota.  Shotguns, handguns, muzzleloaders, and bows may be used and party hunting is legal.  Last year roughly 11,500 licenses were issued with a reported kill of 4,141 deer for a harvest success of 35 percent.  These animals represent a positive step towards attaining or maintaining herd goals within the state. 

The majority of southern and eastern Iowa herds are still above desired levels and antlerless harvest in these areas, especially adult does and doe fawns, is the only realistic long-term method for reducing population size.  Deer herds with reduced densities typically produce higher quality animals, help alleviate crop depredation, and reduce the rate of automobile/deer collisions. 

Hunting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. All deer harvested must be reported using the harvest reporting system by midnight following the day the deer is recovered. This is the second year where hunters have reported their kill. They can call the toll free number (1-800-771-4692) or use the DNR website (www.iowadnr.gov) to report their kill. This year they can also report at the license vendor. For hunters with Internet access, online reporting of the harvest is probably the easiest way to register the deer.  Harvest reports are a vital piece of information Iowa DNR biologists need for properly managing Iowa’s deer population and hunting opportunities.  Hunters are also reminded that they can also utilize the HUSH program to donate deer to the Iowa Food Bank and provide needed meat for Iowans.

Other individuals interested in purchasing antlerless licenses for other hunting seasons should act now in many counties to avoid losing the opportunity.  It is also a good time to purchase licenses for one of the Shotgun Seasons to avoid the long lines and holdups that are inevitable for those who wait until the last minute.

For more information, contact Tom Litchfield, state deer biologist, at 641-774-2958.

By Lowell Washburn
Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Rick Seume has a hectic schedule.  On week days you’ll find him standing at the front of a classroom, teaching chemistry or biology to students of the Webster, Wisconsin high school.
 
But if anyone wants to touch base with Seume on a Saturday morning, they’ll most likely have to travel to the tawny bird covers of northern Iowa.  That’s where this Wisconsin school teacher spends his fall and winter weekends, carefully following the nose of a well trained bird dog in quest of the ever popular, ever elusive rooster pheasant.
 
Ask him how the bird hunting is going this season, and Seume nearly explodes with enthusiasm. 
 
“The habitat is in really great shape this fall and, so far, I’m finding about the same number of birds as last year which is really good,” says Sueme.
 
“I’ve been coming down to Iowa for twelve years now and have gotten to know a lot of farmers.  Getting permission to hunt hasn’t been a problem and the people are really great.  Over the years, I‘ve gotten to know some of the local farmers pretty well and have become good friends with many of them.  To me, that‘s great.”
 
Although Seume spends a good part of the early season tromping private lands, his attentions may turn toward public areas as winter arrives.
 
“Iowa’s public lands are incredible,” says Seume.  “The habitat is good.  There’s room to do all the walking you want, and we always seem to see a lot of birds.  I keep coming down [to Iowa] for the entire season and it usually seems to get better and better the later you go.  Hunting pressure usually goes way down and the birds really pack into the thick [public] areas once the weather gets tough.”
 
When I crossed trails with Seume early Monday morning, he had just finished walking a fog bound chunk of low lying private grassland north of Clear Lake.  As is normally the case in foggy weather, the birds were skittish with several pheasants flushing wild.  One rooster, however, had made the fatal mistake of sitting too tight for too long.
 
Seume admired the plump bird’s plumage as he slowly and respectfully rolled it in his hand.  The day was young.  One rooster down.  Two to go.
 
“The pheasant hunting down here is really spectacular,” said Seume.  “We’re starting to get better [pheasant] numbers back home, but it will never be anything like you have down here [in Iowa].”
 
So how did a Wisconsin high school teacher get to hunt ring-necked pheasants in Iowa on a Monday morning?  The answer was simple.
 
“Actually, I’m on vacation for the whole week,” grinned Seume.  “The Wisconsin deer season opened last Saturday and everything —- including the public schools —- just shut down for the entire week.”

• The West Virginia bucks gun season is November 19 – December 1. It is open in all counties except Logan, Mingo, McDowell and Wyoming.
• Approximately 320,000 licensed hunters will be in West Virginia’s woods during this season.
• Hunters should review the 2007-2008 Hunting and Trapping Regulations summary for detailed instructions concerning bag limits and season dates. The regulations are online at www.wvdnr.gov
• A list of deer checking stations in West Virginia can be found online at www.wvdnr.gov/hunting/check_stations.asp 
• The bag limit during the two week bucks season is two (one on the base license and one on an RG [resident] or RRG [nonresident] stamp). A hunter may take no more than three antlered deer per calendar year in all archery and firearms seasons combined.
• The last day to purchase an additional deer gun tag (class RG/RRG stamp) is November 18. Class RG and Class RRG additional buck stamps can only be used to take an additional antlered deer in bucks season. Unused Class RG and Class RRG may no longer be rolled over to later deer seasons.
• A concurrent antlerless deer season will be available in 41 counties on private land only during the two-week bucks-only gun season. This is not a “hunter’s choice” season, because hunters must have purchased the proper antlerless deer license (Class N for residents and Class NN for nonresidents) to participate. Hunters may take only one deer per day, therefore, a buck and an antlerless deer may not be taken on the same day. Class N and Class NN antlerless stamps are no longer county specific. See the 2007-2008 Hunting and Trapping Regulations for county specific regulations.
• All deer must be field tagged and checked in within 72 hours of the time of kill or within 24 hours of the close of the season, whichever comes first. Additional deer may not be taken until all previously taken deer have been checked. Only one deer may be taken per day during the bucks-only season.
• Deer hunting in West Virginia generates a total annual economic impact of $233-million, much of it in the rural areas of the state that depend upon the deer seasons for a large portion of their annual income.
• In 2006, deer hunters in West Virginia harvested 65,923 bucks during the two-week bucks-only season.
• The buck gun kill was up 16 percent in 2006 and biologists are predicting another good year of buck hunting. This year there was a large outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD). Normally, this disease occurs sporadically in a four - to five - year cycle during late August and early September and has little effect on the deer herd, but this year the disease was widespread and lasted well into October because of the warmer fall weather. Although there may be local reductions in the deer herd, look for the buck kill to be slightly higher than last year.  The northern regions have good acorn crops, so deer will be less available in field edges. While the southern and mountain regions have poorer acorn crops and this will result in more bucks being killed in the fields.  Hunters who have done their pre-season scouting and have located food sources for deer will have the best chance of success.
• Sunday hunting is legal in the following 14 counties on private land only: Boone, Brooke, Clay, Hancock, Jefferson, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Marshall, Mingo, Ohio, Wayne, Wetzel and Wyoming. The only Sunday that falls during the bucks-only gun season is November 25. Hunters are reminded that deer gun seasons are closed in Logan, Mingo, McDowell and Wyoming counties.
• Hunters are required to wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange (about the size of a vest) as an outer garment for visibility and safety. Blaze orange camouflage patterns are legal as long as 400 square inches of blaze orange are displayed on the garment. A blaze orange hat is not required, but the hunter must have blaze orange visible from both the front and the back.
• Hunting licenses may be purchased online at any time and printed out on a home computer printer. Go to the goWILD! Web site at www.wvhunt.com, fill out the application, and purchase it over a secure server with a credit card.
• Hunters who wish to donate deer meat or dollars to the Hunters Helping the Hungry program, which distributes deer meat through the Mountaineer Food Bank and Huntington Food Bank, should call (304) 558-2771 or visit the DNR Web site at www.wvdnr.gov to find a participating meat processor.

A total of 369 cow elk licenses will be available online at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, to hunters who did not draw a license this season.

Licenses will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, only on the Department of Game and Fish website, www.wildlife.state.nm.us . Hunters are encouraged to visit the website before the sale date to review hunts available and to create an online account if they have not already done so.

The licenses are for antlerless elk in various game management units statewide. The hunts will include 100 licenses for muzzleloaders only, and 269 licenses for any legal sporting arm.

The special late-season cow elk hunts are designed to provide additional elk hunting opportunities without severely impacting the state’s elk herds. License fees are $59 for state residents, $331 for nonresidents. License fees will be charged at the time of successful online application. The Valles Caldera National Preserve charges a $300 access fee. Only hunters who did not hold elk licenses for hunts this season are eligible for the late-season hunts. It is illegal for any hunter to hold more than one elk license in the same license year.

To be eligible for the late-season hunts, applicants must have submitted a mandatory harvest report for 2006-2007 if they held deer or elk licenses or permits for that season. Those who did not submit harvest reports can still do so for an $8 late fee by visiting a Department office in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Raton, Roswell or Las Cruces, or by calling (505) 476-8038.

The daily bag limit for Canvasback ducks has increased from one per day to two per day effective Oct. 25, 2007. Following action by the Fish and Game Commission on Oct. 16, the Office of Administrative Law’s approval has put the increase into effect.

“It was a very unusual situation for the federal government to liberalize a hunting regulation that we did not anticipate or address in our California Environmental Quality Act documentation,” said Melanie Weaver, a biologist in the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Waterfowl Investigations Project. “It has obviously caused some confusion and some lost hunting opportunities in the northeastern zone, but for the bulk of the state’s hunters, this action by the OAL is timely.”

The federal government sets regulation ‘frameworks’ in early August after analyzing current waterfowl population data and considering input from the various flyway councils and the public. The frameworks specify the outside dates, total number of hunting days, daily bag limits, shooting hours, and methods of take authorized for migratory game birds and are developed to ensure that there are sustainable populations of migratory game birds. These frameworks allow a daily bag limit of two canvasbacks per day during the 2007-2008 hunting season, an increase from recent years when the bag limit was one per day.

However, the Environmental Document prepared by DFG and certified by the Fish and Game Commission did not anticipate an increase in the canvasback daily bag limit in the federal frameworks and did not analyze this change to the hunting regulations. That environmental document was circulated for public review for 45 days ending July 31, 2007. Additional environmental review was undertaken with a comment period that ended Sept. 20, 2007.

The continental canvasback population in 2007 is at a record high level of 865,000. The federal government established a harvest strategy for canvasbacks in 2004 which limits harvest regulations to either a closed season (bag limit = 0) or a 1-bird daily bag limit.  Based on this Strategy, DFG’s original recommendation and environmental review of changes in duck hunting regulations for 2007 did not provide for a 2-bird daily bag limit for canvasbacks. Increasing the daily bag limit
for canvasbacks is expected to provide additional hunting opportunity without adversely affecting the canvasback population.

New Hampshire’s 2007 moose season was a success, with preliminary figures showing that hunters took about 479 moose. With approximately 675 permits issued, this represents a statewide success rate of 71%. About 70% of the harvest was bulls, which is typical, according to Kristine Rines, Moose Project Leader for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. The nine-day moose hunt ended on Sunday, October 28. In 2006, by comparison, hunters took 449 moose for a statewide success rate of 67%.

“Given the hot weather, I was impressed that hunters got this many moose,” said Rines. “Moose aren’t partial to hot weather and tend to move less as a result, thus reducing their visibility and vulnerability to hunters.”

This year, the success rate in all regions was higher than last year, but lower than the ten-year average. The Connecticut Lakes region saw a success rate of 86%, the North region had 79% success; in the White Mountains region had a 63% success rate; the Central region, 62% success; the Southwest region saw 44% success; and in the Southeast region, 30% of hunters got their moose.

A record 16,779 people entered the annual moose hunt lottery last spring for a chance to win a permit offering for this fall’s hunt. Applications for the 2008 moose hunt will be available in late January on the Fish and Game website at http://www.HuntNH.com.