The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has launched a new Web site aimed at youngsters.
The "Youth Hunting Scrapbook," showcases the successes and achievements of youth hunters.
In addition to photos, the Web site is seeking notes, essays and stories for publication. The department reserves the right to reject any submission it decides is not appropriate.
To submit your photo, essay or story, send e-mail to Ann Shangraw, or mail your submission to:
Memories
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
103 S. Main St.
Bldg 10 South
Waterbury, VT 05671-0501
Include your first name, age, location, town, and date of the hunt.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Permit Numbers and Map for Antlerless Proposal
The Fish and Wildlife Department has posted its antlerless deer hunting plan to the Web site with a map and permit details.
In a news release, the department says the increase in antlerless deer hunting permits is a result of growing deer numbers and is an effort to keep the deer population in balance with available habitat.
Makes sense. Carrying capacity of the land will only allow a certain number of animals before the habitat begins to degrade. It's all about the habitat and if carrying capacity is surpassed, the deer herd could take a serious nose dive.
For more information on the proposal and a map showing the number of permits in each WMU can be found on the Fish & Wildlife Department's Web site. Look in "Law Enforcement" and click on Rules and Proposed Rules.
In a news release, the department says the increase in antlerless deer hunting permits is a result of growing deer numbers and is an effort to keep the deer population in balance with available habitat.
Makes sense. Carrying capacity of the land will only allow a certain number of animals before the habitat begins to degrade. It's all about the habitat and if carrying capacity is surpassed, the deer herd could take a serious nose dive.
For more information on the proposal and a map showing the number of permits in each WMU can be found on the Fish & Wildlife Department's Web site. Look in "Law Enforcement" and click on Rules and Proposed Rules.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Fire Burns Outdoor Store to the Ground
Vermont Field Sports, a local outdoor icon, burned to the ground April 26 destroying not only a business, but a way of life for some people in the region.
Owner Dick Phillips opened the Route 7 business in Middlebury for more than two decades before and the store quickly became a home away from home for many outdoor enthusiasts.
The fire, which was reported at about 10:30 p.m., couldn't be slowed by firefighters as gunpowder and ammunition created a dangerous situation forcing the closure of Route 7 for about four hours. Soon, the fire had roared throughout the building and by morning all that was left was a shell.
In news reports, fire officials said the fire was not suspicious but they haven't yet determined its cause. It was believed to have started at the north end of the building in the fishing tackle area, according to a story in the Addison Independent.
Phillips, 67, told the Independent he had not ruled out rebuilding Vermont Field Sports, which he opened 25 years prior.
Some 400 to 500 guns were destroyed in the fire as were dozens of trophy mounts of whitetails and other taxidermied specimens.
Workers and customers lamented the loss of what they referred to as an old-style sporting goods store where the fishing and hunting stories were as important as the gear that was sold.
Owner Dick Phillips opened the Route 7 business in Middlebury for more than two decades before and the store quickly became a home away from home for many outdoor enthusiasts.
The fire, which was reported at about 10:30 p.m., couldn't be slowed by firefighters as gunpowder and ammunition created a dangerous situation forcing the closure of Route 7 for about four hours. Soon, the fire had roared throughout the building and by morning all that was left was a shell.
In news reports, fire officials said the fire was not suspicious but they haven't yet determined its cause. It was believed to have started at the north end of the building in the fishing tackle area, according to a story in the Addison Independent.
Phillips, 67, told the Independent he had not ruled out rebuilding Vermont Field Sports, which he opened 25 years prior.
Some 400 to 500 guns were destroyed in the fire as were dozens of trophy mounts of whitetails and other taxidermied specimens.
Workers and customers lamented the loss of what they referred to as an old-style sporting goods store where the fishing and hunting stories were as important as the gear that was sold.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
More on Antlerless Permits
Dennis Jensen covered the antlerless permit situation in great detail in Sunday's outdoor section in the Rutland Herald.
You can find the article here.
Read the article for the particulars of the plan with permit numbers for specific Wildlife Management Units and the logic behind the plan from John Buck, the department's Deer Team leader.
In essence, however, the plan would call for 11,050 permits for 13 of 24 WMUs during the muzzleloader season in December. Jensen points out that antlerless deer will not be legal during the firearm season in November, where only spikehorns or bigger bucks will be legal, except during the youth season when all deer will be legal.
You can find the article here.
Read the article for the particulars of the plan with permit numbers for specific Wildlife Management Units and the logic behind the plan from John Buck, the department's Deer Team leader.
In essence, however, the plan would call for 11,050 permits for 13 of 24 WMUs during the muzzleloader season in December. Jensen points out that antlerless deer will not be legal during the firearm season in November, where only spikehorns or bigger bucks will be legal, except during the youth season when all deer will be legal.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Vermont Antlerless Permits Recommended
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department made its recommendation for antlerless deer harvest to the Fish and Wildlife Board on April 18.
The department is asking for an increase in antlerless permits saying a growing herd requires more population control, which, if passed, would provide lots of opportunities for hunters -- particularly muzzleloader hunters.
The recommendation was passed by the board. There will be two more votes in coming monthly meetings. If approved, the permits would be available in late June or early July with an entry deadline of Aug. 24.
The initial idea, however, is to offer 11,050 muzzleloader permits for antlerless deer with the intention of kill 5,380 deer. That's 1,900 more permits than 2006 when hunters killed 4,877 deer.
The department is asking for an increase in antlerless permits saying a growing herd requires more population control, which, if passed, would provide lots of opportunities for hunters -- particularly muzzleloader hunters.
The recommendation was passed by the board. There will be two more votes in coming monthly meetings. If approved, the permits would be available in late June or early July with an entry deadline of Aug. 24.
The initial idea, however, is to offer 11,050 muzzleloader permits for antlerless deer with the intention of kill 5,380 deer. That's 1,900 more permits than 2006 when hunters killed 4,877 deer.
More on this as I get a better handle on just what is proposed.
Public Hearing on Use of Fish, Wildlife Resources
Public Hearing Monday, April 23, on Use of Fish and WildlifeFor Immediate Release: April 19, 2007Media Contact: Steve Hill or Ron Regan, 802-241-3700 Public Hearing Monday, April 23, on Use of Fish and Wildlife WATERBURY, VT - A public hearing will be held Monday, April 23, at 7:00 p.m. at the Pavilion Auditorium on State Street in Montpelier by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board on a proposed regulation designed to maximize the proper use of fish and wildlife resources. The proposed regulation has the following provisions:--"No person shall take game or furbearers and intentionally, knowingly, or negligently fail to retain for use a significant portion of the game or furbearers taken.--Sick or diseased animals may be left in place and shall be reported immediately to a Fish and Wildlife Biologist or State Game Warden. --Animals taken under the authority provided by Subchapter 4, Wild Animals Doing Damage, Chapter 113, Game, of Part 4 of Title 10, or under Section 35, Title 10 Appendix, Taking of moose doing damage, or under Fish and Wildlife Regulation #2000 on the Taking of Turkeys Doing Damage shall be governed by those specific provisions." -30-
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Turkey Outlook Good
Dennis Jensen in the Rutland Herald had a turkey season preview in the April 15 paper quoting a source saying the February and March storms didn't seem to have a big impact on the big birds.
Read the rest of Jensen's article here.
Doug Blodgett, the turkey project leader for Fish & Wildlife, said
that, for the most part, Vermont's turkey population wintered well. He also said
that spring turkey hunters can expect a good season.
"We should have a darn good season," he said. "I don't know if we're going
to set any records but these birds continue to surprise me."
The deep snows of February had Blodgett concerned, but he said that he
believes the birds came through in good condition.
"I think we dodged a bullet late this winter," he said. "I suspect we did
have some mortality but, for the most part, the front part of the winter, well,
there wasn't much to it. That probably aided these birds somewhat. They did face
some winter challenges late in the season but I think things broke reasonably
well, soon enough."
Read the rest of Jensen's article here.
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