Small Game Seasons in Maryland Provide Ample Hunting Opportunities
October 31, 2008
Annapolis, Md. — Hunting seasons for upland game species including cottontail rabbits and bobwhite quail start on Saturday, November 1. Seasons for other small game species are already underway. Squirrel season opened September 6 and ruffed grouse season began October 4. Rabbits and squirrels are common statewide and can be hunted close to home with minimal equipment.
“Ruffed grouse only occur in the western counties of the state, but are highly prized by upland bird enthusiasts due to the challenging shots they present,” stated Bob Long, DNR’s Upland Game Bird Project Leader. “A morning spent pursuing small game with friends or family provides an active, enjoyable experience for many hunters. It is also a particularly good opportunity for introducing junior hunters to the outdoors.”
Hunters should note that bobwhite quail hunting at Millington Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Kent County will be prohibited again this season. DNR biologists continue to explore a variety of research and management options at this WMA after initiating a habitat restoration project in 2005. Quail hunting is prohibited only on Millington WMA and this closure is necessary in order to assess the benefits of these ongoing habitat management projects. Hunting of other game species will not be affected on the area.
Complete bag limits, season dates and other hunting information can be found at the DNR website www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide
. The Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping 2008-2009 issued with each hunting license contains detailed information about all of Maryland’s hunting seasons.
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Come See One of Colorado’s Largest Sheep Herds at the 3rd Annual Georgetown Bighorn Sheep Festival
October 31, 2008
Join the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) for a full day of family-friendly and free wildlife fun! The Georgetown Bighorn Sheep Festival, sponsored by the DOW and the Town of Georgetown, will be held on Saturday, November 8th.  New activities and a full day of events starting at 10:00 am, promise something for everyone interested in our wildlife heritage.
“Early November is a great time to watch bighorn sheep,” said Karen Hardesty, Watchable Wildlife Coordinator for the northeast region of the DOW. “Late October through mid-December is the rut – or courtship season. The herd gathers more closely together than usual and the rams are contesting one another for dominance and the opportunity to reproduce. It’s the best of wildlife watching right here in Georgetown’s backyard!”
Participants will have the opportunity to watch Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep from the Georgetown Wildlife Viewing Area on the west side of Georgetown Lake. Trained DOW volunteers will offer a cup of hot cider and help visitors find and learn about the sheep.
In addition to wildlife viewing and guided hikes, the festival offers educational programming and a variety of crafts and activities for kids. This year the festival has expanded to include a climbing wall for youth, a Colorado Critters Parade (made up of young or young-at-heart festival participants), wildlife films at the Canyon Winds Winery, and Georgetown Loop Railroad trips.
Special Presentations:
- Wildlife of Clear Creek County
- The Story of Georgetown’s Bighorns – their history and current research updatesÂ
- Catching the Bad-guy: how wildlife forensics help managers track down poachers
- Peeking at Pika: Life on the alpine tundra and changes we may see soon
- Impacts of Global Climate Change to Colorado Wildlife ( a special traveling presentation by the Colorado Wildlife Federation)
- Story-telling: Tales of the “Wild” Colorado
- Wildlife and Landscape Photography with photographer Gary Haines of Grizzly Creek GalleryÂ
 Festival Activities Guide:
See the final schedule of events at http://wildlife.state.co.us/Viewing/EventsFestivals/BighornFestival.htm OR pick up a schedule on-site at the Gateway Visitor Center or the Georgetown Community Center. All of these events are free.
Georgetown is located just less than an hour west of Denver on I-70. Programs and activities take place in several venues throughout town, but most are on 6th Street. Be sure to plan time to visit the numerous art galleries and unique shops where artisans and shop owners will showcase their wildlife related art, gifts, crafts and other merchandise
WHAT: Georgetown Bighorn Sheep Festival: A full day of family-friendly &Â free wildlife fun.
WHERE: Town of Georgetown: One hour west of Denver on I-70.
WHEN: Saturday, November 8, 2008, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
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Tog Fishing - The Basics
October 31, 2008
Tautog fishing is at its best in the fall. Commonly called “tog”, tautog is one of the most challenging species to pursue while fishing over New Jersey’s Artificial Reefs.
This fall the posession limit increases to six fish a day on November 16 (it is a one fish limit at the time this is being written - see the Marine Digest for current regulations) and they are on the reefs in good numbers.
The following basic techniques will help you land more fish this season.
Boat Placement Over a Reef
Proper boat placement and anchoring is the key to a successful day out tog fishing. Your boat has to be positioned directly over a piece of structure and remain steady. To accomplish this, first locate a piece of structure using DGPS or LORAN C coordinates. Once in the vicinity, circle your boat around the waypoint and watch the depth sounder until you see the structure on the screen. Mark the area with a buoy - it will give you a reference point while you anchor the boat.
After the site is located, kick the boat in neutral and determine your drift. Run up current of the drift and lay two anchors off your bow making a 45 degree angle between them. Finally, let out enough scope to drift back to your reference buoy. This anchoring technique will keep your boat much steadier over the structure than using a single anchor.
Tackle and Rigging
The ideal equipment for tog fishing is a conventional rod and reel. The rod must have a good backbone and be capable of handling a minimum of an 8 ounce sinker. The reel should be spooled with at least 30-pound line and have a low gear ratio to provide enough torque to haul the powerful tog out of its home. Old time pinhookers (commercial rod and reel tog fishermen) would use a 1:1 ratio reel, but that is not necessary.
A good tog rig consists of leader line, two sharp and strong hooks, and a heavy lead sinker. The leader line should consist of at least a 50-pound fluorocarbon and be about 3 to 4 feet long.
The rig can be tied to the main line using a number of different knots, but an Albright knot seems to hold best. Use a perfection loop at the bottom of the rig to attach at least an 8 ounce bank sinker (a heavier bank sinker will be required if conditions are rough). A blood loop dropper knot should be tied about 4 inches above the sinker for the attachment of a snelled hook. This loop attaches to the leader at a right angle, which prevents the snelled hook from tangling.Â
An easy way to snell hooks is to use a 2-foot piece of fluorocarbon and tie a 2/0 to 4/0 hook to one end with a domhof knot. Then do the same to the other end of the fluorocarbon. This leaves you with two hooks, one on either end. Hold the hooks in your hand and double up the line and tie a double overhand loop at the opposite end of the hooks. Take the double overhand loop and run it through the dropper knot on the leader. The snelled hooks should extend about 6-8 inches from the main leader line. This leaves you with a rig that has two hooks lying on the bottom.
The most common bait of choice under most conditions is the green crab; however, sometimes other species of crab works better. For instance hermits, calicos, or fiddler crabs may entice more bites during the warmer months, but Jonahs and rock crabs may be better during the winter. Surf clams and conch can be used, but they generally attract small fish.
 The two hooks are inserted into either a piece of crab or a whole crab. Run the hooks through the knuckles of the crab to prevent the bait from falling off. On days when the bite is good, a whole crab will entice the larger fish to hit.
Feeling the Bite
Tog are one of the most difficult fish to hook. The repetitive tapping when a tog hits causes a lot of people to set the hook too early and miss fish. The key is patience. When tog are lightly tapping they don’t have a good hold of the bait. Be patient, wait until the fish gives a pull, not a tap.
Every day brings a different bite. Sometimes the bite is on and you can’t miss and other times you can barely fill a tug. If the bite is light or non-existent just move to the other side of the boat or let some scope out to adjust your position on the piece of structure. That can make all the difference in the world. Once you feel a good pull, set the hook and crank the reel. Tog have to be hauled out of structure with gusto, otherwise, the fish will hang your rig in structure.
Enjoying Your Catch
One of my favorite ways to prepare this tasty fish is to make chowder. Use any New England clam chowder recipe and substitute cubed tog fillets for clams. Remember, don’t overcook the tog as it may become tough and chewy. Here is the recipe that I prefer most:
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of butter
1 small onion, chopped fine
1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
1 rounded teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
1 cup of clam juice
1 can of chicken or vegetable broth
2 cups of whole milk or light cream
2 medium white-skinned potatoes, peeled and diced
4 slices of cooked bacon, chopped
1-2 lbs. of tog filets, cubed
Sea salt and black pepper to taste
Chopped chives
Preparation
In a deep pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and bay leaf and cook 2-3 minutes. Whisk in flour and Old Bay and cook 2 more minutes. Whisk in clam juice and broth and combine; cook until broth begins to thicken. Stir in milk slowly. Add potatoes raise heat to high and bring the soup to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook 12-15 minutes until potatoes are tender. Add bacon and tog. Cook 2-3 minutes or until tog begins to flake. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with chives. Enjoy!
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Hot Trout Action Continues - Winter Trout Stocking Begins November 24 in New Jersey
October 31, 2008
Hey, New Jersey trout anglers - Get ready for another round of super-sized trout stocking! Beginning November 24, another 5,010 large trout will be stocked in 23 lakes throughout the state (see list below).
These 14 inch to 17 inch two-year old rainbow trout come on the heels of the 21,000 beauties measuring 14 inches to 20 inches, which were stocked in October. If you thought the trout stocked in October were nice, the winter trout had an extra month to grow and the average size will be even bigger!
Cooler temperatures and the approach of winter used to signal the end of trout fishing in New Jersey. Not anymore! Trout fishing in New Jersey is now a year round reality. It’s a reality thanks to nearly 650,000 trout raised at the Pequest State Trout Hatchery in Warren County, stocked in the spring, fall and winter.
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The Winter Trout Stocking Program extends trout fishing action through the winter months and early spring until spring stocking begins. In fact, spring anglers are in for a real battle when they hook into large trout stocked in October and November, which are not caught in the fall and winter.
There’s plenty of time to chase fall and winter stocked trout before ponds and lakes freeze. Traditional baits like worms, fathead minnows, meal worms and powerbait fished on the bottom during open water work well for those fishing from shore.
Ice does not mean the end of trout fishing. A growing number of anglers look forward to the opportunity to catch large trout through the ice. Proven methods for catching trout through the ice are using tip-ups with powerbait or fathead minnows, and jigging with small jigs or ice jigging flies. Anglers should check to make sure ice fishing is not prohibited at their intended ice fishing location(s).
Anglers should pick up a copy of the Freshwater Fishing Digest and familiarize themselves with the regulations pertaining to their chosen fishing hole. The Digest as well as other information about fishing in New Jersey is also available online at www.njfishandwildlife.com/fishing_fresh.htm. The new 2009 Freshwater Digest should be available in late December.
Whatever winter (or fall) trout stocked water body you choose to fish, one thing is certain — there will be big trout waiting. Trout anglers no longer need to suffer withdrawal or the winter fishing blues thanks to New Jersey’s Trout Stocking Program developed by the DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife with your input.
Below is the list of waters being stocked with numbers of trout. These lakes range in size from five to 100 acres and have shoreline access and/or boat launching sites. Temporary program changes are noted below the list.
WINTER TROUT STOCKING SCHEDULE 2008
Monday, November 24
Middlesex County
Hook’s Creek Lake - 200
Monmouth County
Spring Lake - 190
Topenemus Lake - 180
Ocean County
Lake Shenandoah - 220
Passaic County
Green Turtle Pond - 300
Sussex County
Little Swartswood - 390
Lake Aeroflex - 390
Lake Ocquittunk - 190
Silver Lake - 230
Tuesday, November 25
Atlantic County
Birch Grove Park Pond - 180
Bergen County
Mill Pond - 150
Camden County
Haddon Lake - 190
Rowands Pond - 100
Cumberland County
Shaws Mill Pond - Not stocked See below
Essex County
Verona Park Pond - 190
Gloucester County
Mullica Hill Pond - 160
Hudson County
Woodcliff Lake - 200
Passaic County
Barbours Pond - 160
Salem County
Riverview Beach Pond - 160
Wednesday, November 26
Hunterdon County
Amwell Lake - 160
Morris County
Mt. Hope Pond - 160
Speedwell Lake - 200
Union County
Lower Echo Lake - 160
Warren County
Furnace Lake - 350
PROGRAM CHANGES in 2008
* Shaws Mill Pond in Cumberland County is being lowered for dam restoration and will not be stocked with trout this winter. Its winter trout allocation (200 fish) will be re-distributed to the five waters listed for Camden, Gloucester, Salem, and Atlantic Counties. Note: The individual trout allocations listed above for these five waters do not reflect this temporary increase.
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Pennsylvania’s Fall Turkey Season Begins Saturday, November 1
October 31, 2008
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Game Commission is expecting hunters to encounter a sizeable wild turkey population when they head afield for the opening day of wild turkey season Saturday. And finding birds this fall may be easier than it was last year.
“Wild turkey hunting is one of Pennsylvania’s premiere outdoor experiences,” said PGC Executive Director Carl G. Roe. “The satisfaction derived from calling in and taking a game bird that can see you twitch at 50 yards is a fulfillment that veteran hunters never tire of and new turkey hunters can’t wait to experience.
“The good news for this fall is that we believe there are great opportunities for wild turkey hunters throughout the state. But, as always, pre-season scouting and planning will be important to your hunting success.”
Season lengths vary in the state’s Wildlife Management Units for fall turkey hunting: WMUs 1A, 1B and 2A (Shotgun and bow and arrow only) - Nov. 1-15; WMU 2B (Shotgun and bow and arrow only) - Nov. 1-22; WMUs 2C, 2E, 2F, 4A and 4B - Nov 1-15; WMUs 2D, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4D and 4E - Nov. 1-22; WMUs 5A and 5B – closed to fall hunting; and WMUs 5C and 5D (Shotgun and bow and arrow only) - Nov. 1-7.
Mary Jo Casalena, Game Commission wild turkey biologist, said Pennsylvania’s wild turkey population is above the 10-year-average thanks to good reproduction the past two springs and generally conservative fall season lengths, which prevents overharvest of hens.Â
“At its best, back in 2001, Pennsylvania’s turkey population peaked at about 410,000 birds,” Casalena explained. This spring, we believe the population numbered about 335,000 turkeys, prior to reproduction, and turkey reproduction appears to have been average or better in most areas. That should translate into great hunting in Pennsylvania.
“Of course, weather and the availability of fall foods also influence hunter success, and this fall will be no different. Gypsy moth defoliation has had a tremendous impact on mast production in many areas of the state. This will make finding turkeys difficult in areas without a sufficient mast crop and should force birds to congregate where mast – particularly acorns and beechnuts – are available.
“Hunters who find pockets of beech or oak trees with good nut production, or soft mast such as grapes, apples or cherries, or agricultural fields with standing crops or waste grain, should find turkeys,” Casalena explained. “But remember, locating the flock is only part of the hunt. Setting up properly and bringing a turkey within range are other challenges hunters must master. It’s what makes success so tricky and enjoyable.”
The preliminary spring 2008 harvest was 40,500, including about 1,955 turkeys taken with “special turkey licenses.” In 2007, hunters took an estimated 41,000, including about 1,500 second license turkeys. The spring harvest record was set in 2001 when hunters took 49,200 turkeys.
“Pennsylvania hunters have consistently taken 30,000 or more turkeys in the spring season since 1995,” Casalena pointed out. “That exceeds most other states in the nation.”
Casalena said she expects hunter success this fall to mirror last year’s rate of about 16 percent. In the three years prior to 2007, hunter success was about 12 percent annually. The best hunter success rate was set in 2001 when 21 percent of hunters were successful. The worst was 1979, only four percent of hunters were successful.
“There is no substitute for scouting when it comes to finding wild turkeys, unless, of course, someone else scouts for you,” Casalena said. “And there’s nothing wrong with being enterprising and thorough. Talk to farmers, hikers and other hunters if you don’t have leads for areas to scout. Look for scratchings in the leaves, and know that it’s pretty hard to miss the signs turkeys make looking for food. Leaves are falling or have fallen in many areas, so scratching for food will become more pronounced on the forest floor.
“Once you find the general area turkeys are working, try to pattern their daily movements. Look for fresh scratchings, tracks, turkey droppings and feathers. Sort out what the birds are eating. It takes about a week to pattern a flock. Once you have, capitalize on your preseason fieldwork.”
In both spring and fall turkey seasons, it is unlawful to use drives to hunt turkeys. Hunters may take only one turkey in the fall season.
Shot size is limited to No. 4 lead, bismuth-tin, tungsten-iron or No. 2 steel. Turkey hunters also are required to tag their bird before moving it and to mail the postage-paid harvest report card – provided with all hunting licenses – within 10 days of taking a turkey. A replacement harvest report card is on page 33 of the 2008-09 Hunting and Trapping Digest.
Also, two other reminders to turkey hunters: legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. For more information, please see page 14 of the 2008-09 Digest for the legal hunting hours table. In addition, it is now lawful to use a dog to pursue, chase, scatter and track wild turkeys during the fall wild turkey season. Prior to 2007, hunters were prohibited from using dogs to hunt any big game animal, which includes wild turkeys.
On a final note, turkey hunters are asked to please remember to report any leg-banded turkeys they harvest. This information hunters provide from the recovery of a banded wild turkey has great value to the agency’s research efforts.
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT UNIT TURKEY POPULATION PROFILES
WMU 1A – Expect the fall harvest to be similar to last year with the only setback for hunters being the abundance of fall foods, which will disperse flocks. Hunters who have scouted and patterned flocks will have the most success. Flock sizes should be mixed as some areas had great reproduction while it was below average in other areas. Hunter success last fall (14 percent) was slightly below the state average (16 percent).
WMU 1B – With the excellent reproduction this summer, expect turkeys everywhere and great hunter success like last year (22 percent) compared to the state average (16 percent). The abundant fall food source will disperse flocks so scouting will be important for a successful hunt.
WMU 2A – This unit has seen a decrease in the turkey population during the last seven years, but flocks are still widespread. The agency decreased the fall season length to two weeks in 2007 to aid this population to reverse its dramatic decline. Hunter success should be similar to last year (14 percent) compared to the state average of 16 percent. The abundance of natural food will challenge hunters in locating flocks that may continually move throughout the two-week season. Those hunters who scout pre-season should be most successful.  Â
WMU 2B – Hunters who secure permission to hunt on private land have plenty of time to be successful with this three-week season. Also, the hard mast crop (acorns) was fair this year so those who search for areas with plentiful acorns on the ground will find the turkeys. Because of this and the abundance of turkeys, expect hunter success to improve from last year’s 14 percent, which was somewhat below the state average of 16 percent.
WMU 2C – Even though surveys show that turkey reproduction this summer was down, expect a good harvest this year, similar to last year’s 14 percent hunter success rate, which was above the previous three years’ success rates, mainly due to the spotty mast crop of white oak acorns and beechnuts. The low mast supply will concentrate flocks around the food sources. So, even though flock sizes may be small, they should be relatively easy to pattern if hunters find the food.
WMU 2D – Turkey hunting prospects should continue to be better than many other units, but the fall harvest could be down slightly from last year’s hunter success of 15 percent, which was average for this unit, due to this summer’s lower turkey sighting index. However, spring and fall harvests continue to be above the statewide average.
WMU 2E – There are very good hunting opportunities for older birds from the record summer sighting index in 2007, but the marked decrease in summer sightings this year indicates that reproduction was down this year. Hunter success should be similar to last year, about 10 percent.
WMU 2F – The agency shortened the fall season to two weeks in 2007 to help this population reverse its long-term decline. This management action, coupled with slightly above-average recruitment, should provide the jumpstart this population needs to rebound. Hunters can help, too, by harvesting a young turkey rather than an experienced adult bird, as there are ample juvenile birds in this fall’s population. The above-average acorn crop will cause the birds to be more dispersed, so preseason scouting will ensure success.
WMU 2G – This was the fifth consecutive year of increased summer turkey sightings, so juveniles abound in this unit. But the above-average mast (acorn) crop will tend to disperse the flocks. Last fall’s hunter success of 16 percent was the highest it’s been since 2001 and was equal to the state average. Prospects are quite promising for those who scout prior to the season to locate those boisterous, noisy juvenile turkeys. The good mast crop will disperse flocks so finding the turkeys may be challenging.
WMU 3A – Prospects should be similar to last year’s phenomenal harvest and hunter success of 21 percent, which was well above the state average of 16 percent! With turkey sightings over the past four years more than twice the long-term average, juvenile and adult turkeys abound! Even with the above-average mast crop, the turkey harvest should be well above average.
WMU 3B – Prospects couldn’t be better in this unit! With the record summer turkey sightings this year and above-average sightings last year, both juveniles and adults abound. Tioga County Wildlife Conservation Officer Robert Minnich reported it succinctly, “…with all the turkey around, you are bound to run into them sooner or later, if they do not run you over first.”
WMU 3C – Last year’s fall harvest and hunter success rate (19 percent) were the best for this unit since the records of 2001, and this year appears to be almost as good. Summer recruitment, as witnessed from our summer turkey sightings, has increased significantly during the last four years, providing an ample supply of turkeys in most age classes. Prospects are excellent.
WMU 3D – The turkey population in this WMU is now above the long-term trend as indicated by a substantial increase in this year’s summer turkey sightings. Fall hunter success last year was 20 percent compared to 16 percent for the state average. The average mast crop, coupled with above-average recruitment and three-week long season, should translate to a better harvest this year.
WMU 4A – Prospects have greatly improved for this WMU. This is the fifth year of a two-week fall turkey season and the turkey population is rebounding well. Although reproduction this year, as determined from summer turkey sighting surveys, decreased from last year’s record, hunter success and harvests should be similar to last year. Soft mast (cherries, apples, etc.) abounds, but acorn production on oak trees was impacted severely in areas with gypsy moth defoliation. Hunters who find the food will find turkeys.
WMU 4B – This WMU has shown tremendous fluctuations in recruitment and harvests, which prompted the agency in 2004 to reduce the fall season to two weeks. Recruitment this year was down slightly after two consecutive years of increased reproduction. Even though flock sizes may be a bit smaller this year, hunters who scout and locate food sources will find turkeys. Expect hunter success to be similar to last year (13 percent, compared to the state average of 16 percent).
WMU 4C – This WMU typically maintains a stable summer sighting index trend, but increased 84 percent from last year. Hunting prospects for juvenile turkeys will be excellent. Fall hunter success last year was excellent at 19 percent, compared to the 16 percent state average, and should improve this year, especially if hunters scout before the season.
WMU 4D – Fall hunting prospects should improve over last year as a result of recruitment, which was more than twice the long-term average, and the second year of a 3-week season. Fall hunter success last year was similar to the state average at 16 percent. Acorn crops are spotty and dependent on the effect of gypsy moth defoliation. Areas with high gypsy moth abundance have poor mast crops, whereas areas spared of defoliation have abundant mast crops, and will have the birds.
WMU 4E – Excellent hunting prospects. Summer recruitment has been increasing steadily for the last five years and fall harvests have been above the state average. Because of the increasing population trend, expect the fall harvest to increase again, if hunters scout and locate flocks. Fall hunter success last year, 21 percent, was well above the state average of 16 percent.
WMU 5A & 5B – Closed.
WMU 5C - Even though the season is only six days and the overall harvest here is low, hunters who did hunt this WMU last fall had an 18 percent success rate compared to 16 percent statewide. Expect an above-average harvest again, as indicated from an above-average summer sighting index.
WMU 5D - Data for this unit is limited, as well as huntable turkey flocks, but those hunters who locate hunting areas can be quite successful, even with the six-day season. Summer reproduction was average for this unit. Expect the fall harvest to be similar to last year.
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Dungeness Crab Sport Fishing Season Opens Statewide in California Nov. 1
October 31, 2008
The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) announced today the annual Dungeness crab sport fishery opens statewide on Nov. 1. The California Fish and Game Commission approved a regulation change on Sept. 4, opening the season from the Oregon state line through Mendocino County on the first Saturday in November, the same day as the rest of the state.
Under the previous regulation, far northern California Dungeness crab fishermen would have had to wait until Nov. 29 for the season to open. That would have increased the likelihood of sport crab fishermen encountering commercial gear already on the fishing grounds in anticipation of the traditional Dec. 1 commercial Dungeness crab opener. The Fish and Game Commission decided to increase fishing opportunities for sport crab fishermen by setting the opening day earlier and making the date uniform, up and down the coast.
Every November, recreational crab fishermen in northern California set out hoop nets and crab traps from boats and piers to try and catch the crustaceans, and some divers take the crab by hand. The daily bag limit is 10 Dungeness crab per person, except when fishing from a commercial passenger fishing vessel (or “party boat”) south of Mendocino County; in that case, the limit is six. Dungeness crab may not be taken from San Francisco or San Pablo bays, which are important crab nursery areas.
For more information regarding recreational Dungeness crab fishing and regulations, please visit the DFG Marine Region Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/dungeness.asp.
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2008 Northeastern Minnesota Moose Hunt Results
October 31, 2008
The 2008 bulls-only moose hunting season in northeastern Minnesota ended on Sunday, Oct. 19, with hunters registering 111 bull moose at 11 registration stations scattered across Cook, Lake and St. Louis counties over the 16-day season. This compares with 115 bull moose harvested in northeastern Minnesota in 2007, which was the state’s first bulls-only season ever.
This year’s lottery included 239 once-in-a-lifetime bull-only moose tags issued in 30 zones to 237 hunting parties. Moose hunting is limited to resident hunters in parties of two to four hunters. Hunting success was 47 percent in 2008, compared with 50 percent in 2007.
Hunters experienced good overall moose hunting and field conditions over the majority of the season. Opening week weather featured seasonably warm days and cool nights. It rained during the second weekend which likely limited the harvest. Normal fall weather returned for the remainder of the season, with typically cool days and nights.
Testing and Monitoring
DNR and Fond du Lac wildlife managers collected biological samples (brain, lymph node and tissue) from state and tribal hunters at moose registration stations in Ely, Finland, Duluth, Two Harbors and Grand Marais to try and assess moose health and
p