AGFC deer program coordinator Brad Miller says he expects a great year for deer hunters in The Natural State. “One thing hunters should keep in mind is that Mother Nature has dealt us a couple of obstacles this year. First, those hunters that hunt in the Ozarks and the northern Delta regions should make sure their usual spots haven’t been impacted by last January’s ice storm. Some areas may be inaccessible, and hunters should have a back-up plan,” Miller said. “Secondly, the recent flooding may have closed some areas, washed out roads, or water may still be covering some areas,” he added.

Given that mast production looks good across much of the state, hunters should identify the spots on their area with good acorn production to maximize their chances, Miller says. “Opening weekend has a substantial impact on what our final numbers will look like. The first two days of modern gun accounted for almost 19% of the total season harvest last year,” Miller explained. “I hope the weather is good this weekend so that hunters will want to get out, and the deer will be active. Ideally I’d like to see a cool day with minimal wind,” he added.

A short breakdown of the state’s geographical regions follows:

Ozarks: Reports indicate that acorn production has been poor to fair. Ice damage has been severe in many areas.

Arkansas River Valley/Ouachitas: Field observations indicate moderate to good to excellent acorn production.

Crowley’s Ridge: Reports by regional staff are similar to those of the Ozarks. There has been some ice damage in the area, but acorn production has been fair to good.

Delta Region: Reports from southeastern Arkansas indicate fair to good mast production.

Gulf Coastal Plain: Acorn production by white oaks in the area is good. Additionally, the persimmon crop appears excellent this season.

“The scheduled fish plant pages are now receiving more hits than any other section of our Web site,” said Walt Beer, DFG’s Statewide Hatchery Coordinator. “This is proving to be a wonderful one-stop planning tool for anglers who want to maximize their chances for a good day of fishing.”

Beer added that numerous anglers have emailed DFG to praise the addition of the “Map It” feature, such as one Visalia resident who wrote, “What a great idea!”

The new Fish Stocking “Map It” page complements DFG’s “Online Fishing Guide,” another popular map-based Web page that provides a broad range of information about California fishing opportunities. This page, found at www.dfg.ca.gov/fishingpassport/guide.asp, lists the services and facilities available at various fishing locations, as well as a general description of the terrain and species available.

Anglers can also call the Fish Stocking hotline in each region to hear recorded information about stocking schedules:

Region 1: (530) 225-2146
Region 2: (916) 351-0832
Region 3: (707) 944-5581
Region 4: (559) 243-4005 x 183
Regions 5 and 6: (562) 594-7268

Fish stocking information is updated regularly, both online and on the hotlines, and is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We understand the dire situation with respect to Atlantic bluefin tuna, and the U.S. intends to vigorously support Monaco’s proposal at the upcoming CITES Conference,” Strickland said. “We greatly appreciate Monaco’s leadership to bring bluefin tuna conservation and management to the world’s attention.”

Monaco’s proposal would require a two-thirds majority of the 175 CITES parties present and voting at CoP15 in order to be adopted.

The Atlantic bluefin tuna is a long-lived species, found in the entire extent of the North Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas, particularly the Mediterranean Sea. The fishery is managed as two separate stocks separated by the 45ºW meridian: the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (‘Eastern’) stock, and the Western Atlantic (‘Western’) stock. The separation between the stocks is based on separate spawning grounds, genetic differentiation, differing ages for reaching sexual maturity, and the apparent absence of spawning in the middle of the North Atlantic.

Atlantic bluefin tuna are harvested in both commercial and recreational fisheries, and a single bluefin tuna can sell for tens of thousands of dollars. The species is traditionally consumed fresh in Mediterranean countries and is also one of the most sought after species for the sashimi market in Japan and in the overall global market. Fishing has led to precipitous population declines of both stocks.

The Eastern stock of the Atlantic bluefin tuna has declined precipitously in the last 10 years. Based on estimated catches, scientists estimated the spawning stock biomass in 2007 to be 78,724 tons. This contrasts with the biomass peak estimated for 1958 at 305,136 tons. The decline over the 50-year historical period ranging from 1957 to 2007 is estimated at 74.2%, the bulk of which (60.9%) was in the last 10 years. Threats to the eastern stock include overharvesting and illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing by European and Mediterranean fishing fleets. The Western Atlantic spawning stock has declined by 82.4% from 49,482 tons in 1970 to 8,693 tons in 2007. In the past, decade, the Western stock has stabilized at a very low population level. Many experts correlate this stabilization to stronger management and compliance measures adopted for that stock, including scientifically based harvest quotas and a catch documentation scheme to ensure rigorous compliance by United States fishers.

The management of the bluefin tuna is regulated by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). ICCAT is an inter-governmental, regional fishery management organization responsible for the conservation of tunas and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas. The 48 member countries to ICCAT will meet November 6-15 in Recife, Brazil. The management of the Atlantic bluefin tuna, will be the subject of much discussion at this November meeting, and the United States will be pursuing stricter regulation of bluefin tuna fishing.

“The eyes of the world will be focused on ICCAT and its effectiveness in addressing the threats of extinction for bluefin tuna,” Strickland noted. “Unless, ICCAT adopts significantly strengthened management and compliance measures, specifically measures to address IUU harvest, the United States will exert complete and vigorous support for Monaco’s CITES Appendix I listing proposal.”
 

“The lack of flotation devices is still one of the most common law violations among waterfowl hunters and the most common cause of duck hunter deaths,” said Tim Smalley, DNR boating safety specialist. “It’s been that way ever since 1988, when life jackets were first required on duck boats.”

Twelve hunters have drowned in boating accidents since life jackets were first required on duckboats more than 20 years ago. “While 12 deaths is 12 too many, before life vests were mandated, three to six hunters died in duckboat accidents nearly every season,” Smalley said.

According to national statistics, more hunters die every year from cold water shock, hypothermia and drowning than firearms mishaps. There have been no duck hunter drownings in Minnesota during the last three waterfowl seasons.

In 2005, two Minnesota hunters drowned in a single boat accident. In that case, apparently the 12-foot boat they were in swamped and filled with water, but did not sink. Their guns were still cased and decoys were in the boat.

Minnesota law requires a readily accessible U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket for every person on duckboats. Plus, for boats 16-feet and longer, there must be one U.S. Coast Guard approved flotation seat cushion on board, to throw to someone in distress. Seat cushions are no longer approved as primary flotation devices. Everyone on the boat needs a wearable personal flotation device of the proper size and type.

Life jackets made with the waterfowler in mind are available in camouflage colors. “They have mesh in the upper body that allows you to shoulder a gun,” Smalley said. “That way, you don’t have to keep taking the vest off when you shoot.”

According to water safety experts, having a life jacket doesn’t matter if it’s stuffed in a decoy sack when the accident occurs. “You just don’t have time,” Smalley said. “Trying to put on a life jacket during a boating accident would be like trying to buckle a seat belt during a car crash.”

The DNR discourages hunters from wearing hip boots or waders in the boat due to safety concerns. Hunters have drowned while trying to take their waders off after they have

fallen into the water or their boat has capsized.

“That releases any trapped air in the boots and at the same time binds the victim’s feet together so they can’t kick to stay afloat,” Smalley said. “However, if you do wear that sort of foot gear and suddenly enter the water, by pulling your knees up to your chest, air trapped in the waders or hip boots can act as a flotation device. You should practice that maneuver in warm shallow water before you need to do it in an emergency.”

The DNR offers these water safety tips for duck hunters:

Wear a life jacket to and from the blind; there are now life jackets available for around $35 with mesh in the upper body that allow hunters to shoulder a gun but still offer protection from cold water.

Don’t overload the boat; take two trips if necessary.

Learn how to float in waders and hip boats or don’t wear them in the boat.

Stay near shore and avoid crossing large expanses of open water, especially in bad  weather.

Let someone know where you are going and when to expect your return; tell them to call the authorities if you don’t return on schedule.

In case of capsizing or swamping, stay with your boat; even when filled with water, it will provide some flotation and is more likely to be seen by potential rescuers.

“If you are near a cell phone tower, it’s a good idea to bring your cell phone along in a waterproof, reclosable bag to call for help if you get into trouble,” Smalley advised. “You can use the phone without removing it from the bag.”

The DNR has a free publication about waterfowl hunting boat safety called “Prescription for Duck Hunters.” It is available by calling the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or toll free 888-MINNDNR (646-6367).

Or download a copy from the DNR’s Web site.

“Hunting and fishing are both time-honored American traditions that are shared and treasured by families” said DFG Director Don Koch. “Licensed hunters and anglers who are committed to responsible and ethical practices are helping to preserve these opportunities for generations to come.”

California is the third-largest state in the U.S. and about half of its land is publicly owned. That translates into millions of acres of “huntable” public property. Fishing opportunities also abound in the more than 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, 4,172 lakes and reservoirs and 80 major rivers in California. The state also features more than 1,100 miles of coastline that is home to hundreds of native fish and shellfish species.

DFG regulates hunting and fishing opportunities year-round and ensures that the proceeds from license sales are used to help preserve California’s natural resources. Each year, approximately 300,000 hunting licenses and related stamps, tags and permits are sold, generating more than $20 million for the management, research, monitoring and protection of game and non-game wildlife and related habitat. DFG also sells more than 2,000,000 sport fishing licenses each year, generating more than $62 million. One-third of the revenue generated by these sales is earmarked for DFG’s Hatcheries and Fish Planting Facilities Program; the rest supports fisheries management and protection through the Fish and Game Preservation Fund.

In addition to regulating license sales, DFG offers a wide range of learning opportunities for the novice hunter or angler, to teach responsible practices and encourage newcomers to experience the outdoors.

DFG’s hunting clinics offer instruction for both beginner and veteran hunters year-round. This summer and fall, clinics offered include waterfowl hunting in Riverside and Colusa counties, wild pig hunting in Kern County and upland game hunting in Williams (Northern California) and Peace Valley (Southern California). For more information about DFG’s hunter education program, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered.

DFG’s fishing programs are designed to introduce people to one of the nation’s most popular outdoor sports. The Fishing in the City program provides fishing opportunities for novice anglers living in the Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles metropolitan areas. More information is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/fishinginthecity. And DFG’s California Fishing Passport program introduces anglers of all ages and skill levels to the many species of sport fish in the state. The program challenges anglers to catch the more than 150 of the most commonly caught species of freshwater fish, saltwater fish and shellfish found in California. More information is available at www.fishingpassport.org.

DFG also reminds anglers that it’s now more convenient than ever to buy a sport fishing license. All resident and non-resident licenses, both annual and short-term, and selected stamps can now be purchased online, 24 hours a day, at www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/ols/intro.html. Fishing licenses are still available for purchase from authorized license agents; the cost is the same whether purchased online or from an agent.

For more information on hunting and fishing, visit www.dfg.ca.gov.

At the Johnson Settlement, Texas Longhorns graze, twitch their tails, and show off their namesake headwear to visitors kept safe by corral fences. Like the Johnson Settlement, home to the president’s grandfather during the mid-19th century, the LBJ Ranch also features hoofed and lowing attractions – Herefords in this case. In addition, this working cattle ranch includes the Texas White House, as the Johnsons’ home came to be known, which welcomes visitors to certain rooms, including the president’s office.

While the ranch channels the 1960s, LBJ’s Boyhood Home takes you back even further, to the 1920s. The home is furnished in styles of this decade. And, it’s not only the park’s sites that tap into the past, but also the objects and exhibits. The visitor center displays campaign memorabilia and White House china and presents President Johnson’s biography and achievements. The president’s automobiles—his 1934 Ford Phaeton, his Amphicar, and more—await car-lovers in the airplane hangar near the Texas White House.

Families considering a getaway to the park might want to time their visits to coincide with Family Fun Weekend. On October 11 and 12, children and adults can join walk/run events of varying lengths and bicycle through the ranch with the president’s daughter Luci Baines Johnson. The park also offers families holiday splendor and fun with the illumination of Lyndon Johnson’s hometown.

But it doesn’t have to be Christmastime for visitors to LBJ National Historical Park to be dazzled. Artifacts and architecture, bovines and bike tours, Texan ranching and U.S. history—all are here, ready to impress.

The agreement offers new hunting opportunities to residents of both states by including some Iowa land that lies west of the Missouri River and Nebraska land east of the river.

The purpose of the agreement between the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is to allow people with Nebraska hunting permits to take game and furbearing animals on Iowa lands and people with Iowa hunting permits to take game and furbearing animals on Nebraska lands.

Iowa lands are those under that state’s jurisdiction that are wholly surrounded by the state of Nebraska, and Nebraska lands are those under that state’s jurisdiction that are wholly surrounded by the state of Iowa.

People hunting with a Nebraska permit on Iowa lands must abide by the regulations of Iowa and people hunting with an Iowa permit on Nebraska lands must heed the regulations of Nebraska. Those regulations include season dates and bag limits. The agreement is only for holders of resident Nebraska or Iowa permits.

The areas included in the agreement are: Dakota Bend, Upper Omadi Bend, Lower Omadi Bend, Brower’s Bend, Snyder Bend, Glover’s Point Bend, Upper Omaha Mission, Lower Omaha Mission, Upper Monona Bend, Lower Monona Bend, Blackbird Bend, Tieville Bend, Middle Decatur Bend, Lower Decatur Bend, Little Sioux Bend, Upper Bullard Bend, Lower Bullard Bend, Soldier Bend, Petersen Cut-off, Sandy Point Bend, Tyson Bend, Blair Bend, Blair DeSoto, and DeSoto Cut-off.

The agreement does not include hunting turkey, deer or grouse hunting. It also does not include hunting at DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge.

“The Georgia Hunters for the Hungry program is one opportunity for hunters to demonstrate their generosity by sharing their harvest with those in need,” said John Bowers, Wildlife Resources Division assistant chief of Game Management. “The Division is proud to be a cooperator in this public-private partnership and to work with the many partners who make it possible each year.”

Wildlife Resources, along with the Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Wildlife Federation and the Georgia State Association of Food Banks sponsor the program.

Thanks to these partners, the efforts of Georgia hunters and participating meat processors, just last year nearly 30,000 pounds of venison were collected, processed and distributed to food banks across the state. This meat provided more than 150,000 meals for needy Georgians. Since the program’s inception in 1993, more than 257,000 pounds of venison have been donated.

Hunters interested in participating in the GHFTH program can bring field-dressed deer to any designated drop-off location. All hunters who donate a deer during this collection period will be entered into a drawing for a deer rifle, sponsored by the Georgia Wildlife Federation.

New this year, the GHFTH program has extended donation opportunities to include the “Drop Back a Pack” program. This new opportunity allows hunters to donate some of their processed venison when they visit the processor to pick up their meat. All participating GHFTH program processors will have a freezer indicating where hunters can “Drop Back a Pack” for the program.

The following fifteen processor locations will accept deer or commercially processed venison from Sept. 12, 2009 – Jan. 15, 2010 during business hours:

• Axson – Lee’s Meat Processing, (912) 422-3079

• Baldwin – JJ’s Deer Processing, (706) 776-2819

• Canton – Mitch’s Archery and Deer Cooler, (770) 479-7004

• Columbus – Daffin Meat Processing, (706) 322-8848

• Dawson – Mossey Creek Outdoors, (229) 995-4109

• Eastman – Barlow’s Deer Processing, (478) 374-5614

• Fairmount – Pine Log Processing, LLC, (770) 382-6328

• Irwinton – Starley’s Deer Processing, (478) 946-8976

• Jefferson – Sealey’s Deer Cooler, (706) 335-9304

• Leesburg – Country Jacks, (229) 883-6017

• Milledgeville – Wright’s Deer and Wild Hog Processing, (478) 452-4228

• Naylor – K&K Deer and Wild Hog Processing, (229) 269-5557

• Sparta – Garner’s Grinder, (706) 444-9228

• Stephens – Fire Tower #2 Meat Processing, (706) 743-3766

• Vidalia – Stewart’s Quality Meat, Inc. (912) 537-9888

The following locations will be available between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.; Nov. 7-8:

• Newnan – Royal Baptist Church, Hwy. 34 Bypass N to Royal Mayo Rd.

• Rockmart – Lamar’s Sports Center, 392 Atlanta Hwy.

• Rome – Lavender Mountain Hardware, 4065 Martha Berry Hwy., NW

For more information on donating food to those in need during other times of the year, call the Atlanta Community Food Bank at (404) 892-FEED. For more information on the GHFTH program, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com , www.gwf.org , contact a WRD Game Management office or call (770) 761-3045.

JEFFERSON CITY–Missouri’s top deer biologist says hunters can expect to find more mature bucks when archery deer season opens Sept. 15.

Archers enjoy a long season, Sept. 15 through Nov. 13 and Nov. 25 through Jan. 15. Furthermore, resident hunters can buy and fill as many archery antlerless deer permits ($7 each) as they want in all but 13 southeast Missouri counties.

For many archers, however, filling the freezer is not the point. The challenge of matching wits with a mature buck is what keeps these die-hards in tree stands for hundreds of hours each fall. A set of large antlers is not so much a trophy as an affirmation of their woodscraft.

Resource Scientist Lonnie Hansen says these hunters have more chances to pursue mature bucks in much of the state, thanks to a regulation that went into effect in 2004. That is when the Missouri Department of Conservation implemented the “four-point rule.”

Under the regulation, hunters in 29 counties in northwest and central Missouri have not been allowed to take antlered deer unless they have at least four points measuring 1 inch or larger on one side of their antlers. Few deer achieve this degree of antler development before they are 2.5 years old. In effect, the antler-point restriction is a minimum age limit, giving bucks time to mature and grow larger antlers. They also gain experience, making them more wary and challenging to hunt.

Long-term studies show that white-tailed deer bucks’ antlers attain only 25 to 35 percent of their maximum size when they are 1.5 years old. The figure increases to 60 percent for 2.5-year-olds. Three and one-half-year-old bucks’ antlers are 75 to 80 percent of maximum size, while those 4.5 years old grow antlers that are 90 to 95 percent as large as they ever will grow.

“Our primary goal with the antler-point restriction was to shift harvest pressure onto does,” says Hansen. “Shooting bucks doesn’t contribute much to controlling deer numbers, and we were looking for a way to get hunters to shoot more antlerless deer.”

The idea, said Hansen, was that if hunters had to pass up shots at young bucks, there was a good chance the next deer to come along would be a doe, and they would shoot it. Letting more bucks survive was only an incidental effect, but it is one that many hunters are happy about.

Hansen points to the ages of deer taken by hunters in counties with the antler-point restriction four years after the rule went into effect. The number of 2.5-year-old deer was up 20 percent compared to counties without the restriction. The number of 3.5-year-old deer was 62 percent greater in antler-point restriction counties, and the number of 4.5-year-old deer was up an astonishing 202 percent.

“You have to be a bit cautious about the big differences in 3.5- and 4.5-year-olds,” said Hansen. “The number of deer that hunters take in those age classes is small, so even a modest difference in the absolute number of deer shot translates into a big percentage difference. Nevertheless, a significant difference is attributable to the antler-point restriction.”

Not surprisingly, hunters who focus on mature bucks have been enthusiastic promoters of the four-point rule. This popular support has encouraged the Conservation Department to expand the regulation to 65 counties and parts of three more.

Hansen said archers need to know that the antler-point restriction has been extended to Ste. Genevieve County and portions of Cass and Jefferson counties. The portion of Franklin County in the St. Louis urban deer zone no longer is under the antler-point restriction.

Details of the four-point rule and other archery deer hunting regulations are contained in the 2009 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available wherever hunting permits are sold. The same information is available at www.mdc.mo.gov/13924.

-Jim Low- MDC

The Big Time Texas Hunts program offers the opportunity to win one or more top guided hunts with food and lodging provided, as well as taxidermy in some cases. The crown jewel of the program is the Texas Grand Slam hunt package, which includes four separate hunts for Texas’ most prized big game animals — the desert bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, mule deer and pronghorn antelope. There are several quality whitetail hunt packages available, as well as opportunities to pursue alligator, exotic big game, waterfowl and upland game birds.

Entries for the Big Time Texas Hunt drawings are $10 each and are available wherever hunting licenses are sold or by calling 800-895-4248. They may also be purchased online this year at a discounted price of $9 each. There is no limit to the number of entries an individual may purchase. Purchasers must be 17 years of age or older.

Proceeds from the Big Time Texas Hunts are used to provide more public hunting opportunity and to fund wildlife conservation and research programs in Texas.

Here’s a summary of the Big Time Texas Hunts offerings:

• The Texas Grand Slam — This truly is the hunt of a lifetime. The bighorn sheep hunt is very exclusive; TPWD issues only a handful of permits a year. The bighorn sheep hunt takes place on a West Texas Wildlife Management Area. The other three hunts included in the Texas Grand Slam will be on some of the most exclusive private ranches in the state. The winner may also bring along a non-hunting companion to share in this awesome outdoor adventure.
• Texas Whitetail Bonanza — Ten winners will each get to experience a high-quality white-tailed deer hunt, something legendary to Texas on popular ranches known to produce big bucks. Guide service, food and lodging are provided on these 3-5-day trips. Each winner can also bring along a companion to hunt as well.
• Texas Gator Hunt — One winner and a guest will enjoy a rare and unique three-day trip pursuing alligators at the J. D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area on the Gulf Coast. Each hunter may harvest one alligator. All necessary equipment, expert guides, lodging and gator hide removal are included. The winner and guest will also be treated to an airboat tour of the marsh to view alligators.
• Texas Waterfowl Adventure — One winner and as many as three invited guests will win a series of three exciting waterfowl adventures. The hunts are located on some of the best waterfowl areas in Texas. Trips include a Coastal Prairies guided hunt for snows, blues and white-fronted geese; a guided duck hunt in the Coastal Marshes; and an East Texas hunt for wood ducks and mallards.
• Texas Exotic Safari — Two winners will experience the thrill of hunting African exotic game right here in Texas on the Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area in the Texas Hill Country. Each winner can take two exotic species, including sable antelope, gemsbok oryx, scimitar-horned oryx or common waterbuck. Hunters may choose to shoot modern rifle, muzzleloader, archery or crossbow. Winners can also bring along a companion to hunt a management exotic. Food and lodging will be provided at the scenic Mason Mountain WMA lodge. Taxidermy service will be provided for the two winners. Proceeds go to benefit wildlife conservation and research on Mason Mountain WMA.
• Texas Big Time Bird Hunt — One winner along with as many as three hunting buddies will enjoy a unique package of upland game bird hunts: two days of quail, two days of pheasant hunting in the Panhandle and two afternoons of dove hunting. There will also be a two-day guided spring turkey hunt for two included in the package. Food, guide service and lodging are included on all bird hunts, and pointing dogs are provided for quail and pheasant hunts.
• Texas Premium Buck Hunt — This is the ultimate deer hunting experience-an opportunity to harvest a trophy white-tailed buck in the rugged South Texas brush country. One winner and a guest will enjoy the finest deer hunting trip that Texas can offer. Professional guide service, food and high quality accommodations are included to provide each hunter comfort as well as great hunting.

The deadline to apply for this year’s Big Time Texas Hunts is Oct. 15. Winners will be announced in November.

• Saturday, September 26 – Fall Festival, Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, Minnesota. Enjoy educational programs and family activities. Photo contest winners will be displayed. 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. For more information: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/tamarac or 218-847-2641.
• Friday, October 2 – Islands & Rivers of Life: A photo exhibit in Celebration of a Century of Conserving Alaska’s Wildlife & Wild Lands, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. 7:00 p.m., Wendy Williamson Auditorium, Anchorage. For more information: http://alaskamaritime.fws.gov or 907-226-4606.
• Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11 – Birdfest and Bluegrass Festival, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington. Enjoy owl walks, sandhill crane sunrise tours, kayak tours plus indoor and outdoor music jamming sessions. For more information: http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ridgefield or 360-887-3883.
• Sunday, October 11 – “Big Sit,” Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, Texas. Mark off a 17-foot diameter circle, sit down and identify all the birds you see or hear during a 24-hour (or less) period. The event is at the Champion Lake pier, 7:00 a.m. to sunset. For more information: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/trinityriver or 936-336-9786.
• Sunday, October 11 – “Big Sit,” Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, Indiana. For more information: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/muscatatuck or 812-522-4352
• Sunday, October 11 – “Big Sit,” Red River Red River National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana. For more information: http://www.fws.gov/northlouisiana/redriver or 318-742-1219
• Saturday, October 17 – Annual Fall Celebration, Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana. Enjoy family activities and free fried fish dinners. For more information: http://www.fws.gov/northlouisiana/blackbayoulake or 318-387-1114.
• Saturday, October 17 – Annual Wild Things Festival, Southeast Louisiana Refuges, Lacombe. Attend a festival showcasing eight National Wildlife Refuges. The festival features speakers, live animals, wildlife crafts, live entertainment, gardens and grounds tours. Children’s highlights include the Youth Wildlife Art Show, orienteering, decoy painting and nature crafts. Wild Things also features canoe and pontoon boat tours of Bayou Lacombe. For more information: http://www.fws.gov/southeastlouisiana or contact Byron Fortier at 985-882-2025.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

Saltwater recreational anglers took an estimated 85 million fishing trips in 2008, down slightly from the 93 million trips estimated in 2007. Saltwater anglers caught an estimated 464 million fish in 2008, down slightly from the 475 million caught in 2007. That the decreases were moderate reflects stability in saltwater angling.

“Saltwater recreational fishing is one of the most popular outdoor sports in America, and those who take part in it bring economic vitality to coastal towns and cities,” said NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco, who remembers her first experiences saltwater fishing for salmon with her father aboard a charter boat off the Oregon coast. Saltwater angling generates an estimated $82 million in sales and supports more than 500,000 jobs annually, according to the most recent figures available to NOAA.

“Last year we had gas prices around $4 a gallon and people did not go fishing as they had in 2007,” said Captain Scott Lindsey, a recreational fisherman and outdoor writer based in Panama City, Fla. “All in all, I believe the quality of the fish this year is better and the size of the fish we’re catching is larger than we have seen in many a year. Is it cyclical or management? We’ll have to wait and see.”

Frank Blount, owner of the Frances Fleet of party boats in Point Judith, R.I. and a member of the New England Fishery Management Council, also saw a decline in fishing business in 2008 that he estimates around 20 percent. “Surprisingly enough, we’ve had a very good early spring this year. I’m especially seeing a lot of our regular customers from the Northeast states. I think it’s due to good availability of many fish we pursue.”

“Saltwater anglers have their eyes on the water and a vested interest in sustaining fishing opportunities for their children and grandchildren,” Lubchenco added. “They are natural champions for ocean stewardship.” Saltwater anglers demonstrated their conservation ethic by catching and releasing back into the water some 58 percent of the 2008 catch, slightly up from the 57 percent in 2007, today’s report said.

NOAA’s report also tallied the top catches by region.

Spotted seatrout was the most popular catch among marine recreational anglers in 2008. The species is caught in the Gulf of Mexico and the south Atlantic regions, which have the highest combined concentration of saltwater anglers in the nation. The top catches in other regions were grouper (Caribbean), striped bass (North Atlantic), summer flounder (Mid-Atlantic), chub mackerel (Pacific), black rockfish (Pacific Northwest), skipjack tuna (Western Pacific).

The reported catch and effort statistics are compiled by NOAA’s Fisheries Service from face-to-face and telephone interviews with recreational fishermen. Currently, NOAA is working with the coastal states and those in the saltwater angling community to redesign the agency’s surveys to provide a more complete picture of saltwater anglers’ catch and effort and improve the conservation of our shared ocean resources.

The data released today on recreational fishing is part of Fisheries of the United States, a detailed annual report on the nation’s commercial and recreational fishing, landings, export, per capita fish consumption and consumer expenditures for fish products. The report will be available online and can be read at http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/index.html.

NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit http://www.noaa.gov.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s “Take Me Fishing 101″ 11-part video series will help get you from the sporting goods store to the water to landing your first big catch in no time. The series provides beginning anglers will all the necessary information to start fishing.

As TPWD Aquatic Education Coordinator Ann Miller notes at the beginning of segment 3, “The fishing department at a sporting goods store can be a little overwhelming.”

And, asking questions of even the friendliest of shop clerks can be a little intimidating for those new to the sport. However, through the course of three short segments, ’Basic Gear Assembly,’ ’Tackle Box and Supplies,’ and ’Bait and Lures,’ Miller and TPW Outdoor Education Program staffer Steve Campbell guide new fishermen through the maze of available tackle, equipment and bait.

Starting with ’Basic Gear Assembly’ in segment 3, Miller walks beginners through assembling a multi-piece rod, threading line through eyelets, tying a Palomar knot and attaching a bobber and sinker. She also explains the purpose and function of each piece of gear.

Segment 4, ’Tackle Box and Supplies,’ provides anglers with an extensive, yet necessary list of tackle and equipment. Miller covers the presence of obvious items such as hooks and lures in a tackle box but also details other often overlooked necessities such as pliers, clippers, first aid kit and TPWD’s Outdoor Annual. Other items, like bug spray, sun protection and hand sanitizer are shown being packed into a small bag, giving new fishermen a practical means to carry all the gear needed to have an enjoyable and productive day on the water.

Campbell takes the lead in segment 5, ’Bait and Lures,’ and navigates new anglers through the dizzying array of lures and baits available in tackle shops. He lists a number of natural baits such as worms, minnows and crawfish, as well as some unconventional, yet effective baits such as corn and hot dogs. He also offers advice for how to keep bait fresh and how to get whatever bait you may use on a hook.

All of this information will come in handy for TPWD’s year-round “Free Fishing in State Parks” program.  TPWD has waived the normal fishing license and stamp requirements for anyone fishing inside the property boundary of a state park.  Access banks, piers, rivers or creeks by land or from a boat for only the cost of the park entrance fee.  Some parks will even provide free loaner equipment and bait.

TPWD’s “Take Me Fishing 101″ video series was made possible by federal Sportfish Restoration Act funds and a donation from Toyota and the Texas Bass Classic Foundation. The entire series is available online at the TPWD Web site and on TPWD’s official YouTube channel.

“Without human intervention to capture and move these fish, we would have seen a high mortality rate,” said Joe Johnson, DFG fishery manager. “The radio transmitters we implanted will enable us to track where the salmon go and determine what the results ultimately are for this type of rescue.”

The water in the Butte Creek pool where the fish were stranded is significantly warmer than the rest of the river, creating a “thermal block” that causes the migrating salmon to dive to the bottom in search of cooler waters. As long as the water remains warm, the fish will not move forward. This particular spot on the river has been a “trouble spot” for spring run salmon in previous years and have resulted in other successful rescue and transport operations.

DFG fisheries staff and NOAA biologists solved the problem June 30 by transporting the fish up river for release, thus moving them around the warm water thermal block. Seine nets were initially used to capture the stranded salmon; biologists then used dip nets to move them to a net pen. The fish were transferred up a steep bank manually by a line of workers, and then loaded into a hatchery truck for transport and release.

DFG, NOAA and UC Davis staff also implanted all 26 of the rescued salmon with tracking devices. The trackers will enable biologists to monitor how rescued fish behave after being rescued and if they contribute to the overall salmon population.

Since 1999, Butte Creek’s spring run Chinook salmon have been listed as a threatened species. More than $35 million has been spent by state, federal and private parties on restoration and recovery efforts on the watershed.  Over the past decade, changes in habitat and water management have helped the population rebound somewhat, but Central Valley salmon populations can still vary significantly from year to year. Over the past ten years, the run has averaged 6,000 fish, but today, surveys indicate a much lower salmon return. 

Because of the low number of returning Sacramento fall run Chinook salmon, all ocean salmon seasons and the majority of inland salmon seasons, including Butte Creek, are closed.

• The estimated mallard population is 8.5 million birds, a 10 percent increase over last year’s estimate of 7.7 million birds and 13 percent above the long-term average.
• The estimated population of 3.1 million gadwall is similar to last year’s estimate and 73 percent above the long-term average.
• At 7.4 million, the estimated population size of blue-winged teal is the second highest on record, while green-winged teal numbers were at an all-time high of 3.4 million. Estimates for both species are well above their long-term averages (60 percent and 79 percent, respectively).
• The 3.2 million estimate for northern pintails is 23 percent more than last year but 20 percent below the long-term average.
• The estimated number of one million redheads is similar to last year and is 62 percent above the long-term average.
• The canvasback estimate of 662,000 is 35 percent more than last year’s estimate and similar to the long-term average.
• The estimated abundance of northern shovelers (4.4 million) is 25 percent more than last year and 92 percent above the long-term average.
• The scaup (lesser and greater combined), estimate of 4.2 million, is 12 percent greater than last year but 18 percent below the long-term average.   

Population estimates for American black ducks, ring-necked ducks, American wigeon, bufflehead, goldeneyes, and mergansers surveyed in eastern North America are similar to last year as well as their 1990-2008 averages.
 
This preliminary report does not include estimates from surveys conducted by State or Provincial agencies. The entire Trends in Duck Breeding Populations, 1955-2009 report can be downloaded from the Service’s Web site at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/.
 
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.