Highlighting Illinois DNR Programs and Upcoming Events for the Month of November

Deer Permit Application Deadline: The last day to apply for 2008 firearm and muzzleloader-only season deer permits is Fri., Nov. 7.  Hunters may apply online through DNR Direct (link through the DNR Direct button on the IDNR home page at http://dnr.state.il.us).  Permit application forms are also available on the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/admin/systems/. The Illinois Firearm Deer Season is Nov. 21-23 and Dec. 4-7.  The Illinois Muzzleloader-only Deer Season is Dec. 12-14 (and the second firearm weekend of Dec. 4-7).

Late-Winter Deer Season: The deadline to apply for permits for the 2009 Illinois Late-Winter Firearm Antlerless-Only Deer Season is Fri., Nov. 14.  The Late-Winter season is scheduled for Jan. 16-18, 2009.  Counties that will be open for the Late-Winter season are: Adams, Bond, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Knox, LaSalle, Lawrence, Lee, Logan, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Massac, McDonough, McLean, Menard, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Perry, Pike, Putnam, Randolph, Richland, Rock Island, Saline, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Stark, St. Clair, Stephenson, Tazewell, Union, Vermilion, Wabash, Warren, Washington, Wayne, White, Whiteside, Williamson, and Woodford.  Hunters may apply for a permit online through DNR Direct at http://dnr.state.il.us or print out a copy of the permit application at http://dnr.state.il.us/admin/late.htm.

CWD Deer Season: Hunters in Boone, DeKalb, McHenry, and Winnebago counties and that portion of Kane County west of Ill. Rt. 47 can participate in the special Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Deer Season Jan. 16-18, 2009 to help control deer densities and the spread of chronic wasting disease.

Special CWD season antlerless-only permits will be available over-the-counter beginning in mid-December for $5 each at participating DNR Direct license and permit vendors. In addition, hunters with unfilled 2008 firearm, muzzleloader, youth deer hunt, or archery deer permits valid for one of the open counties may use those permits to hunt during the CWD season. Hunters using unfilled permits from the 2008 firearm, muzzleloader, youth, or archery season may take deer appropriate for that permit (antlerless-only or either-sex). Check stations will be manned during the CWD season in the open counties. Successful hunters will be required to bring their deer to a check station prior to 8 p.m. on the day of harvest. Hunters who submit samples for CWD testing will be given an additional permit valid for the remainder of the season. Check station locations for the CWD Deer Season, Jan. 16-18, 2009 are listed below:

• Boone Co. - Boone County Fairgrounds, Rt. 76 and Business Rt. 20, Belvidere
• DeKalb Co. and Kane Co. (west of Ill. Rt. 47) - Shabbona Lake State Park, 4201 Shabbona Grove Rd., Shabbona
• McHenry Co. - McHenry Dam Day Use Area, Moraine Hills State Park, east of McHenry on River Road, 2.2 miles south of Route 120
• Winnebago Co. - Rock Cut State Park, 6425 Hart Road (one mile east of Perryville Rd. on Hart Rd.), Loves Park

Deer Pins:  Hunters successful in taking a deer during the 2008-09 deer seasons in Illinois can pick up a free deer pin at one of the hundreds of IDNR license and permit vendor locations throughout the state.  For deer pin locations, check the IDNR web site at the following link:  http://dnr.state.il.us/admin/harvest.htm.  Deer pins are also available during regular business hours at the IDNR Headquarters in Springfield, the IDNR Regional offices in Sterling, Bartlett, Clinton, Alton and Benton, and the IDNR Chicago office.   

Upland Prospects: For information on prospects for the 2008-09 pheasant, quail and rabbit seasons in Illinois, check the IDNR web site for the annual hunting prospects reports prepared by the IDNR Division of Wildlife Program Development.  The link to the reports is available through the IDNR home page at http://dnr.state.il.us.  Click on the Hunting and Upland/Small Game links.

Spring Turkey First Lottery:  Resident hunters may now apply for the first lottery for 2009 Illinois Spring Wild Turkey Season permits online through DNR Direct.  Just go to the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us and click on the Hunting and Turkey Hunting links.  The application deadline for the first lottery for 2009 resident spring turkey permits is Dec. 1, 2008.

OutdoorIllinois:  Illinois’ first state park, Fort Massac State Park in Massac County, was dedicated 100 years ago this month, and is the subject of the cover and a feature article in the November 2008 issue of OutdoorIllinois. Other stories include the work of Conservation Police Officers during deer season, deer hunting, leaf litter, youth goose hunting, tracking waterfowl by radar and the red-headed woodpecker.  For a summary of feature magazine articles, listen in on monthly podcasts at www.dnr.state.il.us/OI.

OutdoorIllinois is a great tool for learning about Illinois’ natural, cultural and recreational resources and a bargain at only $15 for a one-year, 12-issue magazine subscription that includes an information-packed annual calendar in the December issue. Visit www.dnr.state.il.us/OI or call 1-800-720-3249 to subscribe. VISA and MasterCard are accepted. For information on advertising in OutdoorIllinois, call 217/785-8610 or e-mail michelle [dot] silver [at] illinois [dot] gov.

Landowner Honors:  The IDNR Division of Wildlife Resources has honored four landowners as 2008 recipients of the Illinois Landowner of the Year award for their efforts to restore and develop wildlife habitat on their private properties. The program is one of the ways the IDNR recognizes some of the great efforts of private property owners who do extraordinary work in developing their property for wildlife. The property owners recognized this year participate in the Acres for Wildlife program and have developed properties that showcase how land can be managed for the benefit of wildlife.  The award winners are:

• Dr. Bob Benningfield, property in Knox County, recognized by District Wildlife Biologist (DWB) Kevin Oller
• Ron and Donna Scudder, property in Champaign County, recognized by DWB Dan Newhouse
• Norman and Anita Dicks, property in Adams County, recognized by DWB Brad Poulter
• Tom and Roxie Blasdel, property in Wayne County, recognized by DWB Steve Kern

Utilizing a variety of conservation programs including the IDNR Acres for Wildlife, USDA Conservation Reserve Program, and assistance from private not-for-profit conservation organizations, these landowners have seen tremendous wildlife response to their efforts. Warm and cool season grassland development, construction of wetlands, bottomland hardwood plantings, exotic species control, and prescribed burning are examples of various habitat practices employed.  For more information on habitat enhancement for wildlife in Illinois, contact the IDNR Division of Wildlife Resources at 217/782-6384.

ICF Youth Scholarship Program Nomination Deadline Dec. 1: The Illinois Conservation Foundation Youth Achievement Scholarship program nomination deadline is Dec. 1. Ten high school juniors or seniors - one female and one male from each of the five IDNR regions in Illinois - will be selected. Students who have made significant contributions or exhibited unparalleled dedication in preserving, promoting, enhancing or supporting natural resources conservation in Illinois are eligible. Each student selected will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Applicants must be Illinois residents, a member of the high school class of 2009 or 2010, and must be nominated by a natural resource constituency group, community leader, school administrator, teacher or adult mentor. Those selected will be presented with the scholarships at the annual Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet on Feb. 28, 2009 at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles. The scholarship program is supported through funds raised at the banquet. For more information, call 217/785-2003.

Nomination forms are available through the ICF web site at www.ilcf.org.

Historic Harvest:  The Illinois State Museum in Springfield hosts “Historic Harvest,” a museum Super Saturdays program for youngsters, on Sat., Nov. 8 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.  As Thanksgiving draws near, learn how the first farmers of Illinois harvested their crops without trucks, tractors, or other modern machines.  The program is free and open to the public.  It is especially recommended for children ages 4-8.  For more information, contact the Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., Springfield at 217/782-6044.

Collector’s Day:  The Illinois State Museum’s popular “Collector’s Day” is scheduled for Sat., Nov. 15 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.  Many of the finest pieces of the museum’s collections were donated by people with a passion for collecting. During this special event, meet local collectors who will display their unique collections, from typewriters to music boxes to antique pins to cameras to cartoon memorabilia. New this year:  A conservator will be on hand to answer questions about caring for collections.  No buying, selling, or appraisals will be allowed.  For more information, call 217/782-5993.  The ISM Collector’s Day is free and open to the public at 502 S. Spring St., Springfield.

Native Americans in Central Illinois:  The Illinois State Museum presents an archaeology lecture on “Oneota and Mississippian Cultural Traditions in the Central Illinois River Valley” on Wed., Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at the ISM Research and Collections Center, 1011 E. Ash, Springfield.  Sometime in the late 1200s, the Oneota migrated into the region near Dickson Mounds in the Illinois River valley. In 2008, Michigan State University and the Dickson Mounds Museum staff began excavations at a nearby early Oneota site in order to learn more about this migration and the interactions between the Oneota and Mississippian groups.  Learn more about their findings at the program on Nov. 12.  For more information, phone 217/782-0061.

Great Gift:  Need 12 gift ideas for that special outdoorsman or outdoorswoman? How about a one-year gift subscription to OutdoorIllinois magazine? For just $15, friends and family members will receive 12 full-color issues of OutdoorIllinois, packed with state park features, how-to outdoors tips, hunting and fishing tales, IDNR news updates, and plenty more. It=s easy to subscribe: In Illinois, order toll-free at 1-800-720-3249 or online at www.dnr.state.il/oi.

Invasive Plant Posters:  New Illinois Invasive Plant publications are available from the University of Illinois, Illinois Natural History Survey, USDA-APHIS-PPQ, and the River to River Cooperative Weed Management Area. There are five posters in the collection. The large poster is 17″ by 38″ highlighting the four major habitats of Illinois (grassland, woodland, wetland, agriculture) and the top four invasive plants in those habitats. In addition, there are four smaller (8.5″ by 11″) posters corresponding to the four habitats on the large poster. Each small poster showcases 8 to 12 plants with a photo and distribution in Illinois on the front and information on identification and why the plant is considered invasive on the back. The posters are free of charge. 

Contact Dawn Refsell at drefsell [at] illinois [dot] edu with your name, shipping address and the quantity and titles you are requesting.

Arbor Day Poster Contest:  The annual Arbor Day Poster Contest instruction and curriculum packet was recently mailed to Illinois schools with fifth-grade classes. Additional copies are available from the IDNR through the online ordering system at http://www.idnrteachkids.com. The deadline for the Illinois poster contest is February 20, 2009.  For more information, phone 217/785-8771.

Junior Duck Stamp - New Format:  The 2009 Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest rules, information and entry form are now available. To download a copy, go to the following web address:  http://www.fws.gov/juniorduck/ArtContest.htm. Teachers should note that the brochure was not printed for 2009 and they will not receive one by mail. Get started with this program now to ensure there is plenty of time for students to complete the artwork. Entries must be received by March 15, 2009. The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest is a program for students of grades K-12 that uses the fine arts to teach about waterfowl, wetlands and wildlife conservation. Illinois co-sponsors are the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the IDNR.  For more information, email dnr [dot] teachkids [at] illinois [dot] gov or call 217/524-4126.

Attention Teachers:  Illinois DNR Urban Fishing Program coordinators will come to your school and conduct programs aimed at getting kids interested in fishing and the outdoors, while promoting environmental stewardship. One part of the program involves actually taking kids fishing during May and September, if a nearby lake is accessible. Teachers may continue the program on their own after the initial session, with the assistance of IDNR personnel. Contact the Urban Fishing Program Coordinator in your area. The urban fishing program is appropriate for any grade level.
Chicago: Brenda McKinney at 847/294‑4137
Chicago Suburbs: IDNR Staff at 847/294‑4137
Northwest Illinois: IDNR Staff at 815/625‑2968
Central Illinois: Herb Dreier at 217/782‑6424
Southern Illinois: Mark Yehling at 618/462‑1181

OI Calendar:  The 2009 IDNR wall calendar, produced in conjunction with OutdoorIllinois magazine, once again will be available in the December issue of OI. The traditional favorite among readers measures 17 by 11 inches and includes seasonal photography from Illinois’ great outdoors by OI photographer Adele Hodde. The calendar grids feature information on fishing and hunting seasons, activities in state parks, reminders about license/permit/grant application deadlines and much more. Each month features a text-free image you’ll be tempted to save even after the calendar becomes history. Included in the 2009 lineup:

• JANUARY: white-fronted geese and Canada geese take flight at Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area
• FEBRUARY: federally endangered trumpeter swans at Pyramid State Park.
• MARCH: a juvenile great-horned owl near Springfield
• APRIL: wild geraniums at Mississippi Palisades State Park
• MAY: a thirteen-lined ground squirrel at Chain O’Lakes State Park
• JUNE: browsing whitetails in east-central Illinois
• JULY: Halloween pennant dragonfly at Pyramid State Park
• AUGUST: water snakes at Sanganois Conservation Area
• SEPTEMBER: autumn colors amid cliffs at Ferne Clyffe State Park
• OCTOBER: a whitetail hoofing it in central Illinois
• NOVEMBER: ice-covered fungi at Giant City State Park
• DECEMBER: a Virginia opossum takes a snowy stroll at Beaver Dam State Park

Single copies of the December issue are $3 and will be available after December 1 at the License and Permit counter at the IDNR Springfield headquarters, at various Illinois booksellers and selected IDNR sites. Interested persons also may call 217/785-0975 or send a check or money order payable to OutdoorIllinois to:  Illinois Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 19225 Dept. NL, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271. An even better value, especially as a gift for that outdoor enthusiast on your gift-giving list, is an annual subscription to OutdoorIllinois for $15 for a one-year (12 issues) subscription. Call 1-800-720-3249 or visit www.dnr.state.il.us/OI to subscribe. VISA and MasterCard are accepted. OutdoorIllinois is an indispensable guide to Illinois’ natural, cultural and recreational resources.

Oil and Gas Board Meeting:  The next meeting of the Illinois Oil and Gas Advisory Board will be held on Wed., Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. at the Illinois Oil and Gas Association building located at 824 East Highway 15 in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. The meeting is open to the public. For more information, call 217/782-7756.

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Big Time Texas Hunts Winners Announced

AUSTIN, Texas — Seventeen lucky sportsmen are making special plans for hunting season as winners of this year’s Big Time Texas Hunts. The hunters were selected by random computer drawing from applicants in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program.

All told, hunters bought 79,327 Big Time Texas Hunt entries during this year’s sales period through the Oct. 15 deadline. This generated $776,229 in gross revenue to support wildlife research, habitat management and public hunting.

Stephen Bauer has been entering the Big Time Texas Hunts for years as a way to support TPWD youth hunting and public hunting efforts. Bauer, who owns and operates two feed stores in the Kerrville area, said he puts in for every hunt category and that support paid dividends as he was drawn as this year’s Big Time Bird Hunt package winner.

“I’m very excited about it,” said Bauer. “This will give me an opportunity to hunt some bird species I haven’t hunted before.”

Bauer, along with as many as three of his 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.

The winner of this year’s Big Time Texas Hunts crown jewel, the Texas Grand Slam hunt package — which includes four separate guided hunts for Texas’ most prized big game animals; desert bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope and mule deer — will be facing a significant logistical challenge. The winner, Matt Portch, lives in Hopewell Junction, New York.

“Luckily I have a lot of frequent flyer miles,” said Portch, who works for a pharmaceutical company in Manhattan. “I lived in Texas for 10 years and have been entering the Big Time Texas Hunts since the first year of the program. I always applied with the hope, but never the intention of winning, so it was a marvelous surprise.”

Portch admits trying to coordinate four major hunting trips to Texas on the calendar is going to be a big challenge. “But, I will make it happen, it’s too important,” he said. “I have not done any hunting in New York, but have been looking for reasons to come back to Texas. Now I have four reasons!”

Following are the winners of this year’s Big Time Texas Hunts.

• Grand Slam — Matt Portch, Hopewell Junction, NY
• Premium Buck Hunt — Leon Pavlock, Guy, TX
• Exotic Safari — James Cavness, Sanger, TX; Joshua Bellman, North Richland Hills, TX
• Whitetail Bonanza — John Knotts, Streetman, TX; Kevin Harris, El Campo, TX; Dixon Presnall, Aledo, TX; Patrick Mitchell, Pine Bluff, AR; Clarence Davis, Groveton, TX; Matthew Zaiontz, San Antonio; Roddy Wade, Dallas; Neil Reichenback, Carrollton, TX; Thomas Patrick, Houston; Kenny Ferguson, Ackerly, TX.
• Big Time Bird Hunt — Stephen Bauer, Harper, TX
• Waterfowl Adventure — John Noland, Houston
• Gator Hunt — Mark Garrison, Houston

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Small Game Seasons in Maryland Provide Ample Hunting Opportunities

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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Pennsylvania Game Commission Announces Fall Pheasant Stocking Plans

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Game Commission has slated 100,170 ring-necked pheasants for release on public lands throughout the Commonwealth for the upcoming small game hunting seasons, including 17,980 birds for the youth only season (Oct. 11-18).   

“Based on agency’s budget cuts first implemented in the 2004-05 fiscal year and carried forward since, we reduced our pheasant propagation program by 50 percent,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director.  “Reducing the pheasant propagation program has saved the agency more than one million dollars.  Without a hunting license fee increase, we expect to continue producing at the 100,000-bird level. 

“Despite the overall reductions, this year our game farm staff had an excellent production season.   They have worked hard with limited resources to achieve the goal to have 100,000-birds available for stocking this fall.” 

The region staff will begin the stocking season Oct. 9, when the agency will release 15,090 birds (8,640 males and 6,450 females) for the youth pheasant hunt scheduled for Oct 11-18.  A listing of stocking locations for the youth hunt can be found on pages 26-28 of the 2008-08 Pennsylvania Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations, which is provided to each license buyer. Another 1,890 pheasants have been allocated for those clubs sponsoring mentored pheasant hunts for youth on Oct. 11.

Opening day of the general pheasant hunting season is Oct. 25, and closes on Nov. 29.  Preseason releases will consist of 50 percent of the fall allocation, and will be stocked in each region beginning Oct. 22, followed by the first in-season stocking consisting of 25 percent beginning Oct. 29.  The second in-season stocking will be held the week of Nov. 5, consisting of another 25 percent.  Only male pheasants are legal game in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 2A, 2B, 2C, 4C, 4E, 5A and 5B.  Male and female pheasants are legal game in all other WMUs.

During the regular fall season, the agency focuses pheasant stocking on State Game Lands and select state parks and federal lands.  However, in some areas where habitat conditions on public lands are marginal, birds may be stocked on properties enrolled in the Game Commission public access program. Game Commission regional offices have an updated publication titled A Guide To Pheasant Releases And More, which identifies State Game Lands, and those state parks and federal lands with suitable habitat that receive pheasant stockings.  The publication, posted on the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), can be viewed by selecting on “Hunting” in the left-hand column, clicking on the photograph of the pheasant and then choosing “Pheasant Management Program.”

A regional breakdown for the regular season stocking is as follows:  Northwest Region, 7,600 males and 11,400 females; Southwest Region, 19,260 males and 5,440 females; Northcentral Region, 4,950 males and 5,650 females; Southcentral Region, 7,980 males and 6,790 females; Northeast Region, 7,530 males and 5,370 females; and Southeast Region 13,430 males and 4,770 females.  Regional allocations are based on the amount of suitable pheasant habitat open to public hunting and pheasant hunting pressure.

To offer hunters better information about the stocking schedule, the Game Commission has posted on its website charts for each of its six regions outlining the number of birds to be stocked in each county, the public properties slated to be stocked and a two- to three-day window in which stockings will take place within the counties.  To view the charts, go to the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), select “Hunting” in the left-hand column, clicking on the photograph of the pheasant and then choose “Pheasant Allocation” and click on the map for the county or region of interest.

“As financial considerations have forced us to reduce the number of pheasants we are stocking, it was decided that we should provide hunters with additional information to assist them in deciding when and where to hunt those pheasants stocked,” Roe said.  He reminded hunters that, two years ago, the agency enacted a regulation aimed at improving safety for agency employees and vehicles involved in pheasant stocking. 

“Each year, when Game Commission personnel are releasing pheasants from the stocking trucks, employees and trucks are shot at by unsuspecting hunters in the field.  To prevent this, the agency approved a regulation that prohibits hunters from discharging a firearm within 150 yards of a Game Commission vehicle releasing pheasants.  As we provide better information about when and where stockings will be conducted, we remind hunters that they have an obligation to ensure that no stocking trucks or personnel are in the vicinity.”

This year, the late season is scheduled for Dec. 10-23 and Dec. 26-Feb. 7, for Wildlife Management Units 1A, 1B, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4D, 5C and 5D.  Male and female pheasants are legal game in these WMUs.  All other WMUs are closed during these dates. 

“We are holding these birds to be released as close as possible to the holiday season so youth can take advantage of going afield during their school break and some business close down for the holidays as well,” Roe said.

For details on the pheasant seasons, please see pages 25-28 of the 2008-09 Digest.  For more information about the 26 clubs who sponsored junior pheasant hunts, go to the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), select on “Hunting” in the left-hand column, then click on the photograph of the pheasant and then choose “Junior Pheasant Hunt Listings.” 

To augment the Game Commission’s pheasant stocking program, Roe noted that each January sportsmen’s clubs are invited to enroll in the agency’s “Pheasant Chick Program.” As part of the program, clubs are required to erect appropriate facilities, purchase feed and cover other expenses, and then they can receive pheasant chicks to raise and release for hunting and dog training purposes on lands open to public hunting in their local community. 

“This is a wonderful opportunity for sportsmen to get kids involved in raising pheasants and to learn more about wildlife and habitat requirements,” Roe said.  “Kids can be involved in raising the birds, assist in developing habitat in their community, and help release the pheasants into the wild.  Our game farm superintendents can assist sportsmen’s clubs by providing technical advice and training to get a facility started.

“We are striving to live within our current revenues.  Now, more than ever, we need sportsmen’s clubs to help us in many aspects, including raising pheasants.”

Also, Richard Palmer, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Protection director, reminded hunters that an executive order remains in effect that bans dog training on State Game Lands from the Monday prior to the start of the youth pheasant season until the close of the youth pheasant season, which, for this coming season, translates to Oct. 6-18. The order does not, in any manner, prohibit dog handlers from using dogs as part of a junior-only pheasant hunt activity or for dog training activities on any lands other than State Game Lands.  He also noted that this order does not impact dog training activities statewide during the remainder of the year, including general small game seasons.

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Pheasant Season Opens October 1 in New Hampshire

CONCORD, N.H. - A long-standing fall tradition in New Hampshire, the hunting season for pheasant gets underway on October 1.  Around the state, hunters will be afield in pursuit of the flashy, ring-necked upland game birds.  This year, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department will release 13,500 pheasants, purchased exclusively with revenues from the sale of pheasant licenses, at 73 stocking sites in 51 towns.  

“Most of the pheasant release sites are on private lands, stocked with landowner permission and available to sportsmen only because of their cooperation,” said Fish and Game Pheasant Project Leader Karen Bordeau.   “Please respect the property of these landowners, who make our pheasant-hunting tradition possible, by following all safety guidelines and by hunting courteously. Take the time to thank them for their generosity.”

The birds will be distributed over four stockings at all sites in 2008; stocking will be completed by October 18.  In-season stockings will be done on Thursdays and Fridays to maximize weekend hunting opportunities.

The list of towns to be stocked (including road names) can be seen on the Fish and Game website at www.HuntNH.com/Hunting/Hunt_species/hunt_pheasant.htm; printed lists are also available at Fish and Game headquarters and regional offices. 

The pheasant season runs from October 1 to December 31, with a daily limit of 2 birds and a season limit of 10.  Pheasant hunters must purchase a $16 pheasant license, in addition to the regular New Hampshire hunting license.  Non-residents may hunt with a pheasant license and either a non-resident NH hunting license or a non-resident NH small game license.  Hunting licenses can be purchased at www.HuntNH.com or from any Fish and Game license agent.

Fish and Game asks hunters to refrain from training dogs at release sites during the three days prior to October 1.  Dog training flushes pheasants from the release sites, often onto posted property or other areas not suitable for hunting.  

Pheasant hunters are urged to follow these basic safety guidelines:

Wear hunter orange on your head, back and chest.

Control your firearm muzzle at all times.

Always wear safety glasses.

Know where your hunting partners are at all times.

Shoot only within your zone of fire.

Be sure of your target and what is beyond.

Always keep your hunting dog under control.

For more information on hunting in New Hampshire, including online license and permit sales, visit www.HuntNH.com/Hunting/Hunting.htm.

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Grants Totaling $ 1.509 Million to Fund Improvements to Wildlife Habitat in California’s Central Valley

Two grants totaling more than $1.5 million will help fund two wildlife habitat restoration and conservation projects in California, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced Monday (Sept. 15). Funded under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), these two projects will help protect, restore and enhance more than 8,600 acres of wetlands, riparian and associated habitat in the Central Valley. Partners in these projects will contribute an additional $2.895 million in non-federal matching funds to help support these conservation effects.

A grant of $1,000,000 to Ducks Unlimited will support Phase 2 of a multi-phase initiative to conserve wetlands and associated habitats in the northern Tulare and San Joaquin basins of California?s Central Valley in Fresno and Merced Counties. Partners will protect, restore and enhance 5,210 of wetlands, 205 acres of riparian and 1,334 acres of associated wildlife habitats consisting of native grasslands, scrublands and managed upland habitats. Habitat conserved through this grant will benefit waterfowl, shorebirds and other wetland-dependent birds throughout the year.

A second grant of $509,039 to the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service will support the seventh phase of a multi-phase initiative to protect, restore and enhance wetlands and associated uplands within the Grasslands Wildlife Management Area and the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge acquisition boundary. The work will restore and enhance 1,854 acres of wetlands, riparian and wetland associated habitat, which will provide resting and foraging habitat for wintering migratory waterfowl and year-round habitat for other riparian and wetlands dependent birds and wildlife. These lands will provide long-term benefits to wetlands conservation and migratory birds because the lands are protected under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service perpetual conservation easements. The northern San Joaquin Valley–especially the wetlands in Merced and Stanislaus counties–is a critically important wintering area for Pacific Flyway migratory birds, with peak annual numbers of ducks and geese ranging from 800,000 to 1,000,000.

The two grants were awarded under NAWCA?s U.S. Standard Grants Program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Central Valley Joint Venture ( http://www.centralvalleyjointventure.org ). The grants are funded by annual Congressional appropriations; fines, penalties and forfeitures levied under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; interest accrued on funds under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and excise taxes paid on small engine fuels through the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Fund.

The commission includes Senators Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, Representatives John Dingell of Michigan and Wayne Gilchrest of Maryland, Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen L. Johnson, as well as state representatives serving as ex officio members who vote on projects located within their respective states.

More information about NAWCA grant programs and summaries of the projects is available at: http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NAWCA/index.shtm.

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.

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Upland Bird Hunting Clinic in Lamar, Colorado

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) will host an Upland Bird Hunting Clinic at the DOW Office in Lamar on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 1 - 4 p.m.
 
DOW staff will present information about hunting upland game birds in Colorado. Topics will range from the basics for beginners, to tips and techniques for the seasoned hunter, and information about the DOW’s Walk-In Access Programs that opens up private lands to public hunters.  
 
Upland game birds include quail, pheasant, grouse, chukar, dove, and other non-waterfowl birds with the exception of turkey.  While the wild turkey is an upland bird, the tactics and equipment used for hunting turkey are very different than upland bird hunting which is sometimes referred to as wing-shooting.
 
The half-day clinic will focus on pheasant and quail hunting.  Subject matter will include bird identification and biology, how to find a good place to hunt by locating preferred habitat, movement patterns, why weather is important; and tips on shot selection, range estimation, hunting ethics, and more. 
 
The program will be geared toward adults. There is no cost to attend, but participants must register. 
 
The DOW office in Lamar is located at 2500 S. Main, two hours east of Pueblo on Hwy 50.  For more information, or to register, call Linda Groat (719) 336-6608.

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