February 2016 Newsletter - virginiabearhunters.org
Transcription
February 2016 Newsletter - virginiabearhunters.org
www.virginiabearhunters.org Dedicated to the preservation of hunting bear with dogs and to sound wildlife management principles MEETING NOTICE The next membership meeting of the Virginia Bear Hunters Association will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 6, 2016 at the Raphine Volunteer Fire Department. The address is 2130 Raphine Rd, Raphine, VA 24472. Directions from I-81 – Take the VA-606 exit, EXIT#205; turn left onto Raphine Rd, go ½ mile; fire department is on the left. Message from David Steger, President My group had a good bear season, running a few nice bear, but mostly small ones. I’ve heard of some big bear harvested on youth day and that’s a good thing. I hope those of you who were lucky enough to take a larger bear will enter our Big Bear contest and I hope all our youth will send in their tags for a plaque. In the areas I hunt and the check stations I am familiar with, it looks like the harvest will be on par with recent years. As you know many people who opposed the separate bear license said there wouldn’t be enough licenses sold or bear killed. The official harvest data will be available within the next month and we will post that on our website and in our next newsletter. We are anxious to see that data, but we already know that sales of the bear licenses exceeded all expectations. There were 30,780 resident licenses sold and 926 nonresident. That’s a lot of bear hunters, all people who actually hunted for and targeted bear. Those numbers don’t include the sales of Sportsman’s Licenses and Youth Licenses, both of which include the bear license. Wayne Ball, Lacie Hale and I are going later this month to pick up our new mechanical bear. It’s been a long time coming, and we are excited to see the finished product that has silent movement and synchronized sound. We’ve purchased a trailer to transport and store the mechanical bear and the rest of our field trial supplies. Thanks again to Allen Richardson who donated the mounted bear! Come to our Spring Field Trial to see it in action. Your Association needs your help! VBHA elections will be held in October and we need members from all regions to serve on the Nominating Committee. I’ve asked in the last three newsletters, but haven’t heard from anyone willing to work on this Committee. I know there are many members who could add a lot to the cause of this organization, and this would be a good way to get started. We need a good, strong membership! That is very important at a very critical time as we have to continue to work just to keep our right to hunt with hounds. Please keep your membership up-to-date and bring in some new members from your hunting group. As most of you do, we must continue to show landowners our respect and gratitude. As you’ll see in this newsletter, many of our concerns are handled by our elected officials, not DGIF. Please know who your delegate and senator are, find out their views, let them know yours, and most important, exercise your powerful right to vote! VBHA and the entire bear hunting world recently lost two long-time supporters and avid houndsmen. Sadly, Edsel Edwards passed away in December and Albert Clark died in January. These life members will be missed, but will live forever in the memories of the many who knew them. VBHA NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016 PAGE 1 OF 8 2016 Spring Field Trial The VBHA 2016 Spring Field Trial will be held on March 26, 2016 in Botetourt County. The event will start at 10 a.m. and will include fun, competitions, food, and merchandise. The last page of this newsletter is a flyer you can post in your local communities to help us get the word out. Directions and details are on the flyer. Come and enjoy a fun day with fellow bear hunters and see our new mechanical bear in action (literally)! VBHA Big Bear Contest VBHA members are encouraged to enter our 2015-16 Big Bear Contest. A copy of the check tag should be sent to VBHA Secretary Hunter Thrasher along with the member's name, address, and a note that the submission is for the Big Bear Contest. You must have held active membership on the date of the kill and the check tag must show that dogs were used. The winner of the contest will be the member who harvested the biggest bear (by weight). If check tags are received showing both live and dressed weights, we will add 15% to dressed weights in order to compare to live weights submitted. The winner will be announced at the 2nd quarter meeting and will receive a plaque to commemorate their trophy. The Secretary's address is 3826 Narrow Passage Rd, Buchanan, VA 24066 and entries must be postmarked on or before March 31, 2016. VBHA Recognition of Youth Bear Harvests VBHA youth under the age of 16 who harvested a bear during the 2015-16 season will receive a plaque to honor their accomplishment. A copy of the check tag should be sent to VBHA Secretary Hunter Thrasher along with the youth’s name and address, the name of the VBHA member who accompanied the youth, and a note that the submission is for the Youth Recognition (and the Big Bear Contest, if desired). The check tag must indicate that dogs were used in the harvest. Names will be published in our next newsletter and plaques presented at the 2nd quarter meeting. Eligible youth are those who hold a membership, are the son or daughter of a VBHA member, or who were supervised during the hunt by a VBHA member. The Secretary's address is 3826 Narrow Passage Rd, Buchanan, VA 24066 and entries must be postmarked on or before March 31, 2016. 2016 VBHA Scholarship VBHA will offer a $1,000 scholarship to a member or a family member planning to attend college or trade school. As we have done in the past, this scholarship is open both to graduating high school seniors and to anyone who is or will be attending a school of higher learning. Applicants must be VBHA members or the child/grandchild of a VBHA member. Entries will be evaluated based on academic achievement, planned course of study, clubs, sports, community activities, honors and awards, and participation in VBHA events. Applicants must submit an essay of 500 words or less (subject to be announced). The application, rules and contact information will be posted on our website in early March along with deadlines and other necessary information. Susan Steger, Scholarship Chairman 2016 VBHA Election The VBHA Bylaws require elections to be held in even-numbered years and call for a Nominating Committee to produce a slate of officers to be presented to the membership in our 3 rd quarter newsletter. The purpose of the Nominating Committee is to make sure we have at least one candidate for each position, but additional nominations will be taken from the floor at our 3rd quarter meeting. The Nominating Committee chairman will assemble other members (hopefully, from each region) to assist him. We would expect the Committee to first talk to current officers and directors, then to active members who would be willing to step up and help lead our organization for the next 2 years. RIGHT NOW we need someone to volunteer to serve on this Committee. No member of the Nominating Committee may be on the ballot. If you are willing to help your association by serving on the Nominating Committee, please call David Steger at 540-384-6506. VBHA NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016 PAGE 2 OF 8 VBHA Executive Board 2015-16 President David Steger Catawba 540-384-6506 Vice President Richard Sprinkle Buchanan 540-254-2578 Secretary Hunter Thrasher Buchanan 540-598-6169 Treasurer Wayne Ball Raven 276-964-5961 Advisory Director Charles Montgomery Buchanan 540-254-2048 Region 1 Director* Barney Bolter Kenbridge 434-247-9608 Region 2 Director Will Herndon Brookneal 434-610-4895 Region 2 Director Wayne Hensley Bedford 540-586-8242 Region 2 Director Clint Steger Catawba 540-392-2247 Region 3 Director Steve Alley New Castle 540-864-5891 Region 3 Director Henry Bishop Blacksburg 540-230-0190 Region 3 Director Steve Parcell Ripplemead 540-626-3801 Region 4 Director Andrew Gilliam Williamsville 540-925-2438 Region 4 Director Al Heil Culpeper 540-718-7781 Region 4 Director Steve Nicely Clifton Forge 540-862-5110 VBHA Regions *Region 1 also includes out-of-state members. ...From Al Heil, Region 4 Director After the season is before the season. Occasional sightings of hairless bear suffering from mange mites were confirmed for the third year in northwest regions. Having chased a lot of small bear in 2014, many of us were hoping for a great 2015 season with many good size animals. For most parts of northwest Region 4 however, we continued chasing mostly small bear while the larger sized animals were already taken during bow or muzzle loader season or were hibernating because of the lack of food in December. We need to train in cooler seasons, and we need an early kill season. The success rate of hound hunters seemed way below average in western Shenandoah and northern Madison counties while the harvest in Massanutten and southern Madison continued to be good. A number of bear hunters had met with Shenandoah National Park officials in order to solve the problem of bear hunters being fined and ordered to appear in Federal courts because of hounds being off leash in the park. The suggestion was to call the Central Park phone number as soon as we know that a dog had entered the Park, to inform the officials and then retrieve the dog without being fined. While waiting for a final decision we continued to be fined during the season. I was in court again in January – this is no fun. We need the help of our Congressmen – the law for National Parks can only be changed in Washington. An old friend once told me that the streams are getting colder each year and the hills steeper. While I have learned this to be true, I have also learned that a couple of trash bags can keep your feet dry and that good knowledge of territory and landowners are helpful when climbing those hills. For me, the saddest part of getting older is losing more and more two- and four-legged loved-ones and riends. It has been a great comfort though to see that bear hunting with hounds is a sport that both men and hounds are able to enjoy almost to the very end, a sport that grows the number of my lifetime friends with every season. Good hunting! VBHA NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016 PAGE 3 OF 8 2016 VA General Assembly – Legislative Concerns for VBHA The 2016 session of the Virginia General Assembly convened on January 13th and is scheduled to end on March 12th. The VBHA Legislative Committee (Richard Sprinkle, Steve Nicely, Barney Bolter) have been watching for legislation that would impact our sport, and then alerting the other officers and directors as needed. Members are encouraged to contact their own legislators to express your opinions; or you may contact all Committee or Subcommittee members when a bill is published on their agenda. Two bills in particular should be of interest to VBHA members. HB 1329 Trespass by hunters using dogs; penalty. Punishes as a Class 3 misdemeanor the intentional release by a person of hunting dogs on the lands of another to hunt without the consent of the landowner. The bill punishes a second or subsequent offense committed within three years as a Class 1 misdemeanor and provides for the revocation of the person's hunting license for a period of one year upon conviction. This bill was introduced by Del Matthew Fariss and was referred to the House Agriculture Committee; then to the Natural Resources Subcommittee which approved the bill 6 to 1. The bill now moves back to the House Ag Committee, and was not on a published agenda at the time of this newsletter going to press. It could be addressed by the Ag Committee as early as Wednesday, February 10th. If approved, it will be voted on the entire House of Delegates. HB 262 Wildlife; manufacture and sale of products made from parts. Authorizes the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries to adopt regulations that allow a licensed hunter or trapper to manufacture and sell products made from wildlife that he has legally harvested, except when the manufacturing or sale of such products is detrimental to public health or sound wildlife management. This bill was introduced by Del Scott Lingamfelter and was referred to the House Agriculture Committee; then to the Natural Resources Subcommittee which approved the bill with amendments and passed it back to the Ag Committee. The House Ag Committee approved the amended bill 29 to 0. The bill will now be heard by the entire House. The language of the amended bill is: Adopt regulations that allow any person who holds a valid license to hunt or trap to manufacture and sell products made from wildlife that he has lawfully taken, except where the Board determines that such manufacture or sale is detrimental to public health or sound wildlife management. If you have access to the internet, the VDGIF legislation page shows all bills that would have an impact on their mission, so that is a good place to find other bills that you as a hunter want to investigate. Go to http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/legislation/ Click on the column, Latest Information – Summary and Status for the bill you want to research. VBHA NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016 PAGE 4 OF 8 Local Collaborative Receives Prestigious Forest Service Award The USDA Forest Service presented the George Washington National Forest Stakeholder Collaborative, a partnership of 19 local organizations and other individuals, with the 2015 Partners and Community Engagement award for their efforts on the George Washington National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Plan) and Lower Cowpasture Restoration and Management Project. This regional award honors one partner group selected from among 17 National Forests in 13 southern states. The award recipients were recognized for their innovative and creative approaches to building partnerships and implementing Forest Service projects. The award recipients represent: The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; Society of American Foresters; Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition; Virginia Wilderness Committee; The Nature Conservancy; Shenandoah Mountain Touring; Bath County Board of Supervisors; Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited; The Nature Conservancy; Virginia Forestry Association; Quality Deer Management Association - Rockingham Branch; Southern Environmental Law Center; Virginia Wilderness Committee; Friends of Shenandoah Mountain; Virginia Chapter Sierra Club; Virginia State Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation; Alleghany County Board of Supervisors; Virginia Bear Hunters Association; and Virginia State Leadership Team, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. This diverse group of stakeholders united in 2010 with the goal of developing recommendations for the management of the George Washington National Forest. The Collaborative built trust among diverse interests and found common goals. Through open dialog and use of resources such as the University of Virginia’s Institute for Environmental Negotiation, representatives from the participating organizations built consensus around a suite of issues that have traditionally been contentious and polarizing. The Stakeholder Collaborative continued their work with the Forest Service through collaboration on the 117,000-acre Lower Cowpasture Restoration and Management Project. This project was the Forests’ first-ever large landscape and integrated resource planning effort. The Stakeholder Collaborative participated in public workshops, encouraged public and county engagement, and provided input to identify priority restoration efforts and management activities. Their efforts produced a plan which outlines a roster of restoration and management projects to take place over the next ten years. These proposed projects include timber management, road restoration and management, fish and aquatic organism passage improvements, wildlife habitat management, American Chestnut restoration, non-native invasive species control, recreational trail development, and prescribed fire. VBHA thanks Steve Nicely for representing our organization in these Forest Service projects. His forestry education and knowledge and his ability to work with various points of view made him our perfect representative. We owe him our gratitude for his commitment and the generous donation of his time. As a result of Steve’s work with other stakeholders, VBHA became a charter member of the newly formed Wildlife Habitat Coalition, a group whose goal is to promote management of national forests for improved wildlife habitat. VBHA NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016 PAGE 5 OF 8 2015 Fall Field Trial Our 2015 Fall Field Trial was held on Saturday, October 17th in Nelson County at Carl and Debi Coffey's beautiful Flat Farm. The weather was perfect for both the dogs and hundreds of people who attended. In addition to VBHA merchandise, Creekside Supplies (Doug Zimmerman) and The Dog Box Man (Mike Montgomery) were onsite with their hunting dog supplies. Gracie Huffman, a youth bear hunter, also sold homemade goodies and Aaron's Smokehouse (of Buchanan) provided superb food for the crowd. Debi Coffey won the 50/50, but donated her winnings back to the VBHA. Gracie Huffman donated $50 from her concessions and Mr. Norris Campbell, Sr. donated a beautifully framed picture from the Alleghany Bear Study that we auctioned. We drew the winner of the raffle of a Garmin Astro 320 Bundle that was won by Wayne Ball. Thanks to all who bought chances! A brief 4th quarter membership meeting was held at mid-day. The Youth Bear Bay opened the competitions with 20 young bear hunters participating and each getting a trophy. The adult competition results were: Event 2-Dog Bear Bay (21 entries) 1-Dog Bear Bay (22 entries) Bear Treeing (22 entries) Dash Race - Line Finals (14 entries) Dash Race - Tree Finals (14 entries) TOP DOG (12 contenders)* Place 1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd RATTLER Dog(s) Sally and Rattler Big Boy and Penny Doc and Eli Rattler Lace Eli Reba Daisy Heino Timber Hambone Lucky Eli Daisy Doc Owner Andrew Gilliam Carl Coffey Thomas Huffman Andrew Gilliam Denny Painter Katie Fitzgerald Morgan Schmitt Thomas Huffman Al Heil Charles Montgomery Charles Montgomery Jacob Schmitt Katie Fitzgerald Thomas Huffman Thomas Huffman ANDREW GILLIAM *The Top Dog is awarded based on points earned in the one-dog bay, treeing, and dash race competitions. Eligible dogs competed in all three events. This year we had a 3-way tie for Top Dog honors (Rattler-Andrew Gilliam, Reba-Morgan Schmitt, and Daisy-Thomas Huffman). After the competitors opted for a coin toss, the trophy was awarded to Andrew Gilliam, and the others received a VBHA hoodie. Your Personalized Membership Status The below information is provided for your review; send any corrections or additions to the VBHA Secretary (address on last page). If your address on this newsletter is different from the address in the box below, the post office has forwarded your newsletter, but you still need to send your address change to us. VBHA NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016 PAGE 6 OF 8 SPRING FIELD TRIAL Saturday, March 26, 2016 10 a.m. Buchanan, Virginia Bear Bay - Bear Treeing Contest - Dash Race (Mechanical bear) st nd rd Trophies for 1 , 2 , 3 places Dogs entered in all events will compete for Top Dog honors Youth Bear Bay – all entries receive award Directions from Buchanan: Take Route 43 West 7 miles and look for signs Directions from Eagle Rock: Take Route 43 East 7 miles and watch for signs Contacts: Charles Montgomery 540-254-2048 David Steger 540-384-6506 Richard Sprinkle 540-254-2578 VBHA and Land Owner are not responsible for loss, accidents or theft. ABSOUTELY no alcohol or illegal drugs allowed – strictly enforced. VBHA Members: Please cut and post the above flyer in your local communities Use this application to update your information or give to a fellow hunter and encourage them to join our ranks! VIRGINIA BEAR HUNTERS ASSOCIATION - MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION o Individual – 1 Year - $15 o Individual – 3 Years - $40 o Family – 1 Year - $20 o Family – 3 Years - $50 o Lifetime (under age 50) - $150 o Lifetime (age 50+) - $100 Return to: Hunter Thrasher, VBHA Secretary 3826 Narrow Passage Rd, Buchanan, VA 24066 Make checks payable to VBHA Renewal New Member Update Information Name_____________________________________________________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip Code_________________________________________________________________________ Phone_________________________________ Email ____________________________________________ Individual and family membership years are measured from the date dues are paid or from current expiration date, if later. VBHA NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016 PAGE 7 OF 8