No-Net-Loss: Ensuring Future Generations A Place To Hunt

No-Net-Loss: Ensuring Future Generations A Place To Hunt

If there is one thing that threatens the future of hunting more than any other, it is the challenge of finding a place to hunt. More and more hunting land is being lost, either through development or because of restrictive regulations that preclude its use. Concerned hunters working together with NRA-ILA have found a solution: protect our public hunting lands with No-Net-Loss laws. Simply put, No-Net-Loss requires that states maintain at least the level of available public hunting land that currently exists. It requires that additional lands be opened to hunting if land that is currently open to hunting is closed. The end result is to assure hunters that the opportunities they now have will not diminish. No-Net-Loss laws have been enacted in Illinois, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, West Virginia and Georgia, and NRA-ILA is actively pursuing similar legislation in Kansas. But states are only part of the problem, and offer only part of the solution. The federal government administers millions of acres of public land. Much of this land has traditionally been open to hunting. In order to keep those lands open to sportsmen, Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Ted Stevens (R-AK), Richard Burr (R-NC), James Inhofe (R-OK), John Sunnunu (R-NH) and Jim Bunning R-KY) have introduced the Hunting Heritage Protection Act (S. 408) to apply the No-Net-Loss policy to all federally administered land. Passage of S. 408 would mean that the amount of BLM, Forest Service, Wildlife Refuge and National Parks land that is now available for hunters will not diminish. NRA-ILA is pursuing similar legislation in the House of Representatives. Important Points About No-Net-Loss The goal of No-Net-Loss is to create a base line number of public hunting acres that are always open to hunting, guaranteeing that future generations have the same hunting opportunities that we enjoy today. By preserving America's public hunting lands, we will allow people to continue to enjoy our sporting heritage. The legislation in no way infringes on private property rights, or on the ability of local governments to manage their own lands. It applies only to publicly owned lands. Hunters are the foremost conservationists in America. By preserving hunting we are ensuring that hunters will continue to protect wildlife and the environment. Through license fees, hunters pay for 75% of the budget of state wildlife agencies. Without hunters there would be no agencies, and without the agencies wildlife would be unprotected. Taxes collected from hunters provide half a billion dollars annually to the preservation and expansion of wildlife habitat. In the last 67 years, hunters have contributed $9.5 billion to wildlife conservation. Without these funds America's wildlife could not survive. Hunters contribute $67 billion to the economy each year. Without that money, many rural economies would wither and die. Expenditures by hunters support 575,000 jobs around the country. The federal income tax generated by hunting related activities could pay the salary of 100,000 members of the U.S. armed forces. Protecting public hunting land protects this important part of our economy.

What Smallmouth fishing is all about

From Tommy S. at Nelson County Life, thanks Tommy!

Also had a question Monday sent in by NCL web reader Nancy Maxson about the Perseid meteor showers:

“Hi Tommy!
Say, when’s the best time to view the coming Perseid shower this year?
I’ve heard anywhere from 9 pm to not before 3 am.
And what’s the weather forecast for viewing, cloudy or worth the trip up to
the parkway? Thanks and enjoy!
Nancy”

Stefan Seip took this picture over Riedseltz, France. The image shows the Milky Way in the Cepheus and Summer Triangle region. It shows also 6 Perseids and one Non-Perseid meteor. August 12/13, 2005 22:32 - 1:28 UT. Camera: Canon EOS 20Da, tracking the stars. Lens: Canon EF-S 10-22mm @ 11mm f/4 ISO 1600. Exposure time for the background: 10x 2 minutes. Credit: Stefan Seip. Courtesy www.space.com

Well, Nancy with a little research here’s what I have found out from an article on www.space.com last night:

“The best time to watch, regardless of your location, is from 2 a.m. to dawn local time, but the best seats will be in the western half of North America where dark skies coincide with the peak activity.

The Perseids get their name from the constellation Perseus, from which they tend to emanate like spokes from the hub of a wheel. The meteors can make their appearance anywhere in the sky, however.”

The absolute peak was this morning on the 12th, but don’t let that disappoint you, there’s still some mornings left to view the showers that will continue over the next several early mornings.

The BRP is a great location to view from because you get away from any light noise, but if you have a rural location away from lights here in the valley, you should still be in great shape! The weather for the next couple of nights should be very good for viewing!

Good luck Nancy, and thanks for the question!

http://www.nelsoncountylife.com/index.php

http://www.nps.gov/shen/parknews/upload/overlook_sum_08.pdf



http://www.nps.gov/shen/naturescience/unatural_light2.htm

http://www.nps.gov/shen/naturescience/nightsky.htm

97 lb rattlesnake?

THEY GROW 'EM BIG IN Tooele County UTAH
This snake was recently found at the old Wendover Military Base in Wendover Utah Tooele County.



A reminder that these creatures are actually out there and no matter
what you believe, sometimes they should get not only prescriptive
rights to be there but the full right of way!

9 feet, 1 inch - 97 lbs.

No matter what anybody else tells you, kill the snake before you try to do anything else to it!
It's the safest way for you and the snake doesn't care anymore.

DEEP-FRIED RATTLESNAKE

1 medium-sized rattlesnake (3-4 lbs.), cut into steaks
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup cracker crumbs
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (not garlic salt)
1 teaspoon salt
dash pepper

Mix dry ingredients. Whisk milk into beaten egg and use to dip snake steaks.
Then coat them with dry ingredients. Fry, uncovered, in 400 degree oil until brown.

Tear Drop camper trailers

With the price of fuel so high, it's a little pricey to go off for the weekend in the 4x4 and big truck camper.


So maybe with a little sweat and blood I can build a portable sleeper that I can pull behind the TDI VW. Save fuel and still have a great weekend in the boonies.

Here are some great websites on the topic if your interested.


http://jpodbuild.wordpress.com/my-favorite-td-links/

Send in your documents and photos

http://www.vpsa.org/OLD%20HISTORICAL%20PHOTOGRAPHS%20AND%20DOCUMENTS.htm

OLD HISTORICAL & INTERESTING PHOTOGRAPHS AND DOCUMENTS

Do you have an old photo, document etc. that pertains to the history of either the VPSA or the Virginia Big Game Contest that you would like to share with viewer of this web site? If so, email them to the webmaster and we will place them here on our next update. All material on this page are copyrighted and require written permission from VPSA to copy or duplicate.

2 more great articles from Bill Cochran

Apprentice License

http://www.roanoke.com/outdoors/billcochran/wb/172053



Health and Status of Sport Fishing

http://www.roanoke.com/outdoors/billcochran/wb/171254

OUTDOOR BRIEFS

>>Lack of rain has prompted officials of the Appalachian Power Co. to decrease downstream releases from Smith Mountain and Leesville lakes in an effort to raise the declining water level in Smith Mountain Lake. The decreased releases don’t always sit well with downstream interests, who say they also need water. This will be the subject of a public hearing tonight, 6 p.m. at Gretna High School.

>>State fish officials say all those dire predictions about the damage the snakehead fish would do may have been overstated. The fish is an Asian import found in the Potomac River. A Virginian-Pilot article quotes a biologist who says the fish appears to have found its own niche and is not harming bass and other native species. Reports that the snakehead could “walk” on land were false. Even so, fishermen are instructed to kill the snakeheads they catch.

>>Capt. Ferrell McLain, a Chesapeake Bay charter boat operator, said the Bay is enjoying the best run of Spanish mackerel in years. However, few people are renting charters to go after them. “Spanish mackerel to 24 inches have been caught around the Northern Neck Reef and Buoy 62 area,” McLain said. The preferred method is to troll for them with small spoons. Bluefish in the 3-5 pound ranges also are being caught. The area west of Tangier Island a good place to try for blues.

>>Angler Dr. Julie Ball of Virginia Beach used a fly rod to catch four spadefish she believes would qualify for world record status. She is a representative of the International Game Fish Association, the keeper of records. Ball was using flies tied for spadefish by Crab Creek Outfitters. I’m “not sure what they are supposed to look like, but the spades were very interested,” she said. She kept her two largest fish for certification purposes.

>>More than 271,000 pines are scheduled to be planted by the National Wild Turkey Federation on 678 acres surrounding Fort Stewart, Ga., part of a longleaf pine restoration program

>>State fish officials have been investigating a die-off of gizzard shad in South Fork Rivanna Reservoir near Charlottesville. The fish were found around the bottom of the dam and their death was blamed on hot weather and low water conditions that decreased oxygen in the impoundment.

BILL

SALTWATER FISHING TOURNAMENT

There are new leaders in the king mackerel and sheepshead categories of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. Here are the standings:

BLACK DRUM: 87 pounds, 3 ounces, Paul Elliott, Surry, Latimer Shoals (C-2 Buoy).

BLUEFISH: 19 pounds, 4 ounces, Richard Brown, Richmond, off Virginia Beach.

BLUEFIN TILEFISH: 18 pounds, 14 ounces, Chris Boyce, Hampton, Norfolk Canyon.

COBIA: 90 pounds, 10 ounces, Charles Thain, Birdsnest, Inner Middle Ground, C-13.

CROAKER: 4 pounds, Glen Ford, Newport News, James River.

DOLPHIN: 58 pounds, 6 ounces, Burt Whitt, Norfolk, Cigar.

FLOUNDER: 11 pounds, Rudolph Levasseur, Chesapeake, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

GRAY TRIGERFISH: 4 pounds, 2 ounces, Adam Lyons, Chesapeake, Seagull Pier on Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

GRAY TROUT: 9 pounds, 8 ounces, Joseph Hudgins, Jr., Chesapeake, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (4th island).

KING MACKEREL, 62 pounds, 3 ounces, James McDonald, Virginia Beach, Sandbridge Pier.

KINGFISH: 2 pounds, 3 ounces, Bill Pope, Norfolk, Sandbridge surf.

SEA BASS: 7 pounds, 8 ounces, Reggie Myrick, Portsmouth, wreck off Virginia Beach.

SHEEPSHEAD: 14 pounds, 5 ounces, Kay Alley, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. .

SPADEFISH: 13 pounds, 15 ounces, Donald Knight, Chesterfield, Wolf Trap Light.

SPANISH MACKEREL: 6 pounds, Alfred Simpson, Virginia Beach, Sandbridge pier.

SPECKLED TROUT: 9 pounds, 15 ounces, David Hester, Chesapeake, Elizabeth River.

STRIPED BASS: 73 pounds, state record, Frederick Barnes, Chesapeake, off Virginia Beach.

TAUTOG: 20 pounds, 6 ounces, Michael Shreve, Glen Burnie, Md., Monroe Wreck.

TUNA, BLUEFIN: 226 pounds, Kim Schwallenberg, Edgewater, Md., off Wachapreague.

TUNA: 89 pounds, Troy Holtry, Newburg, Pa., 20 Fathom Finger.

WAHOO: 68 pounds, Ron Fair, Cheriton, off Wachapreague.

MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS

Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show, Aug. 8-10, ShowPlace, 3000 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Richmond, features Larry Weishuhn, the NRA trophy deer display and nearly 300 exhibitors. Adult tickets $10 per day or $15 for the weekend, kids under 15 can enter free with a paying adult. Information from sportsmanshow.com.

Triangle Archer’s 3D tournament, Aug. 17, Blacksburg, fee $12 or $25 per family, information from Triangle Archers 3D tournament, June 22, Blacksburg, fee $12 or $25 per family, information from James Overfelt.

Outdoor Sportsmen’s Classic, Aug. 22-23, Salem Civic Center.

Smith Mountain Lake Striper Club Fishermen’s Flea Market/Swap Shop, Sept. 5, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center.

Eastern Regional Big Game Championship, Sept. 13 and 14, Southampton County Fairgrounds, Franklin, sponsored by the Virginia Peninsula Sportsmen’s Association, more information from Kenneth Pickin, P.O. Box 1860, Williamsburg, Va. 23187-1860; 757-229-0490. This is the contest for deer, bear and turkey killed east of the Blue Ridge. Additional information from vpsa.org.

Triangle Archer’s 3D tournament, Sept 14, Blacksburg, fee $12 or $25 per family, information from James Overfelt.

Third annual WSLS 10 Hunters for the Hungry banquet, 6 p.m. Sept. 27, Dave Sarmadi Mitsubishi, Salem, tickets $20 singles; $35 couples, kids 12 and under free, to benefit the organization’s feed-the-needy program, tickets from Jeff Fletcher, 540-985-6523 or Fred and Phyllis Wells, 540-992-3874 or may be purchased at Dave Sarmadi Mitsubishi, additional information from hunt4hungry@cs.com.

Western Regional and State Big Game Championship, for deer, bear and turkey killed west of the Blue Ridge or advanced from the Eastern Championship, Sept. 27 & 28, Rockingham County Fairgrounds, Harrisonburg, more information from Jon Ritenour, 2041 Spaders Church Road, Harrisonburg, Va. 22801, 540-434-8028. Additional information from vpsa.org.

Fall Optimist Club of Cave Springs Fishing Tournament, Oct. 3-5, Smith Mountain Lake.

Saltwater striped bass tournament opens Oct. 4.

Roanoke Valley Friends of NRA banquet, Oct. 18.

Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.

They're here

Fire ants invade Va. public parks


VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) -- Fire ants have invaded at least eight public parks in the South Hampton Roads area.

State officials say the ants are being transported from southern states in uninspected and untreated shipments of plants, soil and mulch, either illegally or unintentionally.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says most of the affected parks are in Virginia Beach.

Greenbrier Sports Park in Chesapeake, and Buckner Farms, City View, Hillcrest Farms, Mount Trashmore, Newlight, Pine Ridge and Rosemont Forest parks in Virginia Beach have been treated with insecticide in an attempt to eliminate the pests.

Fire ants are aggressive, swarming insects known for their venomous attacks on animals and humans.

Cheap alcohol stove

Some neat Youtubes

http://www.youtube.com/user/survivethewild


http://www.youtube.com/user/jasonklass