HAT_Newsletter 1_6_09.pdf

 H.A.T  Member's Shatter Lake Trout Record in
Father's Day LCI Derby
North Hero, VT’s 14-year-old Patrick Dupont Lays Claim to the
$28,000 Lakeshore Ace Laker in LCI

Saturday, June 20th, 2009

Patrick Dupont Proudly Displays his 15.9lb Lake Trout caught during the LCI Father's Day Fishing Derby

Patrick Dupont of North Hero, VT shows off his 15.9-pound lake trout, currently the leading contender for the $28,000 Lakeshore Ace Laker after the first day of the three-day event, which draws 5500 people from more than 30 states. Caught while fishing with his twin brother Benjamin and father Larry, and Team Member / HAT Director Keith Darby, the fish is potentially worth nearly $40,000 in cash and nearly another $20,000 in prizes, including two Starcraft boats and two Yamaha outboard engines in the 28th Annual LCI Father’s Day Derby presented by Yamaha. The fish was weighed in by LCI volunteer and USFWS biologist Dr. Bradley Young, captain of the Shelburne Shipyard weigh station on Lake Champlain in Vermont.

 

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Coyote with a Fawn
Game Cam Photo by Greg Perrotte of Bakersfield 

2008_Deer_Harvest_Report.pdf

For Immediate Release:  Thursday, May 27, 2009

Media Contact: Cedric Alexander, 802-751-0105

Waterbury, VT – The deadline to apply for a Vermont moose hunting permit is Tuesday, June 2. 

The application must be postmarked no later than June 2, or delivered by 4:30 p.m. on that day to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department in Waterbury .

Applications are available on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com).  Under “Hunting and Trapping,” click on Lottery Applications.  Applications also are available at license agents statewide.

Lottery applications are $10 for residents and $25 for nonresidents.  Winners of the permit lottery will purchase resident permits for $100 and nonresident permits for $350. 

Hunting season dates for 2009 are October 17-22, or October 24 through November 1.  A total of 1,230 hunting permits will be issued, and about 600 moose are expected to be taken. 

“We are managing Vermont ’s moose population to keep it in balance with available habitat,” said Cedric Alexander , Vermont ’s lead biologist on moose.  “Carefully constructed hunting regulations enable us once again to enjoy having moose in Vermont on a sustainable basis, while their numbers are maintained at levels that fit habitat capacity and the needs of people.”

Meetings on Deer Regulations Cancelled

WATERBURY , VT      -- The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board has announced that four public meetings to discuss deer hunting previously scheduled for June have been cancelled.  The Board cancelled meetings in Lyndonville, White River Junction, St. Albans, and Rutland to discuss a proposal to hold an early four day muzzleloader deer hunt in October. 

The Board voted to rescind the proposed rule related to an October muzzleloader season in light the Fish & Wildlife Department’s forthcoming draft 10-Year Big Game Management Plan that will examine a variety of options for future hunting seasons.  As a part of the process, the department will be taking public input on this and other potential changes in managing turkey, white-tailed deer, moose and black bear programs from 2010-2020

The draft plan will be available for public comment in late June on Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s website (vtfishandwildlife.com).   The department will also be holding two public meetings in July to discuss the draft plan.  The two meetings will be held in the north-central and southern regions of the state in July.  The Big Game Management Plan will be completed and in place in September of 2009

VERMONT AGENCY OF NATURAL RESOURCES

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 11, 2009

Media Contacts:  Brian Chipman, 802-879-5697; Eric Palmer, 802-241-3700

Trophy Trout to be Stocked at Burlington and Vergennes

WATERBURY, VT – The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department will be stocking about 800 two-year old “trophy” rainbow trout this week in Lake Champlain at Burlington Harbor and in Otter Creek below the Vergennes dam.        

Fisheries biologists are considering the possibility of stocking trophy trout in Burlington and Vergennes annually in the future. “We have been discussing ideas to improve urban fishing opportunities, and these fish will provide an opportunity to determine if a trophy trout program is a viable option in these areas,” said State Fisheries Biologist Brian Chipman.  “We want to assess how well the trout contribute to shore fishing catches in this area before we invest in a long-term program.”

Anglers are reminded that Lake Champlain regulations apply below the Vergennes Dam as well as in Burlington Harbor:  There is a 12-inch minimum length limit and the daily creel limit is three trout.  

Forest plan open for public comment
BY Josh O'Gorman Staff Writer
Rutland Herald, May 4, 2009
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20090504/THISJUSTIN/905040287

ROCHESTER — U.S. Forest Service officials are asking for public comment and suggestions on a forest management plan slated for implementation next near. Between now and May 26, the Forest Service is taking comment on the Upper White River Integrated Resource Project, which includes about 36,000 acres in Braintree, Granville, Hancock, Ripton and Rochester. The proposed project is an outgrowth of the 2006 Forest Plan, which identifies possible ways to conserve and restore vegetation, improve wildlife habitats and increase and expand recreation opportunities. “We have been working with individuals, organizations, towns and agencies since 2007 to refine our particular proposal for this project,” said Rochester District Ranger Greg Smith. “There have been numerous public meetings, workshops and field trips with great participation. Resource specialists have been collecting additional field information to further explore many ideas offered by the public. The culmination of this effort has resulted in this proposed action.” Jay Strand, project team leader for the Forest Service, said the plan calls for selective logging on about 1,600 acres. The sites are chosen to improve wildlife habitat and increase forest diversity and the receipts for those timber sales are used to fund other environmental projects within the district. The proposed plan also takes into account comments solicited last year from recreation groups, such as mountain bikers and snowmobile and horseback riders. In response to these groups comments, the Forest Service is proposing opening up the Texas Gap Trail in Hancock to horses and mountain bikes. The plan also calls for closing the Hancock Branch Trail, relocating it and turning it into a loop, Strand said. Flooding during the last two years have washed out many of the trail’s bridges, he said. One form of recreation the plan does not take into account is all-terrain vehicles. Strand said the reason is twofold: no ATV advocacy group has come forward with proposals as mountain bike and horseback riders did. Also, the rules governing ATVs within national forests require the trails through the forest connect to existing ATV trails, which are rare in the Rochester District area. The Forest Service is also reaching out to private landowners. About one-third of the proposed project -- about 12,000 acres -- is held privately, and Strand said Forest Service officials are asking those landowners to identify possible conservation projects on their property. Projects could include restoring 19th century apple orchards, conserving old farmstead sties and controlling invasive species. “The plan’s boundaries are physical, not political,” Strand said. “If we treat invasive species on public land but not private, in a few years they’ll creep back and we’ll be where we started.”

The public can submit comments through the mail by sending a letter to USDA Forest Service, c/o Jay Strand, 99 Ranger Road, Rochester, VT 05767.

Comments can also be sent by e-mail to comments-eastern-green-mt-finger-lakes-rochester@fs.fed.us; by fax at 767-4777; or by phone at 767-4261 extension 522. josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com

 

From: "Hamelin, Paul" <Paul.Hamelin@state.vt.us>
To: Ed Gallo <edgallo@yahoo.com>
Cc: "Decker, Tom" <Tom.Decker@state.vt.us>; "Laroche, Wayne" <Wayne.Laroche@state.vt.us>; "Austin, John M" <JohnM.Austin@state.vt.us>
Sent: Monday, May 4, 2009 4:44:53 PM
Subject: RE: Misinformation on HATmessage board

Hello Ed

There’s some misinformation on the HAT message board regarding my efforts on WMA’s.  Rather than engage in a lengthy debate on the message board, I thought I’d direct HAT member’s attention to the 2009 WMA Annual Report.  HAT members will find the recently completed report at:

http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/library/Reports_and_Documents/Fish_and_Wildlife/WMA_Habitat_Report_2009.pdf

I’ve also attached it to this email so you may post it directly on the HAT website, or email it to specific members.

I believe the record of all WMA habitat efforts - including timber sales – speaks for itself.  I especially direct the attention of your more contemplative members to Tables 1 and 2 on page 6.  For the record, I never stated that F&W has “stopped timber harvesting” on WMA’s.  What I did state at a recent deer meeting was that the timber market is very depressed due to market conditions, and loggers are reluctant to harvest low value wood - they need to make a profit – so they’re postponing harvest of some WMA timber sales in favor of more profitable ventures.

I note that we need loggers, now and in the future – so we reasonably accommodate them so they can stay in business, good for both the economy and WMA habitat timber harvests.  FYI, in addition to planning timber harvests, if I’m doing “other things”, you can bet those things are primarily directed at improving habitat for Vermont’s wildlife – perhaps through non-commercial techniques, or perhaps by acquiring habitat parcels critical to VT wildlife – both game and nongame animals - or of high value for hunting-fishing-trapping opportunity.

Best regards,

Paul

VERMONT AGENCY OF NATURAL RESOURCES

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release:  March 10, 2009

Media Contacts:  Chris Saunders, Mark Scott, 802-241-3700

Hunter Education Instructor Workshops Offered

Waterbury , VT -- There is no more powerful way to give back to what you love than with a gift of your time.  If you love to hunt or trap in Vermont , there are few better ways to give your time than becoming a volunteer hunter education instructor.

Now is the time to sign-up to become an instructor. This year’s instructor training workshops are scheduled to be held at the Waterbury State Office Complex:

                        Basic Firearm Education Instructor Workshop:  April 18  

                        Bowhunter Education Instructor Workshop:  July 18

As a volunteer instructor, you will conduct the Hunter Education Program courses as a representative of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.  The department provides new instructors with training and materials to successfully conduct a hunter education course.

“The work is demanding and the hours are often long and inconvenient,” says Chris Saunders, Vermont ’s Hunter Education Coordinator.  “However, our 580 active instructors love volunteering because they know they are contributing to the future of hunting and trapping.”

All instructor applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Successfully pass a background check
• Enjoy working with young people
• Believe in and practice safe, responsible hunting.

The application process includes providing personal references and a criminal history background check.  You can still take the instructor course if the background check has not been completed, but you will not be certified until passing it.

Becoming a Hunter Education Instructor takes commitment.  But as an instructor you are helping to pass on a hunting heritage that adds to Vermont 's quality of life. Through the efforts of our volunteers, hunting is safe and getting safer.

To learn more, contact Ann Shangraw at (802) 241-3720.