Arizona’s Official Fishing Guide is hot off the presses and ready for purchase online from Arizona Highways Magazine or at Costco stores.

This “official” fishing guide for Arizona was a joint project between Arizona Highways and the Arizona Game and Fish Department. It was the first major collaboration between Arizona’s iconic magazine and the state’s renowned wildlife management agency. The book should be available soon at all Arizona Game and Fish Department offices as well.

“We didn’t expect the Fishing Guide to be delivered until late December, but luckily it beat the reindeer to Arizona and is now available,” said Rory Aikens, the book’s author.

Aikens works as a public information officer for Game and Fish. He has been producing the department’s weekly fishing report for more than two decades and is an award-winning writer/photographer for the department’s magazine, Arizona Wildlife Views.

“In a way, it’s our present to all of you — 181 fun and interesting fishing holes to visit across the state,” Aikens said, adding, “I am looking forward to fishing each and every one of them again.”

The book not only describes the lakes, the fish you can catch and the facilities you can expect, but also provides fishing tips as well.

This guide book is also cyberspace, cell phone and GPS friendly. It provides Internet contact information where possible, along with GPS coordinates for all the lakes and Internet addresses where you can obtain even more information.

“Our intent was to make it a great companion to your laptop, smart phone, regular cell phone and GPS device. But we also provided maps so you can do it the old-fashioned way – scan, read and enjoy,” Aikens said.

Aikens added that he tried to capture the unique character of each lake, stream or river in the book. “For those fisheries that I didn’t know all that well, I relied heavily on those who do, such as our regional fisheries staffs, wildlife managers, fishing guides, tackle shops, sporting goods stores, marinas, and especially anglers I met along the way.”

Aikens also received invaluable assistance from the wildlife/fisheries staffs from the Navajo, White Mountain Apache and San Carlos Apache tribes.

“I hope all of you have as much fun reading and using this book as I had writing it. Arizona is full of possible fishing adventures. With any luck, maybe I’ll see you out there,” Aikens said.

The endangered California condor population that now spans Arizona and Utah is celebrating a significant milestone this month: the 15th anniversary of the first release of the birds into Arizona after being gone from the area for nearly 100 years.

In December 1996, six condors were released from an acclimation pen atop the Vermilion Cliffs in northern Arizona. Today, the population consists of more than 70 birds that now also use Utah as part of their range.

“This milestone is a significant accomplishment for the reintroduction program and demonstrates what cooperative, adaptive conservation can do for wildlife,” says Eric Gardner, nongame branch chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “We would not have any condors flying over Arizona and Utah if it were not for the experimental, nonessential designation that allowed the project to begin. Now we have over 70 birds.”

Since reintroduction began, challenges have been identified in the program and adaptive management has been implemented to address issues like lead poisoning from spent ammunition and predation. Of 42 known mortalities, 19 birds have died from confirmed lead poisoning. The second leading cause of death is predation with 12 cases recorded.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department implemented a voluntary non-lead ammunition program in 2005 to hunters drawn for hunts in the condor’s core range. The free program has had voluntary participation rates of between 80 and 90 percent each of the past five years, demonstrating the willingness of hunters to play an active role in conservation and that voluntary programs can be successful.

To continue to address lead’s impact on condors, Utah implemented a non-lead program in 2010 to further conservation as the population of condors expands its habitat into southern Utah. Biologists expect to see a reduction in lead toxicity deaths once more Utah hunters begin to use non-lead ammunition in the field.

The Arizona-Utah condor population is classified as an experimental, non-essential population by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the 10(j) rule of the Endangered Species Act. This special rule provides The Peregrine Fund and Game and Fish with more flexibility to manage the population. The 10(j) rule allows the agencies the ability to handle, treat, transport and fit birds with radio transmitters, activities that would be much more difficult to carry out without the special designation. The 10(j) rule also provides that land management practices will not be restricted due to the presence of condors.

Condors are a long-lived species with low reproductive rates, making their population more slow-growing than most wildlife. While they can live up to 60 years in the wild, they do not sexually mature until six or seven years of age and only mate every other year.

The California condor has gone from only 22 birds left in the world in 1982 to nearly 400 today. The original 22 birds were captured in an effort to breed and save the species. Condors bred and raised in captivity are now periodically released at sites in California, Mexico and at the Vermilion Cliffs in Arizona.

The species was added to the federal endangered species list in 1967. The condor is the largest flying land bird in North America. The birds can weigh up to 26 pounds and have a wingspan of up to 9 1/2 feet.

The Arizona-Utah condor conservation effort is a joint project of many partners, including The Peregrine Fund, Arizona Game and Fish Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Kaibab National Forest, and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

For more information on condors and lead, visit www.azgfd.gov/condor.

The special deer hunt for sportsmen with disabilities was held at the Lost Mound Unit (former Savanna Army Depot) of Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge on Nov. 12 and 13, 2011. Hunters and their assistants were treated to the hunt of a lifetime. Field surveys showed the deer population to be abundant and the rutting season was in high gear.

This special hunt allowed each of the 25 hunters and their assistants to harvest a total of nine deer during the two day hunt. Months earlier, 32 hunters applied through random drawing through the Refuge. Successful applicants required a medical disability classification and to be accompanied by an assistant who was able to track and retrieve deer. The hunt was conducted in areas closed to public hunting due to the ongoing environmental cleanup effort. The warmer than normal temperatures and howling winds resulted in a total of 19 deer being harvested, including 12 does and seven bucks. The largest buck was an 8 pointer with a field dressed weight of 150 pounds.

This special hunt was held one week prior to Illinois’ First Firearms Deer Season. The participation by out of state hunters continued to increase since previous years. Hunters travelled from nine states, including Louisiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Iowa, Wisconsin, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Illinois.

An intriguing aspect of the hunt were the personal challenges of the hunters that included quadriplegics, paraplegics and amputees. One hunter, a quadriplegic, maneuvered his specially mounted gun on target by manipulating a controller box with his chin. When a deer was in the crosshairs, he blew through a tube to engage an electronic trigger to fire the shotgun.

To view pictures taken during the hunt check out the Flickr photoset: bit.ly/LostMound
Wildlife Refuge Manager Ed Britton was excited about the continued success of this program, saying “It was a high quality hunting experience by a special group of sportsmen. Their daily challenges of life were overshadowed by the enthusiasm and determination for deer hunting. They provided both inspiration and encouragement to the staff and volunteers that administered the hunt.”

The disabled and youth deer hunts will be held at Lost Mound again next year. If you are interested in more information on these special hunts, contact the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge office at 815-273-2732.

For more information on the Midwest Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service visit http://midwest.fws.gov.

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and UC Davis worked together to capture, treat and release a wild turkey that captured residents’ imagination this week.

Two DFGemployees, Warden Patrick Foy andDFGWildlife Veterinarian Ben Gonzales captured an elusive wild turkey that was shot with an arrow and had been living in theDavisarea with arrow protruding from its body. Early Friday morning, after several unsuccessful capture attempts, Foy and Gonzales used a netgun to secure the frightened animal and transported it to the animal emergency room at UC Davis’ veterinary care facility.

“This turkey was very lucky, we had some of the best veterinary care in the world available just across the freeway,” said Warden Foy. “It was a real animal ‘ER’.”

At UC Davis, the two-year-old male turkey was evaluated by a team of veterinarians specializing in avian species and surgery. Dr. Michelle Hawkins, associate professor of veterinary medicine determined that the arrow had penetrated the soft tissue of the turkey’s tail but had missed the bird’s vital organs.

“He will fly again,” said Dr. Hawkins. “The arrow was removed from the turkey and antibiotics were administered. When the turkey awoke, it was evident he was ready to go home.”

Friday morning DFGemployees and the Davissurgical team were on hand as the bird was released to its home habitat. Video is available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/californiadfg/,

Wild turkey season is open through the Nov. 27, however the turkey was shot before the season had opened and was wounded with a target arrow instead of a hunting arrow, both illegal actions.

Weighing up to20 pounds, the wild turkey was once under consideration to be the national bird for theUnited States. While these wild game birds seem harmless, they often become pests, destroying flower and vegetable gardens, leaving their droppings on patios and decks, and roosting on cars.

Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Duck hunting has fair at best for mallards, wigeons, gadwalls and teal. Feed lots have been best. Diver ducks have been hitting deeper playas and reservoirs. Some lakes have been pumped with water to help wildlife sustain drought conditions. Canada geese are best over wheat and corn. More Canadas showed on Lake Etter this week. Sandhill crane numbers are good. Specklebellies have been reliable as well. Prospects are fair.

North Zone Duck: Gadwalls, wigeons and teal have been taken in the shallow coves of area lakes and reservoirs. Canvasbacks have been reported on Lake Fork, Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn and Lake O’Pines. Caddo Lake has seen gadwalls, divers and ringed-necks on the big waters. Sloughs, backwaters and bayous are dry and dusty, so most ducks have taken refuge on the lakes or have continued south to the coast. Hunting has been good on the coastal prairies along the southern boundaries of the North Zone. Brookshire, Winnie, China, Devers, Sealy and Columbus have all enjoyed steady shoots for teal, gadwalls, wigeons, pintails and shovelers. Prospects are fair at best in North Texas and good along the coastal boundaries.

South Zone Duck: Duck hunting remains stellar along the coastal prairies of Eagle Lake, Wharton, El Campo, Garwood, East Bernard, Hungerford, Lissie and Louise. Teal, gadwalls, wigeons, shovelers and pintails have made up the brunt of the bag. Inland ponds around adjacent to the coast have seen loads of ducks leaving the bay daily for freshwater. Bay hunters enjoyed an influx of bird last week as redheads and scaup found shoalgrass in East Matagorda, West Matagorda, Espiritu Santo, San Antonio and Aransas bays. Good numbers of wigeons, pintails and redheads have produced limit shoots in Rockport. Port Mansfield and Port Isabel hunters have seen solid shoots. The East Galveston Bay marsh has been good, though salinity levels are high. More snow geese showed last week with the cold front and full moon, though few hunters are setting spreads Specklebellies have readily decoyed over rag spreads. Prospects are good.

Season/Bag Limits: The High Plains Mallard Management Unit runs Oct. 29-30, Nov. 4-Jan. 29, 2012. The North and South zones run Nov. 5-27 and Dec. 10-Jan. 29, 2012.

The daily bag limit shall be 6 ducks, to include no more than the following: 5 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 scaup (lesser scaup and greater scaup in the aggregate), 2 redheads, 2 pintails, 1 canvasback, 1 dusky duck (mottled duck, Mexican-like duck, black duck and their hybrids are closed the first five days of the season in each zone). All other species: 6.

October is National Seafood Month, a time to highlight smart seafood choices, sustainable fisheries, and the health benefits of a diet rich in seafood. It’s also an opportunity to illustrate U.S. fisheries successes and challenges as we turn the corner on ending overfishing and continue our national journey toward fully rebuilt fish stocks. There are many stories to tell along the way.

Take Laura Anderson, for example. She’s the owner of Local Ocean Seafood, a popular restaurant on the waterfront in scenic Newport, Oregon. Every day she works to showcase a variety of sustainably managed, local seafood on her menu. Click on the video below to hear her story. 

 Meet Laura Anderson, Owner of a Sustainable Seafood Restaurant

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife is offering a one-day women’s surf fishing clinic on October 1 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm at Island Beach State Park, Seaside Park, NJ.

No prior surf fishing experience is needed. Registration is open to women at least 18 years old. Participants will learn the basics of surf fishing. Topics on rods, reels, weights, line, tackle, knots, bait, fish identification, casting, reading the surf, and caring for your catch will be covered in the morning. The afternoon will be spent on the beach using techniques learned to fish the surf. The workshop will take place rain or shine, warm or cold. Participants should be prepared with appropriate clothing, as well as other convenience items such as sun screen, sunglasses, hat, and foul weather gear.

Since the registration deadline of September 26 is rapidly approaching, those interested in registering should call Karen Leskie at (609) 748- 4347 by the deadline date.  A check for $15.00 made out to the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife will be requested to reserve a spot. This fee will be refunded to you at the class but will be nonrefundable for those not attending. Participants will also be able to register for the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament ( http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/gsft.htm ) held the following day. The cost for the tournament is $10 for adults; equipment will be supplied to those who participate in the workshop, but participants will have to supply their own bait.

ORANGEBURG, SC— Mules and pond scoops led the way with the first excavation work to build the Orangeburg National Fish Hatchery 100 years  ago this month. Today the hatchery is an integral part of the community in  Orangeburg, South Carolina, near Lakes Marion and Moultrie.  The U.S. Fish  and Wildlife Service will host a public celebration at the hatchery on  Wednesday, September 28, 2011, at 10 a.m. to rededicate the century-old  facility.
 
“It’s an honor to witness a huge milestone of one of the real gems in the  Service’s National Fish Hatchery System,” says Cindy Dohner, Southeast  Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  “Orangeburg has  served a critical role in fisheries conservation in our Region, and its  good work will become even more critical in the century to come.”

Service representatives, other organizations and agencies, and the  community are invited to attend the free event, followed by a luncheon and  hatchery tours.  Students from a local elementary school will plant a  pollinator garden at the hatchery to commemorate the milestone.

Orangeburg National Fish Hatchery has adapted to serve the needs of  Americans throughout its long history.  When first established it provided  fish for subsistence, stocking local farm ponds and sending other fish by  railcar all across the county.  Today it works with endangered species,  including the shortnose sturgeon and freshwater mussels.  It also produces  fish for recreation, like striped bass, a popular sport fish. The hatchery  has made significant contributions to the area’s renowned fishing  opportunities.  The total economic impact of recreational fish production  at Orangeburg was more than $13.3 million in 2010, generating 127 jobs  throughout many industries, worth $3.3 million in wages.

“The hatchery has been here for 100 years, that shows you the value of  what we do.” says Willie Booker, who has been the hatchery’s manager for  the past 20 years.  “This hatchery and the work we do really mean a lot to  people.  I am proud to be a part of it.”

Orangeburg National Fish Hatchery is a popular destination for 20,000  visitors each year, offering innovative outdoor classrooms, a  nature-explore playground, trails, bird watching, a 100-acre lake and a  visitor center with aquarium. By hosting special events throughout the  year for youth, special needs groups and senior citizens, the hatchery  promotes the increased quality of life and conservation benefits provided  by healthy fisheries.  Orangeburg promotes the importance of connecting  people, especially children, to nature.

More information on the Orangeburg National Fish Hatchery is available on  its website at www.fws.gov/orangeburg.

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.  For more  information, visit www.fws.gov or http://www.fws.gov/southeast/. Connect  with our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfwssoutheast, follow our  tweets at www.twitter.com/usfwssoutheast, watch our YouTube Channel at  http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at  http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwssoutheast.

It’s time for the annual Lake Eaton Kids’ Fishing Derby at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Ocala Conservation Center and Youth Camp in the Ocala National Forest. The derby is Saturday, Oct. 8, from 8 a.m. until noon for children ages 6-12.

Advance registration is required, and space is limited to 90 children. To sign up, call the FWC’s Ocala office at 352-732-1225 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., weekdays.  The Ocala Conservation Center is 8.5 miles north of State Road 40 off County Road 314 in the Ocala National Forest.

“Everything the kids need to fish, including cane poles, bait, instruction and help, will be provided,” said Eric Thomas, freshwater fisheries biologist for the FWC’s Northeast Region. “We’ll be stocking channel catfish raised at the FWC’s Florida Bass Conservation Center state hatchery, so there’s a pretty good chance the fish will be biting.

“The kids will fish from the pier. For safety and to avoid tangled lines, please leave rods and reels home,” he added.

In addition to fishing, there is a casting contest, an arts and crafts activity, and an all-time favorite of derby-goers called “Bugs and Critters.” In this creepy-crawly activity, the kids get to wade into the lake with dip nets and scoop up fish, bugs and other aquatic critters. An FWC biologist uses the experience to teach kids about the aquatic ecosystem. The kids will get wet, so they should bring a change of clothes.

Each registered child who participates will receive the famous Lake Eaton Kids’ Fishing Derby T-shirt and a brand new rod and reel to take home absolutely free. The rods and reels are courtesy of Fish Florida!, a nonprofit organization that supports activities to teach children about fishing and aquatic habitats. Fish Florida! funding comes from the Fish Florida! specialty license tag featuring Florida’s official saltwater fish, the sailfish. Purchasing one of these tags helps ensure that children will have an opportunity to participate in the wonderful world of fishing. To buy one, go to BuyaPlate.com and click on Fish Florida! under the list of plates.

“Fishing is truly a family pursuit, and these derbies provide a great opportunity to introduce kids to this fun and wholesome activity,” Thomas said. “And who knows? After the adults see what fun it is, they too may decide to start fishing again.”

This is the 21st year the FWC and its partners have offered this derby for children. Without the support of the U.S. Forest Service, Marion County Parks and Recreation Department, and other local sponsors, these derbies would not be possible.

Site Universally Accessible and Allows for Public Fishing Access

Together with state and city officials, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens today announced the opening of the Downtown Plattsburgh Boat Launch.

“Providing high quality access that can accommodate the increasing needs of bass anglers and other lake users has always been a DEC priority,” said Commissioner Martens. “I’m proud of the hard work and long time dedication of DEC staff along with the City of Plattsburgh’s partnership to open this new site for general use. The new boat launch will add to New York’s diverse fishing opportunities, and bringing anglers and other boaters to the area it will benefit the local economy. Residents and visitors alike will be able to utilize this new site to enjoy boating on Lake Champlain and afterwards partake in all the downtown amenities.”

“The City of Plattsburgh was very pleased to partner with DEC officials and staff to bring this project to the downtown area of Plattsburgh,” said Plattsburgh Mayor Donald Kasprzak. “Relationships like this improve public access to Lake Champlain for our residents, visitors, and fishing groups. I truly appreciate partnering with DEC on this project.”

The boat launch is located off Dock Street on the shore of Lake Champlain just south of the mouth of the Saranac River. The facility includes three launching and retrieval lanes with docks on each side of the ramp and along the shoreline. There are 31 designated vehicle and trailer parking sites, 12 car-only parking sites and additional parking in the adjacent parking lot.

The ramp and docks are built in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Three accessible parking spots have been designated, two spots are for a vehicle with trailer and one is for a vehicle only. The size of the ramp, the number and location of docks, and the ample amount of parking is also ideal for fishing tournaments and boating events held by the City each year.

“Lake Champlain is consistently ranked as one of the top bass fisheries in the nation, and the City of Plattsburgh is always a favorite destination for our anglers,” said Kathy Fennel, FLW Outdoors president, Operations Division. FLW Outdoors Foundation is a non-profit organization, designed to connect America’s youth to their natural resources, promote education, conservation, and an active lifestyle. “We are thrilled to see improved lake access, which will allow us to host even more large-scale televised tournaments in Plattsburgh. This commitment to providing quality access to one of the nation’s most valuable natural resources will provide economic benefits to the region for many years to come.”

DEC staff designed the boat launch and oversaw its construction. State Capital funds were used to pay for construction of the $627,000 facility. The City of Plattsburgh will be responsible for managing and maintaining the boat launch.

Most Catskill and Adirondack Trails and Campgrounds Open: Some Trailhead Parking Lots Remain Closed

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) continues to review and update state trail and campground closures in the Adirondack and Catskill regions. While some state trails continue to be impassable or inaccessible due to the impacts from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, most trails are now open. In the interest of public safety, DEC will continue to assess conditions to determine if new closures are necessary as well as when remaining trails and campgrounds can be reopened.

Catskill Area Campgrounds

The following Catskill public campgrounds have been reopened and are expected to stay open through Columbus Day weekend:

• Kenneth Wilson Campground, Town of Woodstock, Ulster County
• Little Pond Campground, Town of Andes, Delaware County
• Mongaup Pond Campground, Town of Rockland, Sullivan County
• North-South Lake Campground, Town of Hunter, Greene County

A list of open and operational DEC campgrounds is continuously being updated on the DEC’s website. The public should be aware that many state and local roads may be inaccessible to travel and access to campground areas could be limited. Those planning to visit the Adirondack or Catskill regions this weekend should call ahead or check for road closure information at the Department of Transportation’s webpage which can be found in the right hand column of this page.

Catskill Area Trailhead Parking Lots

The following Trailhead Parking Lots will remain closed, primarily due to local road:

Catskill Area Trails

Recent trails assessments indicate that most trails closed earlier this month can be reopened. Wind damage was relatively minor, and while uses should expect to encounter some blowdown on most trails, no trails will need to remain closed due to wind damage. Heavy rain and subsequent flooding impacted many roads throughout the region, and to a lesser extent some trails. However, the following trails remain closed to do erosion and/or the loss of a critical bridge:

• Ashokan High Point Trail, Town of Olive, Ulster County
• Colgate Lake Trail, Town of Jewett, Greene County
• Kaaterskill Falls Trail, Route 23A, T/Hunter, Greene County
• Lost Clove Trail, Town of Shandaken, Ulster County
• Oliverea-Mapledale Trail, Town of Shandaken, Ulster County
• Seager-Big Indian, Town of Hardenburgh, Ulster County

Trails that are not closed still may have bridges washed out and water levels in most rivers and brooks are at spring-high water levels. Crossings may be impassable at this time. These trails may also have blowdown, eroded sections or flooded areas. Pay close attention as many trails have been rerouted to avoid heavily damaged sections and eroded drainages can be mistaken for trails. The ability to navigate with a map and compass is important.

Adirondacks:

The Eastern High Peaks Wilderness is open to public recreation however, the following trails remain closed:

• All trails out of the Adirondack Mountain Reserve (Ausable Club).
• The Deer Brook Trail from Route 73 to Rooster Comb.
• The Southside Trail from the Garden Trailhead to John’s Brook Outpost.
• The Orebed Trail from John’s Brook Valley to the Range Trail (between Saddleback and Gothics).
• The Cold Brook Trail between Lake Colden and Indian Pass.
• The Elk Lake Trail between the Elk Lake Trailhead and Panther Gorge.

Trails that are not closed are not necessarily in good condition and may have heavy erosion and cobble, bridges washed out, blowdown and flooding. Therefore, hikers must pay close attention as many trails may not look like they had before the storm. Many trails have been rerouted to avoid heavily damaged sections and eroded drainages can be mistaken for trails. The ability to navigate with a map and compass is important.

Both newly developed and previous low water crossings may not be passable due to high water conditions.

The bridge on the road to the Garden Trailhead is restricted to 6000 pounds. The Town of Keene will be operating a shuttle bus from the Marcy Field parking area to the corner of Market Street and Adirondack Road (approximately 1.25 miles away from the Garden Trailhead) on Saturdays and Sundays.

Dix Mountain Wilderness is open to public recreation. The main Adirondack Mountain Reserve Trailhead at the Ausable Club is open as are both trails that lead to the summit of Nippletop (The Henry Goddard Leach Trail and the Gill Brook/Elk Pass Trail). However, trails to the Colvin Range (Mt. Colvin, Blake Peak and Pinnacle) remain closed.

The Giant Mountain Wilderness is open to public recreation. The Roaring Brook Falls Trailhead is open for use.

Current details regarding conditions of open trails and the closures may be found on the High Peaks Trail Information web page.

Hikers and campers in both the Catskill and Adirondack areas could still encounter flooding, bridge wash outs, trail wash outs and blowdown. Hikers are advised to plan accordingly and be prepared to turn back when conditions warrant. The ability to navigate with a map and compass is important. Hikers should be able to navigate by map and compass.

Emergency crews and staff continue to clear and repair trails. The list of closed trails and conditions for open trails are available on DEC’s Adirondack Trail Information web page. Information on closures and conditions of Catskill Preserve trails can be found on the DEC website. This information will be updated as trails are assessed and reopened.

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas deer hunters have an additional five-day opportunity to pursue their favorite activity this season.

A doe-only hunt by any method is scheduled for Oct. 31 through Nov. 4. That’s Monday through Friday. Modern guns, muzzleloaders, bows and crossbows will be allowed, but the hunt is for designated zones, not statewide.

The new doe-only hunt is for Deer Zones 6A, 8A, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 16A and 17. This basically is south Arkansas, some of central Arkansas and a bit of north-central Arkansas. Deer Zones 1, 1A, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 4B, 5, 5A, 5B, 6, 7, 8 and 11 will be closed. The bag limit on this special doe hunt is the zone limit. No WMAs will be involved in the doe only hunt.

Any doe taken by a hunter in this new season will count toward his or her season bag limit, both zone and statewide. There is a generous six-deer statewide limit for next season. Most zone limits are less than six, but a hunter can take deer in more than one zone up to the statewide limit of six.

Dick Baxter is the deer program coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. He said, “The rationale behind the hunt is simple. In many areas of the state, we have very high deer densities, and we need to try to reduce deer numbers. By providing hunters with doe-only days, hunters that participate will not have the option to wait on a buck, which is why many hunters pass up opportunities at doe during the regular modern gun and muzzleloader hunts.”

One point for the thinking of the AGFC people who set the hunting seasons is that it is best to go a little conservative when instituting hunts. This new hunt is labeled modern gun, but this means hunters can use lesser weapons – archery, crossbows and muzzleloaders – if they so choose.

The doe-only rule, along with one specifying taking a doe before taking a buck, has been used by many private hunting clubs in Arkansas with success where there is a need to reduce herd numbers.

Baxter said, “We have allowed DMAP (Deer Management Assistance Program) clubs to harvest does early in the season for years. This is a sound management practice because we are able to lower the standing crop before hunting season, thereby providing remaining deer with better resources to keep them in better shape heading into the rut and post-rut periods.”

“Additionally, removing doe early in the season can also help to reduce the amount of unnecessary energy expenditures that bucks may have. Less doe on the landscape will ensure that there is a more defined rut and that more doe are bred by older age-class bucks.”

The upcoming deer seasons:

Archery –
All zones: Oct. 1-Feb. 29.

Muzzleloader –
Zones 1, 1A, 2, 3, 4A, 5A, 6, 6A, 7, 8, 8A, 10, 11, 14 and 15: Oct. 22-30 and Dec. 17-19.
Zones 9, 12, 13, 16, 16A and 17: Oct. 22-30 and Dec. 29-31.
Zones 4, 4B, 5 and 5B: Closed.

Modern Gun –
Zones 1, 1A, 2, 3, 6, 6A, 7, 8, 8A, 10 and 11: Nov. 12-Dec. 4.
Zone 4: Nov. 12-13. Zone 5: Nov. 12-13 and Nov. 19-20.
Zones 4A, 5A, 14 and 15: Nov. 12-Dec. 11.
Zones 4B and 5B: Nov. 12-20.
Zones 9, 12 and 13: Nov. 12-Dec. 18.
Zone 16, 16A and 17: Nov. 12-Dec. 25.

Modern gun doe only –
Zones 6A, 8A, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 16A and 17: Oct. 31-Nov. 4.
Zones 1, 1A, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 4B, 5, 5A, 5B, 6, 7, 8 and 11: Closed.

The statewide Christmas holiday modern gun deer hunt is Dec. 26-28.

Youth hunts are Nov. 5-6 and Jan. 7-8.

LITTLE ROCK – D. Victor Waits of Holts Summit, Mo., is making a career of setting state fish records in Arkansas.

He holds the state record for river redhorse (8 pounds, 2 ounces) and shovelnose sturgeon (5 pounds), both taken from the Spring River. He recently added golden redhorse and northern hog sucker – again from the Spring River.

The golden redhorse – 1 pound, 2 ounces – was enticed by worms May 27. The northern hog sucker, also 1 pound, 2 ounces, fell for worms, too. Both fish were caught upstream from Hardy, in the same spot where Waits landed the record sturgeon.

Melissa Jones, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s coldwater coordinator in the Fisheries Bureau, identified both fish.

Both species are new to the list of state records. Waits pointed that out in a letter with his record applications. “Both were very important as a food source to many Ozark families, including my ancestors on the Spring River,” Wait wrote. “The fish should be a recognized species. After a long winter, the fresh spring fish were a treat.”

He continued with a few details.

“To most in the area, the golden redhorse is known as the yellow sucker on its spawning run into the creeks and on river shoals in the spring. I’ve been assured that its proper name is as listed on the application.”

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Game and Fish Commission crews stocked almost 980,000 fish in Arkansas lakes and rivers during August, according to Mark Oliver, chief of the Fisheries Division. The total stocking of fish weighed more than 116,200 pounds.

August stockings:
Beaver Lake, Benton and Washington Counties, 30,250 fingerling blue catfish
Bishop Park Pond, Saline County, 250 catchable channel catfish
Bragg Lake, Ouachita County, 250 catchable channel catfish
Bull Shoals Lake, Baxter and Marion Counties, 31,178 fingerling blue catfish
Clearfork Lake, Garland County, 250 catchable channel catfish
Craighead Forest Kids Pond, Craighead County, 200 catchable channel catfish
Crossett City Park Lake, Ashley County, 300 catchable channel catfish
Ed Gordon WMA Pond, Conway County, 250 catchable channel catfish
Field Trial Pond, Prairie County, 350 catchable channel catfish
Lake Greeson, Pike County, 275,000 fingerling bluegill bream
Lake Greeson, Pike County, 275,000 fingerling redear bream
Greers Ferry Lake, Cleburne County, 12,356 fingerling blue catfish
Interstate Pond #2, Monroe County, 250 catchable channel catfish
Little Red River, Cleburne County, 5,950 catchable rainbow trout
Martin Luther King Park, Jefferson County, 600 catchable channel catfish
Mike and Janet Huckabee Kids Pond, Hempstead County, 300 catchable channel catfish
Mirror Lake, Stone County, 1,881 catchable rainbow trout
Lake Norfork, Baxter County, 57,018 fingerling striped bass
Old Post Park Pond, Pope County, 300 catchable channel catfish
Prison Pond #2, Lee County, 250 catchable channel catfish
SAU Armory Pond, Columbia County, 200 catchable channel catfish
Spring Lake Baptist Camp, Garland County, 350 catchable channel catfish
Spring River, Fulton County, 3,840 catchable brown trout
Spring River, Fulton County, 15,072 fingerling cutthroat trout
Spring River, Fulton County, 21,850 catchable rainbow trout
Lake Valencia, Pulaski County, 500 catchable channel catfish
White River, Baxter, Izard, Marion and Stone Counties, 77,237 catchable rainbow trout

Greers Ferry NFH
Little Red River, Cleburne County, 23,175 catchable rainbow trout

Norfork NFH
Beaver Tailwater, Carroll County, 10,280 catchable rainbow trout
Beaver Tailwater, Carroll County, 25,002 fingerling rainbow trout
Mirror Lake, Stone County, 500 catchable rainbow trout
Norfork River, Baxter County, 10,449 catchable rainbow trout
Norfork River, Baxter County, 27,374 fingerling cutthroat trout
Norfork River, Baxter County, 22,509 fingerling rainbow trout
White River, Baxter, Izard, Marion and Stone Counties, 49,234 catchable rainbow trout

BASTROP – Bastrop State Park will be closed through at least October as Texas Parks and Wildlife Department personnel continue to douse hot spots on the mostly-burned property and begin assessing damage as well as developing a plan to get the park reopened to the public.

Tuesday, a week after the fire situation at the park reached its worst point, TPWD firefighters and other personnel were working to put out lingering hot spots from the wildfire that first began threatening the park on Sept. 4. Crews also were busy cutting and mulching additional potential fuel sources on the 6,500-acre park.

“The park will be closed at least through October,” says Todd McClanahan, superintendent of the park and nearby Buescher State Park, which so far has escaped any damage from the 34,000-acre Bastrop Complex fire, which claimed two lives and destroyed some 1,500 residences in the area. “First we are going to make the park safe, then we will concentrate on what needs to be done to get the park back open.”

Latest satellite imagery shows that the fire covered slightly less acreage than earlier believed, he said.

“Initially, we though only about 100 acres of the park were left unburned, which would be 99 percent,” McClanahan said. “But the most recent satellite data shows only 95 percent coverage and the severity of that varies.”

He said around-the-clock work by firefighters saved all of the major historic structures on the park. The red sandstone and pine structures on the park, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, are a National Historic Landmark district. The park is one of only six state parks in the nation with that designation.

“We did lose the wooden cover of a CCC-built scenic overlook, but a Depression-era rain shelter in the Copperas Creek camp site on the park that we had been worried about did make it,” McClanahan said. “We saved all the cabins, the refectory (large meeting hall), bath house, maintenance building and sign shop.”

Not only did stopping the fire save the park’s infrastructure, it helped keep the fire from reaching the heart of Bastrop.

“The park was a good stronghold to keep the fire from going into town,” McClanahan said. “That was very much in the back of our minds…doing anything we could to stop it in the park and keep it from getting into Bastrop. I couldn’t be more proud of our firefighters and all the others who helped.”

McClanahan said he remains concerned about the fate of the endangered Houston toad.

“Because of the drought, the last two or three years have been horrible for the Houston toad,” he said. “They require water to bred, and this spring they did not have a successful season. The overall impact on them from the fire is unknown at this point, but we are worried about them.”

Federally protected since 1972, the Houston toad once ranged over 14 counties. Loss of habitat had constricted that area to mostly Bastrop State Park.

“We ask that anyone wanting to volunteer to just give us a chance to evaluate the severity of damage and we will be calling on assistance once a plan is in place,” McClanahan said.

“Otherwise, we are asking that visitors heed the closed status of the park as it is unsafe at this time.”

What the park needs most is what the rest of the state also needs – rain.

“Our best case scenario is some sustained rain to cool things down,” McClanahan said. “We need steady moisture that will soak in, not a heavy rain that will cause runoff and erosion. Worst case scenario is what’s being forecast, more of the same.”

While Bastrop State Park and nearby Buescher State Park are closed, all other area parks remain open, including nearby Palmetto State Park and Monument Hill State Historic Site