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Post by Press Release on Feb 1, 2012 21:16:21 GMT -5
Conservation Officers Among First Responders When Kentucky Lake Bridge Collapses Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Sergeant Denny Broyles was returning home to Hickman County from Frankfort last Thursday and was within 30 minutes of closing out a 14-hour work day when he heard news reports about a nearby bridge. "Eggner Ferry Bridge collapses due to a barge strike." This incident would cause Broyles to work about 20 more hours before he finally ended his work shift. "I was picturing vehicles and people in the water," said the 15-year veteran Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources conservation officer. "It was dark and raining, and I just knew it was not going to be good." He immediately contacted area conservation officers who confirmed from the local sheriff's deputies just arriving at the bridge that indeed two spans of the U.S. 68/KY 80 bridge over Kentucky Lake in far western Kentucky had collapsed after being struck by a barge late Thursday night. Without knowing any more, Broyles quickly sent his officers to the collapsed bridge with boats and rescue equipment. In the next 24 hours, six additional conservation officers would assist various state and federal officials at the scene. "There's no hesitation in circumstances like this," said Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement Major Larry Estes. "This situation was potentially life threatening, and our conservation officers possess the skills, training and equipment to respond. People look to us for help." Officer Broyles' background is a shining example of this experience. Throughout his career, he has spent weeks away from home helping people stranded in remote areas without power by winter ice storms or other disasters. In 2005 he was deployed to provide law enforcement relief and emergency rescue to New Orleans residents devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Still, the collapsed bridge was a new experience for him. "This was my first shipwreck," he said. "The first news report spoke of a barge strike. I've never seen a boat that big on Kentucky Lake – never!" News reports later said the 312-foot Delta Mariner carrying aviation parts was traveling downstream toward Kentucky Dam. It apparently attempted to pass under the bridge in the wrong channel. Clearance beneath the bridge was inadequate, according to news reports, and the boat struck the steel truss bridge, stripping it off its piers. About 300 feet of steel span and asphalt pavement fell, much of it folding across the boat's bow. The rest of the span burrowed into the muddy lake bottom, anchoring the boat at the spot. Traffic across the Kentucky Lake span averages about 2,800 vehicles daily. After searching for several hours, officers and rescue personnel were satisfied that they had somehow dodged a major bullet – no vehicles or people were involved in the incident. And with that realization, the role of fish and wildlife officers evolved. "Once we determined there were no vehicles or people in the water, our mission turned into one of support for those who have the responsibility – the U.S. Coast Guard and Kentucky Department of Transportation," said Broyles. "The Coast Guard shut the river down to commercial traffic for about a two-mile stretch. We assisted them in maintaining a safe zone around the bridge and vessel." Conservation officers joining Broyles in search and rescue operations and in assisting the Coast Guard and Kentucky Department of Transportation were Sergeant James Nason, and officers Daniel Richardson, Josh Hudson, Kyle Webb, Lee Cope and Greg Youree.
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Post by Press Release on Feb 2, 2012 17:22:35 GMT -5
Kentucky Afield Outdoors: 2011-2012 Deer Season Ends With Fourth Largest Overall Harvest Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Kentucky's 2011-12 white-tailed deer season ended Jan. 16 with hunters posting the fourth largest overall harvest ever recorded. "The 119,656 deer taken was the highest total since the 2008-2009 season," said Tina Brunjes, deer program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "Good hunting weather may have been a contributing factor to the excellent harvest during the last two months of the season." Hunters bagged a record harvest of 12,989 in December, which surpassed the previous record by 4,261 set in December 2004. "Muzzleloader hunters were responsible for that big jump, checking in 10,536 deer during their nine-day late season that ran Dec. 10-18," said Brunjes. January's harvest was excellent, too with hunters telechecking 2,628 deer - just 73 short of last year's record harvest for the month. Overall, hunters reported taking 55 percent male deer and 45 percent female deer. Modern firearms hunters bagged 83,357 deer, muzzleloader hunters 15,161 deer and archers 18,169 deer. "For the last 10 years our harvest has gone up and down a bit, but overall the trend is stable," said Brunjes. "That's a good sign." This past season, Kentucky had 90,247 successful deer hunters, but 77 percent (69,776 hunters) took just one deer. "Seventeen percent of our successful deer hunters (15,118 hunters) took two deer, and six percent of our successful deer hunters (5,353 hunters) took three or more deer," said Brunjes. By zone, hunters harvested 52,664 deer in the 35 Zone 1 counties; 30,160 deer in the 27 Zone 2 counties; 25,324 deer in the 33 Zone 3 counties and 11,505 in the 25 Zone 4 counties. The bulk of Kentucky counties are in deer management Zones 2 and 3. Brunjes said there's still work to be done in the Zone 1 counties, where deer densities are too high, and in the Zone 4 counties, where deer densities are below target levels. Archers and muzzleloader hunters took 61 percent antlerless deer. Modern gun hunters bagged the lowest percent of antlerless deer – 38 percent. Crossbow hunters posted the highest percent of antlerless deer in the harvest, 63 percent. They also established a new harvest record in the process. Crossbow hunters bagged 1,969 deer, which represents about 1.6 percent of the overall harvest. For the third consecutive season, archers posted a harvest record by taking 18,169 deer, about 15 percent of the total harvest. "Overall, the hunters we have are being more successful," said Brunjes. "We hope that all this success will help them in mentoring new hunters."
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Post by Press Release on Feb 6, 2012 21:29:41 GMT -5
White-nose Syndrome Spreads In Kentucky Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has detected white-nose syndrome in bats at three Breckinridge County caves. Three common species – the Northern long-eared, tri-colored and little brown bat – have tested positive for Geomyces destructans, the fungus responsible for white-nosed syndrome. The caves, located northeast of Hardinsburg, are within a 20-mile radius of each other. The caves are privately owned and not open to the public. Confirmation of the disease was recently made by personnel at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study in Athens, Georgia. Biologists are still assessing caves within the area to determine the extent of the infection. "Caves are very abundant in this particular area of the state and we are working diligently to canvas all known sites," said Sunni Carr, Wildlife Diversity Coordinator for the department. With winter surveys just getting underway, it is unknown if there are more infected sites yet undetected in the state. Employees of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been working collaboratively on local surveillance and monitoring of the disease since it was first detected in New York state in 2006. "By having a state white-nosed syndrome response plan in place, it has allowed us to quickly coordinate surveillance of known hibernacula," said Brooke Hines, state bat ecologist for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "Local grottos (caving clubs) have been a tremendous help with this endeavor." "We have assisted Kentucky Fish and Wildlife for many years with cave surveys," noted Glenn Driskell, a caver with the Fort Knox Grotto. Last winter, department biologists surveyed approximately 100 caves throughout the state as part of its intense monitoring protocol. At the end of the survey season, white-nosed syndrome was confirmed in a cave located in Trigg County, in southwestern Kentucky. This was the first documentation of the disease in the state. Although it has not been shown that humans can contract the fungus, officials are still working to educate anyone who may enter a cave on the proper decontamination protocol. Decontamination helps to prevent human movement of the disease throughout the landscape. Ways that people can help stop the spread of the disease can be found online at the website of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at www.fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome/cavers.html. White-nose syndrome is estimated to have killed between 5.7 million to 6.7 million cave-dwelling bats in eastern North America. Mortality rates of bats have reached almost 100 percent in caves infected for several years. Infections have been confirmed in 16 states, mostly in the eastern U.S., and four Canadian provinces.
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Post by Press Release on Feb 6, 2012 21:47:00 GMT -5
Salato Wildlife Education Center Adds Fun New Exhibits For February 14 Reopening Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Salato Wildlife Education Center in Frankfort will reopen for the season Feb. 14 with fun new features for kids, adults and the young-at-heart. Kids can discover just how large a bald eagle's nest can be as they climb into a new life-sized replica. Two giant rulers demonstrate the average size of a bald eagle nest and the dimensions of the biggest nest ever discovered – a whopping 10 feet wide by 20 feet high. Salato's resident striped skunk has a new outdoor exhibit area so visitors can see it more often. Don't worry, though. It can't spray people with its own kind of perfume. Visitors can also witness the education center's newest exhibit as a work in progress. The Bluegrass Prairie Exhibit will include a bobwhite quail aviary. Kids can pretend they're quail as they hatch from a 3-foot-tall egg and hide in grass tunnels from a giant hawk. This new exhibit is scheduled to open in April. Indoors, the popular summer Conservation Camp exhibit has been reinstalled. Kids of all ages can get a taste of the camp experience by pretending to fish, boat, shoot bows or rifles, study nature and practice survival skills. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources operates three summer camps for kids in grades 4-6. Parents can learn more about these camps and pick up applications while their kids play. During its annual winter closure, the Salato Center underwent additional changes to make the building more environmentally friendly and reduce its carbon footprint. Compact fluorescent and LED bulbs replaced the old incandescent and halogen lights. The heating and air conditioning system received modifications to make it more efficient. New and long-time visitors also will be pleasantly surprised by what they find awaiting them outside at Salato's grounds. Volunteers from Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Georgetown spent numerous hours helping build exhibits and repairing a stream liner in the bobcat exhibit. Toyota volunteers also planted trees and shrubs, worked on trail maintenance, mulched around the grounds and removed invasive plants – all changes that will enhance the visitor's enjoyment of the Salato Center. Donations to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation helped fund the new Bluegrass Prairie Exhibit. Employees of Jackson Construction and General Contracting volunteered their time to help build the aviary. The Salato Center has a variety of native animals for the public to see, including a black bear, an eagle, bobcats, elk, deer, bison, snakes and fish. The center has numerous indoor exhibits and miles of hiking trails open to the public. Fishing is available at two lakes. While some programs may require a registration fee, general admission to the Salato Center is free. For more information, call 1-800-858-1549, ext. 4445. Learn more about upcoming events at the Salato Center on the Internet at fw.ky.gov. The Salato Center, operated by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, is located at the department's headquarters at #1 Sportsman's Lane (formerly #1 Game Farm Road), off U.S. 60 in Frankfort, 1.5 miles west of U.S. 127. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. The center is closed Sundays, Mondays and state holidays.
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Post by Press Release on Feb 9, 2012 21:15:27 GMT -5
Kentucky Afield Outdoors: New or improving fishing opportunities for 2012 Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – With Valentine’s Day upon us, only a few weeks remain on your current annual fishing license. The new license year begins March 1. This coming year presents some new opportunities to catch rainbow trout, blue catfish, redear sunfish, also known as shellcrackers, and white crappie. Black crappie now dominate the population in Taylorsville Lake, and a good spawn last year should lead to good fishing for blacks in the coming years. Also, three years of white crappie stockings should lead to great fishing this spring. “The stocked white crappie are doing pretty good,” said Gerry Buynak, assistant director of fisheries for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “They are growing to about 9 inches long in less than two years. We found a few white crappie over the 9-inch limit last year, so there should be more for anglers to catch this year.” White crappie stockings will continue at Taylorsville Lake and Kentucky Lake this year as well as eastern Kentucky’s Carr Creek and Paintsville lakes. Anglers report catching keeper black crappie by walking the bank near the Settler’s Trace access and casting Roadrunners and lime-green curly-tailed grubs at stickups and flooded timber. The blue catfish at Taylorsville Lake are doing well. “An angler caught a 48 pounder out of Taylorsville last year,” Buynak said. “We started stocking them at Barren in 2010 and they are doing well there and also at Dewey Lake.” Blue catfish fight hard and taste great. They like live or fresh dead bait. Cut bait made from gizzard shad or skipjack herring entices hungry blue catfish as do live shad. “We’ve also stocked blue catfish in Wilgreen Lake since 2009 and they are doing pretty well,” Buynak said. The 169-acre lake provides excellent largemouth bass fishing and decent fishing for bluegill and redear sunfish. “We’ve stocked redear sunfish in Yatesville and Fishtrap lakes and they should be coming on,” Buynak said. Both of these lakes offer excellent fishing for bluegill and should provide bountiful redear fishing as the stocked fish proliferate. Yatesville Lake has excellent bluegill numbers while Fishtrap Lake holds trophy bluegill in the 11- to 12-inch range. Louisville area anglers will soon have new winter and early spring trout fishing with excellent public access at a stream close to town. The fisheries division plans to stock a total of 7,500 rainbow trout in March, April and October of this year in Floyd’s Fork of Salt River. Miles Park off U.S. 60 (Shelbyville Road) offers bank and wading access to Floyd’s Fork. Access will improve as the Parklands of Floyd’s Fork project continues over the next couple of years. In-line spinners, small suspending jerkbaits in chrome, chartreuse or orange colors fished on 4-pound test with spinning gear score well on rainbows in early spring. Kentucky anglers who want catch fish close to home need to visit one of the Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINs) lakes. Lakes in this program regularly receive stockings of trout and catfish. Fisheries personnel for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife monitor the largemouth bass and sunfish populations in these lakes and stock these species if needed to maintain consistent fishing. These lakes make ideal places to take family members, children and beginners fishing with an excellent chance of catching something. Camp Ernst Lake in Boone County, Madisonville City Park Lake North in Hopkins County, Millennium Park Pond in Boyle County, Whitehall Park Lake in Madison County, Waymond Morris Park Lake in Daviess County along with Carlson and Dickerson lakes at Ft. Knox in Meade County are new additions to the FINs program for 2012. For more information on the FINs lakes, visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife homepage on the internet at fw.ky.gov or pick up a free copy of the 2012 Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide, available wherever fishing licenses are sold. You may request a copy by calling the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Information Center at 1-800-858-1549. Get out and wet a line this spring and enjoy these new fishing opportunities. Shirt sleeve weather is just around the corner, but don’t forget to purchase your 2012 Kentucky annual fishing license if you plan to fish after March 1.
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Post by Press Release on Feb 17, 2012 17:18:55 GMT -5
Kentucky Afield Outdoors: March Fishing MadnessGood Muskellunge Fishing Spots For Late Winter And Early Spring
FRANKFORT, Ky. - The winds still blow from the north and many days produce cold temperatures and leaden skies, but now is the time to catch big muskellunge in the tailwaters below Cave Run, Buckhorn and Green River lakes. The smaller tailwaters give bank anglers and owners of small boats a chance at a trophy muskellunge. "We had a report of a muskie caught from Cave Run Lake tailwater that was 52 inches long and weighed close to our current state record of 47 pounds," said Fred Howe, northeastern fishery district biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Sarah Terry caught the current state record, a 54-inch-long 47-pounder from Cave Run Lake in Nov. 2008. The Cave Run Lake tailwater holds an excellent population of large muskellunge. "My brother Wes crappie fishes below Cave Run Lake regularly," said Mike Hardin, assistant director of fisheries for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "He's had a couple of days this year where he's observed people catching several muskellunge around 45 inches long and saw one caught right at 50 inches. Those are nice muskies." Anglers must catch a muskellunge of at least 40 inches in length to qualify for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's Trophy Fish/Master Angler program. Live small bluegill and suckers draw the most interest from muskellunge in the Cave Run tailwaters. "They hit the Suick jerkbaits and a large soft plastic lure called a Bulldog up there," said Hardin, who has fished Cave Run Lake and the Licking River since childhood. "But, live bait produces best." Hardin said anglers should concentrate on the mouths of tributaries in the Licking River just below Cave Run Lake when the water flowing through the dam is a little high. "The best water level for them is between 900 and 2,000 cubic feet per second going through Cave Run Lake dam," Hardin explained. "This level pushes them into those tributaries seeking that warm water at this time of year. They are no doubt going through their pre-spawn behavior and they congregate in those tributaries." To find out the flow through Cave Run Lake dam, go to the Louisville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers webpage at www.lrl.usace.army.mil, click on the Lake and River Reports tab and then on "Cave Run." A public boat ramp accommodates boaters just below Cave Run Dam with ample bank access. A canoe, johnboat or fishing kayak would be ideal for fishing this section of the Licking River. Another great muskellunge spot to try right now is the tailwaters of Buckhorn Lake, a 1,230-acre lake 28 miles west of Hazard formed by damming the Middle Fork of Kentucky River. The tailwater of the Buckhorn Lake holds an excellent population of 30- to 40-inch muskies. February and March are two of the most productive months to fish for them. There's no boat ramp below the dam, but there's room to launch a fishing kayak, float boat or small johnboat with a take-out a few miles downstream at the KY 28 bridge. The Middle Fork of Kentucky River just below Buckhorn Dam also provides limited bank fishing opportunity to chase muskies. In the early spring, if the water is clear and levels aren't too high, some anglers launch bass boats in Beattyville and motor up the Middle Fork of the Kentucky River to fish in the lower tailwaters. Be careful while navigating this section of the Middle Fork of the Kentucky River because it is full of deadfalls that can damage the lower unit of a boat motor. Muskies congregate around flooded wood cover and are caught by casting jerkbaits to this structure. Muskie guide Chris Haley fishes white, chartreuse or silver-colored lures in the spring, which mimic the colors of shad. Later in the year, he switches to larger yellow and orange-colored lures when muskies fatten up on carp and suckers. The extreme drawdown of the lake to winter pool (25 feet) and the rapid, unpredictable rise to summer pool in the spring, have a big effect on fishing. The lake is often muddy and unfishable in the early spring. This makes the tailwater a much more attractive alternative for muskie fishing at this time of year. Heavy discharges from the lake in the fall keep the tailwaters stocked with muskellunge as well. Another productive spot to try for muskellunge is the Green River tailwater just below Green River Lake, near Campbellsville off KY 55. The Tailwater Recreation Area gives anglers ample bank fishing opportunity and a boat ramp accommodates small boats, canoes and fishing kayaks. Anglers using a motorboat on the Green River Lake tailwater should be extremely careful as this section of the Green River contains riffles and shallow shoals. A canoe or fishing kayak would make a much better choice. For more information on floating the Green River Lake tailwater log on to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's webpage at fw.ky.gov, click on the "Fishing and Boating" tab, then the "Blue Water Trails" tab. Shad-colored jerkbaits draw strikes from Green River muskellunge in the deep holes that have woody structure in them. Live small bluegills or shad worked in the same areas also work well. The area immediately below Green River Lake is relatively small and would be an excellent spot to live bait fish for muskellunge from the bank. "Whether you use live or artificial baits, if you plan to release your muskellunge, handle them as little as possible and release them back into the water as quickly as you can," said Gerry Buynak, assistant director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. Remember the current license year expires Feb. 29. If you plan to fish after March 1, you'll need to buy a new fishing license, available in the sporting goods section of department stores and tackle shops. You may buy one by visiting the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife homepage at fw.ky.gov or by calling 1-877-598-2401.
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Post by Press Release on Feb 23, 2012 17:04:34 GMT -5
Ky Afield Outdoors: March Fishing Madness Sauger Readily Bite In The Cold Water Of Late Winter And Early Spring Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Water temperatures in Kentucky rivers hovering in the high 30s to low 40s do not inspire confidence that it is a great time to go fishing. However, for Kentucky sauger anglers, right now is glory time. "I fished below Lock and Dam 6 on the Kentucky River last Saturday and I caught 12 sauger," said Ryan Oster, federal aid coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "The fish are there. The better fish I caught farther downstream from the dam." A five year stocking program commenced in 2006 placed hundreds of thousands of fingerling sauger in the Kentucky River from Lock and Dam 4 upstream to the headwaters. Excellent sauger fishing is now found throughout the river. The next few weeks bring sauger below locks and dams not only on the Kentucky River, but the Ohio River, the Cumberland River below Lake Cumberland, the Tennessee River below Kentucky Lake and the Cumberland River below Lake Barkley. These areas offer anglers bank fishing opportunity as well as fishing from a boat. Sauger hit orange, chartreuse, lime-green, white or pink curly-tailed grubs and soft plastic minnow imitators fished on the bottom just below these dams. Depending on current, you'll need anywhere from a 1/4-ounce leadhead up to an ounce or more. If your lure isn't regularly contacting bottom, then you likely aren't catching sauger. In addition to soft plastic lures rigged on leadheads, walleye fishing tactics using a spinner rig work for late winter sauger in the deep holes below dams. The combination of bright plastic beads, a rotating blade, and a lively minnow is hard for sauger to resist. In turbid waters fish orange, yellow, white, chartreuse, pink or other bright-colored bead and blade combinations for added visibility. Spinner rigs are easy to tie and inexpensive to make. Start with a three-to-four-foot piece of 10-pound test monofilament or fluorocarbon line. Tie on a single #4 walleye hook to the end of the leader with a clinch knot. Thread two or three 5mm beads on the leader and slide them down to the hook. Sometimes anglers thread a small foam float (5/16 wide by 11/16 inches long) on the leader to make the rig more buoyant, so the hook is less likely to snag on the bottom. Next, slip a stainless steel clevis through the eye of a blade and thread the leader through the small openings on both ends of the clevis. Slide the spinner blade assembly down the line so that it comes to rest against the beads or float. The final step is to cut the leader to the desired length and tie a loop knot on the free end of the leader. Experiment with color, blade size and style, either Colorado or Indiana, to find out which rig is most effective on a given day. Attach the rig to the snap at the top of the bottom bouncer. When fishing in rivers in the spring about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2ounces of lead is heavy enough to keep your rig on the bottom in moderate current. Fishing success is all about presentation. Motor upstream to the dam, then let the boat drift through the area you want to fish. By keeping the weight in contact with the bottom, the baited rig will drift just a few inches off the bottom, the depth needed to entice a bite from bottom-hugging sauger. Over the next few years, Kentuckians may catch sauger in the Green River downstream of Green River Lake, in the Salt River below Taylorsville Lake and in the middle stretch of the Barren River. The fisheries division of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife stocked 188,000 fingerling sauger in the Green River, 32,000 in the Salt River and 50,000 in the Barren River over the past two years. "We hope to establish a viable reproducing population of sauger in these rivers," said Gerry Buynak, assistant director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "We hope to have sauger fishing right in downtown Bowling Green." Remember the current license year expires Feb. 29. If you plan to fish after March 1, you'll need to buy a new fishing license, available in the sporting goods section of department stores and tackle shops. You may buy one by visiting the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife homepage at fw.ky.gov or by calling 1-877-598-2401.
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Post by Press Release on Mar 6, 2012 19:22:36 GMT -5
March Fishing Madness – White Bass Run Just Around The Corner Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Looking back at old photos from the 1950s and 1960s in Happy Hunting Ground magazine, the precursor of Kentucky Afield magazine, you see anglers wading in the Dix River in spring with strings of fat white bass tied to their belts. The spring white bass runs in the headwaters of Lake Herrington and up into the Dix River drew anglers from all over central Kentucky and beyond when the dogwoods bloomed in late March and April. The drought years of the late 1980s and early 1990s impacted the strong spring flow that white bass need to spawn. White bass populations all over the South declined, precipitously in some waters. Herrington Lake was one of those waters where white bass populations fell dramatically. By the late 1990s and the early 2000s, the famous white bass runs dwindled to a shell of their former greatness. The population bottomed out, but once regular spring tides returned, so did the white bass runs. “There are now fantastic white bass at Herrington,” said Kathryn Emme, assistant central district fisheries biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “We see many fish from 14 to 16 inches. The Herrington Lake white bass are bigger and better than most of our lakes in our region, except Taylorsville.” Anglers targeting white bass in Herrington may launch at Bryant’s Camp Boat Ramp and continue upstream until the lake returns to the rocky pool and riffle of the Dix River. They may encounter white bass jumping anywhere in this stretch. White bass showed up in Taylorsville Lake in the early 1990s. They didn’t appear in the early years of the lake, but now they make one of the strongest spring runs in Kentucky. “We saw some dandy white bass in Taylorsville, up to 16 inches long and healthy,” Emme said. “The run up the Salt River should be strong this spring if everything cooperates.” Boating anglers after Taylorsville Lake white bass may launch at the Van Buren Boat Ramp and continue upstream. Bank anglers may use the Palmer Road access off Pleasant Grove Ridge Road via KY 248. They may also access the river at the KY 248 Bridge. Both of these access points lie inside the Taylorsville Lake Wildlife Management Area. The spring white bass run into the headwaters of Nolin River Lake is arguably the best in Kentucky. The lake holds high numbers of 12- to 16-inch fish. The section from the Broad Ford boat ramp all the way upstream to KY 224 Bridge at Millerstown is highly productive. Anglers may bank access the Nolin River Lake headwater at the Bacon Creek Boat Ramp and also at the Broad Ford Bridge on KY 1214. Boaters venturing upstream of the Bacon Creek Boat Ramp must tread carefully as Nolin River Lake quickly becomes the Nolin River, full of rocks, riffles and shallow shoals. Other waters in Kentucky offer productive spring white bass fishing. A stocking program begun in 2006 placed tens of thousands of white bass into the Kentucky River. They congregate in spring below locks and dams on the river with some fish up to 12 inches long. The fisheries division of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife recently received reports of white bass showing up below locks and dams in the lower sections of Green River. The tailwaters of Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley also have good spring white bass fishing. The upper end of Cave Run Lake will have excellent white bass fishing this spring with many fish 12 to 14 inches long with some fish longer than 16 inches. Fisheries biologists witnessed more white bass in Cave Run Lake this past fall than in the past 15 years. Be careful boating in the upper ends of this lake as it contains significant amounts of submerged timber. With water temperatures pushing up through the 50 degree mark, the spring white bass runs are right at the doorstep. “With the warm winter we’ve had, the runs are probably going to be early this year,” explained Emme. “They could start soon.” When white bass make their spring spawning runs and show up in numbers, the fishing is practically non-stop. They churn the water surface from bank to bank when they get into the “jumps” and gorge on baitfish. Any lure cast into this frothy water gets immediately crushed, hence the extreme popularity of white bass fishing in spring. White bass hit small topwaters such as shad-colored propeller baits, chuggers and popping baits. They also strike small silver casting sthingys, chrome lipless crankbaits and white or chartreuse in-line spinners. The most reliable and versatile lure is an old standby: a white 3-inch curly-tailed grub rigged on a ¼-ounce leadhead. A little heavier leadhead gives an angler extra casting distance. When you encounter a school of marauding white bass, work the grub near the surface first. If no fish strike, let the lure sink a few feet before retrieving. Check out our other features of the March Fishing Madness Kickoff on a new page at the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov. If you plan to fish, you’ll need to buy a new 2012 Kentucky fishing license, available in the sporting goods section of department stores and tackle shops. You may also buy one by visiting the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife homepage at fw.ky.gov or by calling 1-877-598-2401.
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Post by Press Release on Mar 26, 2012 16:32:39 GMT -5
March Fishing Madness Survey Finds Fishing In Neighborhoods (FINs) Program Popular Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - A recent survey conducted at eight Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINs) lakes across Kentucky found the program both popular and helpful in recruiting new anglers. “Feedback has been positive,” said Fisheries Biologist Dane Balsman, who manages the program for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “About 85 percent of the anglers surveyed rated their overall fishing trip satisfaction as good or excellent.” The FINs program, which started in 2006 with five pilot lakes, now includes 35 lakes in 22 counties, with the addition of Madisonville City Park Lake this spring. The 14-acre impoundment in Hopkins County brings the total acreage enrolled in the program to 194.5. Other encouraging findings from the survey were that 10 percent of anglers had never previously bought a fishing license and 25 percent had not bought a fishing license the previous year. “Through the program, we are retaining previous license buyers and recruiting new ones,” said Balsman. “That’s one of our goals.” Fishing license sales, excise taxes on fishing equipment and a 25 percent in-kind match from local governments fund the FINs program and annual stockings of fish. Creating good fishing opportunities close to cities is a main goal of the program. Balsman said about 2.2 million people, or about half of Kentucky’s population, live in the 22 counties where the FINs lakes are located. This year the plan is to stock more than 230,000 fish -- 132,500 nine- to 12-inch rainbow trout and 98,650 12- to 16-inch catfish. These fish are large enough to be harvested at the time they are stocked. The special creel and size limits in effect on the FINs lakes spread out fish harvest, providing fishing opportunities for the maximum number of anglers. The standardized regulations of all 35 FINs lakes include a daily limit of five rainbow trout with no minimum size limit and a daily limit of four channel and blue catfish with no minimum size limit. There is a one-fish daily limit on largemouth bass with a 15-inch minimum size limit and a 15-fish daily limit on bluegill and other sunfish with no minimum size limit. Next spring, anglers will have a new fish to add to their stringers. “From our survey we found that a lot of anglers like to catch sunfish, so we’re adding hybrid bluegill to the stocking plan,” said Balsman. “It’s a sterile, fast-growing cross between a bluegill and a green sunfish. Production has already started at the Pfeiffer Hatchery.” The hybrid bluegills will be stocked beginning next spring on a lake-by-lake basis with some fish held in reserve for special events. Despite all the successes, the future poses some challenges for the FINs program. “We’re close to the saturation point on the number of lakes we can have in the program,” said Balsman. “This is because we’re near capacity for the number of fish we can produce at our hatcheries.” For more detailed information on Kentucky’s FINs program, including lake maps and directions, fish stocking schedules and fishing regulations, visit the department’s website at fw.ky.gov and click onto the “Fishing in Neighborhoods” logo. Check out our other features of the March Fishing Madness Kickoff on a new page at the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov. If you plan to fish, you’ll need to buy a new 2012 Kentucky fishing license, available in the sporting goods section of department stores and tackle shops. You may also buy one by visiting the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife homepage at fw.ky.gov or by calling 1-877-598-2401.
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Post by Press Release on Mar 29, 2012 17:39:49 GMT -5
March Fishing Madness Spring The Best Time For Trophy Largemouth Bass Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - It's the mouth that gets you. You hook a huge largemouth bass and all you can see is a giant, angry shaking mouth. The size of the mouth lets you know this bass is one of the top ones you've ever hooked. You realize the giant, gaping shaking bucket with your lure impaled in it is the biggest you've seen. This can cause dry mouth, uncontrollable shaking and panic. One of my best friends hooked his biggest largemouth bass many years ago while fishing from the bank of a small pond in spring. When the 23-inch bass jumped and showed his outsized mouth, my buddy took off running in a blind panic. He pulled that bass over some brush and up on the bank like the fish was tethered to a jet taking off. After I grabbed the fish for him and offered congratulations, he stood there with an impish grin on his face, shaking and in mild shock. This is the best time of the year for you to have one of those experiences that hooks you to bass fishing for the rest of your life. Trophy largemouth bass are on the prowl now. "They are actively feeding now to get ready for the spawn," said Gerry Buynak, assistant director of fisheries for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "They need metabolic energy for egg development and for the rigors of spawning." Female bass make up a large proportion of trophy largemouth bass. Prior to spawning in March and into April in a typical year, the female bass weigh considerably more than at any other time of year. "A normal 6 pound female largemouth bass would weigh 7 and one-half pounds just prior to spawning," said Jeff Ross, assistant director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "The eggs make up about 25 percent of their weight during pre-spawn and the eggs are at their densest just prior to the spawn. If you are after a trophy largemouth bass, right now is the best time to try." Buynak, who once served as black bass biologist as did Ross after him, said largemouth bass should be nudging their way to backs of creeks and coves in reservoirs. "Judging by my fruit trees, we are at least three weeks early this year from the unusually warm spring," he said. Try large baits in these shallow areas. "You need to use big baits right now because all of the forage is big," Ross explained. "They also want their greatest nutrient boost for the effort and you get that with larger forage." Spinnerbaits, jig and trailer combinations and shad imitating swimbaits all work well right now for largemouth bass. A recent club tournament on Lake Kincaid produced seven largemouth bass over 18 inches long with the biggest fish weighing nearly 6 pounds. A black and blue jig and trailer or a black/blue chatterbait fooled all of these fish. You may want to plan a trip to Lake Beshear near Dawson Springs for largemouth bass soon. Bass tournament catch data compiled by black bass research biologist Chris Hickey shows it takes the least amount of fishing hours to catch a largemouth bass over 5 pounds at Lake Beshear. Lake Beshear also has the heaviest average winning tournament weight at just over 21 pounds. Lake Beshear also is second behind Cedar Creek Lake in the average size of bass weighed in at slightly over 3 pounds. Cedar Creek Lake's average tournament bass weighs 4.64 pounds, but the lake also has a 20-inch minimum size limit. Barren River Lake ranked second in average winning weight at just above 17 pounds, just ahead of Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. These two lakes also rank third and fourth in the average weight per bass in the compiled tournament data as well as hours of fishing needed to catch a bass over 5 pounds. You don't need an expensive boat, or any boat at all, to catch a trophy bass at this time of year. Bank fishing can provide you with trophy bass right now if you choose wisely. The back ends of small coves on the main lake or major creek arms hold big bass right now. If the bass haven't moved to the back of them, the smaller coves allow you to easily access points on the major creek arms or the main lake via a short walk. Farm ponds are another option if you don't own a boat. They heat up quicker in spring than big lakes, and you can usually fish nearly all of an average-sized pond from the bank. A 1/8-ounce double-bladed white spinnerbait is a tough lure to beat as is a Texas-rigged pumpkinseed lizard with a chartreuse tail. Check out our other features of the March Fishing Madness Kickoff on a new page at the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov. If you plan to fish, you'll need to buy a new 2012 Kentucky fishing license, available in the sporting goods section of department stores and tackle shops. You may buy one by visiting the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife homepage at fw.ky.gov or by calling 1-877-598-2401.
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Post by Press Release on Apr 3, 2012 14:59:50 GMT -5
New Wildlife Management Area In Union County To Open For Spring Turkey Season Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Hunters have a new area in western Kentucky to pursue wild turkeys this spring. The 2,500-acre Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area and State Forest in Union County opened to the public today. This unique wildlife management area (WMA) and state forest is located at the Tradewater River's confluence with the Ohio River near Sturgis. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources jointly manages this new area with the Kentucky Division of Forestry. "Hunters, anglers and people who appreciate unique areas with a diversity of wildlife will make this a destination location," said Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Jon Gassett. "People will enjoy visiting Big Rivers for generations to come." Kentucky's youth-only turkey season is April 7-8. The statewide wild turkey season runs from April 14 through May 6. Hunters and visitors to the area will find upland hardwoods, bottomlands and an uncommon forest type in Kentucky: post oak flatwoods. Big Rivers, which was previously managed as a sustainable forest, is primarily wooded with a good number of mast-producing trees. Approximately 600 acres of the open fields will be planted with corn and soybean crops; several wildlife habitat improvement projects will also begin this year on the property. Big Rivers is an important area for federally-endangered bats and mussels. Migrating waterfowl use the area when coming through the state. Hunters should note the area includes excellent numbers of deer, squirrels and turkey. "The turkey numbers are great; the toms are out in the fields strutting now," said Wildlife Regional Coordinator Scott Harp. "It should be an awesome experience for the kids during youth-only season." Deer hunting on the property will include the statewide archery and crossbow seasons, youth firearms seasons and a quota firearms hunt on the weekend of Nov.10-11. Furbearer trapping will be by permit only. Big Rivers will be open under statewide seasons for all other species. Access to the area is available off KY 1508 in the northern section of the WMA. Locust Lick Road and Lover's Lane Road branch off of KY 1508 and lead to the interior of the area. Access beyond gated areas on these roads is by foot only. Visitors also have the option to access southern portions of the WMA via boat on the Tradewater and Ohio rivers. The WMA has a boat ramp located in the northeast corner of the property off Tradewater Road. A second Voluntary Public Access ramp is located approximately 200 yards east of the first ramp. Visitors can also use another ramp located at the end of KY 1508. This provides access to the Ohio River just upstream of the property. Some areas of the property are steep. No area on the property is more than a mile away from an access point, either along a road or by the river. A map of the area is available online at fw.ky.gov. In addition to hunting, Big Rivers will provide public recreational opportunities for fishing, hiking, canoeing and wildlife viewing. The entire property was purchased in early 2009 by an investment fund managed by The Forestland Group with cooperation from The Conservation Fund and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. The Forestland Group's investment fund purchase enabled Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and the Kentucky Division of Forestry to acquire the property. State Forestry and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife assembled nearly $6.7 million to purchase the property. Kentucky's congressional delegation helped secure $3.25 million in federal money through the U.S. Forest Service's Forest Legacy Program, the most significant share of the project. The necessary non-federal matching funds were supplied from a variety of sources. The Nature Conservancy, one of the nation's largest environmental non-profit organizations, assisted in obtaining funds from Duke Energy and the Crounse Corporation. Duke Energy, a generator and distributor of electric power and natural gas, provided $1.75 million. Its funds became available as part of a consent decree requiring it to fund supplemental environmental mitigation projects. Crounse Corporation, an industry leader in river transportation, contributed $50,000. The Kentucky Division of Forestry utilized $1 million of its Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Funds. These funds are derived from nature license plate sales, environmental fines and a portion of the unmined minerals tax. The Indiana Bat Conservation Fund supplied $580,000 because this forested tract provides valuable habitat for this federally-endangered species. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife paid the various administrative fees.
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Post by Press Release on Apr 6, 2012 11:51:39 GMT -5
Kentucky Gaining National Visibility In Fish And Wildlife Management Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Working together is working well for Kentucky. Today, Kentucky’s sole source for 1 million trout stocked each year remains operational despite federal budget cutbacks. A 2,500-acre tract of land along the Ohio River opened to the public this week, thanks to partnerships between the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, other state and federal agencies, and private organizations. “Kentuckians know that working together as a team is a winning combination,” said Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Dr. Jon Gassett. “Stronger partnerships and better relations between state and federal agencies can produce results.” Gassett is raising Kentucky’s profile on the national level by serving this year as president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. During the week of March 19, Dan Ashe, the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, accepted Gassett’s invitation to visit Kentucky. “(Gassett) had the idea that we should shadow one another, to hopefully better understand and appreciate what each of us, and our respective agencies, do day-in-and-day-out,” Ashe wrote in his blog. “It was a wonderful experience.” Ashe’s stops included the Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery near Jamestown. It was the first time a sitting director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had visited the facility. “While we were touring, no fewer than five KDFWR (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources) trucks were loading up trout for KDFWR’s Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINs) program,” Ashe blogged. Gassett used the visit to continue his three-year campaign to keep the federal hatchery open in the face of federal cutbacks. Ashe noted in his blog that seeing the hatchery in operation made him feel good about efforts to find alternative funding for its continued operation. Gassett said the visit enabled face-to-face conversations about issues critical to the department, including the spread of Asian carp, the need for funding through the State Wildlife Grants program, continued funding for land acquisition and the protection of endangered species. On-site visits helped emphasize these points. “We took him from the far western end of the state to see nesting locations of endangered interior least terns to eastern Kentucky to meet with representatives from the coal industry to discuss endangered species,” said Gassett. “He also had the opportunity to view our elk and attend one of our strategic planning town hall meetings with the public.” During the four-day whirlwind tour, Ashe also viewed the site of a proposed wildlife refuge in the Green River area; flew over active and reclaimed coal mining sites; attended a Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting; and saw the newly-opened Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area and State Forest near Sturgis. In the past two years, Gassett’s efforts at the national level have also helped Kentucky land $8.3 million for the Big Rivers acquisition through the Forest Legacy Program of the U.S. Forest Service. The Kentucky project ranked fourth in the country in 2011, but rose to first nationally this year. Helping people find public places to hunt, fish and enjoy the outdoors through land acquisition is a long-term goal of the commissioner. “You have to have a global view of fish and wildlife management,” Gassett explained. “You have to think big to do big things. You can’t just be satisfied with the here and now – you have to think five, 10 years into the future and beyond.” With that goal in mind, Gassett works to help shape and influence national policy, whether it’s meeting with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, members of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Director Ashe or members of Congress. At this level, Gassett aggressively pursues each year robust funding for fish and wildlife conservation in a variety of federal programs. Gassett’s recent efforts at the national level are an evolution of his past leadership positions in regional organizations and committee assignments on behalf of state fish and wildlife agencies. At each level, he has consistently realized the importance of states working together for a common goal. “United We Stand is not just Kentucky’s state motto,” he said. “It’s a philosophy for success.”
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Post by Press Release on Apr 6, 2012 12:00:21 GMT -5
KY Afield Outdoors: Perfect Timing For Turkey Season Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Kentucky's spring wild turkey season has been so successful the past 15 years in part because of the timing of opening day. "I think we've accomplished our goal of having a productive season in a relatively short time frame," said Steven Dobey, wild turkey program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "We've hit that window between the onset of breeding and nesting." Kentucky's statewide spring turkey season opens every year on the Saturday closest to April 15 and lasts for 23 days. This year, the season dates are April 14 through May 6, 2012. The turkey hatch peaks in late May or June, weeks after hunting has concluded. "Our flock is stable, with a population estimate of about 250,000 birds," said Dobey. "Geographically, Kentucky is in a great location. We have relatively mild winters, a long growing season and a fairly dry early summer, all of which benefit turkeys." The harvest of turkeys during the spring season has grown steadily in the past 15 years, from 13,606 in 1996 to 32,191 in 2011. "Our stocking efforts have paid off and in the early years we had a conservative harvest strategy that's really paying dividends now," said Dobey. "Statewide, our turkey population is in excellent shape." Kentucky Fish and Wildlife released 6,760 wild turkeys on 430 sites across the state from 1978 through 1997. Restoration was completed in 1997, when Kentucky's wild turkey population had increased to around 130,000 birds. Hunters bagged over 30,000 turkeys for two consecutive years for the first time starting in 2010, when there was a record harvest of 36,097 birds. Dobey said he believes last year's spring harvest of 32,191 would have been higher, possibly setting a new record, if the weather had cooperated. "About 58 percent of the harvest occurs during the two-day youth-only season and the first week of our statewide season," said Dobey. Weather is the one factor that biologists can't control. "We keep our fingers crossed every year. If it's sunny on opening weekend, we'll have a higher harvest," said Dobey. "Last season we had heavy rains across most of the state, and the opening weekend harvest dropped 27.1 percent from the previous year." This season hunters are likely to encounter fewer juvenile gobblers while afield. The weather had an adverse impact on last year's reproduction. The statewide brood survey for 2011 showed a 42 percent decline in the number of hens observed with at least one poult (young turkey). Statewide, the average number of poults per hen dropped to roughly one and a half. "Western and central Kentucky appear to have had a little better reproductive success than the rest of the state," said Dobey. "The birds that nested the earliest were significantly impacted by the heavy rains and flooding." Hunters could see fewer older gobblers, too, this coming season. The good news, however, is there will be lots of two-year-old birds which do most of the gobbling. Kentucky's turkey flock is arguably the best in the region. Based on the number of birds taken per square mile, Kentucky has a higher harvest than six of the seven adjoining states -- Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Missouri and Illinois. "We're on par with Tennessee," said Dobey, "but our season is half as long as Tennessee's, and our bag limit is half theirs." Dobey said Kentucky has about 90,000 turkey hunters. Of the successful hunters, about 25 percent take the season limit of two birds in the spring. Most of the birds harvested are adults. "Last season 16.7 percent of the birds taken were juveniles (jakes)," said Dobey. "With the impressive statewide flock in Kentucky hunters are able to be selective, and key on older birds."
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Post by Press Release on Apr 12, 2012 17:34:53 GMT -5
KY Afield Outdoors: Don't Feed Bears Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - When black bears emerge from their dens in eastern Kentucky, they have food and companionship on their minds. "They haven't eaten in three to four months," said Steven Dobey, bear biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources."After a couple of weeks they really work up an appetite." Bears prefer natural foods but in April and May those foods are few and far between. Bears feed on greenery and insects such as grubs until berries begin to ripen later in the summer. Male bears do a lot of traveling, which continues throughout the breeding season in June, and increases the chances for human-bear interactions. About 70 percent of nuisance bear complaints are directly related to bears getting into somebody's garbage."In Kentucky, it's illegal to feed bears intentionally or unintentionally," said Dobey. "Feeding a bear will cause it to lose its natural fear of humans. A bear that is acclimated to people is more likely to be euthanized than relocated. Avoid making bears a nuisance. Don't feed bears."Landowners in bear country can take some simple precautions to prevent problems."You have to eliminate the lure," said Dobey."Keep the garbage away from the house and preferably store it in a bear-resistant container." Food scraps, pet food, even seed in bird feeders, can attract hungry bears looking for an easy meal. "Don't leave garbage outside on the porch overnight. Instead, wait until the morning of the pick-up to put it outside. Avoid throwing food scraps outside to feed wildlife or pets," said Dobey. If camping, picnicking, hiking or fishing, food should be stored in the trunk when vehicles are left unattended. "Don't leave it on the seat or floorboard or you risk damage to your vehicle," said Dobey. Adult male bears roam far and wide after they emerge from their dens."At approximately 14 months of age, yearling bears are kicked out by the mother and go out on their own to establish a home range ," said Dobey."It is not uncommon for sub-adult males, which tend to roam more extensively than adults, to have home ranges greater than 70,000 acres in size." Reports of bear sightings and nuisance complaints are received from as far north as Greenup County and as far west as Laurel County. Complaints also generate from Kentucky's southeastern border with West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee. "A majority of our bear reports come from five counties: Harlan, Letcher, Pike, McCreary, and Bell," said Dobey. To prevent being one of those bear reports, follow these simple precautions and keep bears in the woods where they belong.
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Post by Press Release on Apr 13, 2012 17:18:27 GMT -5
Tim Farmer Archery Classic Set For May 19-20 In Frankfort Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - The 17th annual Tim Farmer Archery Classic will be held May 19-20 at the headquarters of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources in Frankfort. Tim Farmer, host of the department's popular "Kentucky Afield" television show, will attend. "Competition will be in 12 classes for men, women and youth," Farmer said. "We welcome NASP (National Archery in the Schools Program) shooters and their families." Registration for the weekend target archery shoot is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on both days. Archers should register in the classroom building, located on the grounds of the department headquarters, two miles west of Frankfort on U.S. 60. The cost to shoot is $15 for an adult and free for youths 12 years of age and under. The top finishers in each class will receive cash or trophy prizes. Archers in the competition will shoot at three-dimensional (3D) foam animal targets at varying distances. Farmer said 3-D shoots are good practice for bow hunting. "They help archers learn to judge distances and reward proper arrow placement with high scores," he explained. The event is sponsored by the Christian Archers of Kentucky, an archery club headquartered in Nicholasville.
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Post by Press Release on Apr 27, 2012 4:42:59 GMT -5
Deadline To Apply For A Kentucky Elk Hunt Is April 30 Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
The deadline to apply for Kentucky's hunt of a lifetime is fast approaching. Hunters have until midnight (Eastern time) April 30 to apply for a Kentucky elk hunt. The quota hunt drawing for an elk permit is open to residents and non-residents. Kentucky will issue 900 general quota hunt permits this year, an increase of 100 permits over the 2011 season. Kentucky's elk herd is expected to surpass 10,000 animals by fall. While there's no sure thing in hunting, Kentucky does offer phenomenal odds for hunters. "Kentucky's success rate for hunters is higher than you'll see for wild elk practically anywhere else," noted Tina Brunjes, deer and elk program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "If hunters put in a little effort, they will see elk. If they put in a little more effort, they will take an elk." Last year, 93 percent of bull elk hunters using a firearm were successful. Even when using more challenging archery equipment, 68 percent of hunters took their bull. Thirty-seven percent of cow elk archery hunters were successful in 2011, but the success rate climbed to 73 percent for cow elk hunters using a firearm. Brunjes said 2012 will be a superb season for hunters wishing to put the highest quality meat on their family's table. "We had no real winter and no shortage of groceries for the animals," she said. "We should be set up for big, healthy animals coming into the hunting season – and a lot of them." Kentucky has more elk than all the states east of the Mississippi River combined. The state's 16-county elk restoration zone encompasses more than 4 million acres, nearly twice the size of Yellowstone National Park. More than half a million acres are open to public hunting for elk in Kentucky. Hunters can select from among four different elk permits: Firearms bull, archery bull, firearms cow elk or archery cow elk. While hunters may apply for two different permits, they can only be drawn for one of those permits. Each application costs $10. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife will issue 135 permits to hunt a bull with a firearm through the general quota hunt this season. The department will issue 90 bull archery permits, 265 cow elk archery permits and 410 cow elk gun permits. A separate youth-only drawing will allow five young hunters to take a bull or a cow. Demand is highest for the bull firearms hunts. Cow elk archery hunts are in the lowest demand, meaning this permit offers a hunter the best odds of being drawn. Hunters may only apply online. Visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov for more information and to apply.
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Post by Press Release on Apr 27, 2012 12:30:40 GMT -5
Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Stream Team Offers Landowners Assistance For Eroding And Unstable Streams Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Thousands of landowners in five eastern Kentucky counties are receiving notices in the mail from the "Stream Team." The mailer comes from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, which is offering to repair unstable or eroding streams at no cost. "Unstable stream banks erode valuable soil and property," said Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Jon Gassett. "Costly problems like bank erosion can – and should – be repaired. The Stream Team program is a valuable tool that can be used make these repairs at no cost to landowners." While any stream in Kentucky can be considered for the program, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is making a special effort in Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Martin and Pike counties. The funds come exclusively from the Stream and Wetland Mitigation Fund. No general fund tax dollars or hunting/fishing license money will be used. The Mitigation Fund is a trust that was created solely to improve local streams throughout Kentucky. "Small streams are a very important part of Kentucky waterways and its fisheries," said Ron Brooks, director of the Fisheries Division. "We are excited to have a program that brings together working lands and clean water." There are criteria that have to be met. For example, the streams must be at least 1,000 feet long with banks that are eroding or unstable, and both sides of the stream must be available for repairs. In addition, project sites cannot be mined or have oil and gas activities along the stream. Any landowner who did not receive a notice from Kentucky Fish and Wildlife may still be eligible. For more information, including additional requirements, visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov and look under the "Habitat Improvement" tab. Landowners also may contact B.J. Jamison with the "Stream Team," at (502) 564-9802 or by email: bj.jamison@ky.gov.
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Post by Press Release on Apr 29, 2012 6:27:57 GMT -5
Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Get Your Spinning Reel Back In Shape Quickly Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - A group of old friends of mine gets together every spring for a fishing trip in March or April, usually to Kentucky Lake. After our first day of fishing on our recent trip, one of the friends asked for help with a balky spinning reel. The handle was "loosey-goosey," along with a floppy rotor that holds the reel bail assembly. He considered retiring this reel for a new one, but a few minutes of work made the reel sing like new. Spinning reel handles loosen with use, especially if you catch a lot of fish. The screw holding the handle in place backed off a little over time and made the handle wobbly. The screw lies opposite the side of the handle, under a threaded cap that keeps water and grime out of the handle assembly and reel. On some reels, especially Shimanos, the screw holding the handle in place is embedded in the threaded cap. Periodically tighten this screw or the threaded cap. The loose rotor that holds the reel bail assembly took a few minutes to fix. The culprit was a loose nut on the bottom of the spool shaft. Loosen the drag on the front of the reel spool continually until the drag assembly comes off the spool shaft. Then, pull the spool off the shaft. The nut at the bottom of the spool shaft keeps the rotor tight. This nut often loosens, especially when playing large fish. Use an open-end or crescent wrench to tighten this nut, although pliers will suffice in a pinch. Some reel models have a screw in the rotor to keep this nut in place, but the screw can loosen over time along with the nut. Make sure to lightly oil the spool shaft before replacing the spool. Problems such as these often arise after the first couple fishing trips of the year. After a long winter, a spinning reel can sometimes feel like the Sandman used the reel last fall. It feels gritty and sluggish when you turn the reel handle. A catch can develop that ruins a rhythmic retrieve. Reel grease and reel oil applied in the correct places will fix these problems. An old egg carton makes a great holder for reel parts removed for maintenance. Nothing is as frustrating as trying to find a tiny screw in berber carpet. In the last decade or so, some new reel oils and greases entered the market that form a molecular bond with the metals they contact. I highly recommend these new high tech lubricants as they make on old reel feel like it just came from the box. However, they cost twice as much as traditional reel oil and grease. Don't use cheap household oil as it thickens and hardens much quicker than reel oil. The first thing to do is remove the spool. Clean the spool shaft and the inside bottom of the spool with a cotton rag or oiled ear swab. Apply a light coat of reel oil to the spool shaft. Some reels have a small bearing assembly on the bottom of the spool that goes around the spool shaft. Apply oil to this bearing. Don't forget to apply a few drops of oil to the roller bearing on the bail that lays line on the spool. Also lubricate where the bail arm meets the rotor housing. Remove the handle to access the screws on the slide plate of the reel. Remove these small screws with gentle pressure as they easily strip. Make sure to note if the screws are of different length. Arrange them so you put the correct length screw in the correct hole when you reassemble the reel. After I fixed the one reel for my friend recently, he asked me to oil another reel for him. I didn't pay attention to the length of screws and put the longest screw in the wrong hole in the reel. The screw nearly poked out of the opposite side plate of the reel. Some reels also have a decorative plate that covers part of the back of the reel. This plate is usually held in place with a tiny screw and usually covers one of the side plate screws. Be careful not to lose it. After removing the screws, gently pry the side plate from the reel and remove it. You will see the large main gear with a bearing assembly on top it. Remove this bearing and drop it in lighter fluid or rubbing alcohol to dissolve sludgy oil, grease and other gunk. Clean the main gear, the worm gear in the bottom of the reel and the drive gear in the front with an old tooth brush and hot soapy water. Allow to dry. After drying, replace the bearing on top of the main gear and apply several drops of reel oil. Lightly grease the main gear, worm gear and drive gear. Don't over grease these parts. Too much grease makes a reel sluggish and attracts sand, dirt and other particles. Remember to always oil bearings and grease gears. Put the reel back together and place a few drops of oil on the handle shaft before replacing it. Some people try to see how long they can use fishing line before they respool the reel. This isn't a smart idea. Worn, sun-damaged, crinkly line will fail you when you need it most. Respool with fresh line several times a year and you'll land the big fish when it strikes instead of breaking it off. This goes for monofilament and fluorocarbon lines. Braided lines last a long time. Do these simple procedures and keep your old trusty reel working fine for many years.
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Post by Press Release on Apr 29, 2012 20:58:09 GMT -5
Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Importance of habitat to wildlife is fundamental Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - The importance of habitat to wildlife is fundamental. Habitat provides all the ingredients necessary for wildlife to live and thrive: food, water and the cover to escape predators while raising a family. The health and vigor of wildlife populations is often directly correlated to the quality of the habitat. "In good habitat, does breed at 1 1/2 years of age and have twins every year as an adult," said Tina Brunjes, deer program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "In poor habitat, does have smaller fawns and may have twins, but usually both don't survive." What makes good wildlife habitat? "If there's land in all stages of plant succession - mature forest, young forest, brush, and open land - in close proximity, there's good wildlife potential," said Ben Robinson, small game biologist for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "Cover is often the limiting factor. If you stop mowing and let an area grow up, the natural seed bank will provide plenty of food for wildlife." The amount and variety of food available has a direct impact on the number of animals that can be supported by the habitat. Along the Ohio River, and in southeastern Kentucky, where counties are heavily forested, deer are dependent on mast, such as acorns, as their main food source. "Hunters see more deer with fawns following a good mast crop and it's reflected in the harvest," said Brunjes. Some wildlife species have very specific habitat needs. A good example is the bald eagle, which now nests all across Kentucky. "Eagles typically nest close to water, where there's a good supply of fish," said Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Avian Biologist Kate Heyden, in a 2010 interview for Kentucky Afield magazine. "They make their nests in tall, old trees or snags." Because of the number of large reservoirs built statewide since the 1940s, eagle habitat is more widespread in Kentucky than during the 18th century pre-settlement era. This results in a wider distribution of eagles in Kentucky. The ruffed grouse and bobwhite quail are two upland game bird species whose populations in Kentucky have declined in recent decades due to a loss of habitat. The success of grouse is tied to early successional stages of growth in forests. As woodlands mature, it is harder for grouse to find the conditions they need. "Grouse prefer young forests, with a high stem density that provide food (seeds and berries) and nesting cover (underbrush)," said Robinson. "Our forests lack that component." The bobwhite quail is an iconic gamebird that requires grassland habitat. This is now absent from most of the state, a victim of changes in land use, farming practices and other factors. "Bobwhite recovery has always presented a unique challenge to biologists – changing the attitudes of people in order to effect the changes to the landscape that are necessary for the game bird's recovery," said Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Dr. Jon Gassett, a lifelong quail hunter. "Until we restore that habitat, the foothold of the quail will be tenuous at best " Other species are habitat "generalists," able to thrive in a variety of vegetative conditions. "The white-tailed deer is the poster child of habitat generalists," said Brunjes. "Deer can adapt to cities and suburbs, a mix of open land and woodlands, even swamps and sloughs. The only two places deer can't live year-round in Kentucky are a parking lot and in the middle of a lake. They are survivors and that's one of the challenges as a deer manager." During deer restoration, which ended in 1999, the strategy was to find a source of animals, live trap and relocate them. The amount of deer habitat available was never a question. For landowners there are many benefits to be derived from an active habitat management program. The conservation of soil and water; the creation of quality forage that boosts soil fertility and provides food for livestock; and the improvement of stands of hardwood timber all benefit wildlife and the landowner. Timber presents a renewable resource of great economic value. To fully reach the potential of wildlife habitat, it's important to develop a management plan, establish work projects and decide which wildlife species will be a priority in the management plan. Consult your local private lands wildlife biologist for advice and technical guidance on habitat improvements on your land. Visit the department's website at fw.ky.gov. Click on Maps and Online Services, then Other KDFWR Maps, then Wildlife Private Lands Biologists.
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Post by Press Release on May 4, 2012 17:46:17 GMT -5
Winners Of Kentucky Elk Hunt Lottery Announced Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Results of the Kentucky elk hunt lottery drawing are now available online at: fw.ky.gov/app/ElkQuotaLookup.aspxFinal results show that 33,675 people submitted an application for one of the 905 quota hunt permits to be issued by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources this year. Kentucky's hunt of a lifetime drew interest from hunters across the country, including three from Hawaii, 25 from Alaska, 24 from Maine and 59 from California. Hunters could apply for up to two permits. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife received 59,672 permit applications, meaning the majority of hunters applied more than once. The Kentucky Commonwealth Office of Technology conducted the drawing Thursday, May 3, using a random computer program. Hunters may visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website to check if they were drawn. Hunters must either enter their social security number, or their birth date and the 19-digit number they received while applying. Applicants should enter the information carefully to make sure they do not put in an incorrect number. Drawn hunters also will receive a notification letter from Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. Hunters have until July 1 to apply online for an Elk Hunting Unit (EHU). Kentucky's elk hunting zone is subdivided into units to help spread hunting pressure. A second drawing is conducted to determine an individual's hunting unit. Hunters should visit the department website for more information regarding hunting unit selection. The website also contains maps and additional information on public hunting lands within the elk zone.
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Post by Press Release on May 13, 2012 7:05:11 GMT -5
Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Blue Water Trails Kentucky River, Pool 4 Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - In 1780, several pioneers from Bryan Station camped on a gravel bar in a double bend in the Kentucky River, about a mile upstream from where a large buffalo trail crossed the river at Leestown. The pioneers were bound for Mann's Lick in Jefferson County to make salt. Their camping spot was a ford for crossing the river just upstream of the mouth of Benson Creek at Devil's Hollow in what is now Franklin County. A marauding band of Native Americans ambushed the campers, killing pioneer Stephen Frank. This shallow bar proved a popular crossing spot on the Kentucky River for travelers coming from Lexington bound for Louisville. The infamy of Frank's murder resonated with the early settlers and they began to call this crossing "Frank's Ford." The name stuck and the city that grew up around Frank's Ford is now the capital of Kentucky. Those who want to see the capital city from a unique perspective and enjoy the sights of the Kentucky River should plan to float Pool 4. This section of the river attracted some of the earliest settlers in Kentucky and holds the last of the soaring Kentucky River Palisades. Pool 4 also offers some of the more overlooked and productive fishing in central Kentucky for black bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish, white and hybrid striped bass and even huge muskellunge. Pool 4 offers two floats: the first is a 10.5 mile day-long float, while the second is a relaxing 4 mile paddle through the heart of Frankfort. The put-in for the first float is at Clifton Marina and Boat Ramp in Woodford County. From Versailles, take Clifton Road (KY 1964) to a left on Buck Run Road. The boat ramp lies before the marina (there is a membership fee to use this ramp). Paddle upstream (left from the ramp) to reach the tailwaters of Lock and Dam 5. This adds about 2 miles to the float, but the fishing is worth it. The rocky banks and bars below Lock and Dam 5 hold surprisingly large smallmouth bass. A black or pumpkinseed 3/16-ounce skirted grub worked along the rocky banks with current draws strikes from smallmouth. Some large hybrid-striped bass also live here. A 5-inch white curly-tailed grub rigged on a ¼-ounce leadhead worked in the foamy water draws strikes. A chicken liver suspended under a bobber and drifted in the current also works well for hybrids. Just downstream of the ramp after the river tuns left, a rocky outcrop at the mouth of Ross Run protrudes from the north bank on the right. A medium-running crawfish crankbait worked on this bar draws strikes from largemouth, spotted and occasionally smallmouth bass. As you float downstream, the river takes a hard left into Reindeer Lodge Bend. Soon, the rocky outcrop known as Lover's Leap comes into view on the left, towering above the mouth of Turkey Run. A little over a mile later, Little Benson Creek joins the Kentucky River on the left. The lower section of this creek makes a productive spot to throw a weightless white soft plastic jerkbait, rigged weedless on a wide gap worm hook. This lure is an excellent summer largemouth bass lure. Cast this presentation into fallen tree limbs and shoreline brush, then let it slowly flutter down into the cover. A slight jerk of the rod tip brings this lure back near surface to slowly fall again, driving any largemouth bass nearby to crush it. The mouth of Little Benson Creek holds crappie in spring as do the other smaller tributaries in Pool 4. These creek mouths also an occasional muskellunge. They also make good places to drift dead minnows or nightcrawlers for catfish. Just downstream of Little Benson Creek past the wiggle in the river known as Mulholland Bend are two rocky outcrops. One is on the right at the mouth of Bear Branch, while the other is just downstream on the left. Both of these would be good places to work the medium-running crankbait for bass. Glenn's Creek joins the Kentucky River on the right about two miles downstream of Mulholland Bend. Glenn's Creek is another great spot to work the soft-plastic jerkbait. Anglers may encounter smallmouth bass if they fish upstream of the slack water. The noise from the I-64 Bridge greets the ears of boaters by the time they reach Glenn's Creek, resonating in the deep gorge carved by the river in this area. The bridge lies just downstream of a left-hand bend. Just after the bridge, the Kentucky River makes a hard "S" shaped curve, beginning with a sharp bend to the left known as Big Eddy Bend. Big Eddy Bend created problems for loggers riding flatboats made of timber cut from the headwaters of the river. The nose of land jutting out into the river from the south bank created what loggers called a "whirl" and required skill to negotiate. The river turns gently to the right and the sound of traffic emanates from the KY 676 (East/West Connector) Bridge. The take-out is at Lee's Ramp on the left just downstream of the bridge. The south bank in the bend before the bridge has numerous rock slides that hold bass in summer. The put-in for the second 4-mile half-day float begins at Lee's Ramp and concludes at the Benson Creek Boat Ramp, taking the paddler through the heart of the state capital. The Kentucky State Capitol Building lies on the left early in this float. The Frankfort Cemetery sits atop the tall hill on the right, holding the bones of Daniel Boone. The houses of the South Frankfort neighborhood come into view as the river makes the sharp turn to the left, as well as the medieval castle architecture of the Kentucky Military History Museum. The U.S. 60 Bridge in downtown Frankfort meets the paddler, quickly followed by the St. Clair Street Bridge, known to locals as the "Singing Bridge." A large rocky bluff comes into view on the left with an outcrop that Frankfort residents called the Devil's Umbrella a century ago. The old stage coach road to Shelbyville and Louisville passed under this bluff. This is the general area of the old Frank's Ford at the mouth of Devil's Hollow. The U.S. 60 Bridge in downtown Frankfort meets the paddler, quickly followed by the St Clair Street Bridge, known to locals as the "Singing Bridge". The Frankfort Boat Ramp lies directly downstream of this bridge on the right, but has extremely limited parking. A large rocky bluff comes into view on the left. The old stage coach road to Shelbyville and Louisville passed under this bluff. This is the general area of the old Frank's Ford at the mouth of Devil's Hollow. Benson Creek lies on the left at the railroad bridge over the river. The State Office Tower comes into view on the right. Benson Creek Boat Ramp lies just upstream on the left with a mild carry and ample parking, making for a great take-out spot. If you float under the twin bridges for U.S. 127, you've floated too far. The extremely dangerous low-head dam for Lock and Dam 4 lies just downstream. The right bank of the river was the end of a long arduous journey for the loggers who floated logs from the headwaters of the Kentucky River in east Kentucky to sawmills in Frankfort. The State Office Tower and Capital Plaza Hotel lie in what was once known as Crawfish Bottom, or simply the Craw to Frankfort residents. The loggers would blow off steam in bars in the Craw for a few days of revelry and then walk back home. Benson Creek is a productive fishing creek for largemouth
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Post by Press Release on May 19, 2012 8:26:29 GMT -5
Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Leave Deer Fawns Alone Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - When someone finds a deer fawn curled up in high grass or hiding beneath the shrubbery of a home at the edge of the woods, it's often assumed that the fawn is abandoned. But David Yancy, a deer biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, explained that mother deer don't abandon their newborns. "The mother leaves the fawn often for hours at a time, between morning and evening nursing," said Yancy. "The doe stays away from the fawn because she doesn't want to attract attention to it. While she's away from her fawn she feeds and rests." Fawns are scentless at birth, and hide in grass and weeds, their spots helping to camouflage them. If the mother deer feels threatened by the approach of a human or a predator, she moves off, so the threatening presence will follow her and not endanger her fawn. Newborn deer remain bedded for the first few weeks of life until they are strong enough to run at their mother's side to escape predators. The doe is never far from her fawn. "The mother is likely in some nearby woods. She's definitely within earshot and will usually come running if the fawn bleats," said Yancy. Landowners are asked to leave deer fawns alone if they encounter one. "If you find one while mowing your hay field, pick it up and put it somewhere nearby where you won't be mowing. The mother will return and find it in the evening," said Yancy. The gestation period for white-tailed deer is about 200 days. Female deer bred in November drop their fawns in the period from late May to early July. The peak of births occurs in mid-June, prompting an increase in calls to the information center at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "Callers don't know what to do with the seemingly abandoned young deer. They don't realize the fawn has not been abandoned at all," said Yancy. "Some people who don't know better will pick them up." The worst thing you can do is to pick up the fawn and try to raise it on your own. Humans are poor substitutes for the fawn's natural mother. "It always ends badly for either the human or the deer," Yancy said. "It is also illegal. The only people who can have deer in captivity are rehabilitators or someone with a captive cervid permit." The cute baby deer that weighs 6 to 8 pounds in June will grow to 65 to 75 pounds by that fall and 125 pounds by the following summer. "By the next fall, the male deer are sexually mature," Yancy said. "They can hurt you. They start tearing up things, eating gardens and exhibiting other destructive behavior. They can seriously injure a person with their antlers and hooves. They are going to try to show you that they are dominant." The best thing a person can do if they encounter a baby deer on their property is to leave the fawn alone. Mother Nature will take care of young deer much better than humans can.
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Post by Press Release on May 21, 2012 19:49:24 GMT -5
Volunteer Instructors Sought For Explore Bowhunting Outdoor Education Program Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is looking for a few good instructors for its Explore Bowhunting outdoor education program. "We're looking for people who want to host the classes and teach the students," said Explore Bowhunting Coordinator Katie Haymes. "We'll review the curriculum and everyone will participate in some of the activities, demonstrating how beneficial they are to the students." Explore Bowhunting introduces participants to outdoor skills and topics including archery equipment, animal tracking, judging distance, animal anatomy, camouflage, scents and wildlife calls. These skills can be used for hunting, wildlife viewing, photography, filming or simply enjoying the outdoors. Explore Bowhunting's curriculum meets National Science Education Standards. "It has a well-written curriculum with flexibility that allows the class to fit the time frame available," said Haymes. "The program is about 22 hours long if done in full, but it can be shortened at the instructor's discretion." The program targets students 11 to 17 years of age, but it has shown success with elementary school classes and combined parent-student classes as well. Haymes said instructors can cater the class to any age group. The department is holding four workshops across Kentucky this summer for people interested in teaching the program. Two workshops are scheduled for May 24 and Aug.18 at Kentucky Fish and Wildlife headquarters in Frankfort. A third is set for June 28 at Western Kentucky University, and a fourth session is set for July 26 at location to be announced. All programs start at 4 p.m. local time. Sessions last about three to four hours. Representatives of schools, parks, scout troops, sportsman's clubs and people interested in mentoring will be provided with all the information they need to host and teach the classes For more information and to register for a workshop, please contact Katie Haymes at 1-800-858-1549, or go online to: www.fw.ky.gov/explorebowhunting.asp
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Post by Press Release on May 22, 2012 11:24:22 GMT -5
Free Fishing Weekend Provides Opportunities For Youngsters And Families June 2-3 Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Kentucky's Free Fishing Weekend, which began more than 30 years ago, offers youngsters and families an opportunity to try fishing at no cost on June 2-3. All anglers, both youngsters and adults, may fish without a license those two days. However, all anglers must still observe minimum size limits and creel limits. At several locations around the state, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has partnered with sportsmen's clubs, parks departments or other government agencies to provide a variety of fishing events and activities for new anglers. "Beginners can try out fishing and get some hands-on instruction at the free fishing events that weekend," said Marc Johnson, aquatic education administrator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "Many of the events on department-owned waters will be hosted by fisheries and law enforcement division employees." Most Kentucky State Resort Parks have fishing poles and tackle that is free for guests to use. The larger of the two fishing lakes at the campus of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife headquarters in Frankfort will receive a special stocking of fish for this event. The department's upper lake will receive up to 1,200 channel catfish weighing 1 to 10 pounds, and approximately 20 largemouth bass weighing between 2 to 4 pounds. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife headquarters is located off U.S.60, approximately 1½ miles west of Frankfort. The large upper lake will be closed to all fishing Friday, June 1. However, the lake will reopen to youth anglers under the age of 16 from 5 to 8 p.m. that day. The lake will open to youth anglers only from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday, June 2. After 11 a.m., the lake will be open to all anglers. The smaller fishing lake, located closest to U.S. 60, will remain open to all anglers during daylight hours. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife employees will be roaming the banks to provide advice and assistance to anglers. "We will have limited fishing equipment to loan on Saturday morning," added Johnson. "We suggest anglers bring rods and reels, if they have them. Anglers should also bring bait. We recommend redworms and wax worms." Anglers squeamish about baiting hooks with worms can instead use cheese, corn, small pieces of hot dogs and balls of compressed bread to catch catfish.
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Post by Press Release on May 24, 2012 22:09:20 GMT -5
Pick The Right Rig And Bait To Target The Type Of Catfish You Want To Catch Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Late May is a prime time to catch catfish from Kentucky's reservoirs, small lakes, rivers and farm ponds. "The water is warming into the 70s and catfish are about to spawn," said Gerry Buynak, assistant director of the Fisheries Division for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "Beginning in late spring and throughout the summer, catfish settle into daily patterns and feed aggressively." Kentucky's three most sought-after catfish species – channel catfish, blue catfish and flathead catfish – have slightly different feeding habits. Anglers must use the right bait, the proper rig and the correct presentation to catch each kind of catfish. Fishing tackle is an important consideration. Many catfish anglers prefer a 6 1/2- to 7-foot medium to heavy-action spinning rod. They match it with a spinning reel spooled with 17-pound fishing line. Circle hooks are growing in popularity among catfish anglers because most fish are hooked in the corner of the mouth. These hooks can prevent catfish from swallowing the hook. With circle hooks, an angler just needs to keep the rod tip up and start reeling. There is no need to set the hook. The channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is the most widely distributed catfish species in Kentucky. It thrives in ponds and small lakes. Channel catfish have bluish-silver backs, silvery sides and a whitish belly. They rarely exceed 30 inches. Anglers must fish their baits on the bottom to catch channel catfish. That's because channel catfish are scavengers. They cruise the bottom, using their super-sensitive whiskers to detect the odors of live and dead prey. The basic slip sinker rig is the best choice for bottom fishing. Tie a No. 2 circle hook onto an 18- to 24-inch leader. Tie the other end of the leader to a barrel swivel. On the line from the rod, thread a ½ - to-1-ounce sinker, then tie the line to the other eyelet of the barrel swivel. Thread a plastic bead onto the main line between the sinker and the swivel to help prevent the sinker from damaging the knot that connects the main line to the barrel swivel. Fish won't feel any resistance when they pick up the bait since the line will slip through the weight. Night crawler worms, shrimp, chicken livers or scented dough are excellent baits for channel catfish. The blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) occurs naturally in the state's biggest rivers, including the Mississippi and lower Ohio. They also occur in Kentucky and Barkley lakes. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife biologists have successfully stocked these fish in smaller lakes around the state as well. Anglers may confuse the blue catfish with a channel catfish. The most obvious difference is the channel catfish has a rounded anal fin; the blue catfish has a straight anal fin. Blue catfish are bluish-gray with deeply-forked tails. Blue catfish tend to roam in loose schools. At night, dusk and dawn, they frequent the shallows; they move to deeper water during the day. Popular baits for blue catfish include cut-up gizzard shad, bluegill or minnows. Anglers fishing small lakes use a float to keep bait suspended off the bottom. Anglers fishing in big rivers typically use a three-way swivel rig. Tie one eyelet of the swivel to the main line. Tie a two-foot leader onto a hook, and then tie this onto the second eyelet. Finally, tie a two-foot section of line to the third eyelet and attach a weight. Anglers in big waters fish the edges of channels with this rig. The third popular species in Kentucky is the flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris). It inhabits large rivers and reservoirs. Flatheads are brownish to yellowish on top and have a yellowish to white belly. They have wide, flat heads and triangular tails. Flatheads commonly reach 36 inches in length and can live for 20 years. Adults are solitary and inhabit deep, sluggish pools during the day. They move onto rocky shallows at night, often locating around deadfalls, rock piles and stumps. They only eat live fish. Creek chubs, shiners, shad and sunfish are good baits to use. Anglers use a modified slip rig for flatheads. Flat sinkers are used on this rig to prevent the bait from rolling. Foam floats attached to the leader keep the bait off the bottom. This prevents baitfish from swimming into cover and getting hung up. Catfish in Kentucky are big, abundant and found in every kind of water throughout the state. For more information on where to fish in Kentucky, visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov. Remember, too, that June 2-3 are free fishing days in Kentucky. Anglers do not need a license this weekend. Dozens of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINs) lakes are being stocked with channel catfish in preparation for this weekend. Visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website for the FINs lake nearest you.
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Post by Press Release on Jun 1, 2012 6:18:53 GMT -5
The Lowly, Forgotten Grub Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - It is a ritual as regular as the Kentucky Derby running on the first Saturday in May. Cheesy infomercials on late night television promote the newest "revolution" in fishing, usually a gimmick that appeals to the sensibilities of the sleep deprived. Some come with lights or have little motors to impart action on the lure or some innovation that usually doesn't catch fish. Does anyone actually fish the Banjo Minnow anymore? The Helicopter lure? The Dancing Eel? The Flying Lure, designed to bounce down and under ledges to hiding fish that found hiding rock piles or stumps and got hung and lost on the first cast, every time? No, they don't. In this blur of these ever-changing fads, the one constant since the Nixon White House is the curly-tailed grub, rated by Field and Stream magazine a few years ago as the greatest lure of all time. It is not a gimmick. To a predator fish, the curly-tailed grub looks just like a baitfish swimming in the water. Mister Twister invented the curly-tailed grub in 1972. Most plastic lures up to that time possessed little action on the retrieve, but Mister Twister made a mold where they attached a flap of soft plastic shaped like a sickle to a length of ringed plastic. The sickle-shaped tail fluttered with the slightest movement and fish went crazy for them. Although most popular for black bass fishing, curly-tailed grubs catch crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, hybrid, striped and white bass; practically every predator fish that swims in fresh or salt water will strike a grub. Summer's here and the time is right for fishing curly-tailed grubs. A 3-inch black, pumpkinseed or smoke-colored grub works wonders on summertime stream smallmouth bass. Fish grubs on a 1/8-ounce leadhead above and below riffles by letting the lure drift in the current and occasionally ticking bottom. Resist the urge to work the lure; allow the current to do it instead. Summer smallmouth bass in streams often ignore lures like crankbaits that fly by or soft-plastic lures worked erratically. They look like frauds. A curly-tailed grub tumbling by their noses with the tail slowly undulating in the current draws strikes, even during the hottest months and the lowest water conditions. It is hard to find a more effective lure for this situation. When largemouth bass in lakes get a little sleepy during the hot summer days, a 4-inch black, junebug or green pumpkin curly-tailed grub may wake them up enough to strike. Rig the grub weedless on a leadhead and slowly work it along deep weed lines, just above channel drops and down points. Lethargic largemouth bass that refused other offerings strike grubs in summer. Their subtle action and streamlined profile appeal to heat-stressed largemouth bass that don't feel like doing much to eat during the day. A little grub swimming by is often too much to resist. A small 1 1/2-inch yellow, chartreuse, white or red grub rigged on a 1/32-ounce leadhead is a killer for big "bull" bluegills and redear sunfish, commonly called shellcrackers, in summer. Work these grubs beside and through cuts in weed beds in summer for these fish. Some anglers tip them with wax worms or organic wax worm imitations for better effectiveness. Fishing grubs for sunfish targets the big ones, so you won't catch as many as with other methods. For numbers of summer sunfish, try crickets or redworms suspended under a bobber. Hybrid striped and striped bass in tailraces below dams on the Ohio River and major reservoirs hit 5- to 6-inch white or chartreuse curly-tailed grubs rigged on a ½-ounce leadheads. Fish these lures in the frothy water that has plenty of current. Striped and hybrid striped bass rip through schools of shad that congregate below these dams. The curly-tailed grub with its undulating tail looks just like a shad. Fish them in current seams where boiling water meets slack. The curly-tailed grub also works wonders on schooling white bass during their spring runs. Crappie hit smaller 1 1/2-inch to 2 1/2-inch curly-tailed grubs in blue, lime-green, yellow and white in summer. Crappie move deeper in May after they spawn and stay there all summer long. They locate on brush and submerged trees on channel drops or offshore humps in 12 to 25 feet of water. A curly-tailed grub swum just over this cover draws strikes from crappie. The lowly, overlooked curly-tailed grub is one of the best fish catchers of all time. When the fish ignore everything else in the tackle box on those tough fishing summer days, tie on a grub and start catching, not sweating.
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Post by Press Release on Jun 8, 2012 6:09:43 GMT -5
Bank Access, Parking Area Now Available At Long Bar Area On Cumberland River Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
Trout anglers on Cumberland River now have public bank side access to the Long Bar area in Clinton County. "This is one of the better fishing areas on the entire river for trout," noted Dave Dreves, fisheries research biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The Long Bar Fishing Access property, which is owned by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, consists of a 12-acre island and four adjacent acres on the bank. While the area opened to the public in 2009, the only way to access it previously was by boat. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife recently completed a 15-vehicle parking lot for the area, which some locals refer to as Snow Island. Work to open land-based access to the location included construction of an access road and fencing to keep cattle in adjoining pasture land. Dreves noted the area adjacent to the island is a highly productive place to wade fish for rainbow, brown and brook trout. Wading anglers must cross a small side channel in order to reach the main channel adjacent to the island. "Anglers need to be aware of river levels," explained Dreves. "At low water, there is a gravel bar with knee-high water over it that anglers can use to wade over to the island." If anglers aren't paying attention, however, they may not notice the river rising and may have to navigate back to the bank in chest-high water, or possibly have to swim back. The Cumberland River's level is controlled by Wolf Creek Dam at Lake Cumberland, located approximately 10 miles upstream of the Long Bar Access. Releases from this hydro-electric dam can make the river fluctuate as much as 15 feet at the access area. The current during times of electrical generation at the dam is strong. The Nashville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates Wolf Creek Dam, posts its projected generation schedule for the following day online at www.orn.usace.army.mil/. Anglers may also call the local U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' fishing information line at (606) 678-8697. A recorded message informs anglers of projected water generation schedules for the day and fishing information about Lake Cumberland. To get to the Long Bar Fishing Access from Jamestown, take U.S. 127 across Wolf Creek Dam. Turn right onto KY 1730 and follow it until the road ends at Swan Pond Road; turn left. This road becomes Wells Bottom Road; bear right at the road fork with Desda-Wells Bottom Road. Look for the new access road and the Long Bar Fishing Access sign to the right. From Albany, travel north on U.S. 127; turn left onto KY 3063 (Desda-Wells Bottom Road). Bear left at the fork in the road onto Wells Bottom Road to the fishing access located on the right.
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Post by Press Release on Jun 8, 2012 11:50:16 GMT -5
Striped Bass Minimum Size Limit Lowered To 22 Inches In Lake Cumberland Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Striped bass anglers on Lake Cumberland may now keep smaller fish than in the past. The minimum size limit for striped bass in the lake has dropped to 22 inches, a two-inch reduction from the previous 24-inch minimum size limit. The daily creel limit of two striped bass remains the same. "We have a very large group of striped bass in Lake Cumberland from 20 to 24 inches long," said Jeff Ross, assistant director of fisheries for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "Because of the poor water conditions in the lake, they aren't growing very fast." Striped bass prefer cooler water temperatures. Even striped bass that are released back into the water by anglers can die from stress during the higher water temperatures of summer. Because the lake remains 40 foot lower than normal summer pool while Wolf Creek Dam is being repaired, Lake Cumberland is not storing its usual amount of cooler, oxygenated water needed by striped bass. "Under the 24-inch size limit, we have a high rate of catch and release on striped bass," Ross said. "The fight stresses the fish in the cooler months, but higher water temperatures in summer are really rough on striped bass." Department officials decided to reduce the size limit on striped bass so that anglers could have the opportunity to keep some fish that might die anyway. "If you are going to lose the fish, then we prefer that people get some use out of them," Ross said. "We are trying to make the best of a bad situation." Ross is confident Lake Cumberland will resume its place as the best striped bass fishery in Kentucky after work on the dam is finished and water levels return to normal. "After the water comes back, we expect the striped bass to rebound quickly," he said. "We are still stocking. When we get the optimal water conditions back, the striped bass will thrive." Work on Wolf Creek Dam is nearly complete. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimates the work will be completed by December 2013. If the schedule is met, the lake could return to normal summer water levels for the 2014 recreation season. Biologists will continue to monitor the striped bass population after the lake returns to normal levels. The minimum size limit can be readjusted if needed.
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Post by Press Release on Jun 9, 2012 7:15:20 GMT -5
Kentucky Fish And Wildlife Commission Proposes Early Migratory Bird Season Dates Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission recommended the 2012-2013 early migratory bird season dates and opened private lands in the Ballard Reporting Area for the September Canada goose season at its quarterly meeting June 8. All recommendations must be approved by legislators before they become law. The Commission proposed the 2012-2013 early migratory bird season dates. The 2012 – 2013 Early Migratory Bird Seasons: Mourning Dove: Sept. 1 – Oct. 24, 2012; Nov. 22 – Nov. 30, 2012; Dec. 29, 2012 – Jan. 4, 2013 September Canada Goose: Sept. 1 – 15, 2012 Wood Duck and Teal: Sept. 19 – 23, 2012 American Woodcock: Nov. 1 – Dec. 15, 2012 Virgina and Sora Rail, Common Moorhen and Purple Gallinule: Sept. 1 – Nov. 9, 2012 Common Snipe: Sept. 19 – Oct. 28, 2012; Nov. 22, 2012 – Jan. 27, 2013 Sandhill Crane: Dec. 15, 2012 – Jan. 13, 2013 Season lengths and bag limits remain the same as last year. In other wildlife-related business, the Commission proposed opening private lands in the Ballard Reporting Area for the September Canada goose season. Public lands in the Ballard Reporting Area remain closed to the September Canada goose season. The Commission also recommended renaming the Ballard Reporting Area to the Ballard Zone. The next Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m., Friday, August 17, 2012 at #1 Sportsman's Lane off U.S. 60 in Frankfort. Persons interested in addressing the Commission must notify Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's Commissioner's office in writing at least 30 days in advance to be considered for placement on the meeting agenda. People who are hearing impaired and plan to attend the meeting should contact Kentucky Fish and Wildlife at least 10 days in advance and the agency will provide a translator. To request to address the commission, write to KDFWR, Commissioner Dr. Jon Gassett, #1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601.
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Post by Press Release on Jun 15, 2012 11:40:19 GMT -5
Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Reverse The Tried And True: Take Your Dad Fishing This Father’s Day
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release [/i] FRANKFORT, Ky. – Anyone who’s been inside a tackle store, watched a fishing show on television, browsed a fishing magazine or studied their state’s annual fishing regulatory guide surely encountered the slogan “Take a Kid Fishing.” The meaning behind the slogan is a heartening message of introducing a youngster to the joy of spending time fishing. With hope, the youngster gets hooked into a lifetime of fishing and a time-honored way to reduce stress and increase enjoyment of life. Many anglers got fishing fever from sitting along the banks of a farm pond with fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles and grandparents, dangling redworms under bobbers to entice bluegill. In the late afternoon, the fish cleaning board appeared and bluegill fried in cornmeal made supper, along with potato chips, pork and beans and Dr. Pepper from a returnable bottle. As adults, our careers and families take precedence over all other considerations and those fond memories of simple times at the farm pond fade. With Father’s Day upon us, there is no better time than now to reverse the process and take your father fishing. Instead of going to the mall and buying a gift he does not need, buy your Dad his annual fishing license for Father’s Day and take him fishing. This gift gives until Feb. 28, 2013 when annual fishing licenses expire. A lot of us have lost contact with the landowners we knew growing up who had great, rarely fished farm ponds on their land. You got spoiled fishing such waters. You didn’t need a boat to fish them well. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources operates the Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINs) program. This program brings great fishing at lakes across the state from Paducah to Kingdom Come State Park in Letcher County. The fisheries division of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife heavily stocks these lakes with catfish in the spring and summer, trout in fall, winter and spring and monitors the sunfish and largemouth bass populations to ensure quality fishing. These lakes make great places to take your Dad fishing and rekindle old, good memories. Take along your kids, too. They’ll have as good a chance to catch a fish there as anywhere in Kentucky. Visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife page at fw.ky.gov and watch the banner in the top middle of the page. Click on the “Take Someone Fishing” tab. This page offers anglers a wealth of information on fishing in Kentucky. The link to the information page on the FINs lakes is there, along with a series of columns written by the Kentucky Afield magazine staff detailing excellent Kentucky fishing opportunities. Here you will find a printable beginner fishing booklet, the current fishing guide and a page to print a certificate honoring a significant catch. The trout stocking schedule is on there as well. The “Take Someone Fishing” page also includes a link to fishing and boating spots all across Kentucky under the “Find a Place to Fish or Boat” tab. This search page contains information about the Voluntary Public Access (VPA) fishing spots, in which Kentucky landowners receive payment for public fishing access on their land. The most important link on this page is the yellow “Purchase Licenses Here” tab in the middle of the page. Click on this tab to buy your Dad his annual fishing license. You may also purchase fishing licenses at tackle stores, department stores that sell fishing equipment or by calling 1-877-598-2401. So, avoid the ties, the socks, the after shave or an expensive dinner this Father’s Day. Take your Dad fishing instead.
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