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Post by Press Release on Nov 14, 2011 23:05:03 GMT -5
Applications For Sandhill Crane Quota Hunt Begin November 15 Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky's first sandhill crane hunting season will open soon, and hunters may begin applying for permits tomorrow, Nov. 15 through Nov. 30. The drawing is scheduled for December 5. Applications are only available online at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources website, www.fw.ky.gov. Each application costs $3 and a hunter may only apply once. The department will use a random computer drawing to select up to 400 hunters. Applicants must have a valid Kentucky hunting license or be license-exempt at the time of application. Results will be available to individual applicants online following the drawing. The hunting season for sandhill cranes will begin Dec. 17 and continue through Jan. 15, 2012, or until hunters take 400 cranes, whichever comes first. Successful applicants must complete and pass an online identification exam before receiving a permit. Each permitted hunter may take up to two sandhill cranes. Hunters must use the department’s Telecheck system to register each crane on the day the bird is taken. Hunters will also be required to monitor the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website daily for notices of season closure and notifications of the presence of whooping cranes in Kentucky. For additional information, visit the department’s website, or call the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Information Center at 1-800-858-1549 during normal weekday working hours.
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Post by Press Release on Nov 19, 2011 6:19:48 GMT -5
Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Waterfowl Seasons Look Promising Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Excellent breeding conditions this past year in the northern Prairie region and Canada should mean productive hunting for the opening of duck season Thanksgiving Day. "Every population of every species but widgeon are holding their own or up big time," said John Brunjes, migratory bird biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "There are lots of birds out there and it should be a better than normal season, but it is all weather dependent. The combination of what Mother Nature has in store for us will determine the success of the duck season." Duck populations are at their highest levels since the population surveys began in the mid-1950s. Biologists report 16,000 ducks at Ballard Wildlife Management Area near the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in Ballard County right now. Mallards make up about 75 percent of those ducks. "Duck numbers in Louisiana are up 20 percent from last year," Brunjes said. "There are birds here and birds already south of us." Brunjes recommends hunters scout potential areas for duck use before setting up to hunt. "We had unusual weather this past spring," he said. "The wet spring provided lots of food. There is a great deal of natural vegetation in places that don't normally have it, so you'll need to scout places where you normally don't look." He used the example of our large reservoirs. Usually, they rise in spring and stabilize into their summer pool by June. Vegetation sprouts along the bank during summer and provides food for ducks. "Quite a few of the reservoirs were way above summer pool for big chunks of the summer," he said. "These lakes would normally have vegetation on the banks for ducks to use, but don't this year." Croplands, especially from west-central Kentucky to the Mississippi River, are spotty as well from this past spring's flooding. "They can be good or they can be incredibly bad," Brunjes explained. "There was water on some of those fields into June and July." Farm ponds could be the saving grace for duck hunters this fall. "Ponds have strong potential to be extremely good this season," Brunjes said. "Look for the ponds ducks are using right now and try to get permission to hunt there." Goose season should be productive as well. Population surveys conducted last spring showed the highest number of nesting geese in Kentucky ever recorded. The numbers of migrant geese that travel through Kentucky remain about the same. Canada geese are big, loud birds, so pay attention over the next week to areas where they congregate. "There are two main things with goose hunting: getting permission and finding where they are feeding," Brunjes explained. He recommended hunters abandon unproductive places in favor of those holding birds. "They are creatures of habit," he said. "You can't convince a goose to go somewhere they don't want to go. If you set up in a field next to a place with a lot of geese, they are much less likely to come to your new stuff. Go to where the geese are." Many landowners with numbers of geese using their property will grant permission to hunt them because they can become a nuisance. "Don't be afraid to ask permission," Brunjes said. "You'll be surprised how many will let you hunt." Duck season opens in all zones Nov. 24 and closes Nov. 27. Duck season opens again Dec. 5 and closes for good on Jan, 29, 2012. Goose season opens Nov. 23 in all zones but the Northeastern Goose Zone where the season opens Jan. 1, 2012. Goose season closes Jan. 31, 2012 in all zones. For more information on the upcoming waterfowl seasons, get a copy of the 2011-2012 Kentucky Hunting Guide for Waterfowl, available free wherever licenses are sold. You may request a copy by calling 1-800-858-1549 or print a copy from the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife homepage on the internet at fw.ky.gov.
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Post by Press Release on Nov 19, 2011 18:21:52 GMT -5
Stand-by Drawings Offer Quail Hunters A Second Chance At Peabody WMA Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Hunters who did not get drawn for a quota quail hunt at Peabody Wildlife Management Area in western Kentucky still have a chance to hunt. Wildlife Biologist Eric Williams, who manages Peabody Wildlife Management Area (WMA) for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, said opportunities arise when other hunters don’t appear. "Sometimes hunters don’t show up for these quota hunts, so we have a stand-by drawing each hunt day to fill any open spots," Williams said. "There’s no fee for the stand-by drawing." Williams said he has been surprised by how few people have shown up for the stand-by selections in seasons past. "Either people don’t know about the stand-by drawing, or they don’t want to drive all the way here and not be able to quail hunt," he said. "What they might not realize is that they can still drive a few minutes to the Homestead Unit and go quail hunting, even if they haven’t been drawn." Peabody WMA is subdivided into units. The Homestead Unit includes 5,600 acres open for public hunting. Quota hunts for wild quail are being held this season on the Ken Unit. This 8,200-acre unit is located in Ohio County, about 10 miles southwest of Beaver Dam. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife conducts stand-by drawings if the quota hunters do not appear that day. Drawings are held at the Ken Unit walk-in gate at 9 a.m. Central time the day of each hunt. Interested hunters should call the WMA office at (270) 273-3568 for more information. The first quota hunt on Nov. 26 is a mentor hunt. Other quota hunt dates this season include Nov. 29, Dec. 20, Jan. 7, Jan. 14 and Jan. 24. Up to 13 hunting parties can participate during these days. Each hunting party is limited to three people. For the mentor quota hunt, each party must consist of at least one hunter 15 years or younger and one adult. Hunters must follow statewide licensing, hunter orange and hunter education requirements. Hunters also must possess a $15 Peabody WMA user permit, available wherever hunting licenses are sold. Hunters not drawn for the quota or stand-by hunts still have other options. In addition to the Homestead Unit, quail hunting is open under statewide regulations in the River Queen, Vogue and Joseph A. Baker-White City units. The Sinclair Unit is closed to quail hunting. Intensive habitat work, including controlled burning of fields, wildflower plantings, brush pile construction and food plots, have increase quail numbers over the past two years, Williams said. Grassland restoration efforts at Peabody are part of an ongoing cooperative research project between Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and the University of Tennessee to study the resident quail on more than 23,000 acres of Peabody WMA. Peabody has 9,000 acres of open field habitat with about 3,000 acres converted to native warm season grasses. Officials want to increase the native grasses to 5,000 acres. Except for the Ken and Sinclair units, quail hunting Peabody WMA is open under statewide regulations through Feb. 10. Check the 2011-12 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide for more information.
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Post by Press Release on Nov 23, 2011 22:17:21 GMT -5
Waterfowl Hunters Should Use Extra Caution On The Ohio River Due To High Water Levels Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Waterfowl hunters should use extra caution on the Ohio River due to swift current and high water levels. Kentucky’s season for Canada geese opened Nov. 23. Duck season opens on Thanksgiving, Nov. 24. Recent heavy rains have increased the water volume flowing along the Ohio River basin. "Hunters need to use a great deal of caution due to the swift current," said Myra Minton, acting assistant director of law enforcement for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "They should be aware of conditions on the river and be prepared for it." Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement Capt. Mike Fields said waterfowl hunters should put on their life preservers (personal floatation devices) before they climb into their boats. "With this high water, hunters shouldn't be surprised if areas accessible in low water are no longer available," he said. "Some boat launching ramps may no longer be accessible as well." Hunters should make sure their boat motors are in good working condition before putting their craft into the water. Hunters also should be careful not to overload their boats, as the boat's listed capacity can be exceeded with too much gear and too many people in the boat. It is also a good idea for hunters to let someone know where they are going and how long they expect to be gone. Keeping a cell phone secured in a waterproof container in a coat pocket is a good practice. "Hunting is a safe activity when people are aware of their surroundings and don't try to exceed their capabilities," Fields said. "We want to remind people that boating safely goes hand-in-hand with hunting safely."
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Post by Press Release on Nov 25, 2011 12:55:48 GMT -5
DNA Used To Solve Deer Poaching Cases And Study Wildlife Population Dynamics Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Using DNA as a way to identify individuals is not restricted to the investigation of crimes against humans. Wildlife law enforcement officers have been relying on DNA evidence since the late 1980s to help prosecute persons who take wildlife illegally. Biologists discovered that DNA provides valuable information about the population dynamics of the wildlife they monitor and manage. "We use DNA as a forensic, investigative tool," said Capt. Myra Minton, acting assistant director of law enforcement for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "I can recall several cases where we used the DNA in blood evidence to match a gut pile to a deer carcass, or a deer head in a freezer with a deer carcass that had its head removed." Minton said the department sends evidence samples to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Forensics Laboratory in Ashland, OR, the only lab in the world dedicated to crimes against wildlife. The lab supports wildlife law enforcement efforts in all 50 states and the 150 foreign countries that have signed the CITES Treaty (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). DNA profiling, sometimes referred to as genetic fingerprinting, was developed by British geneticist Sir Alec Jeffreys in 1984. Much of what we know about black bears in Kentucky is the result of DNA analysis. "We use hair snares as a non-invasive sampling method," said Steven Dobey, the department’s bear program coordinator. "The DNA extracted from hair follicles allows us to individually identify each bear, determine the sex ratio of the population and ultimately estimate the size of the population." Without DNA, there would be many important details about Kentucky bears that wouldn’t be known otherwise, such as the very high proportion of females. A high number of female bears indicate the Kentucky population is past the colonization phase. "By looking at the genetics we've determined that we have two bear populations in Kentucky: one along the Pine and Black Mountain areas from Pike to Bell counties, and one in the Big South Fork area of McCreary County," said Dobey. "On a genetic basis, these two populations are relatively distinct and it appears there's very little interchange among the bears from these two areas." Biologists who monitor populations of migratory birds have also found DNA to be critically important to their work. Avian biologist Shawchyi Vorisek said a cooperative program with the University of Kentucky involves DNA analysis of golden-wing and blue-wing warblers, neotropical songbirds that nest in Kentucky. "These two species have started to hybridize throughout their entire range," said Vorisek. "We're trying to figure out how much they have hybridized, if they are separate species, and if we need to manage them as separate species." Sometimes DNA analysis can be used to answer difficult questions. "We had a hunter who shot at what he thought was a mountain lion while bow hunting in Pennyrile State Forest," said Dobey. "There was some hair on the arrow so we sent it to the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, and the genetic lab verified that the hair was from a bobcat, not a mountain lion." DNA testing is not just for C.S.I. reruns. It helps biologists determine population dynamics and conservation officers catch poachers.
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Post by Press Release on Nov 29, 2011 17:11:52 GMT -5
State's Third Annual Black Bear Hunt Begins December 10 In Three Eastern Kentucky Counties Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Opening day of Kentucky's newest big game season arrives earlier this year. On Dec. 10, hunters can participate in a two-day quota hunt for black bears in Harlan, Letcher and Pike counties. "This year the hunt occurs on the second weekend in December, rather than the third weekend as it has since 2009," said Steven Dobey, bear program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "Hopefully this earlier date will avoid overlap with early season snow storms and increase hunter success." The hunt is open to any Kentucky resident who purchases an over-the-counter bear permit. Unless exempt, a person must also possess a valid Kentucky annual hunting license. This is the third year of a hunting season for bears in the state. Dobey said past weather conditions played a major role in moving the season forward. In 2009, a massive snowstorm limited the opportunity to bag a bruin as more than 2 feet of snow fell atop Pine and Black mountains. Likewise, access was limited last year when a snowstorm hit the three-county bear zone just days before the hunt. Despite last year's untimely snowfall, hunters recorded Kentucky’s first successful bear season by taking two male bruins on consecutive days. Dobey said setting the structure of the bear season is an adaptive process and changes will be necessary to accomplish the desired management goals. "We hope that by shifting the hunt to an earlier weekend, we will avoid some of the inclement weather, thereby increasing hunter opportunity- while still concentrating harvest on male bears that have not yet denned," Dobey explained. The quota harvest is limited to 10 bears total or five female bears, whichever limit hunters reach first. Most female bears are already denned at this time of year, which will limit the number of females available for harvest. It is illegal in Kentucky for hunters to shoot any bear inside of a den. Bear hunters must call Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's general information number at 1-800-858-1549 after 9 p.m. Dec. 10 to check if the harvest quota has been reached. If the quota has not yet been reached, the hunt will continue on Dec. 11 only. The bag limit is one bear per hunter. Successful hunters must take their bear to one of the check-in stations set up in each of the open counties. Locations are listed at the department's webpage online at fw.ky.gov, or hunters may call 1-800-858-1549 during regular weekday business hours prior to the hunt for check-in station locations. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife biologists will weigh the bears, take body measurements and biological samples for research, and attach a permanent tag to each harvested animal. Hunters must also Telecheck their bear before leaving the check station. Hunters may not take female bears with cubs or bears weighing less than 75 pounds. A 75-pound bear is about the same size as an adult Labrador retriever. Baiting is prohibited, including garbage used as bait. Hunters may not shoot a bear feeding at a garbage can or dumpster. The Hensley-Pine Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is closed to bear hunting, and a 12,500-acre area surrounding the WMA is open only to landowners, their spouses and dependent children hunting on their own property. Those boundaries are clearly delineated in the 2010-11 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide, available wherever hunting licenses are sold and online at fw.ky.gov Hunters may also read about all equipment, licensing, hunter education and youth supervision laws in this guide. Hunter orange clothing is required for all bear hunters regardless of what hunting equipment they use, as the season coincides with late muzzleloader deer season.
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Post by Press Release on Nov 30, 2011 20:36:49 GMT -5
Redear Sunfish And Crappie Stockings Aim To Bolster Populations Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Seven lakes received special stockings of crappie and redear sunfish this fall in an effort to establish or bolster existing fish populations. Lake Cumberland received nearly 219,000 fingerling-sized redear sunfish ranging in size from 1 to 4 inches. Employees of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources put these fish in the Beaver, Otter, Lily and Caney creek areas of the lake. Redear sunfish are also referred to as shellcrackers. "Redear sunfish like vegetation, timber and brush," said Gerry Buynak, assistant director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "When the lake comes back up, we hope it will be ideal for them. We want to provide a really nice panfish for people to enjoy." Yatesvillle and Fishtrap lakes both received 20,000 fingerling redear sunfish last year, and again this past September. The fisheries division began stocking Dewey Lake in eastern Kentucky with redear sunfish in 2007 and continued until 2010. They placed over 500,000 fingerling redear sunfish in the lake. "A fishery for redear sunfish has developed in Dewey Lake with good numbers of 10- to 12-inch fish available for anglers," Buynak said. The fisheries division also stocked 20,500 blacknose crappie in eastern Kentucky's Paintsville Lake. Blacknose crappie have a distinctive black bar extending from their mouths to their eyes. Stockings from east to west included Carr Creek Lake, which received 3,800 white crappie; Taylorsville Lake, 20,900 white crappie; and the Blood River arm of Kentucky Lake, 177,800 white crappie, roughly 46 fish per acre of water. "We hope these stockings improve the crappie fishing in these lakes," said Ron Brooks, director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "Crappie are a popular sport fish for anglers in Kentucky. We want to provide anglers with as much crappie fishing opportunity as possible." These stockings should lead to better fishing for crappie and redear sunfish in these lakes for Kentuckians to enjoy in the coming years.
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Post by Press Release on Dec 1, 2011 21:36:28 GMT -5
Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Now Is The Best Time To Catch Reservoir Smallmouth Bass Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Many Kentuckians probably don’t much care for the recent cold, wintry weather. Days of leaden skies, light rain or sleet and temperatures that don’t crack 45 degrees make most people stay inside and sulk. For a reservoir smallmouth bass angler, however, days like these bring a smile and a rush of excitement. Now is one of the best times of the year to catch a trophy smallmouth bass from our mountainous lakes such as Dale Hollow, Lake Cumberland and Laurel River Lake. The period from Thanksgiving to the New Year holiday is glory time for large smallmouth bass. Anglers at Lake Cumberland report good catches of smallmouths from the upper lake. “I caught a 20 ½-incher that weighed 4.6 pounds, bottom fishing with shiners on the main lake near Cumberland Point last weekend,” said Scott Hurley of Lexington, who often fishes Cumberland in the winter months. “He hit it hard and bent the pole in half. He worked into some brush and I had to jump off the boat and run down the bank to free him. I got him to swim out of the other side of the brush after I walked far enough down the bank.” Hurley also caught a 19-inch smallmouth bass and five ranging from 15-18 inches long. “We moved around quite a bit,” he said. “We caught some of those near Houseboat Hollow at Conley Bottom. I lost two good ones there.” With water temperatures in the mid-50s, smallmouth bass fishing is picking up at Laurel River Lake. “I fished last Wednesday and caught a decent fish and lost a huge one that jumped and threw my bait,” said John Williams, southeastern fisheries district biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “My fishing partner John Southern caught a really nice 21-incher. We should’ve caught six or seven that day, but that is the way it goes sometimes. We could feel them on the line, but just missed them. We had bumps and hits and hooked at least one about everywhere we fished.” Williams and Southern caught them on an old, reliable standby, a 3-inch white curly-tailed grub rigged hook exposed on a ¼-ounce ballhead. “We also caught some on hollow-bodied shad-shaped swimbaits,” Williams said. “They were mainly on main lake points in the middle section of the Laurel River arm of the lake and on the first few points in the creeks such as Rogers Creek and Spruce Creek.” Smallmouth bass are also moving up onto points at Dale Hollow Lake. Local anglers here in Frankfort report catching smallmouth in the 4-pound class by swimming ¼-ounce olive and brown hair jigs down main lake points in the mouths of Sulphur and Hendricks creeks. Points with weedy shallow flats near them hold the most smallmouth bass right now on Dale Hollow. Although jigs and grubs catch their share of smallmouth bass in early winter, live bait is the most consistent producer of trophy smallmouths. In the current era of bass fishing, some think it unsporting to use live bait. They also fear it will hurt their effectiveness in tournament fishing where contestants can only use artificial lures. Fishing live bait improves confidence and shows where smallmouth bass locate in a reservoir in different weather conditions, valuable knowledge that can only improve your fishing. Some people think you can toss a live bait rig practically anywhere and catch fish. However, if you do not present your live bait in the correct spots, you will not catch smallmouth bass. Plus, it is just plain fun. When you fish a jig, grub, crankbait or other artificial lure, you can lose concentration after a couple of hours if the fishing is slow. With a live shiner wiggling on the end of the line, you stay on your toes in anticipation of a strike. Few things fool trophy smallmouth bass better than the real thing. Use a long spinning rod spooled with 6- or 8-pound test monofilament or 10-pound fluorocarbon for winter live bait fishing for smallmouths. Tie on a size 1/0 circle hook and attach a small split shot weight about two feet above the hook. Add more weight on windy days. You want the rig to slowly fall through the water column, giving hungry smallmouths plenty of time to find your offering. Hook a large crappie minnow by the tail or medium-sized shiner through the upper lip and cast to a likely point. Let the bait slowly sink to the bottom. Reel the shiner or minnow in as slowly as boat movement allows. Smallmouths usually hit live bait with authority, but constantly watch your line. Reel in to tighten down on the fish if you see any sideways movement or if the line suddenly goes slack, the sign a fish engulfed your shiner and swam toward the boat. Fight the urge to set the hook with a circle hook; just keep the line tight and the smallmouth hooks itself, usually in the roof or side of the mouth. Circle hooks prevent gut hooking a big smallmouth. Get out this month and enjoy the world-class smallmouth bass fishing our state offers. Remember, Kentucky is the home of the all-tackle world record smallmouth bass, an 11-pound, 15-ounce brute caught by Leitchfield’s David L. Hayes from Dale Hollow Lake in 1955.
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Post by Press Release on Dec 2, 2011 21:27:07 GMT -5
Kentucky Fish And Wildlife Commission Proposes Elk Hunting Modifications Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission at its quarterly meeting Dec. 2 proposed issuing 900 quota hunt elk permits for the 2012-2013 elk seasons. Commission members also voted to modify some deer, small game and furbearer regulations. The commission recommends all hunting, fishing and boating regulations for approval by the General Assembly and approves all expenditures by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. All recommendations must be approved by legislators before they become law. In elk-related business, the commission proposed issuing 900 elk permits for the 2012-2013 season, an increase of 100 permits from last season. In deer-related business, the commission recommended modifying deer permit regulations. They proposed removing the one deer per day limit on wildlife management areas (WMAs) in Zone 1 counties during open, quota gun or mobility-impaired hunts. Hunters also will be allowed unlimited harvest of antlerless deer on WMAs in Zone 1 counties, provided they purchase the proper permits. In other deer-related business, the commission proposed allowing a hunter who takes two antlerless deer on their statewide deer permit to be able to harvest an antlered deer on the two deer bonus permit, provided they have not already harvested an antlered deer. The one antlered deer season bag limit remains. Deer hunters who apply for quota hunts may exercise a “no hunt this year” option so they may keep their preference points if they can’t participate in the quota hunts for a particular year. In furbearer-related business, the commission recommended increasing the season bag limit on river otters from six to 10 in 58 counties, mainly in the Purchase region and north-central Kentucky. They also proposed moving the opening of raccoon hunting season from Nov. 1 to Oct. 1 annually and allowing raccoon hunters to use a squaller type of raccoon call year-round. Bobcat hunting season will now open on the fourth Saturday in November and close one month later, on the last day of February. In small-game related business, the commission recommended the use of preference points for the small game quota hunts administered by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. Also, the pheasant quota hunt permit will now be available at both license vendors and on-line from the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at: fw.ky.gov The next Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting will be held at 8 a.m., Friday, March 2, at #1 Sportsman’s Lane off U.S. 60 in Frankfort. Persons interested in addressing the Commission must notify the 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: Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Dr. Jon Gassett #1 Sportsman’s Lane Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601
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Post by Press Release on Dec 8, 2011 5:31:00 GMT -5
Salato Wildlife Education Center Announces Seasonal Closure Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Salato Wildlife Education Center in Frankfort will close its doors for the winter beginning Dec. 11. The center, which is operated by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, will reopen on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. "Winter visitation is generally low, so we have a seasonal closure to work on new exhibits and prepare programs for the year ahead," said Laurie Davison, the Salato Center's manager. "We will also be updating several of our older indoor exhibits and nailing down plans for future major exhibits." Work will begin during the seasonal closure on the center's new outdoor prairie exhibit. This exhibit will include a walk-through aviary, interactive features and a giant quail egg for kids to "hatch" themselves. The entire project has a project completion date in March. 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 is located on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife campus at #1 Sportsman's Lane (formerly #1 Game Farm Road), off U.S. 60 in Frankfort, 1.7 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.
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Post by Press Release on Dec 8, 2011 19:18:16 GMT -5
Kentucky Fish And Wildlife Acquires 2,500 Acres Near Georgetown For Public Wildlife Recreation Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has acquired nearly 2,500 acres of land in Scott County for public hunting, fishing and wildlife recreation. The department's newest wildlife recreation tract, which has been known to locals through the years by several names such as the old Hall Farm, the Beluga Property, and more recently as simply Rogers Gap, lies north of Rogers Gap Road and east of I-64 to its intersection with U.S. 25. "This is a historic event," said Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Jon Gassett. "This is great for us at the department and for people in central and northern Kentucky who enjoy the outdoors." "A third of Kentucky's population lives in this area, and we rarely find a large tract of land like this for sale at an affordable price that is within reasonable driving distance of so many people," said Gassett. "Adding opportunity for wildlife-related recreation within this area is a key element of the department's long-term strategic plan." The department’s acquisition permanently protects this undeveloped area in Kentucky's Bluegrass Region just minutes north of Lexington. The department used $3.25 million from Kentucky's Wetlands and Stream Mitigation Fund that is managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Kentucky Division of Water. The department added $3 million in federal grant money specifically designated for fish and wildlife land acquisition. No state tax revenues or Fish and Game Fund dollars were used. Use of the Kentucky Wetlands and Stream Mitigation Fund commits the department to several miles of stream restoration on the property and the permanent protection of those restored streams. "The department first inquired about purchasing this property in 1999," said Gassett. "We began working with the most recent owner, RLL Lexington Properties LLC, in 2010 with a new acquisition." The department plans a grand opening dedication on the grounds in the spring of 2012. Department officials are working on regulations governing its use.
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Post by Press Release on Dec 12, 2011 17:52:39 GMT -5
Last Minute Stocking Stuffers From Kentucky Fish And Wildlife Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Many people have the habit of putting off Christmas shopping until the last minute. For those shoppers with an outdoors enthusiast on their list, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has several suggestions to help people out of their procrastination bind. For children or grandchildren who will be in the 4th through 6th grade this summer, consider a week at a Kentucky Fish and Wildlife conservation camp. Summer camps offer kids the opportunity to swim, boat, shoot a bow and learn about Kentucky’s natural world. Save $15 off the regular $215 price when you apply online at fw.ky.gov, the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website. For the person who loves hunting and fishing, the sportsman’s license is a great deal. This package license includes the statewide hunting and fishing licenses, spring and fall turkey permits, the statewide deer permit, the Kentucky waterfowl permit (which also covers all migratory bird hunting such as doves, woodcock and snipe) and a trout permit. The $95 sportsman’s license available only to Kentucky residents, saves buyers $50 over the cost of buying each of these licenses and permits individually. By adding a federal waterfowl permit, commonly called a duck stamp, a person can fish for all species and hunt everything but elk and bear. The $30 resident combination license is a less expensive alternative which combines the statewide fishing and hunting licenses. The combination license offers a $10 savings over buying hunting and fishing licenses individually. The combination license allows the holder to hunt for squirrels, rabbits and small game. The licenses are available online at fw,ky.gov, or wherever hunting and fishing items are sold. What can you give a hunter who has everything? Buy that person a chance to hunt elk in Kentucky in 2012. Applications are $10 and available online at fw.ky.gov. A Kentucky Afield magazine subscription makes a great gift for young and old alike. The $10 subscription includes four issues and the popular calendar. Subscribe online at fw.ky.gov. Try visiting the Kentucky Afield Store at fw.ky.gov for even more gift ideas from Tim Farmer and the rest of the "Kentucky Afield" television crew. The store carries several ball caps with the "Kentucky Afield" logo emblazed on the front for $16. The store also offers the popular "Kentucky Afield Deer Processing" DVD for $13 that makes field dressing, deboning and preparing your venison easy. The store also offers the "Best of Kentucky Afield Fishing" DVD for $10. Finally, the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation offers three limited edition prints signed and numbered by nationally renowned artist Rick Hill. Proceeds from sales help fund conservation education in Kentucky. Prints include a life-sized painting of the world-record smallmouth bass caught in Kentucky; Kentucky’s three black bass species; and an autumn scene of a trophy buck drinking from a pond. Prints range form $85 to $170, and are available online at: www.kentuckywildlife.com
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Post by Press Release on Dec 13, 2011 20:19:54 GMT -5
Stream Team Offers Landowners Free Repairs To Eroding And Unstable Stream Banks 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 and in turn hurt downstream fisheries," said Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Jon Gassett. "Problems like bank erosion can – and should – be repaired. We have the funding available to make these repairs, and we can do it at no cost to landowners." "Small streams are a very important part of Kentucky lands and its fisheries," said Fisheries Director Ron Brooks. "We are excited to have a program that meets the needs of working lands and clean water." While any stream in Kentucky can be considered for the program, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is making a special effort in Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Greenup and Lawrence 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. There are criteria that have to be met. For example, the steams 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. Any landowner who did not receive a notice from Kentucky Fish and Wildlife could 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 Dec 16, 2011 21:27:10 GMT -5
Ky Afield Outdoors Catch Some Fish During The Christmas Break Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – FRANKFORT, Ky. – Most of us get some time off during the upcoming holidays. With all of the stress surrounding Christmas, what a better way to blow off some steam and get away from work and family obligations than hearing your drag screech from a trophy fish. Winter is one the most productive trophy fishing times of the year for sauger, striped bass and even largemouth bass from farm ponds if the weather conditions cooperate. Sauger bite better as the temperatures drop in December and January. They are arguably the most consistent biter of any fish in winter. Plus, sauger fillets taste fantastic, comparable to walleye in flavor and firmness of the meat. The tailraces of reservoir dams and the areas immediately downstream of locks and dams on the major rivers make the highest percentage spots to consistently catch winter sauger. As the water cools in winter, they stack up below these dams in impressive numbers. Locks and dams on the Ohio River from Meldahl Lock and Dam near Foster, Kentucky in Bracken County downstream to Smithland Lock and Dam near Smithland in Livingston County all produce excellent winter sauger fishing. The locks and dams in the Kentucky River also offer highly productive sauger fishing all winter long, due to a stocking effort from the fisheries division of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Population sampling earlier this year showed sauger up to 18 inches long in the Kentucky River below Lock and Dam 5 near Tyrone, but they exist in good numbers up and down the river. Sauger are also increasingly showing up in the Cumberland River just below Wolf Creek Dam. They also swim in great numbers below in the Tennessee River below Kentucky Lake and in the Cumberland River downstream of Lake Barkley. Sauger hit lures that imitate shad. Four-inch shad-shaped swimbaits work great on these fish as do white, chartreuse and lime green curly-tailed grubs. Sauger live on or near the bottom, so use a heavy enough leadhead to get these lures down to them. Bring plenty as you will get hung up often. Small silver jigging sthingys also work well for sauger, but a leadhead tipped with a crappie minnow may work best of all. Those same tailraces areas below locks and dams on the Ohio River and below Kentucky and Barkley dams hold excellent numbers of striped bass that bite all winter long. Live shad drifted in the current work well for these bruisers as do heavy white doll flies cast into the roiling water. Striped bass are currently in the heads of creeks on Lake Cumberland and remarkably shallow for this time of year. The upper lake runs murky to muddy with quite a bit of drift in the water right now, so the lower lake from Jamestown Marina to Wolf Creek Dam is the best area to fish. Anglers report thick schools of shad in the upper most section of the creeks and striped bass-sized chartreuse hair jigs and jig spinners are producing fish. Bottom fishing on main lake points with shiners or shad is also working well for stripers, plus an occasional smallmouth bass. Another excellent winter fishing opportunity is our catch and release trout streams. Trout are a cold water species and winter's howling winds and cold nights don't bother them at all. Anglers may only use artificial lures on these streams from Oct. 1 to March 31. You may not use the organic pastes or nuggets such as PowerBait during this season. These streams revert to statewide regulations for the rest of the year. Both spinning and fly-casting anglers can catch trout all winter long from the catch and release streams. Fly anglers need to get their offerings near the bottom in winter and nymphs, smaller stone fly imitations and small leech patterns work well in winter. Small 1/32-once brown or olive marabou jigs produce winter trout in these streams. Work them slowly on the bottom in the deeper holes as you would for smallmouth bass. Black, red or grey in-line spinners also draw strikes from hungry trout in December and January. These streams flow extremely clear during winter, so use no more than 4-pound test monofilament or fluorocarbon. Consult the 2011-2012 Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide for a list of the catch and release trout streams or visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife homepage at fw.ky.gov. Some of the best ones are East Fork, Indian Creek in the Red River Gorge National Geologic Area in Menifee County, Otter Creek at the Otter Creek Park Outdoor Recreation Area in Meade County, Casey Creek in Trigg County and Rock Creek in the Daniel Boone National Forest in McCreary County. A warm front of three days or more or a warm rain brings largemouth bass to the shallow ends of farm ponds during winter. A 3-inch black grub rigged weedless on a 1/16-ounce leadhead is a deadly lure for these fish. A brown or black hair jig in the same weight fished without a trailer also works for winter farm pond largemouth bass. Work these lures as slowly as possible as to entice lethargic winter largemouths. You won't get many strikes, but the largemouths that do strike are usually large females, using a productive feeding situation to nourish the developing eggs in their bellies. The holiday season is one of the most overlooked and productive time of year to fish. Plus, you likely won't see another angler all day. Get out of the house and enjoy it.
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Post by Press Release on Dec 18, 2011 6:52:24 GMT -5
Hunters Take Four Black Bears During Kentucky's 2011 Season Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Hunters took four black bears during Kentucky's third season for the bruins, held during the weekend of Dec. 10-11. Neil Perkins, of Hallie, Ky., took a 350-pound male bear in Letcher County that is the heaviest bear taken since Kentucky's first bear season in 2009, said Steven Dobey, bear program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Hunters took two bears in Letcher County and two in Harlan County. Snow and ice storms created difficult hunting conditions during Kentucky's two previous bear seasons. A total of six bears have now been taken in three seasons. Hunters purchased 484 permits for the 2011 hunt. Black bears moved into Kentucky by natural range expansion from West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee. At the present time only three southeastern counties – Harlan, Letcher and Pike – are open to bear hunting in Kentucky. "Our highest bear densities are on Pine Mountain, which runs through Harlan and Letcher counties and extends into Pike County along its southeastern boundary,†said Dobey. "Harlan and Letcher counties border Virginia, which has had a fall bear season for decades.†Hunters are required to register their harvest online or over the telephone through the state's Telecheck system. Hunters are also required to bring the bears to a check station so biologists can collect information on the bear's age, sex, weight, body measurements, and the presence of tags or tattoos used to mark some animals. Perkins' bear had some history. "We had captured him in May 2010 in Hyden, Ky., in Leslie County for nuisance-related behavior, and released on Hensley-Pine Mountain WMA,†said Dobey. "At that time he weighed about 200 pounds.†Dobey said the bear likely weighed more than 400 pounds before it was field dressed.
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Post by Press Release on Dec 19, 2011 20:52:37 GMT -5
Public Meeting To Discuss Nuisance Elk In Straight Creek Set For January 5 Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will host a public meeting to discuss issues involving nuisance elk on private property along KY 221 between the Kettle Island area and Tackytown in Bell and Harlan counties. The meeting will be held at the Right Fork Elementary School in Stoney Fork at 6 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2012. Wildlife Division Director Karen Waldrop and other staff from Kentucky Fish and Wildlife will be on hand to answer questions and listen to suggestions. In 2006, the department was notified of issues with elk causing property damage and vehicle collisions in the Stoney Fork community near the Bell/Harlan County line. Since then, several meetings have been held with public officials, landowners and local residents to provide educational opportunities about elk nuisance strategies, to address specific concerns, and to discuss potential solutions. Over the last 5 years, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has implemented various strategies to address these concerns, including visiting with affected landowners to offer technical guidance on damage mitigation methods, creating a late-season special hunt for antlerless elk in the area during late January, and relocating problem animals in areas where hunting is not feasible. Last year, landowners along KY 221 between the Kettle Island area and Tackytown participated in a pilot project to assess the effectiveness of various methods of reducing elk damage.
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Post by Press Release on Dec 20, 2011 20:15:46 GMT -5
Nelson County Man Charged With 88 Counts Of Deer-related Violations Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - A Nelson County man is facing multiple wildlife violations in an ongoing investigation by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Kevin Barnette, 43, of Bardstown, is facing 88 counts of illegally taking or possessing deer or their antlers. Eighty-five of the charges are related to possessing illegal antlers. He also is charged with one count of killing over the limit of antlered deer during the current deer season. The final charges include failure to fill out a harvest log and failure to Telecheck a harvested deer. Under Kentucky law, all deer hunters must register or "check" their harvested animal by telephone or online at the department's website. Each charge carries maximum possible penalty of a $1,000 fine, loss of seized firearms and deer, and loss of hunting privileges for three years. Conservation Officers Steve Nelson, Jeffrey Jewell, Brandon Boone and Sgt. David Kuhn responded on Dec. 4 to a complaint by a concerned citizen that Barnette had taken an antlered deer, disposed of the carcass and then took a second buck on the following day. The officers served two summonses on Barnette, charging him with taking deer over the limit, failure to log the deer and failure to Telecheck. The second summons charged him with illegally possessing another deer. Their searched produced 84 additional sets of antlers that appeared to be possessed illegally. The officers returned with a third summons on Dec. 10, citing Barnette with another 84 counts of illegal possession. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife officers seized 85 illegal deer racks and a Ruger M77 .300-magnum rifle. Barnette is scheduled to appear in Nelson County District Court Dec. 27. Anyone with information about wildlife violations may call the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife poacher prevention hotline 1-800-25-ALERT. The number is staffed 24 hours a day. Concerned citizens may also contact their local conservation officer directly. Contact numbers for conservation officers can be obtained by calling the hotline.
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Post by Press Release on Dec 23, 2011 10:19:19 GMT -5
Kentucky Fish And Wildlife Seeking Discarded Natural Christmas Trees Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Many natural Christmas trees wind up in a landfill after the holidays. The fisheries division of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has a better idea: Sink these discarded trees into lakes to provide more cover for fish. The department is seeking tree donations from the public to help make this happen. "As our lakes age, we need to replenish the woody habitat that rots away with time," said Jeff Ross, assistant director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "We need natural Christmas trees to construct habitat for fish to be placed in our 17 major reservoirs, our smaller state-owned lakes and even our small Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINs) lakes." Fisheries workers place habitat in lakes on a small scale year round. Over the last several years on Kentucky, Cumberland and Barren River lakes, the fisheries division conducted large scale habitat renovation. Nolin River Lake, Green River Lake and Taylorsville Lake will receive habitat in 2012. "This habitat provides protective cover for all fish and nursery habitat for young fish; it attracts baitfish and algae grows on it, providing food for young fish and other aquatic organisms," Ross said. "These structures also increase angler fishing success by providing productive structures for people to fish." A map of Christmas tree drop-off locations is posted on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov or you can click the highlighted words above. The donated trees must be natural, clean and free of all ornaments, lights and tinsel. "Only clean Christmas trees will be accepted at these drop-off locations", said Ross. "We don't want these sites to become a dump of unwanted materials." In addition to the Christmas trees, the fisheries division is also seeking donations of wood or plastic pallets, cinder block, 5-gallon plastic buckets, clean PVC pipe, wooden stakes and other materials that could be used to anchor or construct fish habitat. These materials, however, must be approved by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. Please contact Joseph Zimmerman at (502)-564-7109 ext. 4473 to schedule a delivery or a pickup for these additional materials. The habitat structures that will be placed in all lakes by fisheries personnel will be GPS marked with the coordinates published on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov. Christmas trees don't have to lose their usefulness after the holidays. When placed in the right locations, they can provide happiness for anglers for years to come.
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Post by Press Release on Dec 24, 2011 2:20:00 GMT -5
Improving Fish Habitat In Ponds And Small Lakes Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Sinking brush piles is the best way to improve habitat for fish in ponds and small lakes. "When you add cover, such as trees and brush, you're attracting algae, zooplankton and invertebrates in general at the base of the food chain," said Kerry Prather, a fisheries biologist who now runs the Voluntary Public Access Program for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "You're providing food and escape cover for fish." The cold weather months are an ideal time to cut brush because there are no chiggers or mosquitoes. After the holidays there are also a large number of Christmas trees available, which make good cover for fish. Tie several trees together, weigh them down with rocks and dump everything overboard from a small johnboat. "Use what's available, but if you have to cut limbs, we recommend hardwoods such as oak, hickory or hard maple because they last longer," said Prather. Sink brush piles along the shore in three to six feet of water, particularly if there's no aquatic vegetation in the pond or small lake. "Small fish need a place to hide, to escape predators," said Prather. Brush piles sunk in deeper water will concentrate larger fish in late spring. However, fish may not be able to use brush piles sunk in more than six feet of water during the warmest summer months because dissolved oxygen levels may be too low. There are other inexpensive cover options which are easy to construct such as pyramids made from shipping pallets and stake beds – hardwood slabs or sticks driven into a pond bottom to create a maze of "stick-ups." Ponds are built in the fall during the driest weather of the year, but it's never too early for pre-impoundment planning. "The idea is to create bottom irregularities," said Jeff Crosby, central fisheries district biologist for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "You don't want your pond to be like a goldfish bowl." Crosby suggests using a bulldozer to push up islands of dirt in the lake bed and pile up big rocks to make fish attractive irregularities on the bottom of the pond. He also said you can make benches along the shore, dig channels or construct points that extend out into deep water. Stumps and standing timber also make great fish habitat. "With large tree trunks and limbs, you also have the option of anchoring them to the bottom," said Crosby. One surface acre is the minimum size for good fishing. "A one-acre pond should have a maximum depth of 12-to-15 feet with an average depth of about six feet," said Crosby. "To ensure that your pond gets a good inflow of water, the drainage area should be about 10 to 15 acres." Don't make the banks too shallow or your pond will have problems with aquatic vegetation. "You want the banks to drop off fairly quickly to a depth of about three feet," said Crosby. "Flat benches built below the banks will create ideal spawning areas." Limit livestock access to your fishing pond and place a water level control valve at the dam, if possible. "That makes it easy to lower the water level to freeze out aquatic vegetation or add structure during the winter months," said Crosby. Use these cold months to make better fishing when the warm weather arrives this spring. Art Lander Jr. has been writing about the outdoors since the 1970s. He is a staff writer for Kentucky Afield Magazine.
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Post by Press Release on Jan 3, 2012 19:45:49 GMT -5
Twenty-five Kentucky Residents Drawn For Late Season Quota Cow Elk Hunt Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Twenty-five hunters from Wallins, David, Hyden, Pineville, Pikeville, Barbourville and other areas in southeastern Kentucky have a second chance to hunt elk in the state. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources recently drew 25 names for a late season quota hunt for cow elk. The late season begins Jan. 28 and ends Feb. 10. "Kentucky Fish and Wildlife listened when people contacted us about ongoing problems with nuisance elk," said Tina Brunjes, deer and elk program coordinator for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "This hunt helps reduce elk numbers in targeted areas while giving residents of the southeastern Kentucky's elk restoration zone an opportunity to put meat on the table for their families." The late season hunt is open for cow elk only. Those drawn for the hunt will receive notification in the mail. Hunters may also see if they were drawn by going online to the department's website at fw.ky.gov. Each hunter is randomly drawn from the pool of those who applied for the regular quota elk hunts. Hunters must reside in the 16-county elk restoration zone to be eligible for this hunt. Only two Elk Management Units (EMUs) are open for this hunt: Knott County EMU and Stoney Fork EMU. Stoney Fork EMU includes sections of Clay, Leslie, Harlan, Bell and Knox counties. Hunters may take cow elk in either unit. Only private lands are open for this hunt. All public lands within these EMUs are closed to elk hunting. Hunters who check online can follow links to maps of these areas. Those participating in the late season hunt must pay a $30 fee for the elk permit. Hunters must also possess an annual Kentucky hunting license.
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Post by Press Release on Jan 5, 2012 18:07:59 GMT -5
Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Arctic Winds Bring Float And Fly Time Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - The late Charlie Nuckols owned a tackle shop and lure company in east Tennessee, near South Holston Lake. Winter crappie anglers who fished small marabou jigs deep under bobbers complained to him about big smallmouth breaking off their rigs all of the time. This got Nuckols thinking. He, along with his brother Eddie, began experimenting with suspending small jigs, eventually settling on those tied with craft hair or duck feathers. They fished these jigs 8-to12-feet deep, suspended under bobbers cast on long, soft spinning rods along bluffs and deep points on South Holston Lake. They began to regularly catch smallmouth bass over four pounds on this new system. Word began to spread to other smallmouth lakes in the region, notably Dale Hollow Lake. I read and heard about the technique and tried it a few times without success, using makeshift equipment ill suited to the task and fishing it with little passion. I wanted to get back to swimming a small bucktail jig just above bottom or casting live shiners - my preferred winter baits. After some friends starting having good success with the float and fly, I relented and bought the correct equipment and determined I would fish it until I caught a smallmouth. It didn't take long. Within my first dozen casts of fishing the float and fly correctly, I caught a 19-inch smallmouth that weighed right at four pounds. I've been hooked since. Now that arctic winds chilled the air and water in Kentucky over the last week, it is time to try this effective technique. The colder the water, the better the float and fly works. The float and fly imitates what happens to baitfish such as shad in reservoirs in mid-winter. "Once the water temperatures drop below 50 degrees, shad don't feel too good," said Gerry Buynak, assistant director of fisheries for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "The cold water makes shad distressed and they flip around, twitch and swim in circles. The little jig imitates exactly what is happening to them." Smallmouth bass suspend under schools of baitfish and pick off the ones twitching as they fight to survive winter's cold. Nature programmed smallmouth bass through the millennia to take advantage of easy feeding opportunities in winter. Female bass, especially, need winter nutrition to fuel egg development for spring spawning. The next two months are the best time of year to employ the technique in the lower ends of Lake Cumberland, Dale Hollow Lake, Laurel River Lake, Green River Lake, Barren River Lake and the small mountain impoundments such as Cranks Creek (Herb Smith) Lake or Cannon Creek Lake. When I got serious, I bought an 8 ½-foot rod from a top of the line manufacturer, attached a decent reel and bought a mixture of 1/16-ounce jigs made from duck feathers, craft hair or a mixture of both. I spooled on 4-pound test line and got busy. It isn't necessary to spend a ton on the rod as manufacturers now offer affordable spinning rods from 8-to 11-feet long. A 1/16-ounce craft hair fly in combinations of light blue, chartreuse, white, blue or silver work well. I drop down to 1/32-ounce flies on bright, shimmering days after a cold front. Duck feather flies with stands of red or chartreuse craft tied into them produce best when the water temperatures fall below 47 degrees. Some anglers apply a petroleum jelly based scent called "dope" to their flies. I trim my craft hair flies to match the bend of the hook and apply liberal amounts of dope. This gives the fly a slim profile and no action, which turns on lethargic smallmouths. If the water is a little stained, I apply dope only to the head of the fly to let the craft hair breathe and undulate so the smallmouths can find it easier. I only apply dope to the head of duck feather flies. Set the bobber about 9 feet above the fly to start and adjust shallower or deeper as needed. Some anglers use a main line of 8-pound braided line running to a small brass three-way swivel with a leader of 4-pound fluorocarbon attached to one of the loops and clipping a small 7/8-inch pear-shaped plastic bobber to the other. Others simply tie a fly to a 4-pound main line of clear or green fluorocarbon or monofilament line and attach the bobber to the line as they are more comfortable with one knot than three. Both catch trophy smallmouths. Cast the fly to main lake and secondary points or rock bluffs. Allow the bobber to ride up and down with the waves, letting nature impart action on the fly. After a time, reel in about five feet and repeat. In calm water, make the bobber wink at you by shaking the rod tip up and down to give the fly action. Set your drag lightly. Watch the bobber intently. Big smallmouth bass often barely take the bobber under after they inhale the fly and don't move. Trophy smallmouth bass coming from deeper water often engulf the fly and move shallower, causing the bobber to flop over on its side. Set the hook immediately if this happens. Tackle shops around Lake Cumberland or Dale Hollow Lake carry the correct rods, flies, dope and other float and fly accessories. An internet search reveals dealers that carry this equipment as well. Burn away the winter blues with a slipping drag from a huge smallmouth bass that just took your fly. The float and fly is similar to the bobber fishing you did as a kid, but instead of bluegill hitting, it is a 21-inch smallmouth.
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Post by Press Release on Jan 14, 2012 9:06:14 GMT -5
Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Parasites found on Lake Cumberland striped bass; fish still safe to eat Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Fisheries biologists at Lake Cumberland found a parasitic copepod is the cause of unusual sores on the tongue and mouth of striped bass in the lake. "When we sampled the lake's striped bass fishery in mid-December, every fish we handled was infested," said John Williams, southeastern district fishery biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The copepod, genus Achtheres, has been found in recent years in mountain lakes in Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. "The parasites infest the fish's oral cavity and do not affect the fish's flesh. The fish are okay to eat," said Williams. The external parasites are visible to the naked eye. Young copepods attach to the fish's gill filaments and migrate to its mouth as adults to reproduce. The parasites can impact the gills and hamper respiration in larger fish. It's uncertain at this time if the parasite is native to the region or has somehow been introduced. Angler transfer of fish through livewells and the introductions of infected fish may have enabled the parasite to spread so quickly from lake to lake in the region. Williams said the parasites have also been found on a small percentage of largemouth bass in three reservoirs in south central Kentucky: Wood Creek Lake, Laurel River Lake and Cedar Creek Lake. "Fish get a variety of parasites. They are an annoyance," said Williams. "They would not be the primary cause of a die-off of stripers in Lake Cumberland." Another mystery is why the parasite spread so rapidly through the population. "We suspect the lowering of body condition has made striped bass more susceptible to the parasites," said Williams. Lake Cumberland, a 50,250-acre major reservoir near Jamestown, Ky., is the state's premier striped bass fishery and has supported a quality population of stripers since the 1980s. In 2007, Lake Cumberland was drawn down about 40 feet below summer pool to make repairs to Wolf Creek Dam. Since that time, the body condition of striped bass in the lake has been impacted due to the loss of cool water habitat in the fall. "Growth rates have declined considerably. In the past, it took striped bass in Lake Cumberland three years to reach the keeper size of 24 inches. Now, we have a majority of fish stockpiling below that length," said Williams. "We believe all this is due to conditions that are stressing fish. They're not eating and are not growing as fast." However, Williams said the stomachs of striped bass recently sampled were full. "In December, the stripers were up in the creeks gorging on small shad. By all indications, there was a good shad spawn last spring," he said. An ecological study funded by Virginia's Department of Game and Inland Fisheries found that a number of lakes in the region with populations of striped bass have been affected as early as 2000. The parasites were first identified on striped bass in the Potomac River in 1915. A study in the 1950s in Louisiana found the parasite on black bass, bullheads and other sport fish species. Recent research suggests that two species may exist in lakes in the southeastern United States, but the impact of infestations is poorly understood. Researchers found that the abundance of the parasites is seasonal and cyclic and often reflects the overall condition of the host.
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Post by Press Release on Jan 19, 2012 17:44:09 GMT -5
Archery Range Opens In Madison County Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - A new archery range is now open to the public at the Miller Welch-Central Kentucky Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Madison County. Constructed on the northern edge of the WMA along Muddy Creek Road, the archery range consists of is a 12-target traditional range and a 30-target course through the woods, said Derek Beard, wildlife coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources' Bluegrass Region. Archers are already excited about the new facilities. "We had people using the range within minutes of putting up the final signs at the entrance and opening the gates," he said. Beard said the new ranges in Madison County will provide opportunity for area archers, bowhunters, and for groups such as sportsmen's organizations, 4-H clubs, scouts, schools and church organizations. "With archery being one of fastest growing sports in the U.S. today, the new ranges will allow for expanded public archery opportunity within close driving distance of one of our fastest growing populations," Beard explained. The traditional static range includes 12 lanes with targets set at 10 meters and 15 meters, in addition to targets at 20 yards to 60 yards. Archers shoot into large outdoor archery targets that are secured into target sheds. The second range is a walking woods course consisting of a loop trail with lanes cut and a target placed at the end of each shooting lane. Archers can move within the lane to a comfortable distance ranging from 10 yards up to 65 yards. The new ranges are open daily from 9 a.m. eastern time to sunset. To reduce impact to targets, broadheads are not allowed on arrows. Groups may apply to reserve a range for a shooting event, by submitting a WMA User Permit Application to the Area Manager for consideration. Call (859) 986-4130 for more information. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife also has archery ranges at Jones-Keeney WMA in Caldwell County, Curtis Gates Lloyd WMA in Grant County, Otter Creek Outdoor Recreational Area in Meade County and West Kentucky WMA in McCracken County. For a complete listing of shooting and archery ranges on Kentucky's wildlife management areas, go online to www.fw.ky.gov and click onto the "Maps and Online Services" tab, followed by "Other KDFWR Maps."
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Post by Press Release on Jan 20, 2012 17:26:52 GMT -5
Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Eagle Watch Weekend Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - The bow of the CQ Princess barely cleared the no-wake zone at Kenlake State Resort Park Marina when Lake Barkley State Park Naturalist Mary Schmidt spotted them. "There are two juvenile eagles to our right," she announced over a microphone on the second deck of the excursion yacht. The mottled brown plumage of the birds showed their youth as bald eagles don't develop that familiar white head until roughly age 5. A few moments later, Schmidt spotted two adult bald eagles loafing in the trees near the cottages at Kenlake State Resort Park as the boat headed north to the Land Between the Lakes side of Kentucky Lake. Their white heads stood out from hundreds of yards away. Our group observed four eagles before the CQ Princess motored under the Eggner Ferry Bridge (U.S. 68), just north of Kenlake State Resort Park. This hot start was indicative of the coming day. Over the course of two hours, media members witnessed 22 eagles on a trial run to showcase the fun and enjoyment the Eagle Watch Weekends offer to the public. These weekends begin at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park on Jan. 20-22. The following weekend, Jan. 27-29, Lake Barkley State Resort Park hosts Eagle Watch Weekend. They conclude at Kenlake State Resort Park on Feb. 3-5. "We have 98 nesting pairs of bald eagles in Kentucky now," said Kate Heyden, avian biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "We should break 100 nesting pairs this year in the state." From the 1950s to the 1980s, no bald eagles nested in Kentucky. In 1987, a nesting pair showed up at Ballard Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in far western Kentucky near where the Ohio and Mississippi rivers meet. Thirteen nesting pairs of bald eagles called Kentucky home by 2000. "They've quadrupled in Kentucky in the last ten years or so," Heyden said. "It's pretty great." The Eagle Watch Weekends offer a comfortable and relaxing way to see our national bird in its winter habitat. "It is by far and away the easiest way to see bald eagles," Heyden said. "It is delightfully lazy in a large boat that is comfortable. You get to see more birds in one day than most people who study them get to see most years. Plus, you don't worry about disturbing the birds." Bald eagle numbers plummeted due to the harmful effects of absorbing the insecticide DDT into their systems. "It made their egg shells too thin," Heyden said. "They would break when the eagle covered them to incubate the eggs. We had little to no bald eagle reproduction for a time." The banning of DDT, introduction programs and improved law enforcement all combined to spring a comeback for the bald eagle. "We also have large chunks of open water and protected shoreline from all of the reservoirs built in the last 50 years or so," Heyden said. "We have a lot of good eagle habitat now." The Land Between the Lakes region offers a huge swatch of undeveloped land and shoreline for eagles to live. "It is one of the top places to bird watch in the country," Schmidt explained. "There are lots of migrating birds to see around here, especially when it's cold north of us." In addition to the boating excursions, Eagle Watch Weekends offer guided van tours on the Land Between the Lakes and Ballard WMA (van tours to Ballard WMA are only offered at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park). This gives birdwatchers a more intimate eagle watching experience. A naturalist accompanies each van tour group. "It is awesome," said Erin Carrico, executive director of the Murray Convention and Visitors Bureau. "It is very surprising how intense it is. People think that Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley are dormant in winter, but there's a lot going on here." For registration information, please call: Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park: 1-270-362-4271
Lake Barkley State Resort Park: 1-270-924-1131
Kenlake State Resort Park: 1-270-474-2211
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Post by Press Release on Jan 22, 2012 13:17:04 GMT -5
Hunters Find Sandhills Challenging During Kentucky's Inaugural Crane Season Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Larry Dreamis Hill failed in his quest to take a bird during Kentucky's inaugural sandhill crane hunting season – but says it wasn't for lack of effort. "These birds were extremely challenging and seemed to change their patterns a little every day. I really enjoyed the challenge and look forward to future seasons of pursuing this bird. I remember when the first sandhill cranes showed up in Cecilia (in Hardin County) years ago – now I have the opportunity to hunt them. It's very exciting," said Hill, Cecilia's retired fire chief. Kentucky's first modern hunting season for sandhill cranes came to a close Sunday, Jan. 15. The month-long season marked the first time in nearly 100 years that Kentucky sportsmen and sportswomen had the opportunity to hunt sandhill cranes in the Commonwealth. By closing day, hunters had harvested 50 birds. Kentucky had allowed for a maximum harvest of 400 sandhill cranes. "The harvest number was not surprising to us because Kentucky does not have a tradition of sandhill crane hunting," said Rocky Pritchert, Migratory Bird Program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "These are extremely wary birds and are a challenge to hunt. Sandhill cranes are hunted in a fashion similar to geese, using decoys in fields. Sandhill cranes are hunted for their meat. They are generally regarded as the finest table fare among migratory birds." Kentucky was the first state to allow sandhill crane hunting on the Eastern Population of sandhill cranes. The Mid-Continent Population of sandhill cranes has been hunted for more than 50 years in the United States. Last fall, a survey coordinated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service counted a minimum of 72,000 sandhill cranes in the Eastern Population. "This population has experienced significant growth over the last decade and has reached a point where we can allow a limited harvest without impacting the population," said Pritchert. "As a biologist it is my responsibility to ensure harvest does not negatively impact the population and this season will not harm the Eastern Population of sandhill cranes." This season, most of the cranes were harvested in Hardin and Barren counties. These are traditional wintering areas for sandhill cranes in Kentucky. Hunters had to pass an online identification course before being issued a permit. Hunters will have to complete a post-season survey as well. "The information obtained from these surveys helps us better understand how the season went," said Pritchert. "The information obtained from this hunt will help us manage future hunts of sandhill hunts in Kentucky and other states that might potentially hunt sandhill cranes."
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Post by Press Release on Jan 24, 2012 21:24:13 GMT -5
State Forestry, Fish And Wildlife Acquire 2,500 Acres For Public Use Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Kentucky Division of Forestry and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources have jointly acquired nearly 2,500 acres in Union County at the confluence of the Ohio and Tradewater rivers. The property will become the state’s newest wildlife management area (WMA) and state forest. The 2,484-acre site near Sturgis is a portion of one of the largest private landholdings in Kentucky. Purchase of the property - known locally as the Alcoa Property, or more recently as the Kimball Property - was possible only through the cooperation of private, public and non-profit agencies. It completes the first of a two-phase project to protect the area. The property will provide public recreational opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking, canoeing, wildlife viewing and other activities as a wildlife management area. The property also will be managed to provide watershed and water quality protection; protection and recovery of endangered, threatened and rare species; preservation of existing cultural and geological treasures - and a sustainable forest. It will be permanently protected from development and agricultural conversion. The entire property was purchased in early 2009 by an investment fund managed by The Forestland Group with cooperation from The Conservation Fund and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR). The Conservation Fund partners with community, government and corporate organizations to help them fulfill their conservation priorities. The purchase of the entire property by The Forestland Group’s investment fund enabled KDFWR and the Kentucky Division of Forestry (KDF) to acquire and protect this tract. State Forestry and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife assembled $6,681,780 (including administrative fees) to purchase the tract. Kentucky’s congressional delegation helped secure $3.25 million in federal money through the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program (FLP), 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. "What is unique about this project is the size of the acquisition and the number of public and private partners that had to successfully work together to permanently protect this incredibly beautiful part of Kentucky," said Terry Cook, state director for The Nature Conservancy. "Public and private monies are limited, but by working together, we still can have incredible success." State 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. "The Division of Forestry is very excited about this new wildlife management area and state forest," said State Forestry Director Leah MacSwords. "This joint venture conserves a valuable forest ecosystem and showcases the importance of a well-managed forest." Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Dr. Jon Gassett said the acquisition is an example of groups working together to benefit the public. "We have partnered closely with The Conservation Fund almost a quarter-century to help secure lands in Kentucky for public outdoor recreation," he said. "They have protected nearly seven million acres across the country, and they were instrumental in helping us protect such Kentucky lands that are now Peabody, Obion and Sloughs WMAs." Ray Herndon is director of the Lower Mississippi Region for The Conservation Fund. "This project demonstrates a relatively new but growing model for conservation where forest management organizations – like The Forestland Group – are helping to conserve land for public outdoor recreation," he said. "The success of this partnership has facilitated the protection of a property that is a true natural gem for the Commonwealth. The new WMA is a win-win for Kentucky because it will support and create outdoor recreation related jobs and provide new hunting and fishing opportunities for sportsmen and women." The property will be jointly managed as a wildlife management area and a state forest, using the same goals as the Knobs and Marrowbone areas. State forest properties use the ecosystem management approach to ensure biological diversity and sustainable use. These areas are working forests with demonstration areas to promote good forestry practices. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and the Kentucky Division of Forestry are developing a management plan for this area that will include the necessary regulations. The area will be officially open to the public later this year.
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Post by Press Release on Jan 27, 2012 18:23:37 GMT -5
Grand Jury Charges Man With Three Felonies Following Boating Incident Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - A Wayne County grand jury has indicted an Illinois man on three felony counts stemming from a boating incident that severely injured a swimmer in Lake Cumberland Aug. 12, 2011. James Gibson, 26, of Chicago, is charged with second-degree assault and two counts of wanton endangerment. His indictment was returned Jan. 24. Conservation officers with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources said Gibson was operating a houseboat while intoxicated when it struck Jordan McKelvey, 25, of Fennale, Michigan. McKelvey suffered severe injuries from the propeller. Boaters were staging in the lake's Shinbone area for the upcoming "Lake Cumberland Raft-Up" event the following day. Conservation Officers Travis Neal and Jerrod Alley were nearby and rushed to the scene when another boater summoned their help. The officers loaded McKelvey in their boat and administered precautionary measures to stop his life-threatening bleeding. The officers transported the victim more than two miles to Conley Bottom Marina, where they were met by members of the Wayne County Emergency Medical Service. McKelvey was moved to a landing site and then taken by helicopter to the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center. Officers say he remained at the medical center 18 days before eventually being transported to a Michigan facility for continued treatment and rehabilitation. Officers say McKelvey and other passengers from Gibson's houseboat were swimming near the vessel's stern when Gibson decided to move the boat and throttled its engine in reverse. The suction pulled McKelvey into the propeller. Officers say Gibson admitted to operating the vessel when it struck McKelvey. Witnesses supported that. Gibson agreed to give a voluntary blood sample at the time. Laboratory results indicated a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.25, more than three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent for boat operators. He was charged at the time with alcohol intoxication in a public place and paid $203 in fines and court costs. Neal said arrest warrants on the felony charges will be issued for Gibson, who has since returned to Illinois.
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Post by Press Release on Jan 29, 2012 8:07:14 GMT -5
Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Trapping Is The Most Effective Way To Control Wild Pigs Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - In Kentucky, wild pigs may be hunted with firearms year-round with no daily bag limit, but wildlife biologists believe trapping is the most effective way to control the feral pests. "In established populations, hunting often educates more pigs than it removes," said Chad Soard, a wildlife biologist with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "Research has shown that relying too heavily on hunting will not control pigs and may hasten their spread." Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is working with landowners to help them deal with the destructive, unwanted swine which pose serious ecological, economic and disease threats. "We've had verified sightings of wild pigs in 37 counties," said Soard. "For many of these sightings there's no evidence of established populations. They're just isolated occurrences of free-ranging pigs living independent of humans." Soard said he gets regular reports from landowners about their ongoing efforts to remove pigs from areas of Kentucky with established populations. "You have to adapt your strategy to completely eradicate wild pigs," said Soard. "You have to understand the species. Shooting them on sight isn't always best." Wild pigs live in maternal groups called sounders, usually made up of several related sows with their offspring. Several maternal groups may come together to forage so there could be as many as 20 to 30 pigs on a food source. Mature boars tend to be solitary and don't tolerate the presence of other males. Hunting in general, and sport hunting in particular, is ineffective for controlling or eradicating wild pigs because boars are targeted. "The removal of all age classes concurrently is critical to any successful control or eradication plan," said Soard. "Reproduction often outpaces the most intensive hunting efforts. Juveniles can breed at six months so you have to concentrate your efforts on maternal groups, continually trapping over a long period of time." Shooting into a group of pigs forces them to search for sanctuary. "You're going to spread out the population and push them onto neighboring properties," said Soard. "Wild pigs are not prone to wandering. They're not overly territorial, except when boars are fighting over breeding rights," said Soard. "Populations tend to stay in a small area unless they are pressured." Wild pigs make their presence known by the sign they leave such as rooted up areas in woods and fields and wallows around small ponds or wet areas. Trail cameras are a good way to assess wild pig numbers and find suitable trap sites. "You can't just trap anywhere; you have to locate the trap on fresh sign, where the pigs are actively feeding or traveling," said Soard. Large box traps can be used to catch wild pigs, but corral traps are better. "They allow non-targeted species to escape and are capable of catching entire maternal groups of pigs at one time," said Soard. Corral traps are made from wire and typically have a swinging, saloon-style gate which lets the pigs enter, but blocks them from leaving the trap. A good strategy is to establish the trap site at an area where pigs can feed unmolested. Then, monitor the site with trail cameras and set the trap when the largest numbers of pigs are feeding at the site. In Kentucky, it is illegal to possess wild pigs. Any captured pig must be killed at the trap site. They may not be removed from traps alive. Corral traps are commercially available or can be homemade. "We have a cost share program to help landowners offset the cost of the traps," said Soard. Winter is the best time to trap. Food is in short supply and pigs readily come to bait piles. The best trap sites for pigs are located along travel routes between bedding and feeding sites. Trapping works. "The staff at Bernheim Forest corral trapped steadily for three years and reduced the population to the point where damage and observations have ceased," said Soard. "You can't trap for a while and quit. You've got to stick with it."
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Post by Press Release on Feb 1, 2012 21:01:42 GMT -5
Cooperative Dove Field Program Enrollment Underway Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Kentucky farmers can help carry on the hunting tradition and earn much-needed extra cash by enrolling in the Cooperative Dove Field Program. Enrollment is currently underway and will continue until mid-March. "Under the new Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, increased payments are available for 2012," said Rocky Pritchert, migratory bird biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The Cooperative Dove Field Program, which began in 1998, can generate up to $10,000 for a landowner who leases a field on their land for public dove hunting. "We will accept fields ranging from 6 to 30 acres with additional payments for buffers around fields. Fields generally run from 15 to 30 acres in size," Pritchert said. "But, we encourage anyone interested to apply." Farmers may plant an idle field to sunflowers, millet or another acceptable crop for a public dove field by working with a Kentucky Fish and Wildlife private lands biologist and following some simple guidelines. Payment amounts depend on the number of acres enrolled, crop type and fulfillment of the plot management agreement with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. To get the process started, landowners must contact their Kentucky Fish and Wildlife private lands biologist or Natural Resources Conservation Service liaison. For a listing of biologists, log onto Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's homepage at fw.ky.gov. Click on the "Hunting, Trapping and Wildlife" tab and then on "Contact Us." Property owners may also call 1-800-858-1549 for more information.
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Post by Press Release on Feb 1, 2012 21:07:14 GMT -5
Kentucky Fish And Wildlife Commission Calls Special Meeting For February 3 Asian Carp Harvest Program
FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission will hold a special called meeting in Frankfort February 3. The meeting agenda contains one item: discussion of scaled rough fish harvest in the Asian Carp Harvest Program. The special session will follow the Administrative, Fisheries and Wildlife Committee meetings. The first meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time at the Arnold Mitchell Building, #1Sportsman's Lane, on the campus of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources in Frankfort. The campus is located off U.S. 60 approximately 1½ miles west of U.S. 127. Meetings are open to the public. For meeting agendas and schedules, visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov.
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