Posted By:
Michael-Bride
Field Editor
none 10-09-2007 18:22
– – –
The countdown is at zero people…We’re goin duckin….Good luck
Good luck and keep swinging!Bubba…
Posted By:
Michael-Bride
Field Editor
None 07-27-2007 05:00
– – –
Waterfowl Meetings, Aug. 7 in Whitehall, NY — Aug. 8 in Burlington, VT
VERMONT AGENCY OF NATURAL RESOURCES
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: July 20, 2007
Media Contacts: Vermont – Bill Crenshaw (802) 878-1564; New York – John OConnor (518) 897-1291
Waterfowl Meetings, Aug. 7 in Whitehall, NY — Aug. 8 in Burlington, VT
Waterbury, VT Public meetings to review and discuss the status of waterfowl populations and waterfowl hunting seasons for Lake Champlain in New York and all of Vermont will be held Tuesday, August 7, in Whitehall, New York, and Wednesday, August 8, in Burlington, Vermont. The annual meetings are being held by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Fish & Wildlife Department.
The August 7th meeting will be held at Skenesburgh Rescue Squad building in Whitehall, New York, while the August 8th meeting will be held at the University of Vermonts Billings Student Center, Room 101. Both meetings will run from 7 – 9 p.m. Those attending the Burlington, Vermont meeting should park off Colchester Avenue.
Vermont and New York waterfowl hunters are encouraged to attend one of these meetings and share their recommendations and opinions with other waterfowl hunters, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board and Vermont and New York wildlife personnel.
The current Lake Champlain Waterfowl Zone, established in 1988, includes all of Lake Champlain and an additional narrow strip of shoreline in Vermont and New York. Under Federal regulations, waterfowl seasons, bag limits, and shooting hours in the Lake Champlain Zone must be uniform throughout the entire zone. Therefore, waterfowl seasons in New Yorks portion of the Lake Champlain Zone must be identical to the waterfowl season in Vermonts portion of the Zone.
Comments received at the August meetings, as well as input and recommendations from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will be reviewed by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board. The board will adopt the final waterfowl regulations and seasons for the Lake Champlain Zone at its regularly scheduled business meeting on August 15, in Montpelier, Vermont.
Posted By:
Zeke The Zen Puppy
Guest
Statewide 05-10-2007 19:01
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
For Immediate Release – Thur 10 May 2007
Heather Forcier Wins Vermont Duck Stamp Contest: Vermont Wildlife Photographer Provides Four Waterfowl Images for State Duck Stamps
Waterbury, Vermont – Heather Forcier of South Burlington, Vermont is the winner of the Vermont’s Fish & Wildlife Department’s duck stamp photo competition.
Four of Forcier’s photos of wild ducks will appear on Vermont’s State Duck Stamps from 2007 to 2010.
Wildlife biologists and a representative from the Vermont Waterfowl Advisory Committee chose the winning images earlier this spring from a field of 201 photos submitted by seven noted Vermont wildlife photographers.
Forcier will market limited edition photographic prints of the winning images with matching State Duck Stamps under a contract with the State.
The chosen photos are: ring-necked duck (2007), harlequin duck (2008), gadwall (2009), and wood duck (2010).
Heather Forcier’s interest in nature began with outdoor activities enjoyed throughout her youth in Vermont. In 2000 she acquired her first SLR camera, a Nikon F5, but she later transitioned to digital photography and now uses a Canon EOS 1D Mark II.
She has buttisted on photographic workshops throughout North America and co-founded the online nature photography resource < www.NatureScapes.Net> where she serves many functions, including Editor in Chief.
Her work is sold in several retail stores and has appeared in numerous publications, such as National Geographic Traveler, Audubon Magazine, Birder’s World, WildBird, the New York Times, and the Washington Post.
She has served as a photography judge for various organizations, including the American Birding Association for their Young Birder of the Year program. For more information, please visit her website at < www.heatherforcier.com. >
Vermont’s first stamp went on sale in 1986. For several years, when there was a strong market for State Duck Stamp Prints, the Fish & Wildlife Department generated over $3 million from the sale of prints and stamps, which went into a State Duck Stamp Fund to conserve and enhance waterfowl habitat. Proceeds from the sale of Vermont Duck Stamps continue to go to the fund.
To date, the fund has made it possible for the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department to complete 66 habitat projects protecting or enhancing 8,229 acres of Vermont wetlands and adjoining uplands through purchases, easements and habitat improvement projects.
# # #
Contact:
Bill Crenshaw
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
802-879-5699
Posted By:
Zeke The Zen Puppy
Guest
Statewide 05-10-2007 09:02
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 60-65 Degrees
[B]BRAKE FOR MOOSE: IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE[/B]
On the way home from the store last evening, I saw a near miss on I-89 in Bolton that saved the moose, but put the car into the median.
Vermont’s moose herd is approximately 6,000 strong. While the number of moose/vehicle collisions in Vermont has been stable at approximately 150 each year (250+ in NH) for the last ten years, that’s little comfort if you’re one of those involved in a collision.
Moose are an important and much loved part of Vermont, but it can be dangerous to encounter them on the road. Be aware of the danger of moose-vehicle collisions and how to reduce the chance of a moose collision or personal injury because of a collision, such as swerving into a tree or rock ledge.
By following a few simple rules, motorists can greatly reduce their chance of a moose/vehicle collision or the severity of personal injury if they do hit a moose.
* Moose vehicle collisions happen statewide on all types of roads.
* Be especially cautious in areas with “Moose Crossing” signs, as these signs are placed in areas with a history of collisions.
* Moose collisions happen most often from the months of May through November.
* While collisions can happen at any time of day, they occur most frequently at dusk and during the night.
* Moose are dark brown and hard to see against pavement.
* Don’t depend on ‘eye shine’ to alert you to a moose’s presence. Moose are often too tall for their eyes to brightly reflect in the beam of your headlights.
Vermont Fish & Wildlife offers these suggestions to reduce the chance of a collision – or the severity of occupant injury if you do hit a moose:
* Drive no faster than 65 mph, and wear your seatbelt;
* Scan the sides of the road;
* Be able to stop within the zone of your headlights;
* Use high beams whenever possible;
* If you see a moose, slow down or stop if necessary, until you have pbutted it or it has left the road.
We all love to see moose and enjoy sharing the state with these largest denizens of the forest. Make sure your moose encounters are safe for you and the moose.
Brake for Moose – It could save your life!
Posted By:
Zeke The Zen Puppy
Guest
Central Lake Champlain 04-26-2007 11:58
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
Ice-out on Malletts Bay and the Inland Sea should be an official holiday!
If you haven’t done it already, time to break out the fishing gear and make plans for a great season ahead.
This spring has been odd, that’s for sure. Rivers were at summer levels, then the rain/snow/sleet and floods came. Sure feels like we have been through that too many times in recent memory.
I have had some calls from anglers wondering about the fish in the rivers. No, they did not get flushed out — trout and salmon (and, in fact, all river-dwelling fish) are shaped to handle fast water.
The water on the surface of rivers and streams moves faster than water in the deeper depths. In times of high water, fish adapt to the changing conditions and seek refuge on the bottom, behind rocks and pools. No one knows for sure how much fish may be displaced by high, fast water. Throughout the year, trout and salmon move up and down our rivers and streams on their own. With that in mind, what’s the best strategy for fishing in these high-water conditions?
With the water still high but clearing up, I will focus on the pools first. Taking my time, I fish the edges first. The water may be slightly warmer at the edges — this is also where food (aquatic insects and worms) may have settled. I lean toward larger flies in early spring — black or olive woolly buggers and larger bead-head nymphs like the hare’s ear are definite “go to” flies right now. I’m not opposed to fishing a worm where it is legal — drifting a worm on a stream of my childhood still has a certain magic that has not faded.
Trout ponds opened last Saturday. I’d will mix it up fly fishing and spin fishing. Having both options will hopefully increase success.
I have a couple of trips planned for salmon fishing on the “Broad Lake.” From what I’ve been hearing, things are really rocking on central Lake Chaplain. This gets me fired up to hook up with a leaping salmon.
Mid-May, just a couple weeks away, brings pure excitement, from giant bluegills moving into the shallows of your favorite pond and bay to the explosive strikes of a northern pike! White perch will also be moving to spawn. When you find them you will have an opportunity not only for white perch, but yellow perch too. The yellow perch follow the schools of white perch so they can feast on their eggs. Big sunfish will also enjoy the feast.
Keep only what you can use, release the rest.
Tight lines!!!
Posted By:
Zeke The Zen Puppy
Guest
Central Lake Champlain 04-19-2007 15:21
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
What a difference a year makes! Last year Champlain’s broad-lake anglers were treated to near complete ice-out conditions on the April opener, but this year, Mother Nature appears to have confused April with January (I guess She is getting even for the mild early winter!).
Although open water has been at a premium to date, a heavy northwest wind followed by a horrendous multiple-day Nor’easter (which we are still enjoying as of this writing on 4/19) has finally started to open things up, especially on the broad lake. Heavy winds, driving rain, and swelling tributary inflows have done their part to create considerably more room for angling from a variety of watercraft, with select launch areas opening up as well. However, until the remaining ice sheets are gone, word to the wise, be careful in planning your trip — changing wind directions and shifting ice sheets can cut you off from your original access point. With continued wind in the forecast and warmer, sunnier weather predicted for the weekend, open water availability will only increase and ice-out will not be far off on the bays.
Later temperature is hovering in the 38-degree F range — full ice-out usually occurs when the lake hits 40-degrees. Again though, wind direction, sun, and rain are all big players in the ice-out game.
Speaking of the weather, no matter what the conditions may seem like “at home,” when angling by shore or boat in the early season on VT’s big lakes, dress for ice fishing conditions — you will be glad you did.
Converse Bay has been an early season bright spot. Landlocked salmon action was pretty hot. Some salmon in particular will not be in prime condition in this locale, given their relative lack of forage existence, but offer decent action nonetheless.
All the recent rain/snow/melting has heavy flows dumping out of the lakes. This should translate to another extended, banner year for shore anglers in the above and similar river locations, as more fish will continue to drop down and conditions should remain suitable further into the spring.
[Edited By WP-Sullivan on 2007-04-19 15:47]
Posted By:
Zeke The Zen Puppy
Guest
Vermont, by Jeezum 01-26-2007 12:37
Arctic Blast – Below Zero
there s generally good ice thruout the valleyand cerianly in the NE Kingdom, but the ice is not uniform in its thickness.
Free Press 01-26-07
SUV Falls Through Ice
MILTON, Vt. – A Milton man, who drove his vehicle out onto Lake Arrowhead, had to climb out the window to safety as his SUV plunged into the ice.
Police said Robert Emery, 21, and Ethan Rose, 21, both of Milton, went out onto the ice and drilled holes to see how thick the ice was.
Emery then drove his 1994 Ford Explorer around a snow bank and onto the ice. About 150 yards into the ice, Emery felt the ice break and the vehicle started to slowly sink.
Numerous police and environmental agencies are making a collaborated effort to remove the vehicle from the lake. Police say Emery could face up to $500 in fines for numerous fines assessed by the Agency of Natural Resources. Emery will also have to pay any fees during the removal of the SUV.
Posted By:
Zeke The Zen Puppy
Guest
Lake Champlain 01-19-2007 16:21
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
CHECK BEFORE YOU GO OUT ON ANY ICE
Winter has made its appearance in the Champlain Valley at last, but the warm weather and uneven temperatures that have prevailed in the state so far this season mean the condition of ice on Lake Champlain and the valley ponds is unpredictable at best and could be treacherous. Play it safe and check ice carefully before venturing onto ice-covered waters.
Always test the ice — don’t just head out blindly across a lake. How can you tell if ice is safe? There are no guarantees. Always consider ice potentially dangerous. Assess ice safety by using an ice chisel to chop a hole in the ice to determine its thickness and condition. Make sure you continue to do this as you go further out on to the ice, because the thickness of the ice will not be uniform all over the pond or lake.
The Cold Region Research Laboratory in Hanover, NH offers a “rule of thumb” on ice thickness, suggesting that there should be a minimum of six inches of hard ice before individual foot travel, and eight to ten inches of hard ice for snow machine or ATV travel.
Don’t rely totally on these guidelines this year, though. Ice may be thick, but not strong, because of varying weather conditions. Warming trends can break down the ice, and the slushy surface then freezes, forming weaker ice.
Ice can be especially treacherous for children. NEVER allow children to go out on the ice by themselves. And don’t ever let children venture onto the ice on rivers and streams, because the current makes the ice so unpredictable.
Ponds and lakes can present areas of unsafe ice as well, especially in places with current, like inlets, outlets and spring holes, where the ice can be dangerously thin.
[Edited By WP-Sullivan on 2007-01-19 16:25]
Posted By:
Zeke The Zen Puppy
Guest
12-30-2006 09:20
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Malletts Bay (inner) has started to freeze over.
Reports of ice fishing already (perch) on South Bay of Memphremagog.
Posted By:
Zeke The Zen Puppy
Guest
Isle La Motte 12-10-2006 14:31
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Limited out in 45 minutes: 2 buck bills, 2 buck whistlers, two redleg green heads.
Birds swung in from center channel over the decoys.
