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November 25, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Thanksgiving.

Likely my favorite holiday. Cooking, eating, drinking with family and friends. No pressure, a lazy day, a day to catch your breath and a time to reflect on the things we are thankful for.

I won’t rant about the insipid commercialism that lurks on the morrow. Better minds and voices than mine are on it. I cheer them on.

Today is a time to relax and just for fun renovate the blog. Yeah it is kinda lame, but I can sit quietly this morning and goof around a bit before the cooking starts in earnest.

some renovations take longer than others...

Trying out some new formats and tools. There will surely be some gaffes and missteps but it will all get sorted out eventually…

Happy Thanksgiving.

Paraphrasing Winston Churchill, we can enjoy Thanksgiving because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.

For them I am eternally thankful.

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AFFTA’s International Fly Tackle Dealer show

December 19, 2009 by Leave a Comment

As a new AFFTA board member it has been entertaining to read posts (my favorite), comments, and email regarding the trade show and the association’s future. Now it is settled and the fly-fishing industry has it’s own show. Here are some important points about the process and decision.

The AFFTA board and staff had a lot of careful and thoughtful deliberations as we considered a new show among our options.  We looked at every option – including partnering with ASA, OR, Chuck, and other show producers that approached us in the past two weeks. The process took time, but it was worth it to be sure we had solid information for a final decision.

In the end the board firmly believes that an independent show is in the best interests of the fly-fishing industry. That decision is validated by the overwhelmingly positive response so far.

The hiring of an industry veteran like Randi Swisher makes the success we expect achievable. The proceeds from the International Fly Tackle Dealer show will be put to work for the industry. Retailers will now be directly involved in our decision making process on show decisions like dates, format, features and other elements.

Those of us with a passion for fly-fishing deserve our own show and our own association. Now is the time for folks to get involved and help make this show a success and AFFTA stronger.

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A time to reflect, learn new tricks

August 5, 2009 by 1 Comment

When you hit certain milestones in your life, in my case turning 55 years old in July, you get a chance to reflect on the things you have accomplished and the things you might still want to accomplish in the future.

As I write this I am enjoying a family vacation in Exeter, R.I. We are at a cabin on Yagoo pond. It is a typical New England lakeside scene — if you saw the movie On Golden Pond then you get the picture. The place hasn’t changed all that much in the 55 years I have been coming here. I like that.

There is some wonderful fishing here. Over the years I have caught my fair share of bass, pickerel and sunfish. For more than 40 years, I have fished here with a fly-rod. Since I am reflecting on future accomplishments I decided to learn to how to use a bait casting rig on this vacation.

For the last 10 years or so I have taught fly-fishing professionally. I enjoy teaching, especially watching my students discover those personal keys that help them become good at fly casting.

My last attempt to use a bait-casting rig was not pretty. With no instruction I just hung a plug on the end of the line and “let her rip”. Those of you who fish with a bait caster are now smiling and thinking “bet he had one heck of a backlash with that approach”. And I surely did. The net result was more time untangling then casting.

Now like most humans endowed with a Y chromosome, reading instruction manuals is not in my make up. However, I have learned a thing or two over the years and for this learning experience I read up on how to “adjust” the reel to help prevent backlashing.

There were two reels collecting dust in my gear closet both pretty old school. A Quantum Tour and an Abu-Garcia Ambassadeur. They had magnets and brakes and all sorts of “fine” adjustments to assist you in casting.

Reading carefully and setting the reels up as suggested, I ventured forth to test my skills.

My first cast was tentative and somewhat misdirected. But, no backlash. A few more casts improved my accuracy. As my timing improved so did the length of my casts.

Soon I realized the adjustments could be modified to allow for more independent control of the spool with the thumb. Clearly, this was how the big boys did it. I was ready to advance.

I quickly came to appreciate that point in the learning curve when you think you should be able to do something, but for some reason it just doesn’t work out that way. My mind raced back to all the time my students had that perplexed look and I thought, “come on it is not that hard”.

I eventually got to a point where the backlashes were not taking the fun out of fishing. The casts were going where I wanted and I started to enjoy a new skill.

I probably won’t trade my fly-rod in, but it is good to know this dog can still learn a new trick.

More importantly it reminded me what it is like to be a student again. That just because something is so routine for me doesn’t mean it will be for everyone. The real lesson for me was to remember to put myself in my student’s shoes. That was certainly a lesson worth relearning.

You can read more of my columns at News Virginian.com.

Filed Under: Fishing, Reflections, TNV columns Tagged With: , , ,

Filling the need to teach our youth

June 11, 2009 by Leave a Comment

The $70 million in funding for a new youth conservation education initiative proposed by the Obama administration recently got a bit of attention in Washington.

This new initiative, know as the 21st Century Youth Conservation Corps, was included in the president’s 2010 budget request for the Department of the Interior.

On June 3, more than 140 groups, including many prominent hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation organizations, co-signed a letter to Congress urging them to support full funding for this initiative. The letter points out that the initiative “will bolster environmental education, recreation and service programs throughout the Department, and engage thousands of youth in the outdoors.”

On Monday, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to the president, were on the National Mall in Washington to talk about the program. At the event, Salazar signed a Secretarial Order establishing an Office of Youth in Natural Resources at the Department of the Interior.

“President Obama and I believe that during tough economic times, a new national youth program is needed to provide jobs, outdoor experiences and career opportunities for young people — especially women, minorities, tribal and other underserved youth,” Salazar said.

This type of funding is long overdue. Education, especially when it connects young people with the outdoors, is a wonderful investment. It is the young people who will be the next stewards of out great natural resources heritage.

One of the challenges those of us who love the outdoors face is connecting, or in some cases, reconnecting our kids to the outdoors. Funding like this can go a long way to help support existing programs like Trout in the Classroom or the Archery in the Schools Program or high school fishing teams like the one at Orange County High School. It also means there will be resources for the states and local communities to start new programs.

Here in the Valley we are fortunate to have an abundance of outdoor opportunities and a rich heritage of hunting, fishing and conservation. But even the Valley is not immune from the distractions of modern society. Our young people need both guidance and opportunity to learn about and contribute to our rich natural resource heritage.

Unfortunately, fewer and fewer young people are being exposed to traditional outdoor recreation. They are out of touch with nature. They are missing the connection to hunting, fishing and the food on the table. They don’t learn about the connection of fish and wildlife habitat, natural resources conservation and economic activity.

We are facing an emerging “conservation gap”. As the population becomes more urbanized, the ties to nature and the value and need to conserve our fish and wildlife habitat is broken. The loss of this connection to our outdoor heritage poses a growing threat to conservation of that fish and wildlife habitat.

We must engage this and future generations in fish and wildlife related recreation and conservation. And, we have to do it on their terms and in a way that is relevant to them.

If Congress approves the funding, $40 million will be used to supplement existing programs at the Department of Interior. This will create greater opportunities to engage young people across all of the Department’s natural resources agencies.

The best part of this initiative is the new $30 million in funding for grants to state and tribal programs for hunting and fishing education and outreach. Special attention will paid to urban and minority youth programs.

The importance of reaching urban and minority youth cannot be over-stated. The model for wildlife conservation in this country is successful because it engaged hunters and anglers in conserving our natural resources. If that connection is lost because we fail to reach growing segment of our population then those of us that enjoy the great outdoors may lose the chance to pass it on to future generations.

You can read more of my columns at News Virginian.com

Filed Under: Fishing, Hunting, TNV columns Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Learning on the Potomac

June 1, 2009 by Leave a Comment

I spend a fair amount of time in Washington, D.C. Recently, I was there for the Nation’s River’s Bass Tournament. The Nation’s River Bass Tournament is an annual event connecting students from Washington D.C. and nearby Virginia and Maryland schools with the outdoors.

The event is put on by Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The event takes place at National Harbor on the Potomac River in Maryland.

More than 300 students came out for a morning of fishing and education. The event helps raise money for Living Classrooms’ academic and workforce development programs. Last year the event raised over $40,000. Living Classroom uses a “hands-on” approach to education and job training. They use urban, natural and maritime resources as “living classrooms”.

Selected students had a chance to fish “tournament style” with volunteer bass “pros” from the local area. These anglers are organized by Captain Steve Chaonas of National Bass Guide Service. Chaconas, a former radio and TV talk show host, has been fishing on the Potomac for nearly forty years. He and his fellow “pros” make sure the kids learn while they are on the water.

Fishing from volunteer guide Peter Yanni’s boat, students Brennen Mayer and Kevin Brown boated the winning catch. Their five “keepers” total more than fifteen pounds with one “lunker” weighing five pounds and five ounces. Winmar Construction sponsored this winning team.

Students who did not go out to fish with the pros moved in groups to fifteen educational stations set up along the East Pier at National Harbor. They also had a chance to get out on the water on Living Classrooms’ ship, the Half Shell. The Half Shell, a Chesapeake Buyboat, is one of several “floating classrooms” that Living Classrooms conduct their shipboard education programs on.

The event much like the, Jim Range National Casting Call, helps highlight the Potomac River as an important economic, educational and community resource. The Potomac River is considered one of the top ten rivers in the country for largemouth bass fishing.

The Potomac is also home to both migratory fish like the stripped bass, American and Hickory shad and herring as well as freshwater fish like bass and sunfish.

If this event was any indication than I can personally attest to the excellent fishing. Twenty-plus boats went out Wednesday morning and by 11:30 a.m. everyone had returned with fish. Most boats returned with fish tipping the scales over three pounds.

Recreational Fishing is an important contributor to our national economy. In Virginia alone it accounts for more than $800 million in retail sales and 15,000 jobs each year. When anglers also make an important contribution by introducing fishing and conservation to young people who might not otherwise have a chance to participate in the sport then you have a real winning combination.

Last Thursday, representatives from the five federal agencies responsible for most of the federal investment in fishing and aquatic habitat provided a group of us an informal briefing on the funding they had proposed for fish and aquatic habitat programs.

Across the board, there was more funding proposed for the various fisheries programs than I have seen in a long time. There is also money included for more youth education including grants for programs to “educate and energize young hunters and anglers.”

Those investments are what will keep the wonderful outdoor recreation we have here possible.

You can read more of my columns at News Virginian.com

Filed Under: Fishing, TNV columns Tagged With: , , , , , ,

RBFF Promotes National Fishing & Boating Week with Online Movement to Get Families Outside

May 28, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Here is some interesting news from the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation.

New Interactive Online Game Offers Chance to Win New Boat, Motor & Trailer.

ALEXANDRIA, VA (May 28, 2009) – There are tens of thousands of places to boat and fish in the U.S. – and for the 30th Anniversary of National Fishing & Boating Week (June 6-14), the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) is launching an online movement that encourages kids and their families to find one. RBFF is asking boaters and anglers of all ages and experience levels to visit TakeMeFishing.org where they can learn, plan and equip themselves for a day on the water, find free fishing days and locate events in their area. Site visitors may also be eligible to win daily prizes and a brand new boat, motor and trailer when they play the new interactive game, “Catch A Boat.”

Since its 2005 reauthorization, RBFF has introduced more than 500,000 youth and newcomers to boating and fishing while raising more than $6 million for state conservation efforts. Beginning with National Fishing & Boating Week, RBFF is hoping to see families across the country get involved.

“I can give anyone three good reasons to go boating and fishing this summer,” said RBFF President & CEO Frank Peterson. “First, new research shows fishing is the number one gateway activity to get people interested in other outdoor activities. Second, it’s affordable and local at a time when many families are considering skipping their summer vacations all together. And third, participation in boating and fishing helps protect our nation’s waterways and fisheries, preserving them for future generations.”

To further encourage boating and fishing in 2009, RBFF has designed an interactive online game that lets TakeMeFishing.org visitors virtually “fish” for a chance to win a boat. Participants may be eligible to win daily prizes from one of RBFF’s sponsors – Dick’s Sporting Goods, Humminbird, Plano, Rapala, Simms, West Marine and Zebco – or the grand prize of a Triumph boat with an Evinrude motor and EZ Loader trailer. The Catch A Boat contest will go live at 12 p.m. CT on June 4, 2009, and run for seven weeks through boating and fishing season. For Official Rules and eligibility information, visit TakeMeFishing.org.

Catch A Boat is the latest online initiative from RBFF, which successfully re-launched its Take Me Fishing™ campaign Web site in April 2008. In its first year online, TakeMeFishing.org received 2.4 million unique visitors – up 129 percent from 2008 and 243 percent from 2007. RBFF also recruited more than 6,900 boaters and anglers to join its social network, Fishington – The Fishing & Boating Capital of the Internet – which debuted seven months ago and was recognized as an Official Webby Honoree in April 2009.

“Catch A Boat is designed to help RBFF meet multiple goals including increased traffic to our Web site and a boost in the number of Anglers’ Legacy Ambassadors and Discover Boating DVD requests,” added Peterson. “We hope our stakeholders will leverage the national Take Me Fishing campaign, which is now in full swing, to help inspire participation among their members and customers.”

National Fishing & Boating Week began as National Fishing Week in 1979 when industry and conservation leaders, state natural resource agencies and anglers organized a unified effort to introduce more young people to the sport and outdoor conservation. In 2001, responsibility for the week was handed off to RBFF.

National Fishing & Boating Week videos and images are available online.

About RBFF
RBFF is a nonprofit organization established in 1998 to increase participation in recreational angling and boating. RBFF helps people discover, share and protect the legacy of boating and fishing through national outreach programs including the Take Me Fishing™ campaign and Anglers’ Legacy™.

Filed Under: Business, Conservation, Fishing Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Survival at the Big Game Show

February 27, 2009 by Leave a Comment

One of the great things about sports shows, besides seeing all the new gear and shopping for special deals, is the wealth of information you can get for free. It’s also amazing what you can learn if you just ask a couple of questions.

Sunday I went to the Greater Virginia Sports and Big Game Show at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds. Stacey Rowe, who along with her husband Max, owns and manages the show explained one of the show’s main goals.

“Our passion is getting others involved in the outdoors,” Rowe said. “And if you can take one person and get them involved then it is kind of like a chain reaction.”

One person who takes a very interesting approach to getting folks engaged in the outdoors is Tim MacWelch, founder and head instructor of the Earth Connection School of Wilderness Survival.

Earth Connections offers more than twenty classes in subjects like wilderness survival, primitive technology, deer hide tanning, friction fire making and wild, edible plants. The school has two locations, a 10-acre farm in Somerville and another sixteen-acre wooded lot near Durham, N.C.

Outdoor skills are as important as they are interesting. No one goes on a hike or a hunting or fishing trip with the idea they might get injured or lost, but it happens. Hunters, anglers or anyone who spends a lot of time in woods and mountains here in the Valley should have a basic understanding of wilderness survival.

“We teach as many things as we can put under the umbrella of self-preservation, self-sufficiency and self-reliance,” said MacWelsh. “We teach modern wilderness survival with modern techniques, tools and technology and we teach primitive, Stone Age survival skills with sticks and mud and rock and dirt and string and whatever you can make out of the materials at hand.”

I asked MacWelsh what type of people came to his schools.

“We have one of the broadest demographics I have ever seen. I have high school kids up through retirees, who are from every possible region, every income level and all the adults we have come through [are] from every walk of life,” MacWelch said. “I have carpenters and doctors in the same class, I’ve got mechanics and lawyers in the same class. I’ve got computer people and I’ve got landscapers in the same classes.”

One of the most interesting things he showed me was how simple and easy it was to build a snare. He used a tabletop demonstration of a spring pole snare trap to teach me.

Here is how he explained it.

“What we have is a slender sapling, it’s a little tree and it is bent down under tension and its held in place by a string, which goes underneath of a hook and is held in place by a toggle. The toggle wants to slide out but it is held in place by a little small peg. The peg would have bait on it that would entice an animal to go in and investigate it and hopefully nudge it a little bit,” he said. “While they are investigating the peg they have their head through a noose to be able to reach that peg. And if they disengage the peg then the snare engages and hopefully they are caught around the neck or by the foot.”

The trap was pretty simple to build. Everything you needed could be built without tools. It was just a matter of finding a branch, breaking some twigs and adding a length of twine.

Like I said you can learn a lot if you ask a couple of questions.

You can enjoy another sports show and the National Archery in the Schools Program Tournament this weekend.

The 22nd Annual Western Virginia Sport Show takes place at Augusta Expoland in Fishersville today until March 1. You can get more information on the show’s Web site at westernvasportshow.com.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is conducting the First Annual National Archery in the Schools Program Tournament on Saturday. The tournament is being held in cooperation with the Western Virginia Sport Show.

Take a kid or a friend and go enjoy the show.

Filed Under: Hunting, TNV columns Tagged With: , ,

Buy Local

February 12, 2009 by Leave a Comment

These days it is hard not to be concerned about our national economy.

Closer to home we are all bearing the burdens of the economic hard times we face. Layoffs, bank mergers and going out of business signs are part of our daily life.

In times like these we should try and “buy local” whenever we can.

Here in the Valley we have some wonderful small businesses that provide the goods and services for hunting and fishing.

Hunting and fishing are economic engines that support our local economy. Not only do the sales of gear and equipment mean jobs for those who make and sell those things, but there are jobs and economic benefits beyond those businesses.

People who work in manufacturing and retail live in the local communities. They buy goods and services like food, cars, gas and hardware locally. They are our friends and neighbors.

In Virginia hunters and anglers historically spend more than $1 billion annually. That annual spending accounted for 24,000 jobs with salaries and wages of more than $680 million.

Here are a few of my favorite hunting and fishing businesses in the Valley. These are shops and businesses I have visited and are by no means the only ones in the Valley.

Are you a bow hunter? Did you know that Parker Bows are made right here in Mint Spring? That’s right, the Valley is home to one of the largest producers of compound bows and crossbows in the world.

Full disclosure here, my brother-in-law works there, so I won’t offer an opinion on the equipment. My point is that this is a local business employing local people, supporting the local economy making equipment for bow hunters.

You cannot buy the bows at the factory, you need to buy them from local dealers. Here in the Valley you can buy Parker Bows at Dominion Outdoors in Fishersville and the Rockingham County Farm Cooperatives.

Kevin Harris and Todd Reed started Dominion Outdoors with a small storefront in 1994. The new store off Tinkling Springs Road is a hunter’s and fisherman’s delight.

If there is a local “one-stop shop” for hunting and fishing gear Dominion Outdoors fits the bill. They strive for good customer service and in my case succeeded.

They have a complete archery department, of course with a bow technician on site to help with set up.

The gun racks and cases hold hundreds of rifles, shotguns and pistols. They are well stocked with ammunition and shooting supplies and have a gunsmith on hand as well.

The clerk behind the counter in the fishing department was very friendly and helpful. They have a wide selection of conventional rods, reels and fishing tackle although they were a little thin on the fly-fishing gear.

Besides hunting and fishing gear you will find clothing and footwear to meet just about every outdoor need.

Because of his work with the Izaak Walton League of America I am a big fan of Jon Ritenour and his Homestead Gun Shop in Harrisonburg.

Besides selling guns, ammo and shooting supplies, Ritenour is also a gunsmith.

His is an old time shop without frills, a shooter’s hangout. He is well known in the community and sought out by many for his views and advice.

Ritenour’s work as President of the Rockingham-Harrisonburg Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America is a great example of a local business giving back to the community of customers they serve.

For the fly-fishers there are three great shops here in the Valley.

Mossy Creek Fly Fishing is an Orvis shop in Harrisonburg. Brian and Colby Trow not only sell fly-fishing and fly tying gear and equipment, they also offer instruction and guided trips.

They have fishing trips to the mountains, spring creeks, private water or the James and Shenandoah Rivers. They teach fly fishing classes at their Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing School in Harrisonburg or at Wintergreen Resort. They also offer fly tying clinics during the winter and fly tying classes year round.

Like Ritenour, the Trow brothers are involved in the local community. They are active in Trout Unlimited and Project Healing Waters, two groups I strongly support.

Harry Murray’s Fly Shop in Edinburg is another great shop. Murray’s local knowledge and skill has made him a legend. Murray routinely writes articles sharing his vast knowledge and experience with others.

He also offers lessons, guided trips and is always happy to give you the latest hot spots.

Over the mountain in Charlottesville is the Albemarle Angler. Along with fly-fishing gear they offer instruction and guided trips. Like Mossy Creek Fly Fishing they are involved in the local conservation efforts of Trout Unlimited. They are also strong supporters of Project Healing Waters.

The shop is billed as a “Sporting Lifestyle Outfitter”. They have lots more than just hunting and fishing gear. You can find dog beds, gift items and fancy sporting clothes as well.

These days of economic challenges make it tough for all of us. Here in the Valley we are fortunate to have friends and neighbors who work in businesses that make our days in the field or on the water better.

Next time you need some gear stop in your local shop and buy local.

There are two sports shows coming up at the end of the month.

The Greater Virginia Sports & Big Game Show kicks off its second year on Feb. 20 that runs through Feb. 22. The show is held at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds.

The show features hunting and fishing outfitters, vendors and experts giving demonstrations, seminars and advice. There will also be chances to win guided hunts and door prizes.You can get more information on the show’s Web site at http://www.vasportsshow.com

The 22nd Annual Western Virginia Sport Show takes place at Augusta Expoland in Fishersville Feb. 27 through March 1.

Along with hunting and fishing outfitters and vendors, the Western Virginia Sport Show offers free seminars, hourly door prize drawings, contests and demonstrations during the entire three-day event.

You can get more information on the show’s Web site at http://www.westernvasportshow.com

You can read more of my columns in the News Virginian.

Filed Under: Fishing, Hunting, TNV columns Tagged With: , , , ,

A Look at the George Washington National Forest Plan

January 29, 2009 by 1 Comment

Valley hunters, anglers and outdoor recreationists of all forms need to take some time and pay attention to the George Washington National Forest’s Land and Resource Management Plan revision process. As the schedule now stands, the draft plan may be ready in late spring 2009.

According to their Web site, “The purpose of this land management plan is to provide broad guidance and information for project and activity decision making needed to manage the George Washington National Forest [GW].”

The forest’s planning staff has been holding public workshops on various aspects of the plan revisions since early 2007. Two more workshops are coming up with the subject: Forest Plan Components, fitting the workshops and other information together toward a Draft Plan.

There is a workshop today from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Rockbridge Co. High School in Lexington and another on Feb. 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Peter Muhlenberg Middle School in Woodstock.

The U.S. Forest Service held seven public meetings last March to introduce people to the Forest Plan revision process. In July, five meetings were held to continue the discussions on changes needed and what to concentrate on in the Forest Plan revision process.

This fall workshops were held to discuss three different subjects, Vegetation Management, Road and Trail Access and Wilderness, Roadless and Potential Wilderness Areas.

These workshops are the most important ones for recreational users. The challenges surrounding access, timber harvesting, wilderness designations and off road vehicle use can really get people’s blood boiling.

Of special interest is the amount of Potential Wilderness Area and the impact that could have on hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation.

Let me be clear from the outset. Because land is included in a Potential Wilderness Area doesn’t change the way it is managed today. Only Congress has the authority to designate wilderness.

Today, 37 areas totaling 370,000 acres are identified as Potential Wilderness Areas in the George Washington National Forest. An additional 42,000 acres are designated Wilderness Area and 7,700 acres are National Scenic Areas. That represents just over 40 percent of the forest.

Don’t get me wrong Wilderness Areas are great. They provide a number of very important ecological and recreational benefits. They are some of my favorite places to fish and hunt.

Having more in the George Washington National Forest is a good idea. Where they are is going to be the challenge.

Most types of recreational uses are allowed in Wilderness Areas except those involving motorized equipment.

Wilderness Areas by federal law have significant restrictions, however. Timber harvesting, road building, clearing and waterhole development, and other wildlife management techniques cannot be performed in Wilderness Areas.

These activities, if done correctly, are important tools for enhancing recreational activities. If the land base available for wildlife habitat management is significantly reduced then hunting could suffer.

Over the years, the U.S. Forest Service, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries along with the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Ruffed Grouse Society have invested manpower and money developing and maintaining wildlife habitats.

Some of the lands identified for Potential Wilderness Area include many existing wildlife habitat developments, including clearings and waterholes. These wildlife clearings provide much-needed habitat. Designating all these areas as Wilderness could eliminate these clearings as natural succession returns them over time to a forested state.

Much of this area is popular with wildlife recreational users who depend on the George Washington National Forest for access to wildlife populations. Fishing for native Brook Trout takes place in some of these areas. Bear, deer, turkey, ruffed grouse, raccoon, rabbit, squirrel and other species are hunted in these areas. The wildlife habitat value of these lands has been enhanced by previous timber harvesting and wildlife habitat work.

So there needs to be a balance.

There is a lot of good information on the George Washington National Forest Plan Revision Web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/forestplan/revision/index.shtml.

There you will find documents, schedules and how to make your views known.
I won’t kid you. This can be hard stuff to wade through. It takes time and effort to read all the information and comments. But our ability to enjoy our public lands requires engagement on our part.

Take some time to offer your thoughts to the Forest Service. Your ideas are just as important and count as much as the next guy’s, but only if you share them.

On a more personal note, thank you for the kind words about my friends Jim Range and Jean Ince. They were warmly appreciated.

Jim’s memorial service took place on Tuesday January 27, along the banks of the Potomac River at Fletchers Cove in Washington. More than 200 of his friends and colleagues joined with his family in celebrating his life and many accomplishments.

Mixed in with the copious tears were many moments of hearty laughter as those in attendance responded to tales and reflections of Range. His life was magic for all us and in celebrating his life we relived that magic.

You can go to JimRange.com to capture a glimpse of his remarkable life. The Web site, created to honor and memorialize his life, has a wonderful collection of stories, pictures and tributes to Range.

Filed Under: Conservation, Hunting, TNV columns Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

JimRange.com

January 24, 2009 by 2 Comments

There is a wonderful Web site in memory of Jim Range. It has pages and pages of tributes, stories and pictures about this remarkable, irrepressible, and irreplaceable human being.

Filed Under: Conservation, Politics, Reflections Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,