Citizens across the state gathered in large numbers for the public hearings held by the North Carolina Wildlife Commission during January.
An estimated 650 sportsmen and women were on hand for the District Six hearing in Norwood. Agency representatives included Charles Bennett, one of the 19 Wildlife Commissioners who will ultimately decide what changes, if any, will occur.
Forty-nine proposed changes to the hunting regulations for the 2009-2010 season drew the most public comment. Hunting and fishing groups included the N.C. Bear Hunters Association, N.C. Raccoon Hunters, Hunters Helping Kids, N.C. Bow Hunters Association, N.C. Wild Turkey Federation and the N.C. Trout Unlimited.
Other smaller groups included hunting clubs, local government representatives and individual citizens.
Speakers expressed concern over proposed changes to the deer season and related proposals. The largest number of comments came when the proposals involving wild turkey were discussed. The majority of people who spoke about the wild turkey proposals did not support the changes.
Everyone who attended got a card that allowed them to enter the number of any proposal they wished to comment on and then turn in their comment at the conclusion of the hearing.
Wildlife commissioners will vote in March on all the proposals. The ones that pass will become new regulations on July 1, with the exception of those indicating an effective date of 2010.
Comments can be made in writing or via the agency’s Web site at www.ncwildlife.org until Feb. 1.
Fishing still steady
Fishing has remained steady despite, wind, rain, snow, and high water on High Rock Lake. Winter crappie fishing has been great with successful fishermen regularly bringing in limits of fish. Fish weighing more than a pound are often being caught, with average fish in the 10-inch size seen in most creels. Minnows are the top choice of most fishermen, although boaters who slow troll jigs are reporting success with pan fish assassin lures in pearl and chartreuse, and tube jigs in red/green and yellow/white.
Water conditions are generally stained to muddy in main channel areas of High Rock, with creeks clearing the fastest and usually offering good fishing. Concentrate on points with drop-offs in the 12- to 17-foot range. Using depth finders, suspended schools of bait (shad) in dense schools can usually be found off of these areas. Crappie, largemouth bass, white perch and channel catfish are commonly biting around these bait schools.
January can be a challenging month for fishing on the Yadkin River lakes, but it also can be very productive if you fish smart. Key on feeding birds, windy sides of points and deeper dropoffs on most days. When weather is warmer, fish often will move in shallower water and can be caught in 6 to 8 feet of water near most any structure.
Wildlife officer honored
Master Officer Jeremy Brian Harrill with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Division of Enforcement will be honored by the National Wild Turkey Federation for his efforts in conserving wildlife.
The Salisbury officer will be recognized as the federation’s North Carolina Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer of the Year during its 33rd annual convention and sport show Feb. 19-22 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.
The group initiated the State Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award in 2000 to highlight the contributions from wildlife officers across the country. In addition to playing a crucial role in helping to convict wildlife criminals, many wildlife officers volunteer their time to help educate youth about the importance of wildlife, conservation and our hunting traditions.
As noted in his nomination, Harrill located four areas where corn had been placed to attract turkey during the 2008 season. On one location, he apprehended and charged an individual for hunting wild turkey over bait. While patrolling on foot, he located several large automated feeders with corn being regularly spread onto the ground. Large numbers of turkeys were observed eating the corn and roosting nearby. Repeated trips into the area before the season proved that both corn and turkeys continued to be present. On opening day, Harrill watched as a suspect hunting from a pop-up ground blind attempted to shoot one of several large gobblers with a bow and arrow. After missing, he then used a shotgun to shoot a gobbler standing nearly under the feeder.
Harrill documented it all by video. When apprehended, the suspect admitted to feeding the turkeys and also to having his son shoot a gobbler on youth day from the same location.
The suspect pleaded guilty in Rowan County District Court and was ordered to pay a replacement cost to the state of $3,200 for the two illegally taken turkeys. He also lost both the bow and shotgun.
Because of his documentation, ability to conduct field interviews and case preparation, the prosecution was provided with overwhelming evidence resulting in a successful conclusion to the case.
Harrill’s relationship with local landowners and outdoorsmen is well known and he is often the go-to person when violations are reported.
The NWTF is a national nonprofit conservation organization that was founded in 1973 and has worked with wildlife agencies restore wild turkey populations from 1.3 million wild turkeys to nearly 7 million today. Now, NWTF’s volunteers raise funds and work to improve wildlife habitat, increase access to public hunting land and introduce people to the outdoors and hunting.
Harrill and other state winners are eligible for the NWTF’s National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award, which will be presented during a banquet Feb. 21.
For more information, visit www.nwtf.org and go to the convention link.
E-mail Sgt. Anthony Sharum of the N.C. Wildlife Resources at huntfishguy66@aol.com.