Georgia Events Mark 10th Anniversary of Wildlife Grants

From monitoring swallow-tailed kites along the coast to surveying rare fishes in highland rivers, the federal State Wildlife Grants Program has funded wildlife conservation across Georgia since 2000. Yet most Georgians never knew it.

Next week, the state Department of Natural Resources will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of State Wildlife Grants with events highlighting wildlife stories and successes the grants helped make possible.

Public events Sept. 10-11 will offer close-ups of rare creatures and special habitats, like bog turtles at Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell and pitcherplants at Doerun Pitcherplant Bog Natural Area near Moultrie. It’s all part of Teaming with Wildlife Week. Teaming with Wildlife is a national coalition and the leading advocate of State Wildlife Grants.

Linda May, environmental outreach coordinator for DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section, said the goal is raising awareness. The State Wildlife Grants Program “is very crucial to the work we do,” May said.

The grants fund work benefiting wildlife and their habitats, specifically the 90 percent of our nation’s species not hunted, fished for or on the Endangered Species List. The focus: Keep common species common and prevent wildlife from becoming endangered, protecting them and their habitats before they become too rare and more costly to protect.

The stable funding for state fish and wildlife agencies has been critical to the recovery and conservation of many species, fulfilling a responsibility to save them for future generations.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said that in the current economic climate, “the program ensures that states will have the necessary resources to help conserve their highest priority wildlife, plants and habitats – an investment that will pay dividends for years to come.”

State Wildlife Grants have been used for land conservation such as the acquisition of Silver Lake Wildlife Management Area near Bainbridge; habitat restoration, including more prescribed burning to benefit longleaf pine ecosystems; and research, such as sandhills surveys and habitat assessments that could help keep the gopher tortoise – Georgia’s state reptile – off the endangered species list.

Nongame Conservation Section Chief Mike Harris said the work is done strategically, guided by the State Wildlife Action Plan. This comprehensive plan required for State Wildlife Grants and developed by Georgia scientists, sportsmen and the public guides DNR efforts to conserve biological diversity.

State Wildlife Grants also draw matching money and work from conservation partners. The overall impact is at least double the roughly $1.5 million Georgia receives each year.

Jerry McCollum, president of the Georgia Wildlife Federation, which helped found the state Teaming with Wildlife coalition, noted that the grants program is not guaranteed. Congress decides funding annually. “For sportsmen and conservationists in Georgia … a constant vigil is required,” McCollum said.


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State Acquires 469 Acres of Conservation Land in Dawson County

Governor Sonny Perdue announced June 16 the acquisition of 469 acres of prime conservation land in Dawson County, which includes two miles of the Amicalola Creek and its tributaries, by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Georgia Land Conservation Program (GLCP).  Long a conservation priority for the state, the 469-acre tract is a critical connection between two previously separate tracts of the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area (WMA).  The property protects a vital segment of Amicalola Creek that supports at least 27 native fish species, three of which are endangered.  All three tracts together protect more than 15,000 acres.

“Permanently protecting Georgia’s land resources is one of the most visible examples of our state’s culture of conservation,” said Governor Perdue.  “Acquiring this property at the heart of the Dawson Forest links together more than 15,000 acres of conservation land.  Thanks to the partnership of public and private organizations, this stretch of Amicalola Creek and the many species of wildlife it supports will be preserved for generations to come.”

The Nature Conservancy in Georgia acquired the Amicalola Creek property from the Forestar Real Estate Group in 2008 at a reduced price and held it until the state could arrange funding.   The Nature Conservancy contributed $2.15 million through a discounted sale of the property to the state.  Contributions from a variety of other public and private partners – the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, the Robert H. Dobbs, Jr. Foundation, the Mountain Conservation Trust, the Lyndhurst Foundation, Trout Unlimited, the DNR, the GLCP and anonymous private donors – helping the state purchase the property.

“The state of Georgia is thrilled to acquire and manage this important piece of conservation land in North Georgia,” said DNR Commissioner Chris Clark.  “More than 80 percent of the funds needed to purchase the land were contributed by our private and federal partners.  Without their generous support, the permanent protection of this property would not have been possible.”

“The Nature Conservancy is committed to protecting Georgia’s most treasured landscapes,” said Shelly Lakly, the Conservancy’s state director in Georgia. “The opportunity to safeguard these acres could not be ignored, so we made the decision to act and contribute to the final funding.”

Governor Perdue also announced that 63 land conservation income tax credits were awarded to generous Georgia landowners for land donations that conserved 38,660 acres in tax year 2009.  In addition to direct land purchases, DNR and the GLCP offer land conservation state income tax credits of up to $1 million for land donations and conservation easements on land.  More than 200 tax credits have been awarded and more than 70,000 acres permanently conserved in Georgia since 2006 when the credit was established.

Since 2005 the GLCP has conserved more than 171,000 total acres.  For more information on Georgia Land Conservation Income Tax Credits, please contact the DNR at (770) 761-3043 or the GLCP at (404) 584-1101.

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Gov. Perdue Announces 2009 DNR Forestry for Wildlife Partners

Gov. Sonny Perdue recognized two corporate forest landowners in Georgia for their stewardship in land management and practices benefiting the state’s wildlife.

Plum Creek and Georgia Power were honored Wednesday, Feb. 3, for participating in the 2009 Forestry for Wildlife Partnership, a program administered by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division. The Forestry for Wildlife Partnership is a voluntary annual program that promotes blending wildlife conservation into corporate forestry practices and offers choices from which landowners can build a program compatible with their forest management objectives.

“Stewardship of Georgia's natural resources is vitally important to our state's future,” Perdue said. “Georgia Power and Plum Creek serve as model corporate citizens with their participation in the Forestry for Wildlife Partnership.”

The companies have helped improve a total of 937,700 acres for wildlife. The Wildlife Resources Division recognized the two as Forestry for Wildlife Partners for integrating wildlife conservation practices into their forest management programs. Some of the practices included:

Preparing wildlife conservation plans that detail natural resources inventories and outline management strategies that combine forest and wildlife aspects.
Providing internal training opportunities for employees on how to blend forestland management with wildlife-friendly practices for multiple natural resource benefits.
Incorporating wildlife management techniques into current land-use planning and timber management practices.
Providing valuable data for Wildlife Resources research projects.
Providing public recreational opportunities on corporate forestlands.
Participating in partnerships with conservation organizations through programs such as Partners in Flight, the Longleaf Alliance, the state Breeding Bird Atlas, and the Georgia Amphibians and Reptiles Atlas.
Managing riparian forests for wildlife use and water quality protection.

Habitat is the key to wildlife abundance. Georgia has more than 24 million acres of forestland. Of that land base, 93 percent is privately owned. Corporate forest landowners manage 18 percent.

Georgia Power helped develop the Forestry for Wildlife Partnership in the 1990s and Plum Creek joined in 2004. Wildlife Resources Division Director Dan Forster said the program has proved “a catalyst that served to engage the wildlife community with the forestry industry in Georgia,” registering positive impacts on varied initiatives such as Georgia’s Wildlife Action plan and the annual nongame fundraiser Weekend for Wildlife.

“It’s especially rewarding to see these two pioneering partners still engaged in this flagship partnership,” Forster said of Plum Creek and Georgia Power.

Conservation efforts benefit from Forestry for Wildlife through management of endangered red-cockaded woodpecker habitats, managing and monitoring bald eagle and swallow-tailed kite nesting, managing isolated wetlands critical to protected reptiles and amphibians like the gopher frog, managing rare remnant Coosa Valley Prairie and Black Belt Prairie habitats containing endangered plants, and providing numerous public hunting opportunities.

All of the conservation enhancement components and reporting procedures are compatible with the American Forest and Paper Association’s Sustainable Forestry Initiative, a voluntary approach within the forest industry to maintain high environmental standards on lands managed by corporate landowners.

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Drivers Urged to Watch for Wildlife in the Road

Forget the chicken: Why did the turtle cross the road?

In spring and early summer, probably to find food, a mate or a nest site.

Particularly after rain, turtles and other wildlife wander, sometimes venturing by day onto county roads and state highways that double as death traps for the unsuspecting creatures. The road-kill lineup varies from diamondback terrapins on the coast to fledgling mockingbirds along back roads in the Piedmont.

Senior wildlife biologist John Jensen of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources encouraged drivers to be alert. “At this time of the year, be more aware of what might be in the road,” Jensen said.

Road-kill statistics are not comprehensive. But a 17-month Purdue University study counted 10,500 animals and more than 65 species dead – mostly frogs and other amphibians – on 11 miles of roads in Indiana. Closer to home, the Jekyll Island Sea Turtle Center estimated that vehicles hit and killed more than 300 diamondback terrapins in 2007 just on the Jekyll Island causeway, according to a University of Georgia article on a State Wildlife Grant study assessing the state’s diamondback terrapin populations.

Female terrapins search out high ground to nest. In the marsh these turtles inhabit, causeways and other roads are high ground, said Jensen, who works with the Nongame Conservation Section in DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division.

Other creatures pay a toll, too. Box turtles, found statewide, move more after rains in spring and summer, searching out earthworms and other prey, mates and, for females, places to lay eggs. The rain not only softens the ground, it can mask the turtle’s scent, helping safeguard the buried eggs.

Turtles are long-lived, late-bearing species whose young already face low odds of survival. “It’s not good for any turtle to be lost,” Jensen said. “But for a gravid … female that gets hurt and killed on the road, you’ve lost her and her eggs.”

Jim Ozier, a Nongame Conservation Section program manager, said young birds also often end up on the asphalt. This spring, he has seen immature mockingbirds hunkered down on country roads where nearby fencerows serve as nesting habitat. Fledgling killdeer, likely from roadside nests, also sometimes scamper into the path of traffic.

The potential for run-ins increases as development crisscrosses Georgia’s landscape with more roads, further fragmenting wildlife habitat.

Ozier said the threat posed by vehicles is not a conservation issue for most species. But drivers who are watching the road can sometimes easily avoid turning a road-crossing creature into a punch line.

“We certainly don’t encourage motorists to risk human safety in any way,” Ozier said. “There’s nothing you can do if a squirrel decides to hide under your tire, but any driver should be capable of safely avoiding a turtle.”

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Man's Best Friend Can Be an Unwelcome Guest on the Beach

When it comes to nesting shorebirds, man’s best friend can be an unwelcome intruder on Georgia’s beaches. With summer just around the corner, the state Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division encourages travelers to give birds a better chance of survival by leaving their dog at home when visiting the beach. This is especially important from April through July, the breeding season for Georgia’s native beach-nesting birds.

Residents on barrier islands can also help by keeping their cats indoors, since even well-fed cats are inclined to kill birds.

“Nesting shorebirds already face daunting natural dangers such as high spring tides and native predators,” said Brad Winn, coastal program manager for Wildlife Resources’ Nongame Conservation Section. “Birds that nest right on the beach do not tolerate the added pressure from pet dogs and free-ranging cats.

“Dogs harass adult shorebirds, eat eggs and kill chicks. Cats actively hunt in the dunes, killing adult shorebirds and chicks. We can do better as stewards of our wildlife.”

While Wildlife Resources encourages leaving dogs behind when visiting the beach, dogs are actually banned on certain islands protected by Georgia Board Rule 391-4-7. Williamson Island in Chatham County and Pelican Spit in Glynn County are open to the public but closed to dogs. Three sand spit islands are closed to the public and pets year-round: the sandy spit seaward of the north end of St. Catherines Island in Liberty County, Little Egg Island Bar in the mouth of the Altamaha River in Glynn County, and the small marsh island in the mouth of the Satilla River in Camden County.

Beach-nesting birds such as the Wilson’s plover, listed as threatened in Georgia, prefer to nest above the high-tide line on wide, terraced beach flats or in the dunes. They lay eggs on the beach in shallow scrapes in the sand. After hatching, the chicks hide on the beach or in the grass. Disturbance by humans and pets can cause adult birds to abandon the nests and young chicks, exposing them to predators and excessive heat from the sun.

“We are down to only one pair of Wilson’s plovers nesting on Jekyll Island,” Winn said. “The Jekyll Island Authority recognizes the impact of unleashed dogs and feral cats on the island’s native wildlife and has developed an ordinance to ensure the survival of some of it’s rarest birds.”

Jekyll is the only island readily accessible to the public that still has beach-nesting birds for the public to watch and enjoy.

In addition to providing critical nesting habitat, Georgia’s beaches also serve as key wintering and stopover points for seabird and shorebird species such as the red knot, piping plover, whimbrel, black skimmer, American oystercatcher, brown pelican and royal tern. Birds from as far away as the Arctic region come through Georgia as they follow migration routes to and from South America. East Beach near Saint Simons Island becomes a huge sand flat, supporting large numbers of feeding shorebirds during migration and winter months. Owners who allow their dogs to chase shorebirds could be fined for harassing federally protected species like piping plovers.

“Please do not feed feral cats, (and) keep pet cats indoors and leave your dogs at home when you head to the beach,” Winn said. “Your pets and Georgia’s wildlife will be better off as a result.”

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Georgia Teams With Three States to Conserve Sandhills

Georgia and three neighboring states will use a $1 million federal grant to increase the quality, quantity and connectivity of prime sandhill habitat, benefiting gopher tortoises and possibly 54 other sandhill species in need of significant conservation measures.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced the funding as part of the agency’s State Wildlife Grants Competitive Program. Georgia is joining with Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and conservation groups in each state to provide $1.66 million in matching money and work.

The Multistate Sandhills Ecological Restoration project could help keep gopher tortoises off federal endangered or threatened species lists and provide for the long-term conservation of Southeastern sandhill species varying from southern hognose snakes to Bachman’s sparrows and striped newts.

One goal is restoring nearly 38,600 acres of priority public and private sandhill sites over the next three years. The focus in Georgia? Rebuilding habitat, said Matt Elliott, a Nongame Conservation Section program manager with the state Department of Natural Resources.

“Depending on the area, we’ll be doing prescribed fire, removal of sand pine (and) planting of longleaf pine,” said Elliott, who will coordinate work in this state.

Sand pine is not native to Georgia sandhills, which are areas of deep sandy soils with longleaf pine and scrub oak species, especially turkey oak, in a low, open-tree canopy over drought-tolerant shrubs, grasses and cactus. Rated a conservation priority in each of the four states’ Wildlife Action Plans, sandhills range from southern Alabama to across Georgia’s Coastal Plain, far down the Florida peninsula and into the Carolinas. The habitat is a type of longleaf pine forest, considered one of the most critically endangered ecosystems in the world.

Sandhills have been degraded or destroyed by development, conversion to uses such as timber and row-crop agriculture, and a lack of natural fires that keep invasive hardwoods at bay and promote the growth of grasses that provide forage for gopher tortoises and other wildlife.

The large-scale restoration needed for sandhills reaches beyond individual states. The project will target high-priority sites, banking on help from partners such as The Nature Conservancy and Project Orianne, a private effort to restore federally protected eastern indigo snakes throughout their range.

Work will include increasing controlled burning, removing invasive species, controlling hardwood trees and shrubs through mechanical and chemical means, and replanting longleaf pines. At least a fifth of the restoration will be on private land. Surveys of plants and birds will help measure the impact. Gopher tortoise surveys will contribute to management of these long-lived, slow-to-reproduce animals.

The tortoise, Georgia’s state reptile, is a keystone sandhills species. Gopher tortoise burrows are used by more than 300 species of invertebrates and a number of invertebrates. Healthy tortoise populations are critical to wildlife diversity in Southeastern upland habitats. Yet, the species is federally threatened west of the Mobile and Tombigbee rivers in Alabama and Mississippi, and there are two petitions to list it as threatened in the eastern part of its range.

The sandhills project actually has roots in a partnership called the Gopher Tortoise Candidate Conservation Agreement, which the four states formed in 2007 to develop a tortoise conservation strategy. Georgia is also wrapping up a sandhills inventory aimed at assessing conservation needs of rare plants and animals. “That helped us pinpoint the areas where we wanted to work” in the multi-state effort, Elliott said.

Related initiatives include a Healthy Forest Reserve Program by the Natural Resources Conservation Service to restore sandhill habitats along Georgia’s Fall Line and a Wal-Mart Foundation-funded project within the DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section to educate teachers about sandhills.

The four-state project is ambitious, Elliott agreed. But, considering the other projects also focused on conserving sandhills, “It all sort of adds up,” he said.

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Apply for 2009-2010 Quota Hunts Beginning June 1

he Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) reminds hunters that June 1 is opening day of the 2009-2010 quota hunt application period. Successful quota hunt applications are selected solely from the online applicant pool, so interested hunters must apply online through their personal accounts on the Division Web site, www.gohuntgeorgia.com .

“Our goal is to make the application process as efficient and customer friendly as possible. Customers with a WRD online account can facilitate this effort by keeping their e-mail addresses current,” says WRD Assistant Chief of Game Management John Bowers. “By utilizing applicant e-mail addresses for quota hunt correspondence, including sending application status alerts and answering applicant questions, we have successfully improved customer service and saved sportsmen’s dollars.”

To be eligible for quota hunt drawings applicants must ensure that they have a valid online account and must apply prior to midnight as follows: July 31 for alligator quota hunts; September 1 for deer quota hunts; September 1 for State Park quota hunts; October 15 for waterfowl quota hunts; and February 15, 2010 for turkey quota hunts.

Hunters who have applied in years past or those who have recently completed a hunter education course may have pre-existing accounts with which to apply and must login and update their accounts to begin the application process.

Interested persons without pre-existing accounts should visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com and select “Quota Hunts,” from the Home page under the “Permits & Services” menu to create a new account and submit applications online.

Upon completion of the selection process, applicants will receive a status notification e-mail and also will be able to login to their accounts to view their updated status. In addition, complete lists of chosen participants will be available at www.gohuntgeorgia.com .

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Washington County Landowner Receives Civil Penalties and for Multiple Violations

The Commissioner of Natural Resources yesterday issued Administrative Orders to Washington County landowner Mr. Jens Brynteson and Mr. David Kilgore of Madison County. The orders impose civil penalties of more than $70,000.00 on Mr. Brynteson and penalties of $2,000.00 on Mr. Kilgore for numerous violations of Georgia’s Game and Fish laws discovered during an 18-month investigation and subsequent search warrant findings. Additionally, the Commissioner issued Administrative Orders authorizing seizure of fallow deer herds, red deer herds and Mouflon sheep on two properties owned by Mr. Brynteson. Mr. Brynteson and Mr. Kilgore will have 30 days to file an appeal of the Administrative Order. If no appeal is filed within 30 days, the orders will be final. Further, Department officials today issued 29 misdemeanor citations to Mr. Kilgore for violating Georgia’s trapping laws.

“Georgia law imposes strict requirements on those who operate deer farms,” said Dan Forster, Director of the Wildlife Resources Division. “These requirements are designed to ensure the prevention, detection and interception of wildlife-related diseases, such as chronic wasting disease and tuberculosis, which can have a devastating impact on our state’s conservation and agricultural economies.”

The statutory purpose of deer farms is to provide an agricultural opportunity to raise non-native deer on a farm for the commercial production of food and fiber. Mr. Jens Brynteson was permitted with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Georgia Department of Agriculture in 1999 for deer farming, but his license expired March 31 and has not been renewed. The resultant violations include multiple counts of possessing regulated wild animals without authorizing licenses and surrendering regulated wild animals to individuals who do not possess authorizing licenses. Moreover, it was discovered that he was moving farmed deer from one property and placing them in a high-fence shooting pen on a different property. These movements raise concern regarding questionable required health certifications.

In February of 2009, the Department executed search warrants pertaining to property owned by Mr. Jens Brynteson and the residence of his employee Mr. David Kilgore. Various documents and digital media were seized during the search. The seized items assisted Department officials with further identifying violations.

“Not only are these types of ‘canned hunts’ illegal in Georgia, the shooting of farmed deer and sheep for sport in staged hunting venues serves no legitimate role in wildlife conservation and is not supported by the majority of Georgia’s citizens,” said Forster. “These types of unethical activities threaten the use of fair chase hunting as an effective, cost-efficient management tool in Georgia and erodes the existing public support for legal hunting.”

Due to the fact that the investigation is ongoing no additional information may be released at this time. For more information about DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division, visit www.georgiawildlife.com . To report game and fish law violations, such as the illegal movement of non-native or native wildlife, call 1-800-241-4113.

More on Wild Animals and Farmed Deer

According to Georgia code, it is unlawful for any person to import, transport, transfer, sell, purchase or possess any wild animal (as listed in O.C.G.A. § 27-5-5) without first obtaining a wild animal license (as provided in O.C.G.A. § 27-5-4) from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Farmed deer may be legally held in an approved facility with a deer farming license jointly administered by the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture. Additionally, it is unlawful to shoot, kill or wound any wild animal held under a wild animal license or permit or any farmed deer for enjoyment, gain, amusement or sport (O.C.G.A. § 27-5-12).

Wild animals are non-native wildlife such as those that may be found in zoos, circuses or educational exhibits. The possession of wild animals is strictly regulated in Georgia because of the risks they pose to public health, safety and welfare, and to native wildlife. These risks include endangering the physical safety of humans, introduction of diseases harmful to humans or wildlife and threats to native wildlife and habitats through competition.

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In April, Life Blooms Rich 'in the Pits' at Piedmont Outcrops

On an April afternoon fresh from heavy rains and swept by steady winds, Mary Terry asks a question atop Arabia Mountain in Dekalb County:

“Why can’t everybody see this?”

What Terry, a wildlife biologist and state Project WILD coordinator with the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, sees is more than a miles-wide view and 200 acres of rock. The former ranger and overseer of Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve is also referring to mats of tiny plants and layers of lichens and moss that cling to the sloping shoulders of gneiss, Arabia’s dominant rock.

“When you get closer and start examining, that’s when you really start seeing the true, true beauty,” Terry said.

That beauty is harder to miss in April, when shallow pools of rainwater sprout “vegetation islands” with colors ranging from pink and red to yellow, green and blue on rock outcrops. But the zoom lens approach fits outcrops all year. Georgia is home to almost 90 percent of the known granite outcrops in the Piedmont. The best known is Stone Mountain. But much smaller outcrops emerge from forest and pasture across the region.

Outcrops support a stubborn yet fragile web of life. Four federally listed plants are connected to these microhabitats: little Amphianthus, also known as snorkelwort and pool sprite (Amphianthus pusillus); black-spored quillwort (Isoetes melanospora); mat-forming quillwort (Isoetes tegetiformans); and Harperella (Ptilimnium nodosum). Many outcrop plants depend on vernal or seasonal pools. The lineup of life also includes lichens, mosses, wildflowers, pine trees, shrubs, frogs and, in some pools, even miniature crustaceans called fairy shrimp.

Salamanders lay clouds of eggs in marsh at the base of outcrops. But on the rock, life is geared for extremes: summer’s searing heat, winter’s icy cold and the most meager of soils.

Terry said the diminutive red and white diamorpha (Diamorpha smallii) carries its seeds high, lifting them away them from heat that shrivels pools and plants and toward fall rains that knock the seeds loose into the shallow soil, where they can germinate. So-called rabbit ears or woolly ragwort (Packera tomentosa) turn their long leaves flat toward the early sun for photosynthesis, then sideways, showing only a paper-thin profile, as temperatures rise.

Some of the plants can tolerate the hot, dry summers, said botanist Lisa Kruse of Wildlife Resources Nongame Conservation Section. Others “live their full life cycle in the spring months when moisture collects in the pools,” Kruse said.

“When the water dries up in late spring, they have already set seed for next year.”

The outlook for outcrops is as tenuous. Threats vary from quarrying to ATV traffic to shading from trees. Even foot-traffic can harm the plants. Georgia’s Wildlife Action Plan, the guiding document for state conservation efforts, rates granite rock outcrops a priority habitat. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service review found that the number of snorkelwort sites in Georgia and Alabama has shrunk from 61 to about 40, black-spored quillwort sites from 15 to about five, and mat-forming quillwort sites from 13 to 10.

Only six granite rock outcrops are protected in Georgia, according to the state Wildlife Action Plan.

But the Wildlife Resources Division’s Nongame Conservation Section is researching the effects of land management on outcrop vegetation communities, seeking the best methods for caring for the fragile plant groups. The Nongame Conservation Section, the Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy also monitor rare plant sites, collecting seeds in emergency situations to preserve the species’ genetic diversity. Seeds from the federally endangered Harperella have been grown in greenhouses and re-planted at a protected granite outcrop.

Minus human intervention, change on outcrops occurs at glacier speeds. Lichens dissolve rock to dirt over thousands of years. The spread of plants feeding off the sandy soil is measured in inches, and centuries. Terry said most life on outcrops is described as in the pits.

But in April, when the color on outcrops peaks, life in the pits can be a mountaintop experience. Even for those who, unlike Terry, have never been hired to guard a rock that became a devotion.



PUBLIC OUTCROPS at a glance

** Options include Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta, Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve near Lithonia, Panola Mountain State Park in Stockbridge and lesser-known Eatonton Outcrop on Oconee Wildlife Management Area near Eatonton.

** If you go, don’t take pets, walk around pools not through them and stay on marked trails (if trails are marked).

** Spring is the peak season, but some plants will bloom throughout summer. One showy outcrop plant in fall is the Confederate daisy.

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Prescribed Fire Will Mean New Life for Rare Mountain Bog

Trekking uphill and through charred underbrush, most of it still smoking, four Nomex-clad workers push their way into one of North Georgia’s last remaining mountain bogs. Time is short and the crew works quickly. Soon, flames are shooting upward as drip torches leave bright orange trails of fire around thick piles of rhododendron.

At long last, fire has come to this bog.

During the prescribed burn late last month, Thomas Floyd, a wildlife biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Nongame Conservation Section, explained that in and around the bog there had been “an absence of disturbance … for years.”

“At one time, fire probably came through here on occasion, creeping over the bog and helping to open up the area for sunlight,” Floyd said.

Mike Brod of the U.S. Forest Service agreed that burning the bog was important to continue its restoration. “Fire is important because it kills back the encroaching vegetation around the periphery of the bog … allowing the nourishing sunlight into the bog, thus enhancing the bog plants,” said Brod, who has been instrumental in the project.

Restoration of the bog began in the early 1990s. It was small then, no larger than the average dining room table. But although small, the remote place had something that made it unique: the last known native population of mountain purple pitcherplants in Georgia.

Floyd said the pitcherplant species is tolerant of and even adapted to occasional low-intensity fires, which work to promote open, sunlit bog habitats. “We anxiously await the coming growing season when the effects of the prescribed fire can be examined,” he said.

Mountain bogs are one of the most endangered habitats of the southern Appalachians. Typically small, between a half-acre and five acres, bogs are associated with seeps, springs or small creeks and provide critical habitat for the federally threatened bog turtle and swamp pink, two of Georgia’s most rare species.

Bog restoration involves not only clearing sites but also finding and taking careful inventory of potential bogs, safeguarding seeds from rare plants and monitoring restored sites for rare species such as the pitcherplant. Mountain bog restoration is listed as a high-priority conservation action in Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan, a comprehensive strategy that guides Wildlife Resources and Georgia Department of Natural Resources efforts to conserve biological diversity.

“Fire is an important management tool for restoration, which is what we were doing,” Floyd said. “It allowed for the removal of piles of woody debris that had been previously cleared by hand. The intensity of the fire also killed back much of the rhododendron that was encroaching upon the bog.”

Pitcherplants can live for more than 100 years. Although old, the original surviving pitcherplants in this bog had not flowered, lying dormant in the shade with little if any natural light due to the continued encroachment of hardwoods and rhododendron. But in 1998, after much hard work by conservationists, the pitcherplants in one area of the bog flowered again. And in 2002, restoration workers found the first seedlings, a hallmark of success in habitat restoration.

“The hope is that with continued management the eco-tone between the bog and the uplands will be restored to historic conditions – more of a grassy woodland that would allow for fire to creep in naturally,” Floyd said.

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Calling All Gobblers, Statewide Turkey Hunting Season Opens Mar. 21

Turkey hunters across the state are dusting off their calls in preparation for the upcoming turkey season. Opening day is Sat., Mar. 21 and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division anticipates another enjoyable season.

The 2009 season should be respectable, and harvest levels should be similar in comparison with past years’ harvests.

Last year’s reproduction data suggests that turkey production was good in many parts of Georgia in 2008,” explains Kevin Lowrey, Wildlife Resources Division wild turkey project coordinator. “In fact, last year’s hatch was the best since 2002.”

“However, reproduction rates in four of the last five years have been poor and we have seen a decline in the overall turkey population,” continues Lowrey. “While it likely will take some time for the population to rebound, last year’s increase in reproduction is a positive reminder that when habitat conditions are right and weather is favorable, the turkey population is quick to respond.”

Statistics from the 2008 season harvest summary indicate that an estimated 49,237 resident Georgia hunters bagged 24,297 turkeys last year. The bird to hunter ratio (harvest rate) for 2008 was .49 birds per hunter – the same as in 2007.

According to Lowrey, Georgia’s current turkey population is estimated at 300,000 birds.

Georgia turkey hunters are privileged with one of the longest turkey seasons nationwide. With a bag limit of three gobblers per season, hunters have from Mar. 21 through May 15 to harvest their bird(s).

Because most hunters pursue wild turkeys on private lands, the Wildlife Resources Division reminds hunters to always obtain landowner permission before hunting.

WMA Hunting Opportunities

Georgia’s Wildlife Management Areas offer excellent turkey hunting opportunities. Through the WMA system, resident hunters have access to nearly one million acres of prime hunting land for just $19 a year.

Success rates and total harvest numbers from 2008 may help indicate which WMAs hunters should target this year.

In the northwest, Pine Log WMA and Berry College WMA reported the highest harvest rates. In the northeast, Warwoman WMA and Swallow Creek WMA had the highest success rates. In west central Georgia, hunters should try Blanton Creek WMA and Rum Creek WMA. In east central Georgia, Di-Lane Plantation WMA and Yuchi WMA reported high harvest rates. In the southeast, hunters should visit Dixon Memorial WMA and Griffin Ridge WMA.

A special WMA license is required for any person 16 years or older who does not possess a valid honorary, sportsman or lifetime license when hunting wild turkey on a WMA, Public Fishing Area or State Park. In addition, both a valid hunting license and a big game license are required to legally hunt wild turkey. Wild turkey legally can be hunted with shotguns, loaded with No. 2 or smaller shot, any muzzleloading firearm, longbow, crossbow or compound bow.

Conservation of the Wild Turkey in Georgia

The comeback of the wild turkey is one of Georgia’s great conservation success stories. Although the bird population currently hovers around 300,000 statewide, as recently as 1973, the wild turkey population was as low as 17,000. Intensive restoration efforts, such as the restocking of wild birds and increased emphasis on biologically sound hunting seasons, have helped re-establish turkeys in suitable habitat in every county. This resurgence is due to the efforts of private landowners, hunters and conservation organizations like the National Wild Turkey Federation.

The Georgia Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation has donated more than $3 million since 1985 on projects that benefit wild turkey and other wildlife. The NWTF works cooperatively in partnership with the Wildlife Resources Division and other land management agencies to put such projects on the ground. There currently are 112 state chapters of the NWTF with membership totals of more than 18,000.

For more information regarding wild turkey hunting opportunities, WMA hunting opportunities, 2009 wild turkey hunting seasons, regulations or license requirements in Georgia, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com .

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Half-million Trees Planted in Georgia with Funds Provided by the Arbor Day Foundation

The Georgia Forestry Commission has planted more than half a million trees in wildfire-ravaged south Georgia with funds provided by the Arbor Day Foundation.

As part of a wildfire restoration project in Dixon Memorial State Forest, 509,555 pine trees have been planted on a 4,500-acre tract of upland pine habitat that was destroyed by the historic spring wildfires of 2007. Both longleaf and slash pine trees are being reinstated. The project enhances the restoration of Georgia's native longleaf pines, which have declined by 80 percent since 1955. Less than a half million acres of longleaf pine habitat remain throughout the state.

The Arbor Day Foundation is the largest nonprofit tree-planting organization in the United States, with nearly one million members. The Foundation plants and distributes more than 10 million trees each year.

"Thanks to the generosity of our members and great partners and friends, we are able to work with the Georgia Forestry Commission on this extensive tree-planting project in Dixon Memorial State Forest," said Dan Lambe, vice president of programs for the Arbor Day Foundation. "These trees will help restore a native species to the area, provide vital habitat for wildlife, and clean the air and water for Georgians."

Dixon Memorial State Forest is located in Southern Georgia near Waycross, and is the fourth largest Wildlife Management Area in the state. The forest covers more than 35,000 acres and includes both swampland and pine timberland.

"The Arbor Day Foundation's contribution enables us to restore healthy forests on wildfire-devastated lands that otherwise could not be accomplished with severely limited state funds," said Robert Farris, Director of the Georgia Forestry Commission. "The citizens of Georgia directly benefit from our multi-faceted partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, as together we maintain healthy, sustainable forests that are providing clean air, clean water, and abundant forest products for generations to come."

This year, the Arbor Day Foundation is working with partners to plant trees in more than 10 states and territories in the United States. Since 1989, the Arbor Day Foundation has worked with the U.S. Forest Service to plant trees in America's national forests. Since then, the Foundation has helped to plant more than 12 million trees in national forests that have been devastated by wildfire, insects and disease.

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Fire on the Mountain! Returns to Sprewell Bluff

Participants of all ages are invited Saturday, March 14, to Fire on the Mountain! – the annual celebration of an ongoing effort to conserve areas of rare montane longleaf pine habitat through the use of prescribed fire at Sprewell Bluff State Park near Thomaston.

Watching safely from the banks of the Flint River, visitors can observe the fascinating practice of prescribed burning as professionals carefully set fire on Pine Mountain ridge.

“Fire is essential to maintaining many species of wildlife and their habitats found here at Sprewell Bluff,” said Nathan Klaus, a senior wildlife biologist with the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division’s Nongame Conservation Section. “Natural resource professionals feel that it is important to share this knowledge about fire with local citizens, and what better way to do that than with a safe, first hand experience.”

Beginning at noon March 14, festival goers will enjoy the sounds of bluegrass music, the tastes of festival foods sponsored by the Thomaston Upson County Chamber of Commerce and the natural beauty that makes Sprewell Bluff such a special place.

Throughout the afternoon, natural resource agency staff will provide demonstrations on how and why prescribed fires are conducted, presentations on Georgia’s unique and diminishing longleaf pine forests, and live animal programs showcasing some of the wildlife that call the Piedmont eco-region home.

“With acceptable wind speed and direction, temperature, and humidity as ‘prescribed’ in our burn plan, we will begin the prescribed fire demonstration on the mountainside, giving spectators a close up look at Mother Nature’s fireworks set in the natural amphitheater of the Flint River Valley,” Klaus said.

Historically, natural fires frequently swept across the unfragmented landscape, helping shape the diversity of plants and animals found there. And fire is still an important tool for maintaining healthy longleaf pine ecosystems throughout the Southeast. Prescribed fire helps prevent the encroachment of competing hardwoods and restores a grassy understory lush with ferns, wildflowers and other herbaceous plants. Fire also helps establish important habitat for many wildlife species such as the bobwhite quail, wild turkey, Bachman’s sparrow and the endangered red cockaded woodpecker.

Wildlife Resources biologists and other burn teams use prescribed fire on thousands of acres each year throughout Georgia to manage wildlife habitats and reduce the risk of damage from wildfires.

Sprewell Bluff State Park and State Natural Area boast more than 3,000 acres along the Flint River. The park and natural area are popular among outdoor enthusiasts for their wildflowers, wildlife, and scenic, rocky bluffs overlooking the river.

Admission to the event is only $3 per vehicle. Organizers include the Department of Natural Resources’ State Parks & Historic Sites and Wildlife Resources divisions, the Georgia Forestry Commission, Thomaston-Upson County Chamber of Commerce, The Nature Conservancy of Georgia, Callaway Gardens, Georgia Power and The Environmental Resources Network (T.E.R.N.), a nonprofit supporting the Wildlife Resources Division’s nongame work.

For more information on Fire on the Mountain! at Sprewell Bluff State Park, visit www.georgiawildlife.com.

Please check the Web site before March 14 for updates on possible event cancellation due to inclement weather.

FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN! AT A GLANCE

** What: Fire on the Mountain!, annual celebration of conserving montane longleaf pine habitat using prescribed fire at Sprewell Bluff.

** When: Noon till after sunset Saturday, March 14

** Where: Sprewell Bluff State Park, Thomaston.

** Highlights: Prescribed fire demonstrations, presentations on longleaf pine forests, live animal shows, bluegrass music and food.

** Admission: $3 per vehicle. Shuttle service provided from designated parking areas.

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Checkoff Makes Giving Wildlife a Chance Simple at Tax Time

As Georgians prepare their annual income tax forms, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is reminding all that tax time is a prime time to support wildlife. The Give Wildlife a Chance state income tax checkoff provides a hassle-free option for donating to the Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund, which supports critical wildlife conservation projects statewide.

“Every dollar contributed through the state income tax checkoff is placed in a special fund dedicated to the conservation of nongame and endangered species,” said Jon Ambrose, assistant chief of the DNR Wildlife Resources Division’s Nongame Conservation Section. “These donations are especially important because the division receives no state funding for nongame wildlife conservation.”

Nongame wildlife includes all native animals not legally hunted, fished for or trapped, as well as all native plants.

Citizens can donate to support nongame species management and conservation in Georgia by filling in any amount more than $1 on line 26 of the state’s long tax form (Form 500) or line 10 of the short form (Form 500EZ). Contributions can be deducted from refunds or added to payments.

Since 1989, the Give Wildlife a Chance checkoff has raised more than $5.7 million for conservation projects benefiting peregrine falcons, manatees, frogs, salamanders, sea turtles, songbirds, rare wildflowers and other native wildlife.

The income tax checkoff and sales of wildlife plates depicting a bald eagle or ruby-throated hummingbird provide vital funding for conservation projects statewide, helping acquire high-priority habitat and supporting nongame-related conservation, recreation and education projects throughout the state.

For more information on projects funded with checkoff and wildlife tag dollars, visit www.georgiawildlife.com or contact Nongame Conservation Section offices in Social Circle (770-761-3035), Forsyth (478-994-1438) or Brunswick (912-264-7218).

By supporting both the checkoff and nongame wildlife plates, Georgians can help give wildlife a chance.

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Gov. Perdue Announces Forestry for Wildlife Partners

Gov. Sonny Perdue recognized two corporate forest landowners in Georgia this week for their stewardship in land management and practices benefiting the state’s wildlife.

Plum Creek and Georgia Power received awards Wednesday, Jan. 21, for participating in the 2008 Forestry for Wildlife Partnership, a program administered by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division. The Forestry for Wildlife Partnership is a voluntary annual program that promotes blending wildlife conservation into corporate forestry practices and offers choices from which landowners can build a program compatible with their forest management objectives.

“This is an excellent example of a public-private partnership in the conservation of Georgia’s precious natural resources,” Perdue said. “I commend both Georgia Power and Plum Creek for their outstanding stewardship that will benefit generations to come.”

The companies have helped improve a total of 937,700 acres for wildlife. Wildlife Resources recognized the two as Forestry for Wildlife Partners for integrating wildlife conservation practices into their forest management programs. Some of the practices included:

· Preparing wildlife conservation plans that detail natural resources inventories and outline management strategies that combine forest and wildlife aspects.

· Providing internal training opportunities for employees on how to blend forestland management with wildlife-friendly practices for multiple natural resource benefits.

· Incorporating wildlife management techniques into current land-use planning and timber management practices.

· Providing valuable data for Wildlife Resources research projects.

· Providing public recreational opportunities on corporate forestlands.

· Participating in partnerships with conservation organizations through programs such as Partners in Flight, the Longleaf Alliance, the state Breeding Bird Atlas, and the Georgia Amphibians and Reptiles Atlas.

· Managing riparian forests for wildlife use and water quality protection.

Habitat is the key to wildlife abundance. Georgia has more than 24 million acres of forestland. Of that land base, 93 percent is privately owned. Corporate forest landowners manage 18 percent.

Wildlife Resources Division Director Dan Forster said Plum Creek and Georgia Power “deserve tremendous credit for their recognition of the broad conservation value in their land holdings and operations, and their dedication for improving those values through our Forestry Wildlife Partnership program.”

Conservation efforts benefit from Forestry for Wildlife through management of endangered red-cockaded woodpecker habitats, managing and monitoring bald eagle and swallow-tailed kite nesting, managing isolated wetlands critical to protected reptiles and amphibians like the gopher frog, managing rare remnant Coosa Valley Prairie and Black Belt Prairie habitats containing endangered plants, and providing numerous public hunting opportunities.

All of the conservation enhancement components and reporting procedures are compatible with the American Forest and Paper Association’s Sustainable Forestry Initiative, a voluntary approach within the forest industry to maintain high environmental standards on lands managed by corporate landowners.

Call (770) 761-1697 or go to www.georgiawildlife.com for more information about Forestry for Wildlife or other private lands initiatives.

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Comment Sought on New Invasives Species Plan

A draft plan that targets more than 180 invasive species threatening Georgia’s rich variety of native wildlife is available for public comment.

The Georgia Invasive Species Strategy describes the complex scope of problems posed by non-native plants, animals and disease-causing organisms and proposes ways to lessen the impacts in a state ranked sixth in the nation in biological diversity.

Jon Ambrose, assistant chief of the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division’s Nongame Conservation Section, said the strategy provides a framework that will help communicate and coordinate invasive species management priorities.

“There are a lot of organizations that are active in this area. The Invasive Species Strategy is intended to provide a picture of where we are now and where we want to go in the future,” Ambrose said.

Copies are available at www.georgiawildlife.com (click the “Conservation” tab to reach the link) or from the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division office in Social Circle (770-761-3035). A public comment meeting is set for 5:30-7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Wildlife Resources Division’s Conservation Center in Social Circle. For directions, go to www.georgiawildlife.com.

The deadline to submit comments is Feb. 16. Send written comments to jon.ambrose@gadnr.org or Jon Ambrose, Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, 2070 U.S. Highway 278 S.E., Social Circle, Ga.30025.

Invasives are plants and animals accidentally or intentionally introduced outside their natural ranges and which cause harm to the environment, economy or even human health. For example, laurel wilt, a fungal disease spread by an ambrosia beetle that is not native to the U.S., is killing redbay trees and related species in the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Redbays are a food source for birds and deer, and a critical host plant for the Palamedes swallowtail butterfly.

Cogongrass, another priority invasive species, is an aggressive, colony-forming grass that chokes out native plants and is spreading across the region. The Georgia Forestry Commission has established a statewide Cooperative Weed Management Area and Task Force to help control cogongrass.

The draft Invasive Species Strategy, compiled by an advisory committee representing about 30 public agencies and non-governmental organizations, summarizes what is being done to combat invaders, identifies gaps in current programs, and recommends improvements. Objectives are aimed at guarding against the influx of more non-native species and minimizing the threat of those already here.

The Georgia Invasive Species Advisory Committee listed 51 invasive or potentially invasive plant species, 107 animals and 30 disease-causing organisms.

Next steps could include funding for an invasive species coordinator, development of new educational materials and formation of a rapid response plan for priority species.

The overriding goal of the work started in August 2007 is enhancing collaboration among invasive species efforts statewide, which will increase effectiveness and options for funding.

The Invasive Species Strategy follows on the heels of a related document that deals with aquatic exotics and was also compiled by the advisory committee. The Georgia Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan is being reviewed by a federal task force before being finalized.

Both plans build on current efforts of groups such as the Georgia Invasive Species Task Force to identify high-priority species, assess impacts and threats, implement control methods, and educate the public about the environmental and economic impacts of invasive species.

Georgia’s Wildlife Action Plan, the conservation blueprint for the state Department of Natural Resources, rates invasive species a major threat to biodiversity and lists development of a statewide plan to monitor and control them as a high priority. On a national scale, the economic losses and environmental damage caused by exotic species total approximately $120 billion a year.

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Georgia's 2009 Fishing Regulations Now Available

The new 2009 Georgia Sport Fishing Regulations are now available. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division recently distributed printed versions of the regulations to all Division offices and facilities, a number of State Parks and fishing license retailers statewide. An online version of the new regulations soon will be available at www.gofishgeorgia.com.

WRD advises new and experienced anglers alike to familiarize themselves with the Georgia Sport Fishing Regulations before casting a line.

“Georgia offers so many different fishing opportunities from the coast to the mountains and this booklet is designed to help anglers find great places to fish and to educate them on Georgia’s fishing regulations,” explains WRD Chief of Fisheries Management John Biagi. “It contains information that should answer all basic questions for anglers.”

The guide provides helpful information, including color fish identification charts for both freshwater and saltwater fish, license purchasing information, contact information for WRD fisheries management offices and WRD law enforcement offices, trout stream listings, public fishing area (PFA) information, state record fish listings and complete fishing regulations for Georgia.

“We are pleased to offer the fishing regulations to the public at an earlier time of year,” says Biagi. “We hope that this new release date will better assist anglers making fishing plans for the year and with its improved format we hope that anglers find the new regulations easier than ever to use.”

The Board of Natural Resources sets Georgia’s fishing regulations based on recommendations made by the Department’s fisheries biologists and field personnel while the Georgia General Assembly sets the laws related to fishing.

The 2009 regulation changes anglers should be aware of are as follows:

· Licensing Changes: Georgia anglers and hunters who have lost their Georgia recreational hunting/fishing license can reprint them at no cost at www.gofishgeorgia.com . Georgia anglers, boaters and hunters also can now take advantage of new and improved license and boat registration services.

· Saltwater Regulations Changes: At the time of printing, legislative and/or regulations changes were pending that may impact some species and licensing issues. Contact the Coastal Resources Division at (912) 264-7218 for the most up-to-date length and possession limit information. Changes also will be posted online at http://crd.dnr.state.ga.us.

For more information about Georgia’s fishing regulations or for information about where and when to go fishing, visit www.gofishgeorgia.com or contact the nearest WRD fisheries management office.

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Tree Seedlings Available to Georgians

The Georgia Forestry Commission is offering residents an inexpensive way to help the
environment, reduce energy costs, beautify landscapes, and attract wildlife. Tree seedlings grown at the GFC Nursery provide these benefits and more. Several species of pine and hardwood are now available at low cost, can be ordered by phone, and delivered to the local county forestry unit for pick up by purchasers.

“This is the perfect time for planting trees,” said Russ Pohl, Chief of Reforestation for the GFC.
“Seedlings are dormant during the cold, wet months and are easily stored and shipped. Planting
now gives the young trees plenty of time to reestablish root contact with the soil, and rainy weather reduces their need for additional water. All in all, this is the very best time for planting trees in Georgia.”

Research shows trees improve air quality by sequestering carbon, the byproduct of burning
fossil fuels, and by intercepting airborne particulates. One acre of trees produces enough oxygen
for 18 people every day and provides valuable storm water runoff services. In addition, statistics
show healthy trees can add up to 15 percent to residential property value. Strategically placed
trees can reduce summer cooling costs by as much as 30 percent, while contributing to landscape aesthetics and the attraction of songbirds and other wildlife.

“It’s easy to order GFC seedlings and we provide information and guidance on getting them
planted on consumers’ property,” said Pohl. “We look forward to helping our customers learn more about this renewable Georgia resource.”

To order GFC seedlings, call 1-800-GA-TREES, or download an order form at GaTrees.org.

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State's First Annual Youth Hunter Ed Challenge Scheduled for January, Open to All

Youth interested in the outdoors can test their knowledge, demonstrate their skills, and register to win a muzzleloader at the state’s first annual Hunter Education Skills Challenge event Jan. 17 in Walton County.

Open to all hunter education-certified youth, 18 years of age and younger, the challenge aims to test participants’ abilities in six outdoor components: archery, air rifle, a safety trail challenge, orienteering, wildlife identification and a responsibility exam.

This is the first statewide event for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division’s new Hunter Education Skills Challenge program.

The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sat., Jan. 17 at the division’s dove field in Walton County, just adjacent to the Wildlife Resources Conservation Center, located at 2065 U.S. Highway 278, SE in Social Circle.

“The program itself is similar to a ‘graduate studies’ course for hunter education students,” explains Jennifer Pittman, Wildlife Resources Division’s shooting sports coordinator. “Each component of the program simulates realistic conditions in an effort to reinforce and test a young hunter’s skills.”

Because this is the first annual statewide event, interested youth from across the state are invited, and no challenger is required to have participated in a prior local event.

Participants receive scores for each component with a maximum total score of 500. The competition includes two age divisions – Junior (ages 14 and younger) and Senior (ages 15-18). Unlike this year’s statewide challenge event, youth interested in participating in future statewide challenge events must first qualify as one of the top ten scoring participants at a local competition (per age division).

The January state challenge kicks off a series of local challenges to be held throughout the state in 2009. Upcoming events will be highlighted on the division’s Web site, www.georgiawildlife.com, under the “Education” tab. Also visit the Web site for practice tests and program information or call (770) 918-6416.

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Shad Season Opens January 1

Commercial shad season runs from 6 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 through midnight on Tuesday, March 31, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division. Regulations for the 2009 commercial shad season are the same as the 2008 regulations.

The Altamaha River, including the Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers, as well as the Satilla River and the St. Mary’s River downstream from the Seaboard Coastline Railroad bridge will be open for commercial shad fishing Monday through Friday each week. Waters upstream from this bridge will be open Tuesday through Saturday each week.

The Ogeechee River will be open for commercial shad fishing on Fridays and Saturdays of each week during the shad season.

The Savannah River will be open for commercial shad fishing downstream from the Interstate 95 bridge Tuesday through Friday and upstream from the I-95 bridge Wednesday through Saturday each week. Only drift nets may be used downstream of a line between the mouth of Knoxboro Creek and McCoys Cut at Deadman's Point.

Individuals fishing commercially for shad must have a valid Georgia commercial fishing license. Boats used below the saltwater demarcation line for commercial fishing also must be licensed, with the cost of the license depending on the size of the boat.

The minimum mesh size for legal set or drift shad nets is four and a half inches stretched. Set netters are reminded that set nets must be placed at least 600 feet apart and should be limited to 100 feet in length. Set nets must clearly display the owners name and commercial fishing license number.

Drift nets shall not be fished closer that 300 feet apart and are limited to a maximum of 1,000 feet in length in saltwater. Set nets and drift nets must be situated so as to allow one-half the stream width to be open and free for the passage of fish.

All set nets must have one end secured to the stream bank and must be buoyed at the outer (seaward) end so they are clearly visible to other boaters. This regulation is designed to prevent anglers from setting nets in the mid-channel of the stream. Sturgeon, all catfish species and game fish other than American shad or hickory shad taken in set or drift nets must be released unharmed into the waters where they were taken.

Reporting of American shad harvest to the Coastal Resources Division is a requirement under Georgia’s commercial fishing regulations. If fish are not sold to a licensed fish dealer, anglers are asked to report their catch.

Contact Julie Califf at (912) 264-7218 for harvest reporting forms. Other regulations apply. For a complete set of commercial fishing regulations or for more information, contact a Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement office at (912) 264-7237 (Brunswick); (706) 595-4211 (Thomson) or (912) 685-2145 (Metter).

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