Regional Roundup

MSHFN Mourns Loss of Friend, Fellow Outdoorsman

April 19,2012

Though he was our editor for only a short time, it was easy to see how John Gallaspy loved Mid-South Hunting & Fishing News.  At the office we could see how much fun he was having deciding what would go in every issue and talking to our correspondents about their next assignment. When John got to communicate — in person, on the phone and via e-mail — to readers about their trips afield and on our waters he couldn’t have been happier.  He had a passion for it.  Because his business career was devoted to the woods, fields and waters, he darn sure knew the subject.
Our readers also got to know him pretty well through his monthly editorials.  John’s hot button was hunter education; in fact, he could drive you a little crazy about hunter safety.
John recently stepped down as editor.  See, what you haven’t known, because he didn’t want you bothered with it, is that he had serious health problems that started early last year. About six weeks ago, it became apparent he wouldn’t be able to work much longer.  He called me over to his office one day and simply said, “You’d better find somebody else for Mid-South…”  There wasn’t much more to say because we both knew he was right.
He made it through our last issue, but it was a struggle.  He didn’t want anybody to be burdened, so he just didn’t type the words to page.  And as I began to write this, John was bravely and inspiringly facing the next transition.  
I wish I was capable of relaying to you what John has taught me and those who have been with him just about every day for the past year.  Strength is the best word I can find. There’s been no complaining. He didn’t put the weight of his troubles on any of us and wouldn’t ask for anything special. I never saw him feel sorry for himself or question his difficult diagnosis.  If you were a witness, as I have been, you would have to ask yourself if you could be as dignified facing life’s most difficult time.
John is going to be missed at our office, and there’s not one thing we can do about it. No one could have crafted a more graceful exit strategy, one that guarantees to leave a lasting legacy. Each of us could only hope to leave as many changed and sorrowing friends. Our office, our readers and our community learned life’s greatest lesson from the way he wrestled with and, just today, overcame the reality of death.
Introducing Vernon
            That day in his office, John and I ran down a short list of ideas we had for the next editor of Mid-South Hunting & Fishing News.  Didn’t take us long to get to the short list. Within five minutes we’d decided Vernon Summerlin was the man.  We’ve both known Vernon for a long time and enjoy his wit, wisdom and knowledge of the outdoors — especially the Mid-South outdoors.  John picked Vernon as the next chief decision maker for Mid-South Hunting & Fishing News.  John always knew what he was doing, and I trusted his judgment.
            Vernon has John’s same passion, and I promise you’ll see it on the pages of Mid-South Hunting & Fishing News.

Carlton Veirs, Publisher
           
                       

Kentucky

Spring Squirrel Season for 2012

The spring squirrel season in Kentucky, which started as an experiment on four state wildlife management areas in 1994, went statewide in 1999. The season runs from May 19 to June 15. A hunting license is required unless the hunter is license exempt.
Squirrels are Kentucky's most stable and abundant small game species.
The spring season opens after the first of two nesting periods. Young squirrels leave the nest after 45 days, to venture off on their own. Litters are typically three to four squirrels.
Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Hunters may be in the field before and after shooting hours. Daily limit is 6 squirrels; possession limit is 12.

Hunting Seasons for Coyotes and Other Wildlife

Coyotes, groundhogs and wild pigs may be hunted statewide, year-round, with no bag limit. A hunting license is required unless the hunter is license exempt.
Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. However, hunters may be in the field before and after shooting hours.
Coyotes may not be hunted at night. Hand or mouth-operated calls, and electronic calls that imitate wounded prey or coyote calls are legal. It is also legal to hunt coyotes over animal carcasses.
Wild Pigs: Wild pigs out-compete native wildlife for food, damage crops, and carry diseases. Landowners are strongly encouraged to remove wild pigs from their property. Trapping, which is legal year-round, is the most effective method of removal. Wild pigs must be killed at the trap site, and not released. It is illegal to possess, sell or transport wild pigs in Kentucky.
Report sightings, illegal activities related to wild pigs, and get advice on trapping by calling Kentucky Fish and Wildlife at 1-800-858-1549.

Alabama

Alabama's Forever Wild Program's New Publication:
The Forever Wild Land Trust: An interim report to the citizens of Alabama - 1992 through 2009

The Forever Wild Program was established in 1992, by constitutional amendment, to provide for the purchase of public recreational lands. Since its inception, the program has purchased lands for general recreation, nature preserves, additions to Wildlife Management Areas and state parks. Currently, the Board is focusing on acquisitions in central Alabama.  Ninety-one tracts totaling 227,573 acres located throughout the state have been acquired.
For more information about recreational opportunities and volunteerism on Forever Wild lands, or to make nominations of unique lands and learn more about the administration of the Forever Wild Land Trust, contact: Gregory M. Lein 334-242-3484.

Arkansas

Young Archers String their Bows for Hunter's Feed the Hungry

More than 1,900 of Arkansas's best young archers from more than 120 schools competed in Hot Springs at the Arkansas National Archery in the Schools Program state tournament March 23-24. ANASP is part of the National Archery in the Schools Program and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Education and Information Division.
The event is free to the public, but support of Hunter's Feed the Hungry is encouraged. This year, archers, families and fans donated 1,750 items of non-perishable food to the cause.
For the fourth consecutive year, Hamburg High School took top honors in the high school division, followed by Batesville and Mena. Batesville won the middle school division, followed by Greene County Tech and Oden. Eagle Mountain Magnet won the elementary division, followed by Glen Rose and Central Magnet. 

Tennessee

Bill Dance Featured in Tennessee Promoting Outdoor Tourism
By Joe Edwards AP Nashville, Tenn.

Tennessee has more than 300 species of fish, with bass, crappie and catfish awaiting hungry anglers. This undated photo provided by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development shows fisherman Bill Dance with a lunker largemouth bass.
Order your free Tennessee Vacation Guide at www.tnvacation.com or call 800-GO2-TENN.

Pickwick Pick-a-Partner Bass Tournament

Shelby Farms Park Conservancy holds its Inaugural Bass Classic on Pickwick Lake June 23 & 24. This Pick-a-Partner Tournament at $265 per team guarantees $10,000 for first place plus 2nd-25th payout based on field.
The event supports the nonprofit, Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, the largest urban parkland in the United States. Shelby Farms Bass Classic will launch the expansion of youth fishing initiatives within the Park and for youth throughout West Tennessee.
For more info contact Bill Latham 731-441-4645 or email nwilson@shelbyfarmspark.

Wounded Warrior Bass Tournament

On May 19th the Third Annual Wounded Warrior Bass Tournament
will be held at Paris Landing on Kentucky Lake to benefit the Wounded Warrior Program and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation. Register by May 1st to avoid $10 late fee. For more info visit www.twrf.net or email billterry@bellsouth.net.

Mississippi

2012 Fishing Forecast for Northeast Mississippi Lakes

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) fisheries biologists are excited about the prospects of angler success in the upcoming fishing season in Northeast Mississippi. Fall 2011 population sampling on Lake Monroe, Elvis Presley Lake, Tippah County Lake, and Lake Lowndes State Park showed high catch rates of small bass.
"Due to the large population of smaller bass, creel limits in these lakes have been increased to 30 fish per day. We want to encourage folks to harvest those smaller fish" said MDWFP Fisheries Biologist Tyler Stubbs. "These lakes also have quality crappie and bream populations, especially in Lake Monroe" continued Stubbs. Anglers targeting catfish should head to Oktibbeha County Lake or Elvis Presley Lake as both lakes boast healthy populations of quality-sized catfish. 

Florida Largemouth Bass Stockings

On Wednesday, March 28th, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) stocked approximately 200,000 Florida-strain largemouth bass fingerlings into Columbus and Aberdeen Lakes on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. The fish were reared at MDWFP's Turcotte Fish Hatchery near Canton. "Florida-strain largemouth bass typically grow faster and potentially grow larger than native bass," stated MDWFP Fisheries Biologist Tyler Stubbs. According to Stubbs, the goal of the Florida-strain bass stockings is to help increase the number of trophy-sized (greater than five pounds) bass in these two lakes. A 14-inch minimum length limit is in effect on these two lakes to help increase the number of fish that reach larger sizes.

Missouri

A Good Hatch of Turkeys Throughout Missouri

In 2011, relatively dry conditions and an emergence of periodical cicadas that provided protein-rich food for nesting hens and growing poults helped Missouri's turkey population experience its best hatch in nearly a decade.
Brood-survey results indicated that 2011's hatch was 42 percent above the previous five-year average. An especially notable improvement occurred in northeast Missouri where production was more than double the five-year average. In many parts of the state, hunters have already noticed the difference a good year of production can make. Because hatch success drives changes in turkey abundance, several more years of good production would bolster the number of turkeys in the Show-Me State.
Last year's strong reproduction will boost the number of year-old male turkeys, commonly called "jakes," available to hunters this spring. The big boost will come next year, when gobblers born in 2011 are two years old. Two-year-old males generally gobble more than jakes or older toms, and gobbling is what sets turkey hunters' pulses racing.
For details, see the 2012 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulation and Information booklet, which it is available wherever hunting permits are sold or at http://go.usa.gov/EIW. -Jim Low-