November
Transcription
November
Page 1 News For The Garden State Outdoors Enthusiast Vol. 45, No. 11 November 2012 One Dollar Prsrt Std U.S. POSTAGE PAID Organized May 24, 1935. Serving All the Sportsmen & Women of NJ Newark, NJ Permit No. 973 FEDERATED SPORTSMEN NEWS Counties: Atlantic - Bergen - Burlington - Camden - Cape May - Cumberland - Essex - Gloucester - Hudson - Hunterdon - Mercer - Middlesex - Monmouth - Morris - Ocean - Passaic - Salem - Somerset - Sussex - Union - Warren NJ Assoc. of Field Trial Clubs of NJ - NJ Bass Federation - Jersey Coast Anglers Assoc. - NJ Beach Buggy Assoc. - NJ Chap. of Nat. Wild Turkey Fed. - NJ Ducks Unlimited - NJ State Council Trout Unlimited - NJ Trappers Assoc. - NJ Waterfowlers Assoc. - United Bow Hunters of NJ Christie Signs HOFNOD Into Law Trenton, NJ – Encouraging young New Jerseyans to avoid the dangers of drug use by engaging in positive, safe and lifebuilding group activities, Governor Chris Christie signed A-638, creating the “Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs” Program across the state. The program will provide students with access to extracurricular outlets that utilize New Jersey’s outdoor recreational assets. Established within the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, the statewide implementation of the “Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs” Program will also be funded through an appropriation of $200,000 from the Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund and provide students with the opportunity to embrace positive life skills as an alternative to the pitfalls of drug abuse. “We have a responsibility to guide young New Jerseyans away from the dangers of drug use and other illicit activities that too easily take hold of lives and tear apart our families,” said Governor Christie. “The ‘Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs’ Program will help steer young men and women away from the pitfalls of drug abuse by utilizing our great outdoors to create educational, recreational and mentorship opportunities. I thank the sponsors of this legislation for investing in the future of New Jersey’s children and young adults, as well as the Department of Environmental Protection for helping move forward with this important priority.” Established within the Division of Fish and Wildlife, the “Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs” Program is based on a national program developed by the Future Fisherman Foundation, and will use Division staff support to assist school districts and other public service organizations in implementing the program throughout the state. To improve and maintain the effec- tiveness of the program, the Division will collect and maintain data on the program and provide an annual report to the legislature. Information detailed in the annual report will include the number of participating school districts, students and municipalities, as well as data used to determine the rate of drug avoidance or incidence among students participating in the program. “I’d like to thank Governor Christie, state legislators, and those in the Department of Environmental Protection, for their bipartisan support of a program designed as a gateway to teach youth about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle,” said Anthony P. Mauro, Sr., chairman of the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance. “It is heartening to see that in spite of our increasingly sophisticated world, there remains recognition of the benefits of a ‘back to basics’ approach in dealing with the challenges facing our state’s youth. In the end, exposure to, and understanding of, the natural world by our children is what will ultimately save it. ‘Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs’ is a giant step towards this end.” The legislation also appropriates funding for the “Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs” Program through the appropriation of $200,000 from the Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund to the Department of Environmental Protection to cover the cost of implementing the program statewide, and sufficient appropriations from the Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund, or other appropriate sources, will be reserved annually to Survey Says: Hunter & Angler Numbers Are Up Washington, D.C. - A coalition of hunting and angling groups and the outdoor industry briefed members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus recently on the rise in hunting and fishing participation in this country. The groups, led by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Cabela’s, Safari Club International, American Sportfishing Association and National Marine Manufacturers Association, used recently released data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) 2011 National Survey on Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation to compare hunting and fishing participation and expenditures to mainstream industries. “To put it in perspective, the 37 million sportsmen and women over the age of 16 in America is the same as the population of the state of California, and the $90 billion they spent in 2011 is the same as the global sales of Apple’s iPad and iPhone in the same year,” commented Jeff Crane, president of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. “Hunting and fishing have been, and clearly continue to be, important elements of our country’s outdoor heritage and they are critically important to our nation’s economy - particularly the small local economies that support quality hunting and fishing opportunities.” The participation and economic data shows a nine percent increase in hunters and an 11 percent increase in anglers compared to the 2006 survey. The important thing to note is that these numbers are just accounting for sportsmen and women age Please inform the membership office (see page 2) of any change of address. maintain the operation of the program. The Division of Fish and Wildlife will also work with educational, public safety and environmental groups, including sportsman groups and local merchants, to promote volunteerism in the form of mentoring young adults within the program and to encourage the donation of technical, material and financial assistance to the program. Primary sponsors of the legislation include Assemblymembers Brian E. Rumpf (R-Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean), Herb Conaway, Jr. (DBurlington), DiAnne C. Gove (R-Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean), and Nelson T. Albano (D-Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland). 16 and older, so actual participation is likely higher when adding in youth. Most notable, however, is that hunters and anglers continued their strong spending habits. From equipment expenditures ($8.2 billion for hunters, $6.2 billion for anglers) to special equipment ($25 billion towards boats, RVs, ATVs and other such vehicles) to trip-related expenses totaling over $32 billion, sportsmen and women continue to direct their discretionary income toward their outdoor pursuits. “Our industry has continued to have strong returns, even during this lagging economy, and the reason is the commitment of hunters and shooters to their outdoor activities,” said Steve Sanetti, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. “The economic impact of hunting and fishing is profound in South Dakota and across the country,” noted US Senator John Thune (R-SD), Republican Senate Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, at the briefing. “It’s important that we have policies that promote hunting and fishing and support the outdoor industries.” “People don’t think about hunting and fishing in terms of economic growth,” stated US Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), Democratic Senate Co-Chair of the CSC, to the participants. “The statistics in the new economic impact report are great and will go a long way to telling the public just how important hunting and fishing are in this country.” “One of the statistics I learned today is that the $6 billion that hunters spent in 2011 on guns, ammunition, and archery equipment is comparable to the sales of bicycles in the United States,” said US Representative Bob Latta (R-OH), Republican House Vice-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus. “This is particularly important because most of those gun and ammunition companies are based right here in this country, meaning sportsmen’s dollars support American jobs and American workers.” “In today’s world, we are talking about economics and jobs -- those are the main drivers in most policy discussions,” commented US Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), Republican Senate Vice Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus. “It is so important to see how strong the sportsmen’s community is and what they are doing to support the American economy so they have a voice in those discussions.” see Numbers, p. 9 Page 2 November 2012 NEW JERSEY FEDERATED SPORTSMEN NEWS MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION & INQUIRIES, Write To: P.O. Box 10173 Trenton, N.J. 08650-0173 609-859-2648 OLIVER SHAPIRO LETTERS TO THE EDITOR may be sent by U.S. Mail (to 28 Hemlock Road, Livingston, NJ 07039), or email ([email protected]). Please include your town of residence, and club or organization affiliation (if any). EDITOR & ADVERTISING MANAGER 28 Hemlock Road, Livingston, NJ 07039 973-533-1260 [email protected] Typography - Vanguard Media, LLC President - Frank Virgilio (856) 881-8347 Federation Office P.O. Box 10173 Trenton, NJ 08650-0173 609-859-2648 Sharon Irick, Assistant Manager Corresponding Secretary - Tom Surlak ([email protected]) WEB Page Address - www.njsfsc.org E-mail Address - [email protected] FOR MEMBERSHIP INSURANCE CALL 856-881-8347 Articles and Advertising must be submitted no later than the fourth Friday of each month for publication the second month thereafter. Published monthly by the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, Inc., a statewide organization of clubs and associate members serving all the sportsmen and women of New Jersey. The organization is incorporated under the laws of New Jersey as a non-profit organization. The newspaper is a membership publication. The opinions expressed in the newspaper are those of the contributors and not necessarily of the Federation, unless stated otherwise. Direct any changes of address to the Sportsmen News, PO Box 10173, Trenton, NJ 08650-0173. In notifying us of a change of address, give both your old and new address. Be sure to give your zip code. Send label from your last copy if possible. Reprint permission is granted provided use is made of the following credit: Reprinted from: New Jersey Federated Sportsmen News: Author’s By-Line (if any) OFFICERS State President - Frank Virgilio, 21 Tallowood Drive, Glassboro, NJ 08028 N. Vice President - John Rogalo, 4003 Waterloo Road., Stanhope, NJ 07874 C. Vice President S. Vice President - Ed Markowski, 5657 Chester Street, Mays Landing, NJ 08330 Membership Director - Pola Galie, PO Box 56, Waretown, NJ 08758 Treasurer - Gary Wolff, 47 Meadow Rd., Edison, NJ 08817, fax 732-777-1458 Asst. Treasurer - Stacey Rubsam, 1044 River Road, Green Bank, NJ 08215 Corresponding Secretary - Bill Englehardt, 23 Saurdes Lane, Hackettstown, NJ 07840 Recording Secretary - Patricia H. Blazer, 149 Route 45, Salem, NJ 08079 NRA Rep. South - Paul Rivas, PO Box 251, Browns Mills, NJ 08015 NRA Rep. North - Irv Luizza, 43 West St., Box 111, Annandale, NJ 08801 REGIONAL DIRECTORS N. Region - Jim Cosmano, 61 Payne Road, Andover, NJ 07860 N. Region - Bill Englehardt, 23 Saunders Lane, Hackettstown, NJ 07840 C. Region - Susan Rothermel, 16 Nicholas Blvd., Jackson, NJ 08527 C. Region - Charles Hendrickson, 621 Burke Road, Jackson, NJ 08527 S. Region - Perry Doyle, 323 Birmingham Road, Pemberton, NJ 08068 S. Region - Tom Weeast, 81 Kake Avenue, Williamstown, NJ 08904 Conservation Director Emeritus - George Howard, 219 Sidney Road, Pittstown, NJ 08867 Natural Resource Director - Rob Winkel, 111 12th Avenue, Seaside Park, NJ 08732 Chairman, Operation Game Thief Past President, Board of Directors - Ed Cuneo, 15 Villa Drive, Berlin, NJ 08009 County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs Information Directory County Meeting Date & Time Location Contact Phone Number Atlantic 2nd Thursday of month, 8:00 PM except July and August Germania Gun Club Moss Mill Rd., Egg Harbor, NJ Eric Gaupp 609-513-8542 Bergen 3rd Thursday of month, 8:00 PM except July and August Bergen County Communities Service Bldg., Rm 29, 327 Ridgewood Ave., Paramus, NJ Frank Dara 973-523-2640 Bill Schultz 856-235-3344 Bill Schemel 856-931-5009 Ken McDermott III 609-412-3811 Bob Russell 856-327-2197 Carmine Minichini 908-964-5713 Thomas Weeast 856-629-9465 Loren Robinson 908-782-1076 Rick Moore 609-882-2202 John Messeroll 732-828-8543 Ken Ganson 732-566-0841 John Rogalo 973-691-9355 Larry Cella 908-839-0193 Richard Weber 973-697-1814 George Shivery 856-423-2421 Joe Griglak 908-526-9026 Dick Strobel 973-697-3989 Ray Szpond 908-403-5798 Bill Engelhardt 908-625-9699 Burlington Camden Cape May Cumberland Essex 2nd Thursday of month, 7:30 PM The American Legion except July and August 39 Pemberton-Julistown Rd., Pemberton, NJ 3rd Wednesday of month, 7:30 PM Square Circle Sportsmen Club except July and August 97 Clementon Rd., Gibbsboro, NJ (please call for up-to-date information) 2nd Thursday of month, 7:30 PM Menantico Gun Club except July and August Union Rd., Maurice River Twp., NJ 2nd Thursday of month, 8:15 PM Bloomfield Civic Center except July and August 84 Broad St., Bloomfield, NJ Gloucester 2nd Tuesday of month, 7:45 PM except July and August Hunterdon 2nd Thursday of month, 8:00 PM Mercer Middlesex Monmouth Morris Ocean Passaic Salem Somerset Sussex Union Warren 3rd Monday of month, 7:00 PM except July and August 1st Wednesday of month, 7:30 PM except July and August 4th Wednesday of month, 7:30 PM except July and August 1st Tuesday of month, 8:00 PM George Ruch Building 14 St. and Highland Ave., Williamstown, NJ Northern Region Office of Fish & Wildlife, Clinton WMA, 26 RT 173 W, Hampton, NJ Sportsmen’s Center US Highway 130 N., Bordentown, NJ Polish American Citizen’s Club 66 Adirondack Ave., Spotswood, NJ 4 F’s Gun Club Burke Rd, Freehold, NJ Mine Hill American Legion Post 391 1 Legion Place, Mine Hill, NJ 07803 (please call for up-to-date information) Last Monday of month, 7:30 PM except June and July Tuesday after 3rd Friday of month, 7:30 PM except Jul., Aug., and Dec. 2nd Wednesday of month, 8:00 PM except July and August 2nd Wednesday of month, 8:00 PM 1st Monday of month, 8:00 PM except July and August 4th Wednesday of month, 7:30 PM except July and August The Wayne Civic Center, Room 3 1006 Hamburg Tpk., Wayne, NJ Salem County Sportsmen Clubs RT 40, Carneys Pt., NJ Somerset Fish & Game Protective Assoc. 445 Milltown Rd., Bridgewater, NJ 08807 Sparta Ambulance Building 14 Sparta Ave., Sparta, NJ Union County Complex Building 300 North Ave. East, Westfield, NJ Pequest Trout Hatchery RT 46, Liberty Twp, NJ November 2012 NEW JERSEY STATE FEDERATION OF SPORTSMEN’S CLUBS, INC. AT THE OUTSET: Individual Application - Select type of membership desired. Send Check or Money Order FOR TOTAL AMOUNT PAYABLE TO: NEW JERSEY STATE FEDERATION OF SPORTSMEN’S CLUBS, INC. P.O. BOX 10173, Trenton, NJ 08650-0173 Tim C. Smith photo Balancing Mercy with Survival… and Maintaining Humanity I recently saw a reader’s “Your Two Cents” in a current copy of Shooting Sports Retailer magazine, a trade publication read by firearms dealers nationwide. The short piece was written by a dealer in North Carolina (I’ll call him Reynolds), and he complained about a number of things that I suspect will resonate with readers here. More important, I believe it speaks to an important issue where most of us part ways from many people who oppose hunting. “…(W)e have perverted the laws of nature to weaken society as a whole,” Reynolds writes. “Stupid people who do stupid things are supposed to be killed doing it. A deer, running around in an open field in broad daylight, is stupid and will be killed by a hunter. A rabbit running around your yard at noon will be eaten by a hawk. Yet the stupidest human on earth is protected from himself by our laws!” Reynolds details the admitted idiocy of posting danger warnings on products like ladders (“if you fall off me you’ll get hurt”), cigarettes (“smoke me and you could die”), and the like. He also goes on to express grave concern over other problems that, in his view (and mine too, to a pronounced degree), are contributing to the continued decline of, and what will be the eventual death of, America. On the one hand (regarding the protection of blatant stupidity), I completely agree with him. But on the other hand, it is undeniable that, as part of a modern “civilized” society that subscribes to JudeoChristian values, it is our responsibility to assist those who need it. If a child with a life-threatening but medically treatable congenital condition is born, would Reynolds advocate for a “survival of the fittest” response and deny that child the * * medical treatment indicated? I doubt that he would. If a person is adjudged to be mentally incompetent, do we simply release that person to fend for himself or do we try to find help for him? Given that we’ve looked at some fairly extreme examples here (say, the “ladder” at one end and the medically treatable newborn at the other), the question then becomes… where exactly do we draw the line? I suspect that society as a whole, considering the safety of those who are less able to fend for themselves (and undoubtedly fearing liability suits as well), has simply shied away from drawing any line at all, bringing us to where we are today. Now, here’s the rub: If we do in fact draw that line somewhere, there will undoubtedly be widespread disagreement on it, and some people will lament that society has become too cutthroat, too unforgiving. In other words, too similar to an ecology that relies on natural selection. Too much a “law of the jungle” environment. Yet it is hunters, outdoorsmen, conservationists, and the like who understand the best the differences between human society and what we might call “animal society.” We understand that humans are, on some fundamental level, different from other animal species. It is the non-hunters (or at least some of them ) who equate humans with animals. Going back to the “stupid deer” that Reynolds mentioned above, imagine instead that we might be observing a person who was traveling a dangerous area and we were observing that his life is in imminent peril. Would we not shout out a warning, or in some way try to help him? I don’t have the answer. While on the LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Kudos to Quail Stockers Dear Oliver, Regarding the stocking of quail for dog training, I would like to say thanks to all of the workers at Whittingham Wildlife Management Area. They do an excellent job of stocking quail during the month of October for dog training. It sure helps to get your dog in shape for the coming hunting season. You often hear the state Division of Fish & Wildlife being criticized, but the men of Whittingham do an excellent job of stocking for dog training and hunting. Keep up the good work, employees at Whittingham WMA. Richard Skewes Andover township, NJ Member of Foleys Rod & Gun Club Comments on Gun Mounts Dear Oliver, I love reading Bob Brunisholz’s articles in the Federation newspaper. I am not criticizing his last article on proper gun mount, just getting my two cents in. Gun fit is the most important part of shooting, but trapshooting can’t be compared to field shooting in the way you mount your gun. In trap shooting your gun is already prop- Page 3 NEW JERSEY FEDERATED SPORTSMEN NEWS erly mounted when you call for the bird; in the field you don’t have the chance to get the gun ready to shoot in advance. This is why I use the “closed eyes” mount when I buy a field gun. When you mount the gun with your eyes closed and it fits you, you should have proper sight aliment with out trying to get the gun in position to take a shot. Your field gun should also be a little shorter stocked, to allow for more clothing in the colder months. John O’Neill Reinholds, PA Greenwood Lake Fishing Dear Oliver, Seems the 2012 fishery in Greenwood Lake was a bit odd this year. Both largemouths and smallmouths were down, and crappie were almost disappeared, unlike other years. The low water early in the season and the warm water all summer long were sure to hurt. However the walleye have been biting since April and still are (note: this letter was received in early October). Many are in the 3- to 8-pound class and, caught in shallow waters. Some muskies even showed up - which are great fun on light tackle. Keep up the great reporting in the Sportsmen News. Glen Van Olden Fair Lawn, NJ Glen, thanks for your kind words and for sending in the great pictures. I included a few of them, on the right-hand side of this page. - OS * * * * INSURED SPORTSMAN MEMBER - $35.00 each Receives $1,000,000 excess liability insurance, membership certificate, and Federation’s Monthly Newspaper (12 issues) ----------------------------------------------------------------INSURED SPORTSMAN MEMBER HOUSEHOLD MEMBER - $30.00 each Receives INSURED MEMBERSHIP without newspaper ----------------------------------------------------------------SPORTSMAN MEMBER - $20.00 each Receives Federation’s Monthly Newspaper (12 issues) and Membership Card ----------------------------------------------------------------SPORTSMAN HOUSEHOLD MEMBER - $5.00 each Receives SPORTSMAN MEMBERSHIP without newspaper ----------------------------------------------------------------- $_____________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________ Check if Emblem Patch Is Required - $5.00 each $_____________ Check if you wish to make an additional donation to the NJSFSC Legislative Fund $_____________ November 2012 TOTAL $_____________ *Name_____________________________________Date of Birth_______________ *Address_____________________________________________________________ *City______________________________________*State________*Zip_________ Telephone No.________________________Email____________________________ County ________________________ Legislative District______________________ Club Name___________________________________________________________ *Required Information * Please add me to your eDelivery Newspaper distribution list! Email_______________________________________________ Instead of receiving a hard copy of my NJ Federated Sportsmen News by mail, I opt to have it eDelivered to my inbox at no additional cost! Benefits of eDelivery: · It’s Convenient! — View and/or save documents for future reference · It’s Fast! — No more waiting on paper copies to arrive in the mail · It’s Green! — Help make a positive environmental impact Return your renewal with the eDelivered box checked and by entering your email address twice in the boxes provided. Please check box to activate eDelivery! one hand I do agree that the “ladder” warnings and their ilk are idiotic, I also believe in helping those who truly need it… at least up to a certain extent. Where would I draw the line? I wish I could answer that one easily. Oliver Shapiro, Editor Page 4 NEW JERSEY FEDERATED SPORTSMEN NEWS Finding Those Fall Flocks by Bob Brunisholz Okay, I admit it. Although spring turkey is high on my list of hunting pursuits, the fall season? Well, not so much. Much of what I’ve learned about fall turkey gunning (and I use the term gunning to differentiate between taking a bird with a bow or black powder) comes to me through osmosis. That is, I’ve absorbed what scant knowledge I have about the fall turkey season by constantly rubbing elbows and clanking coffee cups with my cronies, some of whom would rather hunt turkey than breathe, and I constantly failed in my attempts to change the subject… despite describing how fantastic grouse hunting was decades ago, when a quick, two-hour morning hunt would yield six to eight flushes. “Can’t you guys talk about something else, like trout fishing, woodcock hunting, crocheting or the coming annual fall manhole cover toss contest?” I’d ask. In turn, Farley Ferguson would snap, “Hey, we don interrupt ye when you’re runnin’ off at th’ gob abit whit it was loch 35 years ago when ye hud a scuttle er aicht flushes of groose affair noon, sae don interrupt us when we’re talkin’ turkey. At leest we hae turkey tae hunt. Yer precious groose, it seems, vacated th’ state back when th’ Jackie Gleason show was a TV burst.” To which I would invariably reply, “Hey Farley, knock it off. You’ve been in this country for more than 65 years now, and when your optional brogue kicks in, it’s enough to make a vulture lose its lunch.” Despite some of the substandard company I’ve been known to keep, many of whom contributed to this story, some of the following tips or points were derived merely by observations made by your humble scribe while afield chasing one feathered species or another of upland birds. I never thought I’d see the day when I admitted this in writing, but in one or two respects my turkey hunting aficionados are right. They are correct about our grouse population here in the so-called Garden State being nearly non-existent. Nor do I feel there is much chance of ever bringing this magnificent bird back to its once-prolific numbers. There’s no doubt in my The autumn woods are ablaze with color, and the fall turkey season offers hunters excellent opportunities to bag a bird before the coming holiday season. Photo courtesy the National Wild Turkey Federation. addled brain that the problem with New Jersey’s grouse population is 90 percent habitat, or lack of same. We’ve permitted almost unrestricted building in this state, to the extent that sufficient or prime grouse habitat will never be recovered or restored, no matter how hard we try. In addition, even if grouse populations were steady – or at least better than now – the fall turkey season kind of gets lost if only because I grew up as an avid and devoted upland gunner, then add fall trout fishing and bow season to the list, and there seems just too much to do during fall. Ergo, I never did get into fall turkey hunting. Nevertheless, here are some tips or tidbits for those who might be classified as beginners. Admittedly, about 65 percent of the information was interjected into my aging gray cells over strenuous objections and requests to talk about something else. First, you’d probably find little or no dispute among spring and fall turkey hunters concerning that old bromide that addresses the difference between a suc- cessful season and a frustrating season, and that old saw simply states that consistently successful turkey hunters spend more time in the woods scouting than actually hunting. Also, understanding a few of the basic needs as well as the motivation behind a turkey’s autumn wanderings, and how they differ during fall as compared to spring, is an essential key to locating birds, and then locating where to set up. Undeniably, spring season turkey hunting relies nearly 100 percent on a gobbler’s libido and its search for a mate. During fall, however, all turkeys; hens, gobblers and last spring’s poults are interested in one thing: food. As with most if not all of the animal kingdom, turkeys do not “think” in the abstract. They don’t sit down with one another and discuss the plight that may befall them if they fail to put on the necessary fat to see them through the long, lean winter. Instead, it comes to them through innumerable years of evolution. Feeding during the fall is something they must do November 2012 because it comes to them instinctively. It’s in their DNA, for without that instinct, they will surely perish in the coming cold months. Consequently, whether you “bust up” the flock in the early morning and then try to call a hen or gobbler back in, or merely decide to ambush a bird on its way to a preferred feeding ground, you should know what to look for. The more you have of the following elements, the better your chances of downing a bird. First, there must be at least an adequate water supply nearby. Small streams, even swampy woodlands will qualify as a water supply. The water does not have to be a pristine lake or large river. Remember, turkeys use a lot of different food sources, and insects, grubs, even worms are eagerly consumed by wild turkeys. Wet ground, or wetlands if you will, offering a plethora of insects, grubs, and you-name-it. Next, but of equal importance, is standing timber or a reasonably large wooded area. This is where the birds will begin feeding once they leave their roost, and they must have that protected roost for the evening hours when they are most vulnerable to predation. In addition, should you locate a roost, keep in mind that the vast majority of the time birds in the roost will face east to better endure bad weather, winds and rain. That should also help decide where to place your set up. If you have at least those two of those elements (wetlands, and a good-sized wooded area with mature trees for roosting), the final component – at least in my estimation, based on what I’ve observed all these years of chasing upland birds – is at least one, but preferably several, fields nearby that either have the remnants of seed crops left over from harvesting, or even a freshly plowed field that offers warmth in the sun during midday, and good feeding in soft ground that is likely to yield lots of insects or leftover seeds from corn, wheat, rye or even sorghum. All of this will draw turkeys like a magnet. Assuming you’ve located a roost, or a spot where the flock is traveling to and from a feeding ground, then it is merely a decision as to the most advantageous spot to place your setup from which to waylay one of the critters for Thanksgiving dinner. Remember, the more you have of those ingredients mentioned above, the better your chances at a fall bird. In the meantime, I’m going woodcock hunting and I’m taking Farley with me. I need someone to bust some brush. NJ DFW Law Enforcement Bureau Reports: May ‘12 Conservation Officers reported a total of 7294.5 hours of duty. During patrols, officers performed 4673 field inspections of hunters, fishermen or trappers, with 400 summonses issued. Penalties collected during this report period by Conservation Officers were estimated at $23,093. Northern Region Highlights On a Sunday during Spring Turkey season, Officer Ziegler was contacted by a hunter who claimed to have found two dead jake turkeys while scouting for the upcoming week. Officer Ziegler responded to the area of the Newark Watershed and found the dead turkeys, as well as a spent shotgun shell casing and an area where a hunter had shot from. Further inquiries at local check stations came up with no matches. A few days later, Ziegler was contacted by the complainant again, who had talked to other hunters in the area and was advised of a medical call in that area on the day that these turkeys were shot. Ziegler checked with the local police and found out that the hunter had suffered a heart attack in the woods after killing the turkeys and had succumbed to his injuries. Officer Sutton was contacted by an anonymous caller who stated that he had seen a posting on Facebook of a juvenile that he knows has never taken a shotgun hunter education course, posing with a turkey that he claimed to have shot with a shotgun at “57 yards.” Officer Sutton met with the juvenile and his father, who admitted to shooting the turkey with a shotgun, in the wrong zone, and falsifying his tag. He also advised Officer Sutton that he was accompanied by another juvenile that was calling, and his 19-year-old friend who was also hunting. Further interviews of the other parties confirmed the story. The adult was written the appropriate summonses. The turkey was secured as evidence. Central Region Highlights from prior violations. Once onshore, the officers ran a lookup on the operator and found that he was wanted on outstanding warrants. Before they could even inform the subject, he became agitated and tried to flee from the officers. The officers were finally able to get the man into custody. Summonses were issued for Navigational Rules of the Road violations, littering, wanton waste of fish, interference with a State Conservation Officer, and possession of herring during the emergency closure as well as two criminal violations of fleeing and obstruction. Trenton and Morrisville, Pennsylvania Police Departments assisted. The case was heard the following week in Trenton City Municipal Court. The two men paid over $1000 in fines and court costs. CO’s Mascio and Martiak were on boat patrol on the Delaware River in the area of Trenton when they observed a vessel operating without navigational lights. As they approached to make an inspection, the boat and two occupants began moving away from them and the officers observed a plastic bag floating away from the boat. They scooped up the bag and found two river herring inside. They instructed the operator to bring the boat to shore for inspection. The operator and boat were familiar to the officers CO McManus was patrolling Colliers Mills WMA near Success Lake where he found eight people sleeping in their vehicles. The surrounding area looked like the people had been partying all night. He observed beer cans scattered around a fire and the individuals sleeping in their vehicles appeared as though they had been swimming earlier. CO McManus activated his siren to wake the individuals. The individuals did not respond to the siren. CO McManus had to bang on the window to wake the individuals up. The eight individuals cleaned up the surrounding area and the appropriate enforcement action was taken. Southern Region Highlights Conservation Officer Toppin responded to a call from the Monroe Township Police Department in Gloucester County. They received a 911 call about an all-terrain vehicle accident at the Cedar Lake Wildlife Management Area. CO Toppin interviewed one of the riders at the Police Department and he admitted to unlawfully riding on the State Wildlife Management Area. He also admitted to hiding the ATV and alcohol to avoid getting into further trouble. CO Toppin issued both riders multiple summonses for unlawfully operating an ATV and possession of alcohol on a State Wildlife Management Area. Conservation Officer Toppin was on patrol in Mannington Township, Salem County when he observed two hunters parked at a residence as he drove by. He returned to the driveway as one of the hunters came back from behind the house. CO Toppin conducted a field interview and the hunter admitted to hiding an untagged turkey behind the house. The hunter hid the bird because he (cont. next page) November 2012 Page 5 NEW JERSEY FEDERATED SPORTSMEN NEWS Protecting What’s Right: 25 Years Later by Lou Martinez Great Swamp Wildlife Refuge, December 10, 1987- A caravan of vehicles rolls up Pleasant Plains Road to the entrance of the Refuge. Seconds later, 40 angry, cursing protesters make their way over to the south gate. They are met by Great Swamp personnel, who attempt to get them to assemble peacefully within the area designated in their special permit. Their purpose: to protest the necessary annual deer hunt and hurl insults at the hunters. GSWR manager Bill Koch has installed a 4 foot orange cyclone fence in an effort to try and stop the protesters from banging on cars with their picket signs and laying down and blocking the road, as they’ve done in past years. In very short order, the fence is smashed to the ground. The police are called in an attempt to restore order. United Bowhunters of NJ representative Charlie Bachanes and I are in Mr. Koch’s office as these details come over the radio. Koch and his group of trained professionals diligently practice restrained crowd control. Within ten minutes the protesters are assembled into the designated area. Loud. Boisterous. Unruly. Charlie and I dressed in business suits, and we drive past the anti-hunters. We are greeted by a verbal barrage of “Killers,” “Murderers,” and “Hunters are impotent, hunters are impotent!” As we drive by, they suddenly notice that we are not dressed in hunting attire. They abruptly stop shouting. They wave signs that proclaim “Stop Hunting and Trapping,” and “Want to Kill; Go to Iran.” An announcement is made that five New York hunters have been killed recently. The crowd cheers! As shots ring out in the distance, the antis boo and chant. Charlie and I tell them to have a nice day. We’ll have our say… later. Following is a chronology of events leading to the Great Swamp showdown: November 21, 1986. Two anti-bowhunting bills are introduced by three NJ legislators. The first would ban bowhunting; the latter would ban broadheads necessary for bowhunting. February 7, 1987. The American Archery Council, along with the Wildlife Legislative Fund of America (now known as the United States Sportsman’s Alliance), come to NJ at the request of the UBNJ and presents the nation’s first “Protect What’s Right” seminar. The seminar is attended by over 400 hunters. The message is clear. The UBNJ and the NJ State Federation of Sportsman’s Clubs of NJ must go on the offensive in order to protect and preserve our lifestyles. The WLFA and AAC provide us with effective, positive tools to combat the antihunters aggressively, and a program with which to educate the non-hunting public. It’s a big job but we’re up to the task. We have to be; the future of bowhunting hinges on our efforts. June 14, 1987. Assunpink Wildlife Center, NJ - The UBNJ Council is conducting their monthly business meeting. Under New Business, I ask the Council for their approval to conduct the first pro-hunting demonstration using the “Protect What’s Right” program. They unanimously (from prev. page) failed to tag and check it. The appropriate summonses were issued. Marine Region Highlights On April 29, CO Klitz performed a routine fisheries inspection of a recreational fishing vessel at Bry’s Marina in Neptune Township. When the three fishermen onboard were asked if they had caught any fish, all replied that they had not.Upon inspecting the vessel, CO Klitz discovered 18 sea bass. The recreational Black Sea Bass season opened on May 19. Three summonses for possession of Black “Protecting What’s Right” got its start in the Garden State with this controlled hunt in the Great Swamp, a quarter of a century ago. Photo courtesy huntstats.com. approve. The wheels are set in motion to effectively, aggressively, and professionally take the battle to the enemy: the antihunters. October, 1987. On behalf of the UBNJ Council, I contact Dr. Shubert of the AAC, to enlist his assistance in putting together a professional counter-demonstration. He responds immediately, and sends a roundtrip ticket to visit the WLFA’s headquarters in Ohio. I am to go there for intensive training in Media, Government, and Public Relations. November 17, 1987. Columbus, Ohio 8:00 am - I meet Barry Vorse, a former newspaper editor. He is very knowledgeable and articulate. We are joined by Rick Story, VP of Public Relations for WLFA. We are also joined by several other staff members; what follows is an intensive public relations and media relations seminar. I am given the names and addresses of all of the editors to contact for every newspaper, TV station, and radio broadcaster in the tri-state area. Letters of invitation are discussed. Press releases are made available. A five-minute prepared statement is drawn up. Many questions are brought up; techniques for handling the media are discussed and gone over. We finish up with Rick Story turning on his video camera with me as the chief interviewee. The questions come fast and furious. Using the techniques I have been taught, I fend off the potentially dangerous ones, and answer all questions pertaining to hunting, fishing, trapping, and conservation issues. James Glass, WLFA president sits in. He seems impressed. He should be. He’s got a truly professional staff working for him. I’m told that I’ve done, and will do, well .My confidence has received a well-needed boost. I’m beginning to believe that we can really pull this thing off. December 5-7, 1987. My wife Linda fires off 200 press releases. Invitations are sent to the media. Linda also types and sends invitations to all of the state’s sportsmen’s groups with whom we have already made personal contact. Many reply affirmatively. Sea Bass during the closed season were issued. On April 22, CO Klitz performed a routine commercial fishing vessel inspection on the F/V Jaime Mae located at the Fishermen’s Dock Cooperative in Point Pleasant Beach. During the offload CO Klitz viewed 115 pounds of river herring being removed from the vessel. Currently there is a closure for river herring. The appropriate summons was issued. On May 18 this case was heard at the Point Pleasant Beach Municipal Court and Jaime Mae Inc. pled guilty and paid $300 plus court costs. December 6, 1987. A& M Archery, Lakewood N J – A special meeting of the UBNJ Council is in session. County Representative Jimmer McCloskey has delivered beautifully type-set protest signs (unlike the crayon mark-ups used by the anti-hunters). He will also videotape the event. Charlie Bachanes is in charge of setting up and manning the “Protect What’s Right” booth. John Clements, our Vice President, is laid up with a broken back sustained in a fall from a treestand and can not participate. He wishes us well. Dick Slocum and Al Klenk, our Central Region reps, will handle any potential problems. Dan Lombardo, our Education and Safety officer, will screen all participants and issue official name tags. Joe Bachanes will handle refreshments. The Shongum Sportsmen will cook venison chops, steaks, and burgers on site to offer them to reporters. Our Coalition Spokesman, Bill Hoboken, will be one of our speakers. Our attorney, Stuart Alderoty, is called upon to be available in case of any unforeseen problems. The assistance of professional outdoor writer and photographer Ron Jacobsen is enlisted. His photos and articles will help capture this moment in sport hunting history. Mike Grossman, President of the NJ State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, will speak on their behalf. The NJ Wild Turkey Federation sends their president John Kimball to join us. A & M Archery, Butts and Bow’s Len Cardinale, and TargeTeer’s Bob Cerone all send representatives. Jim Craig of Wilderness Archery also helps out, and outdoor writer Jan McDowell attends with Cathy Craig and Joyce Rummel. All three ladies are accomplished bowhunters. Several off-duty undercover police donate their time for added security. Members of the Round Valley Trout Association also join us. December 10, 1987, 8:30 am. Linda Martinez conducts a phone interview with the Associated Press. Her interview is very positive and is carried by many newspapers not sending reporters to the Great Swamp. It is especially meaningful because, although Linda is a non- hunter, she is in total agreement with our position, goals, and programs. December 10, 1987, 1:00 pm. Our forces gather at the fishermen’s parking lot outside of the Great Swamp Refuge. Lastminute details are worked out. Ninety percent of the participants have arrived in suit and tie. Our motorcade drives over to the south gate. Within minutes, the “Protect What’s Right” booth is assembled and our press materials are laid out on an 8-foot table. The Shongum Sportsmen fire up the grill. The media assembles. I then proceed to make a five-minute presentation, pointing out that New Jersey’s and America’s wildlife is thriving, and that sportsmen are our country’s greatest conservationists. I note that we pay for areas like the Great Swamp. Our wildlife is thriving because of the combined efforts of bowhunters, gun hunters, fishermen, and trappers. I report that the vast majority of New Jersey citizens support the activities of hunting, fishing and trapping . We make the point that there are over 73 million sportsmen in America; we also point out that there are 914 species of mammals in North America, and only 34 are on the federal endangered species list. The “endangered” list consists mainly of rats, bats, mice, and such. At the turn of the century there were fewer than 500,000 whitetail deer in America. Now, in large part because of sportsmen’s efforts and our programs, there are over 14 million deer in the United States. In 1900, there were fewer than 100 deer in NJ; now, because of the conservation programs enacted and supported by sportsmen, there are more than 150,000 deer roaming the Garden State. The beaver, black bear, grey and fox squirrels, peregrine falcons, wild turkey, hawks, eagles, and other raptors are doing well and thriving because of the efforts and supported almost solely by sportsmen’s dollars. Conservation costs money, of course, and we pay over 85 percent of the total cost of conservation programs. The general public has not, and is not, clamoring to have their taxes raised to pay for conservation programs. Hunters, fishermen, and trappers are proud to pick up the tab. We do so through the fees that we pay for licenses, and also through the tax established by the Pittman-Roberson Act. Fishermen also pays an equal share by self-imposed taxes on all fishing equipment. Anti- hunters pay nothing. We tell the reporters that since the deer are such prolific animals, they must be controlled to keep their population in check within the carrying capacity of the land, and the habitat that we pay for. Just as a farmer who plants his fields is entitled to harvest his crops, the hunters who pay for wildlife and wildlife programs are similarly entitled to harvest our state’s renewable natural resources. This in turn prevents overpopulation, starvation, disease, and depredation by dogs; it also helps keep deer/vehicle accidents down. This is the information that we related to the media. To their credit, they in turn unbiasedly report the same to the general public. The anti-hunters are visibly upset by the polished, professional demonstration we put on. We billed it “the Celebration of Conservation Success at The Great Swamp.” During the course of our presentation, Evie Kramer; president of DEER Inc. (a vocal anti-hunting group) tries to disrupt the proceedings. I offer her a venison hamburger. She refuses, and Nina Austenburg, head of the Humane Society, looks dumbfounded. She claims we are there in fear of her groups. This is nonsense; we’re simply sick and tired of listening to their anti-hunting dribble and mindless rhetoric. We now take the education of the non-hunting public to be our single most important goal. When the facts are presented, we are certain that the public will support us, our programs, and our activities .Mrs. Kramer starts to melt down, calls us “liars,” and says “we’re no competition” for her groups. Is she in for an education; we’ve only just begun to fight back. Our efforts in NJ will not cease. We are on the front lines, on the very cutting edge. With support we can and will continue to take the battle to our enemies actively, aggressively, and professionally. And more importantly, we will make available the sorely needed information to the general non- hunting public using the ‘Protect What’s Right” program. As my friend Charlie Bachanes succinctly put it, “it’s time to put a Ban on the Antis.” Together, united, we’ll do just that. This story originally Bowhunter Magazine. appeared in Page 6 November 2012 NEW JERSEY FEDERATED SPORTSMEN NEWS It’s Deep Drop Time for Sea Bass & Porgies by Milt Rosko The roar of the engines being idled back was a wake-up call for those of us who had been tucked in our sleeping bags and blankets, as the Jamaica made the 5hour trek eastward. The bunk room emptied quickly as everyone bundled up and headed for the deck, where darkness still prevailed and the thermometer hovered in the 40s. The mates were busy, as they set first one and then a second anchor to precisely secure our position above a wreck that was located on the bottom more than 200 feet below. Everyone on board was rigged and ready, most with a high-low rig and a pair of snelled 2/0 Lazer Sharp-style hooks baited with small (small is always better than large clumps) pieces of clam, and a 10-ounce bank-style sinker to take the rig to the bottom. When Capt. Howard Bogan, Jr. blew the whistle, signaling that anchoring was complete and we could start fishing, the scene on deck looked like a rehearsed operation, as everyone simultaneously sent their rig to the bottom. It seemed to take an eternity for the rig to get there, but the sinker eventually touched down, some 230 feet below our position. With equal precision, the rods along the rail began to be pulled sharply downward, and anglers responding by lifting upward to set their hooks. So began an exciting day of what I’ve come to expect while deep-drop fishing for sea bass and porgies during November and December. The bite in the dark before sunup was hectic, to put it mildly, with both species cooperating and the coolers quickly accommodating them. This fall we’re pleased to have a 25sea-bass bag and 12½-inch size limit, and 50-porgy bag and 9-inch size limit. While both species are fun to catch, equally important is the fine table quality and the ability to fillet, vacuum bag, and freeze your surplus, which will bring you many delightful dinners in the coming winter. While historically deep-drop fishing for these two species consisted of using rather heavy tackle, in recent years more This porgy just landed by a happy angler aboard the Jamaica is typical of the size caught while deep drop fishing in the 200 to 300-foot depths. With liberal bag limits anglers are able to make a fine catch, ensuring many fine meals for the winter ahead. Milt Rosko photo. and more anglers are going lighter, as it makes for more fun during a long day of bottom bouncing. Indeed, I’ve been using tackle that many normally use inshore. My favorite is a lightweight Saltiga offshore jigging rod with a highspeed, 7.3-to-1 retrieve ratio Daiwa Saltist reel spooled with 30- or 40pound-test braided line. I’ll often use a Daiwa Seaborg Megatwin power-assist reel when we’re in really deep water. Using this outfit immediately provides more fun due to its lightness, yet still has sufficient backbone. The combination of rod, reel, and fine-diameter braided line also enable me to reach and hold bottom with lighter weight tackle. Instead of a 12- or 16-ounce sinker that’s customarily necessary to hold bottom, as little as 6 or 8 ounces will do. As a result, for the last few season on the deep-drop trips I’ve been using techniques that I’ve been using when targeting fluke on inshore grounds. Specifically, I’ve substituted a jig in place of a sinker. Yes; both sea bass and porgies, especially the heavyweights that prevail in the deep water grounds, readily wallop the jigs. Among the most notable jigs are the Daiwa Salt Conch jig and the Shimano Lucanus jig. The former has an oval body; the latter more of a torpedo shape. Both are available in a wide array of colors, and come equipped with a pair of 1/0 or 2/0 free-swinging hooks. While available in weights from 2 to 7 ounces, I most often use the 7-ounce model, as it normally is sufficiently heavy for me to hold bottom, the exception being if there’s a moon tide causing an extremely swift current. Then I have to switch to a sinker that may weigh upwards of 16 ounces. Still another innovative approach that has provided me with fine catches on these deep-drop trips has been baiting up with a combination of baits. First I slip a Gulp! synthetic swimming mullet bait onto the hook, and then add just a small piece of clam bait with muscle tissue hanging freely. I don’t mean to further complicate what deep-drop fishing is all about, but then I go a step further with respect to a high-low rig. The basic rig most often used consists of a 24-inch-long piece of monofilament, with a barrel swivel at one end and a duo-lock snap at the other end for the sinker or jig. Just a couple of inches from either end there’s dropper loop tied in, onto which are slipped a pair of snelled Lazer Sharp 1/0 or 2/0 size hooks. I have used, and continue to use, this type of rig most effectively. I’ve been doing a lot of experimenting, however, and have found that often sea bass and porgies will gather in small schools or pockets of fish above a wreck or choice bottom. Captains concur, as they readily view this phenomenon on their electronic fishfinder, sometimes as much as ten feet or more off the bottom. The fish located in this stratum above bottom really never get to see a bait or jig well below where they’re swimming. What to do? Well, I’ve been using a six-foot-long piece of mono with a duolock snap at one end, and a tiny barrel swivel at the other end between the highlow rig and the line, with a dropper loop and hook a couple of inches from where the swivel is attached to the line. Broadly stated, this results in a pair of hooks on the jig, a pair on the high-low rig and a single hook effectively 7-8 feet off the bottom. I know this appears like a commercial rig (to minimize the number of hooks I’ve often deleted the high hook of the basic high-low rig), but it’s opened my eyes to the effectiveness of varying from just a sinker and normal high-low rig employed by so many. It’s even brought me triple headers. I’ve also found the same to be true from what many successful deep droppers have told me they experienced, that the hook bait high off the bottom consistently catches bigger fish. When I was first told this I was dubious, but having tried it I found it to produce consistently larger sea bass and porgies. The theories suggest that the smaller, often undersized bass and porgies hug the bottom and seek the sanctuary of cracks, crevices, and seclusion of wrecks and debris on the bottom; these are inaccessible to larger fish. I don’t really know if this is the case, but it seems logical. (How I wish I could go down in a mini-submarine and view exactly how the fish are schooled and their respective sizes…) To minimize the potential of tangles and to assist mates in untangling them, with a multi-hook rig it’s always wise to use a top shot of 20 feet of monofilament between your braided line and the rig. Also important is to seek the counsel of the mates, as they’re on the water daily, and can tell you what the more successful anglers are doing to maximize their score. Let yourself be guided accordingly. You’ve got a two-month window for two popular bottom feeders. Check your favorite party boat’s schedule and give it a try, as you’ll be rewarded with plenty of delicious fish in the freezer for the winter ahead. And don’t forget to bundle up, as it gets pretty chilly in deep-drop country. Memberships Available AtlanticCountyGamePreserve.org Get your copy of... Breakfast by Moonlight by Ed Cartier According to Oliver Shapiro, “It is a perfect holiday gift for any sportsman, providing as it will some terrific reading for those long winter nights.” (NJ Federated Sportsmen News, August 2012) E-books available from Amazon.com. Dedicated, inscribed, signed and numbered copies available from the author. Write to [email protected] for details. Established 1983 on 800 acres Open for Member, Public, or Corporate shoots; Field, Continental, or Driven Quail, Pheasant, Chukar, and Turkey Dogs Available Half or Full Day Packages, up to 32 Guns Clubhouse, Lodging, and Meals Available Overnight Lodging Sleeps Four Excellent Dog Training Site 1013 Kings Highway, Woodstown, NJ 08098 856-769-0035, www.gamecreek.com 20 minutes SE from Philadelphia; 2 hrs from NY City November 2012 Page 7 NEW JERSEY FEDERATED SPORTSMEN NEWS How To Sight In Your Rifle at 25 Yards by Vin T. Sparano Sighting in a rifle or a 20- (or 12-) gauge slug gun, especially a new rifle and scope, is easy. It can, however, be timeconsuming unless you follow a few preliminary steps. Your first step is to bore-sight your rifle, which means lining up your bore and your scope’s crosshairs on a target. Boresighting is best done at 25 yards. This is especially important with a new rifle and scope, because it will almost always put your first bullet on the paper. With that first bullet on the paper, you can easily adjust for windage and elevation, and finetune your sights for any range you choose. Bore-sighting is easy with a boltaction rifle. Use a bench rest, or a cardboard box with notches cut at both ends. Remove the bolt from your rifle and rest the rifle securely on the rest (or in the notches of the box). Look down the bore, and move the rifle and rest until the target is centered in the bore at 25 yards. Then look through your scope and see where the crosshairs fall. If the crosshairs don’t intersect the target’s X-ring, move the elevation and windage until they do. When the crosshairs and bore are perfectly centered on your target, you’re ready for your first shot. Remember that this is a coarse adjustment, designed only to get you on the paper. How do you bore-sight a 12- or 20gauge slug gun, a lever-action, pump gun, or autoloader? You will have to use a boresighter, a mechanical or laser device that helps you align both scope and iron sights with your bore without looking down the bore. You can beg, buy, or borrow one from your local gun shop. Buying a boresighter is a good investment, as you can use it to check your sights after some hard knocks on a plane or in deer camp. With your rifle bore-sighted at 25 yards, squeeze off three shots at the center of the target. Note the location of your three-shot group, and aim at the center of the target. Only, this time, you are not shooting. Holding your crosshairs as steady as possible on the center of the target, move the crosshairs both vertically and horizon- Follow the author’s easy advice to help get the maximum accuracy from your firearm. Photo courtesy howardcommunicatioins.com. tally until they are centered on your shot group. Once you have done this, you have effectively put your sights where the rifle is shooting. Three more rounds should confirm that you are sighted in at 25 yards, or very close to it. Why 25 yards? First, shooting at such close range, especially after bore-sighting, is certain to ensure that your bullets will hit the paper. Second, the typical centerfire rifle sighted in at 25 yards will also be sighted in at 200 yards because of the bullet’s trajectory, and about two or three inches high at 100 yards, which is just about perfect for most deer hunters. Trajectory and point of impact will BLACK POWDER NOTES by Joe Bilby Garden State Black Powder Association, Plus T/C and Dixie News Member Dave “Rosey” Rosenthal characterizes the Garden State Black Powder Association (GSBPA) as a “merry band of brothers and sisters.” The GSBPA, points, a static steel plate six points, and a slim re-setting steel popper was ten. Each shooter was allowed to choose his or her targets, with a maximum score for that which does indeed boast a significant number of women shooters as active members, is definitely the largest organized group of black-powder shooters in New Jersey. The club is a member organization of the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs (ANJRPC) and shoots at the association’s Cherry Ridge range twice a year, in March and October. Dave and other members of the GSBPA also act as volunteer instructors at ANJRPC events like Scout Day. The GSBPA also holds a unique handgun shooting event using black-powder pistols and revolvers, with Rosenthal as Match Director. The course of fire at the August 2012 match was ten shots on an NRA-regulation, B-6 Slow-Fire, 50-yard pistol target set at25 yards, and an additional ten shots at any combination of three steel gongs with varying point values. A large buffalo was worth four stage of the match of 100 points for ten hits on the popper.. which two contestants accomplished. The maximum total aggregate score for the entire match was 200 points. Three out of a possible four handgun divisions were represented, with only rifled flintlocks absent. Nineteen registered shooters, firing 13 revolvers, three single-shot rifled percussion pistols, and three flint smoothbores, competed. Several late arrivals plinked at the gongs for fun. The top scorer for the day was Rich Dagenais, shooting a custom percussion single-shot pistol, with a 196. Dave Rosenthal came in second with a 185 and won the revolver division, while Ray Parris, with a 168, took third overall and placed second in the single-shot percussion division. The GSBPA also created a Historical Encampment representing the 1740-1840 vary slightly, depending on the ammunition and bullet weight you select. When you decide on a brand of ammunition and bullet weight, and you’re happy with the results, stick with that combination. Switching brands and bullet weights will change your point of impact. The final step in sighting in is shooting at 100 and 200 yards to confirm actual point of impact and make your final click adjustments. Sighting in and knowing where your bullets will strike may well be the most important factor in big-game hunting. Vin T. Sparano of New Jersey was era at the recent Collier’s Mills Outdoor Expo. Club members demonstrated traditional crafts, including blacksmithing, sewing, soap-making, gun-making, and cooking, and supervised hands-on activities like tomahawk throwing and primitive longbow shooting for visitors, as well as providing muzzle-loading small arms and artillery firing demonstrations. Black-powder traditional shooting enthusiasts with a safe working knowledge of traditional side lock rifles (patched round ball only) are invited to join the GSBPA, or attend shoots and participate as visitors. Non-members are required to fill out a standard insurance waiver and pay a $10 walk-on fee to shoot in the organization’s monthly rifle match. Preregistration is highly recommended so that the shoot committee knows how many targets are needed for the day. For further information on joining the club or attending shoots, see the organization’s website at http://gsbpa.webs.com. GSBPA president Doug Sidenberg may be reached at [email protected]. T/C Fall Rebate Thompson/Center Arms has announced a fall rebate program on two of its best-known models: the MOA guaranteed T/C Venture bolt-action rifle and the Triumph Bone Collector muzzle-loader. The mail-in rebate program will be available to consumers who purchase any new recently inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. Sparano has been an outdoor editor and writer for more than 40 years. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism in 1960 from New York University. Sparano is Editor Emeritus of Outdoor Life magazine, having served as Editor-in-Chief from 1990 to 1995 and previously as the Executive Editor for more than 10 years. In addition to his long career with Outdoor Life, Sparano’s work in the field includes hundreds of articles and was a syndicated feature writer for USA Today and Gannett Newspapers. He has written and edited 18 books, including Tales of Woods and Waters, The American Fisherman’s Fresh and Saltwater Guide, The Greatest Hunting Stories Ever Told, Classic Hunting Tales, The Northeast and Southeast Guides to Saltwater Fishing and Boating, Hunting Dangerous Game, and Game Birds and Gun Dogs. Sparano’s revised and expanded Complete Outdoor Encyclopedia is in its fourth edition of publication. As Content Director for Maptech, Sparano also produced a series of CDs focusing exclusively on fishing techniques and hotspots through the use of navigational charts and satellite photos. He is listed in Who’s Who in America. In 1996, Sparano was awarded the United States Department of the Interior Conservation Service Award by Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt. In 2003, Sparano was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York Metropolitan Outdoor Press Association for his extraordinary accomplishments and contributions to outdoor journalism conservation and children’s fishing programs. T/C Venture or Triumph Bone Collector model from now through November 30, 2012 in the United States or Canada. During the fall promotion, purchasers of one of the specified rifles will be eligible for a $50 mail-in rebate. The rebate is applicable to any rifle in 16 different calibers in the Venture lineup or one of the two top-of-the-line Triumph Bone Collector muzzle-loaders. Both guns are made in America. For more information about the fall rebates and how to qualify for them, visit www.tcarms.com. Dixie Gun Works Catalog Dixie Gun Works, one of the oldest names in the post World War II muzzleloading revival, has announced the publication of its 2013 catalog. The new edition has a Civil War theme, in keeping with the ongoing sesquicentennial commemoration of the conflict. As ever, Dixie has an expansive line of reproduction firearms, accessories, and other gear for the Civil War-era shooter or re-enactor, and serves as a sourcebook full of 10,000 items designed to fulfill all kinds of black-powder shooting and hunting needs. Those of you who like the feel of a book in your hand may purchase the catalog by sending $5 to Dixie at Dixie Gun Works, Union City, TN. Less tradition-bound customers may access the catalog online at www.dixiegunworks.com. Put This Space To Work For You! Contact Ad Manager Oliver Shapiro at 973-533-1260 or [email protected] Page 8 The Sporting View Bring the Right Stuff to the Range A trip to the shooting range isn’t a simple task such as going out to the garden and picking a few tomatoes. Whether it’s for sighting-in, serious target practice, informal plinking, or competitive match shooting, shooting at a range involves advanced planning with organization and safety in mind. A conscientious, well-organized shooting sportsman or woman will take the time to organize his/her equipment and bring the necessary items to the range. Central to organizing and transporting the needed implements is the range bag, or shooting duffle. This important piece of range gear usually takes the form of a durable bag made of heavy man-made material such as Cordura. A good shooting bag will have carry handles and a shoulder strap (preferably padded) and good number of pockets and compartments with at least a few separated from each other by padded partitions. Most models feature zippered, snap-buckle, and/or Velcro closures on the sections with a large protective cover flap covering the top and one side. Such bags are designed to help the shooter organize his or her gear and keep it safe. The best, safest, and most legally compliant way to transport firearms is to have them unloaded and cased or securely wrapped, and tied and stowed in the trunk or area of a vehicle that is inaccessible from the passenger compartment. Ammunition is to be kept separate, and out of reach from the passenger compartment. Stay on the safe and legal side of things by securing handguns, unloaded in a locked container, with the ammunition secured in a separate lockbox. Be sure to follow all federal firearm laws as well, as all regulations for the state that you originate from and those that you will travel through on the way to the range. Have the required permits and other necessary paperwork in possession while at the range and while en route to and from. When choosing a range operated by a membership club, or one that is open to the public, pick one that is in compliance with local, county, state, and federal regulations. A best bet is a club range where you can participate as a member or guest. When shooting in New Jersey, utilizing a range operated by a club affiliated with the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, the New Jersey Association of Rifle and Pistol Clubs, and the National Rifle Association is a good move. November 2012 NEW JERSEY FEDERATED SPORTSMEN NEWS Most shooting ranges have a procedure for signing in and out when arriving at and departing from the range. Be sure to sign in and out in compliance with range/club rules, as this is for your legal protection in case you have to prove that you were at the range and that you transported your firearm there for a legal purpose. Shooting ranges have rules that must be followed, as most range rules involve safety. The rules are usually posted in a prominent location for all to read. Always read, understand, and follow these rules. Getting back to the contents of the shooting bag, ear and eye protection are must-haves and required at any authorized target range. Ear protection may be in the form of soft plugs or hard-style muffs that resemble earphones. Shatterproof lenses, whether in prescription eyewear or nonprescription shooting glasses, are a must. Over-the-prescription shooting glasses are a good choice for the shooter who wears eyeglasses regularly. Some shooters prefer yellow or amber tinted glasses that may brighten the target picture and increase contrast for some individuals. Dark, tinted glasses that dim one’s vision should be avoided. Target shooting requires, naturally, the use of targets. Paper targets are the least expensive and can be folded and stowed in a range bag. I like to use a clean sheet of newspaper to fasten to the target frame before putting the actual target in place. This will show the location where any bullets impacted outside the target paper, but still on the board of the frame. A roll of masking tape doesn’t take up much room in the bag, and tape can be used to cover holes in a target in order for it to be used more than once. Targets need to be stapled to standard target frames, so be sure to bring along a staple gun with an adequate supply of staples. Mechanical emergencies can and do happen while target shooting at a range. A basic cleaning set, appropriate for the gun or guns being fired, should be included in a range kit along with related tools that can be used when performing a quick fix. This is especially important when shooting a muzzle-loader. Here you don’t want to be without some means of pulling or otherwise removing a ball or bullet from the barrel if the charge fails to ignite. A brass safety pin or other wire /pick-type implement for clearing the nipple and flash channel, along with a nipple wrench, should be considered essentials. by Marty Boa Ready for the range: Some shooting range essentials pictured here include a sizeable, rugged range bag with padded compartments, carry handle, and padded shoulder strap. A pair of amber-tinted shooting glasses are sitting atop the bag with additional items below, from left: Threepiece rifle-cleaning rod, paper pistol target, and hearing protectors. Marty Boa photo. Both rod and pull-through cleaning devices have their advantages, so it can be worthwhile to keep one of each in the bag along with the proper tips, such as a bore brush and both slotted and solid cleaning jags. After repeated firings you may want to clean the bore, so don’t forget patches and a larger wiping cloth for the exterior surfaces of the gun and for your hands. The chamber flag is an important safety accessory. Although this handy device is available in a variety of configurations, its basic form and function remain constant. The chamber flag consists of a shaft or plug that fits into the chamber of a firearm with a section that extends back out the breech and into the action to some degree. A brightly colored marker or “flag” extends at a right angle from the rear section and sticks out of the ejection port of the receiver or other opening in the gun’s action. Some flags are designed for use with the bolt closed, while others are made to be used with the action open, and some can be used in either case. When in place, the chamber flag shows at a glance that the firearm in question is unloaded and that the device is occupying the space in the chamber that a cartridge would take up if the arm were loaded. Actions should be cleared, magazines removed, and magazine tubes emptied before inserting a chamber flag as further proof positive that a gun is in a safe and totally unloaded condition. A good pair of binoculars or a spotting scope enables a shooter to check the target without having to call or wait for a cease-fire and walk downrange. Some models are quite bulky and need to be transported in their own separate cases. When zeroing-in for the highest level of accuracy, a padded, adjustable bench rest and one or more shooting bags is desirable as is some type of cushion, such as a boating cushion, for your personal comfort and proper elevation at the bench. Pre-planning and organizing the items that will be needed at the range contributes greatly to ensuring a productive and pleasurable target shooting experience. Now let’s see, what did I forget… Stroke a Jig for BIG BASS by Pete Robbins Northeastern anglers taking a leisurely cruise down Kentucky Lake in the summer might think the locals have gone mad. There they are, by the dozens, sitting out on the river channel, not retrieving lures steadily but instead feigning a half-hearted hook set. The incredulous visitors would be even more baffled if they saw what was at the end of the locals’ lines: a rubber-skirted jig. While the traditional presentations for jigs include pitching and flipping in shallow water and deliberate crawling in deep water, anglers on the Tennessee Valley Authority impoundments have come up with something new. They call it “stroking.” While many of our northerly rivers and lakes may not feature the perfectly carved river channels found on numerous southern reservoirs, the same presentation can nevertheless be applied. A jig is traditionally known as a big fish bait, and one with few negative cues, but the reasons you’d stroke it are the same in New Jersey or New York as they are in Tennessee, Kentucky, or Alabama. “It’s a catalyst,” said Bassmaster Elite Series pro Clark Reehm, who relies upon a jig from Vermont to Alabama to Texas to California. “It’s a trigger for fish that otherwise wouldn’t strike, especially suspended fish.” In the south, that condition might be caused by the hydroelectric company’s failure to generate power and “pull water” at a given time. The result is that fish that are conditioned to feed in the current get put into a neutral mood. In the north, that same disincentive to feed could be caused by a variety of conditions, such as a cold front, heavy boat traffic, or merely excessive heat. It can also work to fire up a school of fish that have become accustomed to your presence and stop biting. The same retrieve also works on waters like Champlain and the Finger Lakes, except rather than ripping it off a clean bottom or a shell bed, you’ll be tearing the lure free from submerged aquatic vegetation. While the structure or cover might not be the same, the principle is. The presentation itself is fairly simple, but has a few wrinkles. Throw your jig Pro bass angler Clark Reehm relies on the stroked jig to help advance his career. Photo courtesy Dan O’Sullivan. out onto a key piece of structure or cover, let it fall to the bottom, then jerk it up swiftly. Let it fall again on a semi-slack line, then repeat the process until your lure is back at the boat. Sometimes a straight harsh pull will be the trigger; other times you’ll want to stutter-step the pull. On still other occasions the bass will react best to a lure that is shaken on either the way up or the way down, reminiscent of a dying shad or a fleeing crayfish. Reehm said that while a variety of jighead styles will work for this presentation, he generally uses a football-head. “Usually you don’t start the day stroking the jig,” he said. “Instead you’re crawling it over the structure. This makes it easy to switch back and forth.” (cont. next page) November 2012 NEW JERSEY FEDERATED SPORTSMEN NEWS Page 9 The Beagle Chronicles: Lost and Found by Cathy Blumig It was the most muted of jingles that had rung from the buckles of our remote training collars, as I removed them from their chargers. Two little “clinks” were all that I heard, but in less than three seconds our beagles Ginger and Penny had rushed to where the collars were kept in the utility room from two rooms away. When they hit the entrance of the utility room and caught me red-handed with the collars free from their chargers, they began to howl and dance with delight, which triggered a beagle stampede from our other four hounds to the utility room. A rabbit run! We’ve been waiting for months! The best thing ever in the whole, wide world! I’ve seen other dogs cower at the sight of a training collar, but not our hounds. I’m a firm believer in using positive training methods as the most effective, long-lasting way to get a dog to demonstrate a desired behavior, but the training collars had been the only thing that made them stop from running off-game. We used them once, many years ago, and haven’t needed to use them since. But recognizing that even reformed alcoholics fall off the wagon every once in a while, we always put them on when we take them out for a run. That our hounds were always so joyful when they see the collars indicated to me that we haven’t abused their use. Although all six of our hounds were bouncing off the walls, we only planned to take our three active hunters: April, Penny, and Ginger. One by one, my husband Len loaded “the girls” into our F-150’s cab so we could drive across the street and put them down into a field we let go fallow, bordering our farm’s big block of Christmas trees. The hunting season was still a few weeks away, but to us the rabbit forecast appeared more hopeful than in recent years. We’d seen more rabbits around our yard, among our Christmas tree fields and elsewhere, than we had seen in a long time and figured it was probably because of the mild weather we had back in March when rabbits began to have their first litters of the breeding season, since those first litters can play a key role in pumping up rabbit numbers later in the year. Hopeful forecast or no, just the prospect of having a rabbit run turned April, Penny, and Ginger into effervescent, gleeful puppies, which made it a challenge to put their training collars on before we left the truck. Once everyone was suited up we clipped them to couplers. I reached for the door’s handle and for an instant the hounds froze and fixated on my hand. Then I opened the door. It looked like a beagle avalanche. They tumbled out of the truck and were so excited that they nearly dislodged my arm from my shoulder. “Should we let them go?” I asked Len, planting my feet to keep from getting pulled over. “Yep,” he said, and with that we unclipped our three nuts and unleashed six months of pent-up rabbit-running energy, as they disappeared into dense columns of goldenrod and asters. Except for April. Instead, she bounded over to a sizable pile of some type of feces and promptly snatched it into her mouth and gulped it down. “Aahh!” screamed I. She flashed me a mischievous grin. “What a score,” she must have thought, and then happily bounded off to join the others. It took less than a minute for one of them (I’m not sure which one) to open up. Two streams of shaking goldenrod tops zoomed towards the hound that had sounded off, and soon all three had cut loose. Rising up from the folds of the fallow field was April’s “chop,” Penny’s “chop-ball,” and the unmistakable Ginger “squall.” They were like kids riding a roller coaster. Screaming and squealing, having the time of their lives. Len and I smiled at each other. Nothing beats watching and hearing hounds doing what they love and doing it well. Len and I each took up positions on opposite corners of the fallow field to get a better handle on where the run was going, and, we hoped, to spy the rabbit if it happened to cross an opening. They ran the line pretty handily for about 20 minutes and then they stopped. We watched the goldenrods for movement, and cocked our ears for a clue to the hounds’ whereabouts. Then they started again. The rabbit they were running must have been fairly young because it pretty much stayed on one side of the field. These smaller rabbits generally don’t make big runs, but they are more challenging in some ways because they frequently check (as this one was doing), and probably gave off less scent and would therefore theoretically be more difficult to track. Although we only planned on having them out for an hour, it would be a good mental workout as much as a physical one for the pack to work a line from this kind rabbit, I thought. The three hounds moved together like a little machine, each of their howls like pistons firing an engine that propelled them forward, smooth and determined. I’ve always been amazed at how well their first run of year usually went, despite them having been idle for so many months. Then, just as this thought crossed my mind, it sounded like they had a split. April seemed to have taken up another line and was veering towards the woods onto state park property. I stood in a break inbetween our field of Christmas trees and the fallow field, where I could also see the mowed strip, and watched and listened to gauge where I thought April and the other hounds would go. Then all the hounds became quiet. I watched and listened intently. A minute passed. I caught the smallest of movement at the edge of the mowed strip, and saw a cottontail, not real small but not an adult (from pre. page) While he’s not fastidious about the head style, he noted that he usually goes fairly heavy – ½ ounce, ¾ ounce, or more – and favors “as thin a hook as possible so it will penetrate easily.” For similar reasons, if the jig has a weedguard he’ll snip it off. He doesn’t get fancy with skirt colors or trailers. Most frequently he’ll use some combination of black/blue or green pumpkin, and often he’ll dye the tip of his soft plastic crayfish trailer chartreuse. Depending on whether he’s getting his strikes on the rise or the fall, he may adjust the trailer from a craw to a chunk, or vice versa, in order to change the speed at which the bait moves through the water column. While he’s not obsessive about jig colors most of the time, he does have inflexible thoughts about tackle choices. First and foremost, he said that fluorocarbon line is an absolute must for this technique. It has less stretch than monofilament, which is key when the bait may be 15 to 30 feet deep, and it’s also very abra- sion-resistant. While braid might have some of these characteristics, it’s much more visible, and since this is a visual technique, that might turn already-wary bass off. Reehm favors Seaguar AbrazX in strengths of 12- to 20-pound test, depending on the size of the fish and the density of the cover. He’ll spool it on a high-speed reel, no less than 6:1 and often 7:1. “A lot of times they’ll knock slack into your line, and with that faster reel you can catch up with them,” he explained. “It takes a lot less effort to slow down than it does to speed up.” He pairs the reel with a Dobyns DX744 rod, a 7-foot, 4-inch 4power baitcaster with a stout backbone, but “just enough tip that it loads up right.” If you think of jigs solely as a slow, bottom-bouncing presentation, or as a lure class best suited for short line presentations, you owe it to yourself to put a little rip in your retrieve. When bass are skittish or stop biting, and you know they’re still around, sometimes it takes a little trigger of the world’s best big bass lure to get them going. Penny (left) and Ginger rush in to the author’s calls of “Tally-ho” during their first run in many months, in preparation of the upcoming hunting season. The third hound, April, was MIA for about 15 minutes, but finally harked-in. It was a relatively minor event, but a missing hound, even for short periods can generate some gray hairs. Cathy Blumig photo. either, quietly step out into the clearing and run at an angle towards me and disappear into the other side. “Tally-ho! Tally-ho! April, Penny, Ginger, Tally-ho!” Penny and Ginger appeared and ran across the mowed strip to where my finger was pointed at the ground that marked where the rabbit had been. They opened up simultaneously and off they went to follow the rabbit’s line. But where was April? “Len, do you see April?” “No.” “April,” my voice filled with a touch of annoyance, “Tally-ho!” Nothing. I waited and again I yelled, “April!” now edged with more concern than annoyance, “Tally-ho!” Still nothing. Few things are worse than “nothing” as a response to calling a hound. That I was quick to worry didn’t help. I thought back to an incident that happened to Len many years ago while he was running his hound named Sammy. He said Sammy was running really well, and then suddenly he was quiet. Len searched high and low for him for days, to no avail. It turned out he had been stolen. Happily, two months later he was able to get Sammy back, but it just as easily could have gone the other way. I had hoped that April would have harked in to Penny and Ginger, who were by now putting on a pretty good drive, but I didn’t hear any “chop” mixed in with Penny’s “chop-ball” and Ginger’s “squall.” My mind started to imagine bad things. More time passed and still no April. I hollered to Len again, “Have you seen April?” “No.” Now I was berating myself with I should’ve-s. I should’ve put a bell on her collar so I could maybe hear where she was, or maybe gotten one of those pettracking systems that allow you to know your pet’s whereabouts on a smartphone (which meant I needed to get a smartphone), or gotten a set of those new combination training/GPS collars. Then, just as my anxiety level started to skyrocket, I heard little April’s “chop” join Penny and Ginger. The knots in my body untied and I was flooded with relief. Safe again, our little rabbit-running sweetie pie. The three of them ran that rabbit another 30 minutes, and then Len and I decided to pick them up. Though not hot, it was a touch warm and there was no sense in overdoing it their first day out. It had been a good run, save April’s temporary disappearance (and her poop-eating), and the hounds seemed even more energized than when we had first brought them out. All the rabbits we had seen plus an admirable performance of our little pack put us in a fairly optimistic mood about the approaching season. Only April’s brief disappearance, fortified by past stories of hounds lost, left a thin layer of uneasiness. We’ve had hounds go missing temporarily in the past, and we’ve always found them, but would that always be the case? For both Len and me, this was a nagging question and one to which we wanted an answer before another hound went missing. from Numbers, p. 1 Lake Hopatcong Knee Deep Club Holds Annual Contest for “King of the Lake” Beyond the impact to businesses and local economies, sportsmen and women have played an essential and unmatched role in conserving fish and wildlife and their habitats. Sportsmen and women are the nation’s most ardent conservationists, putting money toward state fish and wildlife management. When you combine license and stamp fees, excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment, the tax from small engine fuel and membership contributions to conservation organizations, hunters and anglers directed $3 billion towards on-the-ground conservation and restoration efforts in 2011; that comes to over $95 every second. This does not include their own habitat acquisition and restoration work for lands owned or leased for the purpose of hunting and fishing, which would add another $11 billion to the mix. “This is the 75th anniversary of our nation’s system of conservation funding – a model that is envied throughout the world - that directs excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment toward statebased conservation,” said Michael Nussman, president and CEO of the American Sportfishing Association. “The Sport Fish and Wildlife and Restoration programs have resulted in robust fish and wildlife populations and quality habitat that is the legacy of our industry and sportsmen and women alike.” On October 13 and 14, the Knee Deep Club of Lake Hopatcong held its annual King of the Lake Contest. The winners were the top three anglers who scored the highest points based on the following point system. Points of five (5), three (3), and two (2) were awarded for First, Second, and Third place fish in the following seven categories: Trout (all species), Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, Pickerel and Walleye. Points of Three (3), Two (2) and One (1) were awarded for First, Second, and Third Place fish in the following four categories: Catfish (other then Channel Catfish), White Perch, Yellow Perch and Crappie. The winners were: First Place: Jacek Dziduch, Woodside, NY, 18 Points. Second Place: Robert Smith, Ogdensburg, NJ, 15 Points. Third Place: Lou Marcucci, Mount Arlington, NJ, 10 Points. Page 10 November 2012 NEW JERSEY FEDERATED SPORTSMEN NEWS So - How Did (or Will) the Election Turn Out? Since one of the things I’m not is clairvoyant, I’m asking readers to cut some slack for your graybeard columnist due to the fact that I’m wading in murky waters; sometime in the past between the first week in October and the future, after which the Presidential election on November will be history. Since these words were penned during the first week of October, wish me luck. In fact, considering what’s at stake, wish all of us luck. Despite my pessimism, my one, fervent hope is that after (or if) I awaken on the morning of November 7, the nation will be referring to our Democratic equivalent of Inspector Jacques Clouseau as the former President Obama. Quite candidly, the message about Obama leading the polls, especially in those important battleground states, merely confirms the elements in last month’s column about the number of people with their collective hands extended while seeking government handouts (down in Foggy Bottom, they call ‘em “entitlements”) far exceeds the number of folks who are independent, industrious and want only for the government to leave them alone. There are three types of voters who will enter (or have already entered) voting booths nationwide. The first is the socialist-style political person who believes that s/he is entitled to money earned by others in the interest of “fairness.” Next are the conservatives who want government out of their lives and are willing to work hard and earn whatever they put in the bank at the end of the week. The third category consists of voters Obama is counting on, and that is the mushy-brained college kid, youngsters or just plain slackers, who want only that his tuition or day-to-day bills be covered by the government, or anyone else for that matter, as long as it isn’t him/her. Falling into that same category are the folks who are so out of touch they haven’t the foggiest idea of what is going on, and couldn’t care less as long as they can get their daily dose of Oprah, Jerry Springer, Dennis Rodman (and his freak show), or the World Wrestling Federation; then all is well with them. They are the people rallying around Obama and who, when stopped on the street, cannot identify a portrait-size photo of the Vice President or former Speaker of the House, Nancy (you gotta’ pass it before you can learn what’s in it) Pelosi, or any other prominent political figure. Not only by Robert Brunisholz do these “voters” walk among us today, they often procreate. God save us. In the meantime, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton recently indicated that she, and thus the President, are ready and willing to once again confirm a proposal circulating within that useless entity called the United Nations that would support the infamous Small Arms Treaty which places all lawful U.S. gun owners under regulations promulgated by UN member nations. The impetus behind this latest effort, believe it or not in view of the recent Fast and Furious scandal, comes from Mexico. And by the way, if Obama and HRC ever pull this off, the measure would not require a vote in the U.S. Senate. All that would be needed is Obama’s signature. Obama has already endorsed the latest version of UN gun ban treaty and has vowed to make the treaty “legally binding,” calling this latest version “a fundamental policy commitment.” Own a sporting arm such as Remington’s model 1100 shotgun? Keep watch for any strange car in the drive. It may contain several men who speak with foreign accents and wear blue helmets. But the latest which clearly demonstrates the utter contempt in which Obama holds the citizens of this country was the recent killings of four honorable and brave Americans at the American embassy in Benghazi, Libya. Killed were two U.S. Navy Seals, an ambassador’s aide, and Chris Stevens, the U.S. Ambassador to Libya. Reports also indicate Stevens was tortured and raped before his tormentors killed him. For nearly eight days, Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice, and White House spokesperson Jay Carney each denied the killings were the work of Islamic terrorists. Instead, they insisted the killings were the result of a movie trailer that had Muslims Governor’s Surf Tournament Results The 21st Annual Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament was held on Sunday, October 7, at Island Beach State Park. Despite a rainy forecast, 550 anglers enjoyed a rain-free morning of fishing where more than 130 fish were caught in the bluefish, kingfish, and blackfish categories. New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin were on site to greet tournament participants and to take part in the awards ceremony.Bill Sheppard of Seaside Park, NJ, took the grand prize and NJ Governor’s Cup by catching a 20 3/8-inch bluefish. Mr. Sheppard received two rodand-reel combinations, a $100 gift card to Orvis (courtesy of World Fishing Network), a plaque, and will have his name engraved on the Governor’s Cup, which is permanently on display at Island Beach State Park. VISIT THE FEDERATION ON THE INTERNET AT www.njsfsc.org Tight Lines and Straightaway Shots In addition to the grand prize, 18 anglers received rod-and-reel combinations for their prize-winning fish in the various species categories. The anglers who caught the largest blackfish and bluefish also received a $50 gift certificate to Orvis, also courtesy of the World Fishing Network. Everyone who registered for the tournament was entered into a raffle drawing, which was held prior to the awards ceremony, and pre-registrant entrants were entered into a raffle to win a Surf Rocket, which is a specially designed compressedair casting cannon. Overall fish length determined the grand prize winner, as well as place winners for each of the species categories. There were categories for children, teen, and adult anglers, including sub-categories for male and female anglers. The event was sponsored by the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Parks and Forestry, the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, the Jersey Coast Anglers Association, and the New Jersey Beach Buggy Association. More than $130,000 has been raised since the inception of the tournament for conservation and education projects and improved beach access. worldwide upset because the film insulted the prophet Muhammad. And of course, the mainstream press agreed. That film may have provided a convenient excuse for some of the recent events in the Middle East, but to put it bluntly, Obama, HRC, Susan Rice, Jay Carney and yes, a complicit mainstream media fearing any negative publicity this close to the election, just plain lied. Anyone capable of independent thought intuitively knew the original story had more holes in it than Cher’s fishnet stockings. (Editor’s note: The truth of Bob’s statements here was brought into bright daylight during the second Presidential debate on October 16.) Within 24 hours of the killings, intelligence sources definitely identified the acts as carried out by terrorists; this was verified by Egyptian President and leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Morsi. But for eight days, the administration continued to lie to the public and to this date (the first week in October), mainstream wire services continued to carry stories blaming the murders on the film. To any past president, including former President William Clinton, the murders would have been considered an act of war. Instead, Obama’s answer was twofold. First, try to stonewall any negative information until after the election, and two, the announcement by HRC indicated the Obama administration wanted to send Libya an additional $450 billion in aid while calling the killings a “bump in the road.” And finally, here is a gun owner’s worst nightmares come true. If Obama is (or was) reelected, during his next four years he will get to appoint a minimum of three, and possibly four, U.S. Supreme Court Justices. That ought to make one or another of your circular muscles pucker. What is one to do if, in my worst nightmare, Obama is elected to a second term? If you’re reading this prior to election night, there isn’t much we can do. I, for one, will pull every republican lever I can put my hot little fingers on, if only to RESULTS erect some sort of firewall—checks and balances, our Founding Fathers called them—between Obama and his desire to transform this nation into a European-style socialist country, and the nation’s legislators. As it currently stands, conservatives (or for that matter, republicans residing in New Jersey) have virtually no voice in the U.S. Senate since each state is limited to only two Senate representatives. Currently (pre-election) they are: Sen. Frank Lautenberg, and Sen. Robert Menendez. You can’t go farther “left” than that duo. But Menendez has (or had, depending on when you’re reading this) some competition from a republican by the name of Joe Kyrillos, Jr. I don’t know a heck of a lot about Kyrillos. He served two terms in the state Assembly and was elected to the state Senate in 1993 where he still serves. A check with the NRA’s ratings for politicians as they apply to pro- or anti-gun measures and their support, or lack of same, indicates Menendez has an “F” rating. Translation: Menendez is considered is considered an “enemy of gun owners and second amendment rights.” Conversely, Kyrillos has a paltry “C” rating. Translation: Kyrillos has what the NRA calls “not necessarily a passing grade.” The grade simply indicates that the candidate may “have a record or position on guns in which he may have supported some pro-gun measures or supported antigun or restrictive legislation in other instances.” Keep in mind, this column was penned on the first week of October. If you’re reading it prior to the election, please keep my comments in mind, especially those concerning the U.S. Supreme Court appointees. If you read these words after the election, well, we can only hope it turned out right. At my present point in time, God only knows. For questions or comments, Bob Brunisholz may be reached at [email protected]. First Place - Jaden Ferry, Hamilton, NJ 17 7/8 inches KINGFISH CATEGORY Teen (Male) Teen (Male) First Place - Tyler Contento, Ewing, NJ 13 6/8 inches Adult (Male) Second Place - Ryan Wojnarski, Forked River, NJ 14 inches First Place - Penrose Hallowell, Ottsville, PA 14 3/8 inches Third Place - Jeffrey Hawksworth, Atco, NJ 17 1/4 inches Second Place - Dylan Scholes, Toms River, NJ 17 1/2 inches First Place - Tyler Contento, Ewing, NJ, 18 inches Adult (Female) First Place - Justin Subramanian, Pennington, NJ 16 5/8 inches Third Place - Nicole Kruysman, Forked River, NJ 17 3/4 inches caught at 9:45 am Second Place - Terry Demiduke, Pitman, NJ 17 3/4 inches caught at 7:05 am First Place - Debbie Peterson, Pitman, NJ 18 inches Adult (Male) Adult (Male) Third Place - Larry Margiotta, Theills, NY 18 1.4 inches caught at 11:48 am Second Place - Zoltan Egyed, Trenton, NJ 18 1/4 inches caught at 9:10 am First Place - Robert Campi, Flemington, NJ 19 4/8 inches Third Place - Mark Carson, East Stroudsburg, PA 18 6/8 inches Second Place - Robert Mannato, Beechwood, NJ 19 inches BLACKFISH CATEGORY Teen (Male) BLUEFISH CATEGORY Child (Male) Third Place - Joshua Leeds, Oceanview, NJ 16 5/8 inches Second Place - Taylor Warwick, Toms River, NJ 17 inches First Place & 2012 Governor’s Cup Winner: Bill Sheppard, Seaside Park, NJ, 20 3/8 inch bluefish Visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/gsft.htm on the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife website for more information, including all winners since 1992, about the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament. November 2012 NEW JERSEY FEDERATED SPORTSMEN NEWS On The Road by Rick Methot SHOWTIME! Deer Camp Follies on Tap It’s deer season right now. It’s on for six months of the year or so in New Jersey, where there are 300 different seasons during which you can tag an equal number of deer to turn into 10,000 pounds of Bambi burger and a half million slim sticks, and tie 42,735 bucktail jigs from the part that went over the fence last. These numbers might be just slightly exaggerated, so check the regs. Men and women hunters chasing whitetails has been going on since September and will chug along until the middle of February in some of the 70 zones that chop up the state into those little colored pieces of deer pie areas that keeps at least 150 state workers who don’t answer phones after 3 pm on Fridays in their cushy jobs. It’s a wonderful circle game of Economics 101. Even with an ever-shrinking land base, thanks to reptilian developers, there are still some three-quarters of a million acres to hunt in New Jersey. Included are 70 areas of public land and five new tracts this season. Most hunters think of Wildlife Management Areas, but check out National Wildlife Refuges, state parks, municipal lands, Green Acres, and such for a spot to sit or stalk. Do your homework and you will, guaranteed, find a place to hunt. There’s still time before what some still consider the Main Event, the six-day firearm season in December. That season, however, may be more of a “Glory Days” fading memory of good times past at those palaces in the pines, AKA deer camps. The fall archery season accounts for the most deer tagged in the state, tallying 28 percent of the recorded 55,404 deer dropped in the 2012-2011 seasons. Permit shotgun hunters took another 12,446 for 22 percent of the harvest. The six-day gun hunt is good for only about 14 percent. But you don’t hear of many guys going to deer camp in September. Why December? Like Tevye sings in “Fiddler on the Roof.” Tradition! The “tradition” has something to do with why the fiddler doesn’t fall off the roof, which could be the reason most, but not all, tree stand hunters don’t fall off the perch. And now on to other myths about deer hunting. “It’s hard.” Give me a break. Look, to debunk about 2,000 books and all the gibberish and flapdoodle from outdoor columnists on the subject, there is nothing difficult about deer hunting. You sit in the woods, cornfield, subdivision, or golf course and wait for a deer to walk by and you shoot it. Case closed, done deal, and venison in the freezer. You can ignore this helpful hint and read all the gobbledygook about loads, guns, tracking, sitting, standing, squatting, duck walking until your eyes glaze over, and it will take you 25 years to kill a deer, which will waddle on by while you have your nose in a book of instructions. None of it matters if you’re not in the right place at the right time. Nothing much in life matters if you’re not in the right place at the right time. Work on it. Just keep in mind that “still hunting” means you move, and on a deer “drive” you may find yourself not moving. The latter is a situation where you stand, sit, squat, etc. where you’re told, and if you move a quarter inch to port, starboard, forward, or aft you are in the wrong spot and missed your deer because you didn’t follow directions. Thus, it’s all your fault for screwing up. If you’re a “stander” on a deer drive you have the golden opportunity to have deer pushed toward you by men with guns, who can, and will, shoot at those deer… which I hesitate to remind you are coming, as well as a hail of lead, in your direction. I don’t do drives anymore. Let’s assume you have been invited, for the first time, to deer camp for the December hunt. Ah, snow on the ridges, the sweet aroma of wood smoke, camaraderie, hunter’s stew on the stove, and a hail-fellow-well-met bonding of smelly macho men. As the Irish say, “‘Tis grand.” Until you realize you have forgotten to pack ear plugs, and your roommates, this band of merry men who are sleeping Page 11 1. All the occupants of the camp will snore, except you. 2. The loudest will be above or below your bunk. 3. There will be mornings when it’s colder inside the camp than outside. 4. You will run out of vodka, gin, bourbon, whisky, wine, olives, limes, lemons, or ice on the third day of camp. 5. Somebody has to make a 40-mile round trip to restock the booze supply. 6. You’re new in camp. Guess who that errand boy might be? 7. Men who couldn’t slap together a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at home think they are gourmet chefs at camp. 8. They can’t cook at camp either. 9. Cell phones, smart phones, gizmos named after berries or fruit, will be banned from camp. 10. Some twit who tweets and texts will bring a gizmo anyway that does that stupid social media stuff, and end up see it sent skipping across a lake like a flat rock by camp old timers. 11. The old timers will then take delight in telling the nerd that his gadgets wouldn’t work in camp anyway. 12. There will be a clean freak that insists on sweeping up and doing the dishes before heading out to deer stands. 13. Fortunately everybody ignores him. 14. Somebody will take the poker game too seriously. 15. The guy who couldn’t care less will win the biggest pot. 16. The camp horn dog and wild man will know the location of a topless joint 25 miles away. 17. The place will feature six-dollar bottles of Bud, one bored dancer, and 200 hungry-eyed hunters. 18. The lucky hunter who bags a big buck will be congratulated, but not too much. 19. The bozo that misses a monster buck will be unmercifully ragged on, and his shirt tails (see “tradition” above) cut off. 20. Cigarettes are pretty much over in camp, but pipes and cigars are not. 21. The reading material for the halfmoon outdoor facilities will consist of two five-year-old copies of The Pennsylvania Game News and a mouse-chewed Cabela’s catalog. 22. There will be some hunters back at camp at 10 am on opening day for hot soup, coffee, a shooter, and a nap. 23. By the second day some guys figure there’s no good reason to get out of bed when it’s still dark out. 24. Unable to stand themselves any longer than three days and nights without a shower, raunchy men head for home like rats scurrying from a sinking ship. 25. But they all say they had a grand time and vow to be back next season, God willing and the creek don’t rise. like dead men after three hours of banging down shots of “Old Frothingslosh,” can make loud noises come out of both ends of their persons. One is rather aromatic; the other has a decibel level that will deprive sleep. Send In Your Pictures! As a public service, there are 25 truths a tyro to deer camp should know. Check out the sidebar (above). Need Extra Papers? If your club, organization, or county needs extra copies of the Federated News for an upcoming event or display, please contact the Editor of this publication (973-533-1260; [email protected]) AT LEAST SIX WEEKS IN ADVANCE of the date in question. Assert your braggin’ rights! The NJFSN is looking for readers’ pictures of trophy, interesting, or simply noteworthy catches, kills, or sights seen while hunting, fishing, trapping, or shooting. Digital images are preferred (email to [email protected]), or send prints to the editor (along with return postage if you want them back). The NJFSN reserves the right to publish or not publish any picture it receives, at its discretion. Include your name, home town, contact information (in case we have questions) and details of the picture’s contents. POACHING IS A CRIME Events for November, 2012 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 1 Friday 2 Saturday 3 Hunter Ed., Black River WMA, Chester NJ 4 5 7 8 9 10 Hunter Ed., Northern Region Office, Hampton NJ 12 13 14 YOU CAN HELP! 15 16 17 23 24 Round Valley Trout Assoc. Meeting fishrvta.com 18 25 19 26 20 27 21 28 YOU ARE ITS VICTIM 29 Hunter Ed., Quinton Sportsmens Club, Salem NJ 30 If you have information on a poacher, PLEASE call today - you could be helping to insure a good future for our wildlife. CALL: 1-800-222-0456 Calls are toll-free and confidential. Contributions are welcome - make your check out to: Operation Game Thief PO Box 10173 Trenton, NJ 08650-0173 Page 12 NEW JERSEY FEDERATED SPORTSMEN NEWS November 2012 Please Patronize Our Advertisers ARCHERY CHENEY’S ARGO SALES 62 Pacific Avenue Barnegat, NJ 08005-1710 609-213-0656, fax 609-698-2464 Jim 609-758-0305 or 609-698-2464 Target, 3D or Bowhunting Traditional or Modern Get Serious about archery & take your game to the next level Black Knight Bowbenders, Jackson www.blackknightbowbenders.com 732-462-2278 MUSKY TROUT HATCHERIES L.L.C. Garden State Archers, Jacobstown www.gardenstatearchers.com 215-840-0655 Wa-Xo-Be Archers, So. Brunswick www.waxobe.com 732-355-1717 E-Mail: [email protected] to receive Club News Wanted! Is your club holding a special event? Celebrating a landmark anniversary? Let the rest of the Federation know! 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