Excerpts from the

Fall 1998 Volunteer Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE:

Awards Reception
Late Breaking News
What's New in Books and Travel
Volunteer Program Summary
Hunter Education News
Law Enforcement News
Volunteers Needed
New Products
Upcoming Events

Awards Reception

The 7th annual Awards Reception dinners were, as always, a huge success. It is only through the efforts of our volunteers, along with the Division personnel who guide us, that we can keep New Jersey, the most densely populated state, a successful wildlife story. Thank you all again, and your families, for every hour you spend on the Division's numerous projects.

Below are the volunteers who earned this year's awards:

Wildlife Conservation Corps Awards:

Northern Region Hunter Education Awards:

Southern Region Hunter Education Awards:

Late Breaking News

Nonprofit Group Is Formed To Assist NJ Wildlife Volunteers

The Partnership for Wildlife Volunteerism, a tax-exempt non-profit organization dedicated to the support of those individuals who donate their time, energy and knowledge to New Jersey's wildlife resources, was formed, notes the organization's Executive Chairperson Jeanne Gorrissen, "to ensure that New Jersey's over 1500 wildlife volunteers have adequate funding in order to enable them to continue their service involvement in Wildlife Law Enforcement, Hunter Education, and Wildlife Research and Management. The Partnership is also dedicated to supporting the work of volunteers involved in various programs, including the Bald Eagle Restoration, Bear Management, Fish Restoration, as well as introducing newcomers to the outdoors through the Becoming An Outdoors-Woman program. Funds derived from the sale of this new clothing line will support these efforts."

In addition to this fund raising program, the Partnership is also planning numerous events, such as a celebrity sporting clays shoot, the sale of a first edition pocket knife, and a corporate sponsorship program.

Individuals or organizations who want to contribute to this effort or obtain more information can contact the Partnership for Wildlife Volunteerism, Inc., Suite 31, 301 North Harrison Street, Princeton, NJ 08540-3512.

Fewer Ducks This Fall

Attention - Migratory Bird Hunters

Discounted Junior NRA Membership

What's New in Books and Travel

• Trees of New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic States, a new pocket field guide published by the New Jersey Forest Service, can be ordered for only $10. With descriptions of 146 tree species, a glossary of terms, a simple identification key, region maps, fun forest facts, and more, this is the ideal book for everyone - whether you're an outdoor and wildlife enthusiast, student, educator, natural resource professional, just interested in trees, forests, and forestry, or simply want to give it as a gift. Order one today by sending a check made out to NJ Forest Service and send it to the Forest Resource Education Center, 370 East Veterans Highway, Jackson, NJ 08527. For more information, call 732-833-9816.
• Game Gun by Richard Grozik is revised and expanded, with a new chapter on over-under shotguns. It also explores the best quality shotguns for beginners and veteran shotgunners. Available at bookstores or Countrysport Press, PO Box 1856, Traverse City, MI 49684.
• Traveling with your children? Westin Hotels are ideal because they teaching kids about conservation and recycling through its new Westin Kids Club® mascot, Roary the Westin Ecosaur. As the Earth-friendly spokesperson, Roary shows kids how to conserve the environment, encourages them to take action, and make a difference in their communities. In addition to the standard Westin Kids Club® services and amenities (newsletter, welcome amenity, sports bottle, reduced laundry rate, children's menu, movies, etc.) youngsters can listen to age appropriate bedtime stories simply by dialing a four-digit number from their guest room telephone.
• If you're looking for a great adventure, it's not too late to sign up with PaddleWays. I chose the firm's 3-day inn-to-inn kayaking trip on Lake Champlain this August and loved every minute of it - even when storm clouds brewed overhead! The adventure consists of a tour of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum; paddling from the Vermont side of the lake to New York State; frequent rest stops to watch peregrine falcons plunging into the lake from high over the palisades; delicious picnic lunches served in lovely wooded areas; swimming in cool, clean water; and magnificent scenery along the route. The overnight stays are at first-class inns, and there is ample time for showering, relaxing, leisurely gourmet dinners, and getting to know other kayakers. Groups are small, with no more than 12 on any one trip, and the expert instructors provide excellent tips whether you're an experienced or novice kayaker. The fun experience is so terrific that besides learning so much about kayaking in such a short time, you'll probably opt to sign up for another trip. Among those offered is a 3-day inn-to-inn kayaking trip; a 5-day inn-to-inn kayaking trip combined with one night of tent camping in a lovely wooded setting; or an 8-day sea kayak, hike and snorkel adventure in the Yucatan. For further details, contact PaddleWays at PO Box 65125, Burlington, VT 05406; 802-660-8606 or at their website.
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  Volunteer Program Summary

  by Steve Toth

  It appears that although the Division's volunteer programs continue to flourish, the actual numbers of volunteers active in these programs have diminished. When last surveyed in FY95, 1,594 volunteers were participating, as opposed to FY97s 1,377. The reduction in volunteer numbers can be attributed to a number of factors including: diminishing support staff for these programs, lack of the deputy training academy, consolidation of the Hunter Education Program, and reduced recruitment of new volunteers.

  NJ Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife Volunteer Program Summary
  Fiscal Year 1997

  	Volunteers	Hours	Avg. # hrs.	Value
  WCC	859	47,109	55	$727,834
  Hunter Education	402	18,101	45	$279,660
  Deputy C.O.	85	9,238	109	$247,120
  Project WILD	31	426	13	$6,582
  TOTALS	1,377	74,874	56	$1,261,196

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  Hunter Education News

  Hunting Regulation Changes
  1. Youth Spring Turkey Permits: Licensed hunters, ages 10-15, will be guaranteed a 1999 spring gobbler hunting permit for their first choice in the Turkey Hunting Area and Hunting Segment if the mail-in application is returned during February 1-22, 1999. For a second permit, available through the usual mail-in lottery, young hunters are required to participate in the second drawing.
  2. Muzzleloader Scopes: Rifle scopes, including aim points, will be permitted for hunting with muzzleloader rifles and smoothbore muzzleloaders. Visually impaired persons are no longer required to obtain a Special Muzzleloader Scope Permit to hunt with a scope affixed to a muzzleloader rifle, and there are no restrictions on scope power.
  3. Deer Management Zone Boundary Changes: Deer Management zones 20, 32 and 44 have been eliminated. Deer Management Zone 20 is now added to Zones 19, 21, 23, and 24; Zone 32 is added to Zone 45; and Zone number 44 is added to Zone 30.
  4. Special Season Deer and Turkey Permit Applications: Regular and farmer, special deer and turkey season permit applications must now include the social security number of applicants as required by Public Law 1998c.
  5. Supplemental and Bonus Tags: These tags will be valid on the date of issuance for all applicable seasons in Deer Management Zones 16-19, 21-31, 33-35, 37, 39, 42, 43, 45-49, 51-53, 56-59, 61, 63, 65 and 66.
  6) Bonus Deer Tag Program Expansion: The season will be expanded to the Permit Muzzleloader and Winter Bow Seasons in specific zones where these seasons are open.
  7) Fall Bow Deer Bag Limits: During the Fall Bow Season, Bonus Deer Transportation Tags will not be available in Zones 16 and 54; and the bag limit in Zones 1, 3, 21, and 23 will be restricted to antlered deer only during the first half of the season (October 3-16). Bonus tags are added in Zones 26, 30, 31 and 34 in order to achieve the antlerless harvest objective.
  8) Permit Bow Season: Bonus Deer Transportation Tags (bonus tags) are now eliminated in Zones 16 and 54, and the season will be closed in Zones 18, 21 and 55. The length of the Permit Bow Season in Zone 66 (Federal Aviation Administration Technical Center) is reduced from 48 days to 25 days, with bonus tags added to Zones 26, 30, 31 and 34.
  9) Hunter's Choice Area: Formerly applicable to Zones 13 and 36, the "Hunter's Choice" provision has been deleted from the White-tailed deer, Six-day Firearm Season, and the standard bag limit for the Six-day Firearm Season (two deer with at least one antler a minimum of 3-inches long), will apply to Zones 13 and 36. Antlerless deer are no longer be part of the bag for the six-day firearm season and the New Jersey Bonus Deer Transportation Tag does not apply.
  10) High Point State Park Permit Muzzleloader Deer Season: The requirement that only traditional muzzleloaders be used on the last 3 days of the season in Zone 67 no longer applies.
  11) Permit Shotgun Season: In Zones 13, 36, 39, 41, 50, 59and 66, where the daily bag limit is two deer, farmer and regular permit holders may use a photocopy of their permit "deer transportation tag" to tag their second deer only. Successful hunters will be provided with NJ Supplemental Deer Transportation Tags at official deer checking stations until the season bag limit is reached or the season concludes.
  Note: For complete details on these changes, please refer to page 4 of the 1998/99 New Jersey Fish & Wildlife DIGEST. For information on season dates and bag limits for each Deer Management Zone, check the 1998-99 Deer Seasons and Bag Limits; 1998-99 New Jersey Deer Season Summary by Management Zone, and/or Special Area Hunting Season Information.
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  Law Enforcement News

  The Bureau of Law Enforcement's new training center is no longer a dream. Thanks to Green Acres bond act funds, a new 30 x 60 building will be erected at the Colliers Mills WMA. When completed, on or about January 1, 1999, it will contain a training office, classroom, and an all-purpose room, and, hopefully, will allow the Division to institute a Deputy training class by the year 2000.
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  Volunteer Opportunities

  HELP - HELP - HELP - HELP

  The Coordinator of Volunteers for the Division of FG&W is in dire need of office help during the work week to assist in the operation of the WCC program. What's involved? Process applications, maintain the volunteer database, answer correspondence, plus a few more interesting duties. Free parking is provided, as well as training in the skills necessary to accomplish this important job. Please contact Coordinator Steve Toth at 609-633-3616 if you can lend a helping hand.

  Both the Calling Amphibian Monitoring Project (CAMP) and the NJ Herptile Atlas Project are in need of volunteers this spring to study the status and distribution of the diverse herptile species of the state. For more information, contact Steve Paturzo, Tuckahoe WMA, 2201 County Route 631, Woodbine 08270; 609-628-2103/FAX 609-628-2734.

  The Partnership for Wildlife Volunteerism (see article in this issue) is seeking assistance from WCC volunteers for staffing an informational booth at the Outdoor Expo in Edison this January. If you'd like to lend a helping hand to this worthwhile effort, please contact Jeanne Garrissen at 609-777-4190.

  Volunteers are needed at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge headquarters and the Wildlife Observation Center. Call Outdoor Recreation Planner Thomas A. McFadden at 973-425-1222 to sign up and receive information on hours and assignments.

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  New Products

  by Arline Zatz

  Tristar Sporting Arms and Italian gun maker, Emilio Rizzini, have introduced a new line of over-and-under shotguns, called the Nova Series,. Steve Toth notes that these guns "are reasonably priced and designed to meet the needs of the most demanding sporting clays shooter." After "shooting the dickens out of this beauty this summer, we found the more we shot, the better we liked this new model. Like any good target level shotgun, this 7 1/2-8 pounder - available with a silver finish boxlock action; a new Four Locks® locking system; single selective trigger; semi-fancy walnut stock with pistol grip; a palm swell and a sporting clays recoil pad in 12 gauge, with either 28' or 30' barrels; a full set of choke tubes, vent wide rib, and target bead sights - isn't lightweight. However, it balances and swings just right, without feeling whippy., and its weight also allowed us to shoot for extended periods without being pounded by recoil. In fact, an 11-year-old shooter thought it kicked less than his 20 gauge Winchester pump gun! We fired over 1400 rounds, ranging from super-light hand loads to 11/8 ounce heavy trap load, and the gun digested everything. Priced under $1200 retail, I feel the Nova SC represents one of the best buys available in a sporting clays shotgun on the market today." For additional information on this model and others offered by the company, contact Tristar Sporting Arms, 1816 Linn Street, N., Kansas City, MO 64116; 816-421-1400.

  RCBS®, a brand of the Blount, Inc. Sporting Equipment Group, has introduced an RC-130™ scale that is designed for the beginning or value-conscious handloader who needs big-scale features at an affordable price. The new RC-130 has a 130-grain capacity, maintenance-free movement, and RCBSs magnetic dampening system for fast readings. Its three-poise design has easy adjustments, with its beam graduated in increments of 10 grains and 1 grain. A micrometer poise measures in 0.1-grain increments with accuracy to ±0.1 grain. With a suggested retail price of $34.95, it features an anti-static plastic pan. For more information, contact RCBS, 605 Oro Dam Blvd., Oroville, CA 95965-4650; 1-800-533-5000.

  Having a problem attracting fish? Try Dock Block. Introduced by the Alliance Marketing Group. this fish attractant and supplement promotes fish concentration and provides valuable nutrition for improved health and growth. Available in a 10 lb. Panfish Block, to attract bluegill, crappie, trout and sunfish, as well as catfish, carp, and most kinds of bait fish; a 10 lb. Catfish Block, formulated to attract most varieties of catfish and carp, as well as bluegill, crappie, sunfish, and a variety of bait fish; and a 6 lb. Fish Chum, to attract catfish, carp, panfish, trout and bait fish. According to the manufacturer, these products are virtually waterproof, made of the highest quality ingredients and formulated with real fish food, and are a great way to attract fish and keep them there, while ideal for use around docks, on limb lines, trotlines, and sunk-in-lakes to create more dependable fishing. They're used for ice fishing, too. All that's necessary is to find a spot you want to attract fish to and sink the block, which will last 2-4 weeks. For more information, contact your local retailer or call 314-645-6494.

  The Stearns Inflatable Sportsman's Model 4444 Type III Vest is Coast-Guard approved, lightweight and, when deflated, gives angles, duck hunters, and boaters extra comfort and freedom of arm movement. Made with a rugged polyester/cotton outer shell, it has six front pockets to store fishing tackle, small bait boxes, ammunition or other supplies, and has a removable lure patch which fastens to the front of the vest for holding artificial flies within handy reach for the fly fisherman. Pulling the front cord triggers an enclosed CO-2 cartridge, which inflates the vest to provide 22.5 lbs. of buoyancy. The vest can also be inflated manually using a plastic tube. The adjustable 1" waist belt ensures a snug and comfortable fit. It's available in six sizes ranging from small to XXXL, and in navy blue, spruce green, tan and the camouflage Realtree X-tra design at your sporting goods store or by contacting Stearns Inc., 1100 Stearns Drive, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379; 800-697-5801.

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  Upcoming Events

  If you enjoy duck, goose, quail and dove hunting, join Hunter Education Instructor Frederick Rodgers Stout on his journey to the Gulf Coast of Texas. The limits on these 3400 acres are 15 snow, 1 Canada, 1 White-fronted, and 5 ducks. Approximate cost, including the Federal stamp, gas, license, lodging and food is $460. If interested, call Stout at 609-396-9705.

  As usual, the Pequest Trout Hatchery & Natural Resource Education Center (10 am-4 pm daily, except holidays; located on Route 46. Free admission), has lots on tap. For further information on programs call 908-637-4125 or visit their web site.

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