MAY/JUNE 2019 FOUR DOLLARS Inside: Summer Panfish MAY / JUNE 2019 CONTENTS 5 Top Dog By Clarke C. Jones Winning the National Open Championship is no small task but a retriever named Google proves to be the ultimate search engine! 12 A Smorgasbord of Tips for Catching Summer Panfish By Gerald Almy Tips for filling your cooler with an assortment of tasty panfish. 16 Bird Life By Eric J. Wallace Citizens science reaches new heights at Goshen Wildlife Management Area. 19 Start a Nature Journal By Lynda Richardson Journaling has a history of teaching a person to really see what’s around them. Why not give it a try? 24 Working Together By David Kocka In partnership with Massanutten Resort, DGIF is working to minimize human-bear conflicts. 26 “Eye” Want You To Know By Marie Majarov Take some precautions to help make your outdoor adventures more enjoyable. 28 Take It To the Bank By David Hart Don’t have a boat? No worries. Good fishing can be had along a shoreline. 2018 Angler Hall of Fame 32 Look who made the lists this year! 34 NASP Photo Gallery See the winners of the 2019 state tournament. DEPARTMENTS 36 Out & About • 39 A Walk in the Woods • 40 Off the Leash 41 Let’s Grow Native • 42 Photo Tips 44 Restore the Wild • 46 Fare Game Cover: Nothing says summer like fishing for bluegill and other panfish. Page 10. © Eric Engbretson Left: Another beautiful, June morning in Shenandoah National Park. © Larry C. Brown Back Cover: Red-cockaded woodpeckers have arrived at Big Woods WMA. Page 44. © Todd Pusser Virginia Wildlife magazine is ONLY $12.95 a year! To subscribe go online at www.dgif.virginia.gov/virginia-wildlife. Commonwealth of Virginia Ralph S. Northam, Governor am one of the first people to admit that when asked, what is it that you love the most about the outdoors, it would HUNTING & FISHING have to be the fact that, “I was born to fish, but like most LICENSE FEES Ifolks forced to work.” That might explain why when I started Subsidized this publication my career at DGIF almost 44 years ago as a fisheries biologist, Secretary of Natural Resources and now as the department’s acting director, that I have been Matthew J. Strickler “hooked” on the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and most impor- TOP DOG Department of Game and tantly conserving, connecting, and protecting all of Virginia’s Inland Fisheries wildlife and natural resources. Gary Martel That passion especially holds true when the month of May Acting Executive Director finally rolls around each year. As a hunter, angler, boater, or wildlife watcher, the month of May packs a “boatload” of out- Members of the Board door fun. How about turkeys a gobblin’, wild flowers a bloomin’, Douglas Dear, Chair, Syria trout a jumpin’, and cool, clear water a callin’ to name just a few. Mamie A. Parker, Ph.D., Vice­Chair, Dulles GARY MARTEL Leon Boyd, Vansant Acting Executive Director You can rest assured that the primal urge to get outdoors and Ryan J. Brown, Goochland participate is alive and well across the state. Nicole S. Butterworth, Vinton Getting outdoors more frequently is not only beneficial for H.S. Caudill, North Tazewell improving your health but also the quality of your life. In today’s competitive work environment Catherine H. Claiborne, Richmond John W. Daniel II, Richmond and with the growing demands of home and family life, where spending all day indoors is now Karen Terwilliger, Locustville the norm and not the exception, many of us are missing the restorative power that natural open Brian Vincent, Farmville spaces can provide. Nature can be looked at as the proverbial reset-button for our minds, bodies, G.K. Washington, Dillwyn and spirits. Magazine Staff May is also when it is all hands on deck at DGIF. Biologists are deep into managing the Interim Editor: Lee Walker Commonwealth’s vast wildlife and fisheries programs. Lands and facilities specialists are busy Contributing Editors: Ron Messina, Paige Pearson maintaining over 225,000 acres of wildlife management areas and lots of boating access to endless Art Director: Lynda Richardson miles of waterways. Our conservation police officers are out in full force with boots on the ground Production Manager: Carol Kushlak and boats on the water. No matter what time of year it is, safety in the outdoors remains a key Staff Contributors: Chad Boyce, Sergio Harding, factor of DGIF’s mission, whether through education programs or public awareness efforts. You Scott Herrmann, Meghan Marchetti, Dan Michaelson, John Odenkirk, Steve Owens, can rest assured that we are all working hard toward making your outdoor experience memorable. Steve Reeser, Meghann Rothgeb, Jessica Ruthenberg As we approach the Memorial Day holiday we recognize National Safe Boating Week, May 18–24, and Free Fishing Days, June 7–9. We would like to remind all boaters and anglers to stay Printing by Progress Printing Plus, Lynchburg, VA safe this summer and always wear a life jacket while on the water. Sadly, this year we have already Copyright 2019 by the Virginia Department of Game and had several drowning fatalities on Virginia’s waters. A good day on the water can turn tragic in Inland Fisheries. All rights reserved. seconds. No matter where you boat, from large lakes and rivers to small farm ponds, wearing a Virginia Wildlife (ISSN 0042 6792) is published bimonthly life jacket is essential for safety! by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. While getting ready for the boating season, boat owners need to make sure they have U.S. Send all subscription orders and address changes to Virginia Wildlife, P. O. Box 37832, Boone, Iowa 50037. Address all Coast Guard approved life jackets in good condition that fit every occupant of the boat, including other communications concerning this publication to Vir­ children. There are numerous life jacket designs that appeal to youngsters, and by getting them ginia Wildlife, P. O. Box 90778, Henrico, Virginia 23228­ involved in the selection, they are more likely to wear one without a fuss. Inflatable life jackets 0778. Subscription rates are $12.95 for one year, $23.95 for two years; $4.00 per each back issue, subject to availability. make it easy for adults to “Wear It” while enjoying their time on the water, and being a good role e Canadian rate is $24.95 for one year and $35.95 for model for young people on their boats. two years, payable in U.S. funds. No refunds for amounts less than $10.00. To subscribe, call toll­free (800)710-9369. Remember, everyone wants to have a safe, enjoyable day in the outdoors and that especially holds true on the water, whether you are boating or wetting a fishing line. Do your part by wearing is publication is intended for general informational pur­ poses only and every effort has been made to ensure its ac­ By Clarke C. Jones your life jacket and taking a boating safety education course. curacy. e information contained herein does not serve as Always be responsible, be safe, have fun, and remember to pass it on and introduce someone a legal representation of fish and wildlife laws or regulations. to Virginia’s wildlife! e Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries does icture perfect! Front and center, the cover of the January dogs compete against each other showing their ability to mark, not assume responsibility for any change in dates, regula­ tions, or information that may occur after publication. 2019 issue of Retriever News focuses on one stellar, remember, and retrieve to hand ducks or pheasants.” black, male Labrador retriever, registered as NFC-AFC Leon Stepanian started participating in field trials in the e Department of Game and Inland Fisheries shall afford P to all persons an equal access to Department programs and I’m Ur Search Engine or “Google” for short. A very clever name early 1970s and credits trainer Bachman Doar for his early facilities without regard to race, color, religion, disability, for an even cleverer dog, who is the winner of the 2018 National successes qualifying for five Nationals. However, as Stepanian’s MISSION STATEMENT national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, political affiliation, or veteran’s status. If you believe that you Open Championship held last November in Paducah, Kentucky young children grew older and became involved in Boy Scouts Conserve and manage wildlife populations and habitat for the benefit of present and future generations. Connect have been discriminated against in any program, activity or aka The Triple Crown, Daytona 500, or Super Bowl of retriever and sports, he backed away from trialing and took a “30-year people to Virginia’s outdoors through boating, education, fishing, hunting, trapping, wildlife viewing and other facility, please write to: Virginia Department of Game and wildlife­related activities. Protect people and property by promoting safe outdoor experiences and managing Inland Fisheries, Attn: Executive Director’s Office, P. O. Box field trials. sabbatical.” When Leon eventually returned to field trialing, human­wildlife conflicts. 90778, Henrico, VA 23228. What is a field trial? Tina Styan, Managing Editor of Re- he did so in a big way. He acquired a farm in Cumberland www.dgif.virginia.gov triever News magazine explains it, “A field trial is an outdoor County and turned it into a training ground for retrievers, competition event for performance dogs, in which champion- with help from his assistants, Len Pack, Ronnie Bowden, and ship points are awarded to only AKC registered retrievers. These Pack’s grandson, Cameron. MAY/JUNE 2019 ♦ 5 VOLUME 80 NUMBER 3 © Mark L.