By Bill Cochran
ROANOKE.COM COLUMNIST
BILL: I just have to respond to your article about Southampton County. First, I want to applaud you in your unbiased and fearless journalism.
All my bowhunting buddies at work criticize me for using a crossbow. They are part of an elite group that I want no part of.
My opinions about Southampton County hunt clubs are this: Their reasons are not valid that muzzleloading hunters are poachers. Also, a 3.5-inch magnum 10-gauge shotgun is not as sporting a weapon as a muzzleloader. Their reasons are like holes in a bucket. They won't hold water.
M.F.
BILL: You hit a bull's eye with your column, “You need a lawyer to deer hunt in Southampton County.”
The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries claims its hands are tied. Not according to the Code of Virginia.
Localities began regulating by ordinance the use of certain firearms for hunting during specific hunting season and for certain game animals when enablement of this type was added to Section 29.1-528 in 1978.
Eight years later, the General Assembly woke up, realized the mess it had created and repealed the power to regulate game birds and animals under the 1986 Acts of Assembly. But the damage was done. The localities that adopted firearms ordinances between 1978 and 1986 never updated their local firearm's ordinances to reflect this repeal.
The Department has never administratively attempted to enforce these repeals of power upon the local governments. They just “winked.” That's why we have 73 schizophrenic firearms ordinances. Localities are specifically enable under 29.1-528 to regulate the hunting of one animal—the groundhog. Not deer, turkey or squirrel.
The General Assembly gave the Department two years to study its “winking” problem under SJR 38. Its report to the Senate said the following:
“In light of the information received from SJR 38 and the recent mandates assessment, the Department has concluded that there is not substantial support by the localities to change the current way of doing business on local firearms hunting ordinances with respect to the use of model ordinances.”
The Department's “winking” at abuse, rather than requiring enforcement, is a copout at the expense of every hunter in Virginia.
TERESA PRESTON
Ivor
NOTE: I misplaced an inquiry by a reader in the Richmond area who was interested in a quality trout fishing experience. While I don't have his email address, I do have a suggestion:
I would fish the trophy trout section of the Jackson River upstream from the Hidden Valley area in Bath County. The Jackson here is a remote, walk-in stream that falls through a gorge. It is stocked several times a year with catchable-size trout and a good population of fish always is present. Angling is restricted to artificial lures with a single hook. The limit is two trout per day that are over 16 inches.
The section is north of Warm Springs. The upstream area can be reached off U.S. 220 by following Virginia 623 and Forest Service Road 481. Check the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Web site for a map and other information: www.dgif.virginia.gov .
This is ideal fly fishing water, but if you aren't a fly caster try using a spinner, such as a Rooster Tail or Panther Martin, on a lightweight spinning outfit with line no heavier than 6-pound test.
BILL
ROANOKE.COM COLUMNIST
BILL: I just have to respond to your article about Southampton County. First, I want to applaud you in your unbiased and fearless journalism.
All my bowhunting buddies at work criticize me for using a crossbow. They are part of an elite group that I want no part of.
My opinions about Southampton County hunt clubs are this: Their reasons are not valid that muzzleloading hunters are poachers. Also, a 3.5-inch magnum 10-gauge shotgun is not as sporting a weapon as a muzzleloader. Their reasons are like holes in a bucket. They won't hold water.
M.F.
BILL: You hit a bull's eye with your column, “You need a lawyer to deer hunt in Southampton County.”
The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries claims its hands are tied. Not according to the Code of Virginia.
Localities began regulating by ordinance the use of certain firearms for hunting during specific hunting season and for certain game animals when enablement of this type was added to Section 29.1-528 in 1978.
Eight years later, the General Assembly woke up, realized the mess it had created and repealed the power to regulate game birds and animals under the 1986 Acts of Assembly. But the damage was done. The localities that adopted firearms ordinances between 1978 and 1986 never updated their local firearm's ordinances to reflect this repeal.
The Department has never administratively attempted to enforce these repeals of power upon the local governments. They just “winked.” That's why we have 73 schizophrenic firearms ordinances. Localities are specifically enable under 29.1-528 to regulate the hunting of one animal—the groundhog. Not deer, turkey or squirrel.
The General Assembly gave the Department two years to study its “winking” problem under SJR 38. Its report to the Senate said the following:
“In light of the information received from SJR 38 and the recent mandates assessment, the Department has concluded that there is not substantial support by the localities to change the current way of doing business on local firearms hunting ordinances with respect to the use of model ordinances.”
The Department's “winking” at abuse, rather than requiring enforcement, is a copout at the expense of every hunter in Virginia.
TERESA PRESTON
Ivor
NOTE: I misplaced an inquiry by a reader in the Richmond area who was interested in a quality trout fishing experience. While I don't have his email address, I do have a suggestion:
I would fish the trophy trout section of the Jackson River upstream from the Hidden Valley area in Bath County. The Jackson here is a remote, walk-in stream that falls through a gorge. It is stocked several times a year with catchable-size trout and a good population of fish always is present. Angling is restricted to artificial lures with a single hook. The limit is two trout per day that are over 16 inches.
The section is north of Warm Springs. The upstream area can be reached off U.S. 220 by following Virginia 623 and Forest Service Road 481. Check the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Web site for a map and other information: www.dgif.virginia.gov .
This is ideal fly fishing water, but if you aren't a fly caster try using a spinner, such as a Rooster Tail or Panther Martin, on a lightweight spinning outfit with line no heavier than 6-pound test.
BILL