WINNERS ANNOUNCED IN GIVE WILDLIFE A CHANCE POSTER CONTEST
More than 5,000 k- through 5th-grade students take part in Georgia art event
Four elementary school children were selected as statewide winners in the Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Resources Division. More than 5,000 kindergarten through 5th-grade students from 45 public schools, private schools and home-school groups took part in the 18th annual conservation art competition.
Statewide finishers in the four grade divisions included:
--Kindergarten 1st place: Morgan Mathews, Pike County Primary School, Zebulon. 2nd place: Daniel Tetterton, Tate Elementary School, Tate. 3rd place: Tori Caldwell, Ephesus Elementary School, Roopville.
--1st-2nd grade 1st place: Brittany Phillips, Lincoln County Elementary School, Lincolnton. 2nd place: Ambus Powell, Tiftarea Academy, Chula. 3rd place: Kaitlin Barton, St. Joseph Catholic School, Athens.
--3rd-4th grade 1st place: Keeren Daya, Fayetteville Intermediate School, Fayetteville. 2nd place: Drew Wulff, Heard County Elementary School, Franklin. 3rd place: Ana Edwards, Centralhatchee Elementary School, Franklin.
--5th grade 1st place: Cynthia Kirk, Centralhatchee Elementary School, Franklin. 2nd place: Addison Fisher, Robert Toombs Christian Academy, Lyons. 3rd place: Brianna Todd, Ephesus Elementary School, Roopville.
These top 12 winners will be showcased in the 2008-2009 Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest calendar. All state-level entries will be on display in the Conservatory at the State Botanical Garden in Athens through Wednesday, April 5.
Participants entered the contest at the local school level with drawings that depict their observations of Georgia's native plants and animals. Posters followed the 2008 contest theme, "The Sights and Sounds of Wild Georgia." Top school-level entries proceeded to the state contest at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.
Poster contest sponsors include the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Resources Division, The State Botanical Garden of Georgia and The Environmental Resources Network Inc. (T.E.R.N.).
For more information on the contest, visit www.georgiawildlife.com and www.uga.edu/botgarden or contact Wildlife Resources Nongame Conservation Section, 116 Rum Creek Drive, Forsyth, GA 31029; telephone, (478) 994-1438.
Georgians can support important conservation, recreation and education efforts like the Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest and other conservation programs for Georgia's nongame wildlife through buying a nongame wildlife license plate for their vehicles and donating to the Give Wildlife a Chance State Income Tax Checkoff. Check www.georgiawildlife.com for details.
DNR'S NEW ONLINE REPORTS HIGHLIGHT STATEWIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY ON A WEEKLY BASIS
Curious about recent law enforcement activity in your area? The Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) is making it easy for residents to keep up with what's going on in and around their county with a new online weekly law enforcement activity report. Each week's report portrays a sampling of the enforcement activities occurring across the state.
WRD rangers provide detailed information on natural resource related illegal activity and issued citations, as well as information on local WRD events and educational programs. To view the report, visit the WRD Web site, www.georgiawildlife.com and click on the "Law Enforcement" link under the "General Info" menu.
"We've been posting the weekly report online for a little over a month now, and interest from the general public is steadily increasing," says WRD chief of law enforcement Col. Terry West. "This is a great way for our law enforcement officers to keep the public informed on our activity throughout the week."
The law enforcement section of the WRD is responsible for protecting Georgia's wildlife populations by enforcing laws, rules and regulations pertaining to game and nongame animals, threatened and endangered plants and animals, exotic animals, boating safety, litter and waste control and other natural resource issues. Law enforcement also administers the state's hunter education and boating safety programs. Conservation Rangers investigate violations of wildlife laws, as well as hunting and boating incidents. They also conduct classes and programs to educate citizens about wildlife laws and safety practices. For more information on the online reports, posted weekly at www.georgiawildlife.com, or for more information on the law enforcement section, call the WRD law enforcement headquarters office at (770) 918-6408.
20,000 ACRES OF STATE FOREST LAND PERMANENTLY PROTECTED
Georgia Land Conservation Program Invests $35 Million
In Paulding, Decatur and McIntosh Counties
Standing on the bank of Corley Lake in Paulding County with a scenic view of the Paulding Forest behind him, Governor Sonny Perdue announced a monumental investment in land conservation. The state of Georgia, through an investment of $35 million and additional federal, local and private funds, will protect approximately 20,000 acres of pristine forest lands in Paulding, Decatur and McIntosh Counties.
"On the opposite shore of this lake, you see a rolling hillside with a beautiful stand of timber on it. Today I am proud to announce that due to the hard work and investment of many partners, we can guarantee views like this will be protected for generations to come," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "As a part of the Land Conservation Program, the state of Georgia, along with federal, local and private partners, will purchase and conserve nearly 20,000 acres of land at three sites across our state." Joining Governor Perdue for todays announcement was Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives Glenn Richardson and Paulding County Commission Chairman Jerry Shearin. Speaker Richardson has represented Paulding County in the General Assembly since 1997.
"I'd like to thank the Governor and all of those involved in this process for their efforts in creating a partnership between the state and the county so that we could preserve this valuable natural resource for hunters, families, outdoor enthusiasts, and future generations to enjoy," said Speaker Glenn Richardson.
Chairman Shearin was instrumental in the passage of a bond referendum in November 2006 that approved $15 million to match the state funding toward the purchase of Paulding Forest. The bond referendum passed with 72 percent of the vote.
"The citizens of Paulding County voted overwhelmingly to tax themselves to protect this valuable natural resource," said Chairman Shearin. "We recognized the value of the partnership the Governor had envisioned for protecting Georgias wild spaces."
The lands approved for protection today through the Georgia Land Conservation Program (GLCP) include properties in Paulding County at Paulding Forest, in Decatur County bordering Lake Seminole, and in McIntosh County along the Altamaha River. The three properties will be managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as wildlife management areas and will provide opportunities for outdoor recreation as well as the long-term conservation of important wildlife habitats. These acquisitions represent an investment of $34,740,289 in state funds, combined with $58,216,107 from federal, local and private partners. Two of these three properties account for $30 million of the $42 million set aside as part of the FY2008 budget for the Georgia Land Conservation Program (GLCP).
Additional information on these three properties is highlighted below. See the attached background summaries for more information on each property.
Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area
The Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area is a $45.8 million acquisition that includes 6,865 acres previously leased by the DNR and the Georgia Forestry Commission. DNR will acquire approximately 4,350 acres, Paulding County will acquire approximately 2,500 acres, and The Nature Conservancy will purchase and hold approximately 320 acres. The state and county property will be managed by DNR through a Memorandum of Agreement. The property protects a tributary of the Etowah River as well as the remnants of a rare montane longleaf pine forest. It is used by hunters, anglers and other wildlife enthusiasts and protects vast forest lands along the Silver Comet Trail.
The total project cost is $45,866,156 which includes a $15,177,320 GLCP grant. Matching sources include Paulding County ($15,000,000), Polk County ($100,000), federal Forest Legacy and Endangered Species Recovery Land Acquisition grants ($7,788,836), and private foundations and organizations ($7,800,000) including the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation and The Conservation Fund through the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The Nature Conservancy will purchase and hold 320 acres until additional federal funding is appropriated. It will then sell this acreage to DNR.
Silver Lake Tract at Lake Seminole Wildlife Management Area
Silver Lake Tract at Lake Seminole Wildlife Management Area includes 8,430-acres in Decatur County on Lake Seminole near Bainbridge. This property has been managed by International Paper as a research forest and contains extensive stands of mature longleaf pine with a population of the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. Over several phases, the state will acquire this property from The Conservation Fund at a cost of approximately $38.6 million. The first phase will include approximately 3,900 acres at a cost of $20.4 million.
The total project cost is $38,600,000 which includes a $15,000,000 GLCP grant and DNR Nongame and Wildlife Conservation and Wildlife Endowment Funds ($2,500,000). Matching sources include federal Wildlife and Wildlife Restoration Grants ($2,300,000), The Conservation Fund through the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation ($500,000), and the Georgia Ornithological Society ($100,000). A combination of federal and local funds as well as funds from private foundations is expected to be used for the additional phases of the project ($18,200,000).
Fort Barrington Tract at Townsend Wildlife Management Area
Georgia is working in partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps through the U.S. Navy to protect 4,162 acres as part of the Fort Barrington Tract at Townsend Wildlife Management Area. This acquisition will not only protect critical wildlife habitat and provide recreational opportunities on the Altamaha River, but will also help provide additional buffer around Townsend Bombing Range. This tract will add to a corridor of conservation lands along the Altamaha River that connect the Townsend Wildlife Management Area and the Altamaha Wildlife Management Area. The entire corridor will consist of more than 46,000 adjoining acres. The total project cost is $8,490,240 which includes a $2,062,969 in DNR bond and nongame funds. Matching sources include federal coastal protection funds totaling $2,077,271. The Nature Conservancy contributed $2,000,000, the Georgia Wetland Trust Fund $550,000 and additional funds may come from the Department of Defense to cover the cost of the restrictive easement, lowering the acquisition cost to the state.
The GLCP is managed by the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) and projects are approved by the Georgia Land Conservation Council. The program offers grants for fee title or conservation easement purchases from the Georgia Land Conservation Trust Fund. It also offers low-interest loans for fee title or conservation easement purchases from the Georgia Land Conservation Revolving Fund. Tax incentives are also available for donations of conservation lands or conservation easements. Since the programs inception, forty projects totaling 59,628 acres have been endorsed by the GLCP.
Conservation lands are permanently protected lands that are undeveloped and meet one or more of the goals of the Georgia Land Conservation Act. The goals include water quality protection, flood protection, wetlands protection, reduction of erosion, protection of riparian buffers and areas that provide natural habitat and corridors for native plant and animal species. The goals also include the protection of prime agricultural and forestry lands, protection of cultural and historic sites, scenic protection, recreation (boating, hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting) and the connection of areas contributing to these goals.
Governor Perdue introduced the Georgia Land Conservation Act to encourage the long-term conservation and protection of the states natural, cultural and historic resources in the 2004 session of the General Assembly. The Georgia Land Conservation Act passed with broad bipartisan support and Governor Perdue signed it into law on April 14, 2005.
Applications for land conservation grants or loans are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Applications and more information about the program can be found at www.glcp.org.
2007-2008 GEORGIA HUNTING REGULATION GUIDEBOOK CONTAINS ERRORS
WMAs affected include: Clybel, Joe Kurz, Oaky Woods, Redlands
(August 10, 2007) - The 2007-2008 Georgia Hunting Seasons and Regulations Guide contain errors relative to the following Wildlife Management Areas (WMA): Clybel WMA, Joe Kurz WMA, Oaky Woods WMA and Redlands WMA, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD). Errors will be corrected on the online version of the Hunting Regulations guide found at www.gohuntgeorgia.com , but all hunters should make note of these errors should they use a printed copy of the 2007-2008 hunting regulations.
Errors include:
--Clybel WMA: Archery season is listed as open during the first adult/child deer quota hunt scheduled for Oct. 12-14, when in fact hunting is closed during these dates except to those participating in the quota hunt. The official dates for archery season are: Sept. 8-Oct. 10 and Oct. 15-Oct. 19.
--Joe Kurz WMA: The primitive weapons quota hunt scheduled for Dec. 7-8 is listed as "Antlerless only", when in fact it should be listed as "Quality Buck/antlerless."
--Oaky Woods WMA: The open dates listed for small game are incorrect. The correct dates for small game hunting are: Aug. 15-Sept. 7; Oct. 20-Nov. 9; Nov. 17-26; Dec. 2-28; and Jan. 5-Feb. 29.
--Redlands WMA: The archery deer hunt listed for the Watsons Spring Area is incomplete. The official dates are: Sept. 8-Dec. 2, Dec. 26-Jan. 1.
The 2007-2008 Georgia Hunting Seasons and Regulations guidebook is available at www.gohuntgeorgia.com , license agents and through WRD Offices. Call the WRD Hunter Services Office at (770) 761-3044 for further information.
Major changes for the upcoming season include:
--Alligator zones and seasons: The open zones for alligator hunting have been expanded. Additionally, the season has been extended by two weeks and the number of available quotas has been increased.
--Bear hunting: Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Walker and Whitfield counties have been added to the Northern Bear Zone for hunting.
--New areas available for hunting: Five new areas are available this year, including Townsend WMA in Long County, Fall Line Sand Hills Natural Area in Taylor County and three State Parks- Bobby Brown, Mistletoe and Tugaloo.
GEORGIA SKEET SHOOTERS WIN
THEIR DIVISION IN NATIONAL SHOOT
A team of young Georgia shooters won their division in the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) Skeet and Sporting Clays National Championships.
The Georgians-- Troy Crisp of Buckhead, Rob Horton of Eatonton, Clay Porter of Madison won the Intermediate Skeet Division (Grades 6 to 8) in the two-day competition, held July 14-15 at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio.
It was the largest skeet and sporting clays championship in SCTP history. Nineteen states were represented among the nearly 400 shooters in varsity, junior varsity, intermediate and rookie divisions.
The championship featured some of America's best young talents. Some will be selected to attend an Olympic development camp next month in Colorado Springs; others will go on to compete at the collegiate level.
"Standout shooters are emerging all across the country. For example, in skeet, 15 competitors from 7 different states shot championship rounds of 195 or better out of 200 targets. Remember, these are just high-school students, but some have already signed college letters of intent. We also had a national shotgun coach here this weekend to observe the event and the new, young talent," said Zach Snow of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), which coordinates SCTP.
SCTP, for youths in grades 12 and under, has been called "the Little League of shooting sports." Nearly 10,000 students in over 40 states competed in 2007 in trap, skeet and sporting clays. SCTP is managed in partnership with numerous sponsors, agencies and organizations, including the national governing bodies of shotgun sports: Amateur Trapshooting Association, National Skeet Shooting Association and National Sporting Clays Association.
Trap national championships are slated for Aug. 5-7 at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Ill.
For more information, read an expanded version of this release online and visit www.nssf.org/sctp.
OVERALL RESULTS
SCTP National Skeet and Sporting Clays Championships
(held July 14-15, National Shooting Complex, San Antonio)
SKEET
Varsity Division (Grades 9 to 12)
1. California, Ink Ballers, 589 out of 600 targets (Brian Foley of Bakersfield, Talia Borg of Salinas, Cole Rommel of Cloves).
2. New York, Rochester-Brooks Elite, 586 (Kevin Corser of Holley, Alik Miller of Rochester, Scott Sobiegray of Niagra Falls).
3. Arizona, Red Mountain Target Terminators, 579 (Kyle Wandelear of Queen Creek, Patrick Wood of Scottsdale, Kaitlyn Borie of Phoenix).
Junior Varsity Division (Grades 9 to 12)
1. Arizona, Senior Hot Shots, 578 (Brisden Eaton of Sierra Vista, Brielle Eaton of Sierra Vista, Scott Usry of Hereford).
2. Virginia, Old Forge 4-H Team, 571 (Marty Cogar of Blackstone, Tyler Scruggs of Spout Spring, Travis Wagner of Powhattan).
3. Virginia, Old Dominion 4-H Shur Shots, 570 (Lawson Philpy of Mechanicsville, Rooster Watson of Blackstone, Bobby Kline of Edinburg).
Intermediate Division (Grades 6 to 8)
1. Georgia, Lake Oconee Shotgun Team, 568 (Troy Crisp of Buckhead, Rob Horton of Eatonton, Clay Porter of Madison).
2. Arizona, Red Mountain Target Terminators, 555 (Wesley Borie of Phoenix, Ryan Bollinger of Phoenix, Kyle Johnson of Phoenix).
3. Oklahoma, Broken Arrow Breakers, 552 (Alec Savage of Broken Arrow, Alex Drews of Broken Arrow, Zac Womack of Broken Arrow).
Rookie Division (Grades 5 and under)
1. North Carolina, Target Terminators, 491 (Archer Price of Gastonia, Steven Allen of Kings Mountain, T. Ross Harwell of Gastonia).
2. Arizona, Ben Avery Clay Crushers, 419 (Paysen Unger of Phoenix, Dylan Karvanek of Anthem, Casey Coleman of Goodyear).
3. California, Ink Ballers, 346 (Richard Riddle of Bonsall, Arjun Hundal of Stockton).
SPORTING CLAYS
Varsity Division (Grades 9 to 12)
1. Louisiana, Louisiana Clay Wings, 534 out of 600 targets (Caitlin Connor of Jena, Ethan Hall of Jonesboro, Joseph Dulaney of Sikes).
2. Michigan, Island Lake Whackers, 527 (Michael Cattell of Saline, Daniel Williams of Redford, Spencer Watts of Novi).
3. California, Camanche Clay Busters, 524 (Aeric Skinner of Ione, Tyler Parker of Galt, Cassandra Ding of Ione).
Junior Varsity Division (Grades 9 to 12)
1. Florida, Sarasota Trap, Skeet & Clays, 517+shootoff (Tom Larsen of Sarasota, Rob Bilian of Sarasota, Nick Dull of Sarasota).
2. North Carolina, Ft. Bragg Rangers, 517shootoff (Taylor Tew of Bath, Garrett Barbour of Willow Springs, Jonathan Kacmarcik of Fayetteville).
3. Texas, West Texas Sodbusters, 516 (Jonathan Royston of Seminole, Ryan Wallace of Seminole, Matt Savage of Seminole).
Intermediate Division (Grades 6 to 8)
1. South Carolina, TKA Lions, 504 (Austin Mogy of Florence, Richmond Wilhoit of Florence, Nicholas Long of Florence).
2. Georgia, Lake Oconee Shotgun Team, 496 (Troy Crisp of Buckhead, Rob Horton of Eatonton, Clay Porter of Madison).
3. Nebraska, Heartland Claybusters, 483 (Andrew O'Connor of Greeley, Bryan O'Connor of Greeley, Garrett Irvine of Ravenna).
Georgia Crowns Youth Shotgun Champs
Teams Qualify for Upcoming National Championships
(June 15, 2007)-- Young skeet and sporting clays shooters from across Georgia earned state titles-- with many qualifying to represent Georgia at upcoming national championships -- at the recent Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) Georgia Skeet and Sporting Clays State Championships.
The competition, held June 9-10 at the Lake Oconee Shooting Club in Eatonton, featured some of Georgia's top young shooters in varsity, junior varsity, intermediate and rookie divisions.
SCTP, for youths in grades 12 and under, has been called the "Little League of shooting sports." More than 10,000 students in over 40 states are expected to compete in 2007. A program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, SCTP is managed in partnership with numerous sponsors, agencies and organizations.
Georgia teams participating in the state title shoot qualified for their sport's upcoming national championships. Skeet and sporting clays national titles will be decided July 13-15 at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio. Trap national championships are slated for Aug. 5-7 at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Ill.
The best of these young shooters could be selected to attend an Olympic development camp in August in Colorado Springs, and some will go on to compete at the collegiate level.
For more information, visit www.nssf.org/sctp.
RESULTS
SCTP Georgia Skeet and Sporting Clays State Championships
(held June 9-10 at Lake Oconee Shooting Club, Eatonton)
SKEET
Varsity Division (Grades 9 to 12)
1st Place--Tift County Youth Shotgun Team, 558 out of 600 targets (Trey Payne of Tifton, Cody Mauldin of Tifton, Jeremy McKellar of Sylvester).
2nd Place --Thomas County Sharpshooters, 544 (Ethan Vinson of Thomasville, Neill Payne of Thomasville, Hailey Porter of Thomasville).
3rd Place--Not awarded.
Junior Varsity Division (Grades 9 to 12)
1st Place--Lake Oconee Shotgun Team, Beretta, 546 out of 600 targets (Caleb B. Collins of Appling, Eli Franks of Buckhead, Stephen Howard of Eatonton).
2nd Place--Fayette County Bunny Busters, 535 (Alex Karl Hendrix of Senoia, Jonathan Lancaster of Brooks, Cory Nordlund of Peachtree City).
3rd Place--palding County Clayslayers, 527 (Chad B. Naylor of Griffin, Jared M. Snyder of Griffin, Hunter Alexander Price of Barnesville).
Intermediate Division (Grades 6 to 8)
1st Place--ake Oconee Shotgun Team, Browning, 550 out of 600 targets (Troy Crisp of Buckhead, Robert Horton of Eatonton, Clay Porter of Madison).
2nd Place--arris County Clay Busters, 524 (Jesse Harless of Columbus, Justin L. Johnson of Hamilton, Dillon Searcy of Pine Mountain).
3rd Place--RGC Claybusters, 493 (Gavin Garner of Warner Robins, Shelby McInnis of Gray, Jessica Cheek of Macon).
Rookie Division (Grades 5 and under)
1st Place--palding County Clayslayers, 179 out of 300 targets (Jeremy Dixon of McDonough, Gordon L. Statham III of Griffin, Walton Strickland of Griffin).
2nd Place--Lake Oconee Shotgun Team, Ruger, 147 (Benjamin Peters of Milledgeville, Haley R. Ruhl of Eatonton, Cameron Wilson of Eatonton).
3rd Place--Not awarded.
SPORTING CLAYS
Varsity Division (Grades 9 to 12)
1st Place--Tift County Southern Crushers, 466 out of 600 targets (Austin Marchant of Tifton, Cody Mauldin of Tifton, Trey Payne of Tifton).
2nd Place--Thomas County Sharpshooters, 441 (Neill Payne of Thomasville, Hailey Porter of Thomasville, Ethan Vinson of Thomasville).
3rd Place--Not awarded.
Junior Varsity Division (Grades 9 to 12)
1st Place--Ocmulgee River Gun Club Claybusters, 465 out of 600 targets (Tripp Colter of Gray, Jared Law of Warner Robins, Brent Woodard of Gray).
2nd Place--Lake Oconee Shotgun Team, Beretta, 450 (Caleb Collins of Appling, Eli Franks of Buckhead, Stephen Howard of Eatonton).
3rd Place--Thomas County Sharpshooters, 402 (Kevin Glass of Thomasville, Sam Snook of Thomasville, Chelsea Vinson of Thomasville).
Intermediate Division (Grades 6 to 8)
1st Place--Lake Oconee Shotgun Team, Browning, 436 out of 600 targets (Troy Crisp of Buckhead, Rob Horton of Eatonton, Clay Porter of Madison).
2nd Place--Thomas County Intermediate, 384 (Chadwick Kelly of Thomasville, Jeffrey Stanaland of Thomasville, Brittany Vinson of Thomasville).
3rd Place--Bridge Creek Clays B-Team, 382 (Seth French of Ocholocknee, Hunter Hancock of Camilla, John Vereen).
Rookie Division (Grades 5 and under)
1st Place--Lake Oconee Shotgun Team, Ruger, 192 out of 300 targets (Brooke Daniel of Eatonton, Benjamin Peters of Milledgeville, Laura Wade of Eatonton).
2nd Place--Tift County South Georgia Shotgunners, 164 (Madeline Deal of Tifton, Kellis Herring of Tifton, Eli Norman of Tifton).
3rd Place--Not awarded.
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