November has brought with it some beautiful fall colors across the Maryland-Virginia region inviting all to enjoy the outdoors. While one of the worst droughts on record has taken its toll on both farmland crops and wildlife habitat, the Mountains, Piedmont and Tidewater have weathered the worst. A surprise to many hikers and hunters is the resilient acorn crop found in many of the woodlands. Wild turkey and deer may not have to venture far this month if mast crops are their choice of forage. Those enjoying the Lower Northern Neck outdoors this month may get a view of a black bear passing through. Some were reported as seen last month, not too far from the Rappahannock River. There is no hunting season for “bruins” in the Northern Neck Counties nor any other Virginia locales nearby. So, load your camera and carry it along for some potential choice photo or video footage. Give bears plenty of distance and never crowd their location if you happen to see them. Local sightings can be reported either directly to the Virginia State Game Warden assigned to the County where the sighting took place or relayed to them via the non-emergency number of the Sheriff’s Department. Information on bear sightings should include the date, time, location and direction the bear was heading. This can be useful to Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) Wildlife Biologists who keep records of Virginia black bear movements. There is some great habitat for bears in the Northern Neck of Virginia but for some reason they seem to remain interested only in passing through. 

     
A hunter education course is being offered in Lancaster County, Virginia on Friday, November 15 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 16 from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m at Lancaster High School. Registration is not required but both sessions must be attended for certification. Call (804) 436-0717 for information. 

     Wearing blaze orange is mandatory while hunting during the deer firearms seasons in Maryland and Virginia. It is also good practice to wear a blaze orange hat or vest for personal safety, if you are in or near an area where hunting takes place. Hunters should also consider tying a piece of blaze orange cloth around a deer or turkey they harvest when they are returning from the hunt. 

     November is a busy month for rockfish anglers, especially after the big trophy stripers arrive. Familiar trolling rigs and lures fished deep including umbrella rigs, banjo-eye bucktails and “Stretch 25s & 30s” will be the tackle of choice for many anglers. Stay informed on the different creel/possession limits in all three striped bass seasons; Maryland, Virginia and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC). The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) website is at www.state.va.us/mrc/homepage.htm They can also be reached by phone at (757) 247-2200. Information on Maryland fishing regulations is available by calling toll free, 1-800-688-3467 or visiting their website at www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries . Fishing regulation information on Potomac River waters within the jurisdiction of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC) is available by calling their toll free number at 800-266-3904. 

Photo: Youth and their families enjoyed the great outdoors with the Rappahannock Chapter of Ducks Unlimited for their annual "Greenwing" event. The October 6 fun included decoy retrieval by "Drake". 

© 2002 Steve & Chelly Scala All Rights Reserved.