Governor Perdue proclaims the opening day of firearms deer season as “TIP” day in Georgia

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (October 17, 2006) - Governor Sonny Perdue recently signed a proclamation designating Saturday, October 21, 2006, the opening day of modern firearms season for deer hunting, as Turn In Poachers (TIP) Day in Georgia. The mission of TIP, Inc., a non-profit organization, is to protect wildlife from poachers by increasing public support for wildlife law enforcement, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).

“The ownership of all wildlife is by the State of Georgia. It is held in trust for all Georgians to enjoy,” says Governor Perdue. “A poacher is one who takes wildlife illegally, thereby depriving other citizens of our state’s natural resources.”

TIP creates a framework to promote ethical hunting and to promote the conservation of natural resources. Georgians are encouraged to contact the TIP hotline when they witness a poaching violation. This information is forwarded to WRD for further investigation. If a tip leads to an arrest, TIP pays a reward to the individual who reported the violation. Callers to TIP can remain anonymous if desired.

Poaching violations include hunting during illegal hours, taking over the limit of wildlife and/or fish, hunting or fishing in unauthorized areas, killing deer illegally, hunting over bait, buying or selling wildlife or game fish, killing or being in possession of nongame/endangered species, stocking wildlife, hunting or fishing by illegal methods and more.

Georgia citizens can help fight poaching by calling the TIP hotline. This line can be reached by dialing 1-800-241-4113 outside metro-Atlanta or (404) 656-4863 inside metro-Atlanta or by calling *DNR for Cingular callers or by sending an email to TurnInPoachers@dnr.state.ga.us .

Callers should try to obtain the following information:

· A description of the violator

· A description of their vehicle

· The location of the violation

· Date and time of the violation
· The type of violation

For more information, visit www.georgiawildlife.com (select “General Information”, “Law Enforcement” and “Turn in Poachers and Polluters”), contact your local WRD Law Enforcement Office or call (770) 918-6414. To make a tax-deductible donation to support anti-poaching efforts, send a check made payable to TIP to: Turn In Poachers, Inc. 3423 Piedmont Road, NE, Suite 540, Atlanta, Ga., 30305.
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Go trout fishing on a delayed harvest stream - Fifth stream added to delayed harvest program

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (October 17, 2006) - If you need a break from the everyday routine, let your mind escape to the thought of a trout-filled mountain stream cloaked in autumn color. And then take it one step further and get out there and fish! With more than 4,000 miles of trout streams and three species of trout, there is a trout fishing opportunity closer than you think - even in metro Atlanta. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) has made it even easier by designating a 1.3 mile section of the Toccoa River as a fifth delayed harvest stream.

Georgia trout streams are designated as seasonal, year-round or delayed harvest and different streams offer varying populations of rainbow, brown and brook trout. Delayed harvest streams have special regulations from Nov. 1 - May 14, including catch-and-release only fishing and the use of artificial lures only.

“The delayed harvest section of the Toccoa River will be particularly attractive to fly anglers because the river is wide enough for the long, graceful casts associated with this particular style of fishing. Additionally, anglers using casting or spinning equipment also will find success on this river,” says WRD Fisheries Region Supervisor Wayne Probst. “Delayed harvest streams are managed to provide high catch rates, making them a great place for new and seasoned anglers alike.”

The five trout streams managed under delayed harvest regulations are: Toccoa River located on U.S. Forest Service land upstream of Lake Blue Ridge in Fannin County (off Aska Road at near Shallowford Bridge), Amicalola Creek on the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area (from Steele Bridge Road downstream to Georgia Highway 53), Smith Creek at Unicoi State Park, the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta (between Sope Creek - off Columns Drive - and U.S. Highway 41) and a portion of the Chattooga River (from Ga. Hwy. 28 upstream to the mouth of Reed Creek) on U. S. Forest Service land bordering South Carolina.

Download your free Georgia trout stream maps, including a map of the recently added Toccoa River-delayed harvest portion, and other trout fishing tips from the WRD website, www.gofishgeorgia.com. Anglers must possess a current Georgia fishing license and a trout license to fish in designated trout waters.
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Participants needed for Georgia’s second annual youth birding competition

FORSYTH, Ga. (October 17, 2006) - Attention all parents, children, teachers, youth clubs, birders and outdoor adventurers: Georgia’s First Youth Birding Competition needs YOU! The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (DNR/WRD) and The Environmental Resources Network, Inc. (T.E.R.N.) will be hosting the second annual Youth Birding Competition at WRD’s Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center on Sunday, April 29, 2007, and interested participants can begin registering youth teams as soon as today.

“Inspired by the World Series of Birding event in Cape May, New Jersey, this bird-a-thon/conservation fundraiser is a great opportunity to get kids excited about birds and the natural world while helping support a nongame wildlife project or conservation organization of their choice,” says WRD wildlife biologist and contest coordinator Tim Keyes.

Georgia’s Second Annual Youth Birding Competition is open to teams ranging in age from elementary to high school (participants compete against other teams their age, in three age divisions). Fundraising is a voluntary component of this event where teams could raise money on a per-bird or lump sum basis to support their chosen organization. The competition will start at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 28 and end at 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 29, 2007. Participating groups may use as much or as little of that time to count as many birds as possible throughout Georgia. Although teams may start birding anywhere in the state, they must arrive at the “finish-line” at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield, Georgia by 6 p.m. on Sunday. While judges examine and score the final checklists, the participants will enjoy a Live Animal Show followed by an awards banquet with amazing prizes including new binoculars for each member of the winning team.

To help the participants learn the birds of Georgia, the contest organizers will pair pre-registered teams with experienced birding mentors to meet throughout the year to participate in birding programs, workshops and other bird related events (Flying Wild curriculum, Backyard Bird Counts, Christmas Bird Counts). By organizing and registering youth teams now, this pre-competition program will help the participants develop the knowledge needed to make the competition a success. The registration deadline is March 31, 2007 and is FREE to all participants.

Georgia’s first Youth Birding Competition was held April 23, 2006, resulting in 180 species identified by sixteen teams, which were comprised of 68 youths ranging from 7 to 17 years old. Many of the participating teams crisscrossed the state, some starting the count at the beginning competition hour, while many others stationed themselves in one area of the state counting birds throughout the day. Two teams tied for the grand prize, each counting 100 species within the state.

“The First Annual Youth Birding Competition was the most fun I have ever had, and a life-changing experience,” said Tim White, member of the award-winning Savannah Sparrows team. “To all you birders out there, consider being mentors or helping in some way. Wonderful times like this are contagious, and you should all participate!”

Many of the participants were awarded a pair of binoculars, field guides, bird feeders, posters, bird CD-ROMs and other door prizes donated by Eagle Optics, Atlanta Audubon Society, Georgia Ornithological Society, Droll Yankees and The Environmental Resources Network, Inc. (T.E.R.N.).

For more detailed information on Georgia’s first Youth Birding Competition and how you can register a youth team for this exciting event, contact the contest coordinator Tim Keyes at (478) 994-1438 or Tim_Keyes@dnr.state.ga.us or visit WRD’s website at www.georgiawildlife.com, and click “Nongame Animals & Plants.”
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