Contact:  Mary Emmons 517-241-9477
Agency: Natural Resources

Feb. 3, 2009

The Department of Natural Resources currently is accepting registration forms for Michigan’s third annual State Virtual Archery Tournament. The tournament, for students enrolled at schools participating in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), will take place Feb. 16 through March 20, 2009. Final scores must be submitted to the DNR by March 23, 2009.

Teams will be separated by grade level division (4-6, 7-8 and 9-12) and must be comprised of 16 to 24 students with at least five team members of the opposite gender. Schools unable to field a team will be permitted to register students to compete individually.

Team and individual tournament champions will be awarded trophies, medals and other prizes thanks to the generous donations of several archery manufacturers and the National Wild Turkey Federation.

First place and qualifying teams per age division and the highest scoring male and female archer will be invited to participate in the NASP National Tournament, which will be held May 8-9 in Louisville, Ky. Teams and individuals from 49 participating NASP states will be competing for college scholarships and other prizes.

For more information, contact Mary Emmons at (517) 241-9477; e-mail emmonsm@michigan.gov, or visit the DNR the Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnrarchery.

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News Release : January 21, 2009

 Hoy Murphy, Public Information Officer (304) 558-2003 ext. 365 hoy.r.murphy@wv.govContact: Chris Ryan, Wildlife Resources Section (304) 558-2771 wildlife@wvdnr.gov  

            West Virginia hunters harvested a record 2,064 black bears during the combined 2008 archery and firearms seasons, according to Chris Ryan, Black Bear Project Leader for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The preliminary harvest data for the combined seasons in 2008 was 14 percent higher than the previous record of 1,804 established in 2007.

            “Numerous factors contributed to this record bear harvest,” said Ryan. “West Virginia has a tremendous bear population that allows for a variety of different hunting opportunities. The expansion and increase in the bear population has led to the extension of hunting seasons designed to keep counties in line with their management objectives. With the cooperation of hunters, wildlife managers can maintain and/or adjust bear populations to desired management levels by implementing appropriate hunting regulations.”

            Hunters took 477 bears during the 2008 archery season. The top five counties were Randolph (56), Nicholas (37), Preston (36), Webster (32), and McDowell (24).

            Firearms hunters took a record harvest of 1,587 bears during 2008. Hunters took 670 bears during the September season. Top five counties were Pendleton (72), Randolph (66), Hardy (62), Pocahontas (60) and Greenbrier (52). Hunters took 109 bears during the concurrent buck gun season. Top five counties were Kanawha (32), Raleigh (27), Boone (25), Fayette (24) and Monongalia (1).  Hunters took 808 during the traditional December season. The top five counties were Pocahontas (128), Greenbrier (105), Pendleton (102), Randolph (76), and Webster (68).

To see a chart listing all counties go to:  http://www.wvdnr.gov/2009news/09news009.shtm

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