Youth hunts -- designed to introduce young hunters to the outdoors, potential caretakers of the fields and forests for years to come -- are offered in all three states.

“The youth hunts are very popular in New Jersey,” noted Herrighty. “We have a youth archery deer, youth shotgun/muzzleloader deer, youth upland game, youth turkey and also youth waterfowl days.”

While the DFW hasn’t conducted research to measure participation specifically, Herrighty said that it is good and continues to grow.

Youth hunt results are similar in Maryland, where participation levels are good, as are opportunities. Delaware also provides a waterfowl day and a deer day. To this point, participation in those two hunts has been limited.

Youth hunts are just one way of increasing interest in the outdoors. During the past decade or so, significant effort has been made in introducing women to the outdoors. Delaware has an aggressive program in which women are provided the foundation to enjoy many aspects of the outdoors, hunting and shooting included.

According to the Delaware’s DFW, while the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Program is aimed primarily at women, it offers an opportunity for everyone 18 or older to learn skills that will let them participate in numerous outdoor activities. The BOW Weekend features four half-day training sessions that begin on Friday afternoon.

Participants have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of course offerings during each of the sessions. Included among the many hands-on courses during the weekend are archery, surf-fishing, camping, shotgun shooting, basic boating, sea kayaking, hunting skills, fly-fishing, nature photography, and various other outdoor activities.

The instructors of these courses have been selected for their expertise as well as their ability to provide instruction in a safe, supportive, and non-competitive atmosphere.

While no reports of chronic wasting disease (CWD) had occurred up to the time of this writing, the potential spread of the fatal disease to the three-state area is of primary concern, particularly after its having been discovered in West Virginia, not far from the Maryland border.

All three states have programs to monitor deer populations, both domestic and wild.

Herrighty said personnel in New Jersey monitor harvested deer. He said over 800 deer were tested last year, and all were negative for CWD.

“We have tested live captive deer brought into the state illegally,” he added. “All were negative for CWD. Like in other states, inter-state transportation of live deer in New Jersey is banned.”

Last fall, according to the Delaware’s DFW, brain and lymph node tissue samples from hunter-harvested white-tailed deer in Delaware were submitted to the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine for testing. Three hundred random samples were collected in Delaware, 100 from each county. Final test results showed all the samples to be negative for the disease.

BLACK BEAR HUNTING
In recent years, both Maryland and New Jersey have conducted black bear hunts. A bear hunt was conducted in New Jersey in 2005, but not last season amid much controversy. Though the status of a future hunt is unclear, it doesn’t seem likely that black bears will be hunted in the Garden State this fall. Herrighty said he doesn’t anticipate a hunt for 2007.

“The Commissioner and the Council are discussing issues related to a comprehensive bear-management plan,” he said. “The commissioner must approve such a plan prior to a hunt.”

Despite hunting being the most effective management tool in keeping wildlife populations in check with habitat limitations and social acceptance, much of New Jersey’s inability to conduct a black bear hunt last season was due to political pressure from the non-hunting community.

Youth hunts -- designed to introduce young hunters to the outdoors, potential caretakers of the fields and forests for years to come -- are offered in all three states.

“The youth hunts are very popular in New Jersey,” noted Herrighty. “We have a youth archery deer, youth shotgun/muzzleloader deer, youth upland game, youth turkey and also youth waterfowl days.”

While the DFW hasn’t conducted research to measure participation specifically, Herrighty said that it is good and continues to grow.

Youth hunt results are similar in Maryland, where participation levels are good, as are opportunities. Delaware also provides a waterfowl day and a deer day. To this point, participation in those two hunts has been limited.

Youth hunts are just one way of increasing interest in the outdoors. During the past decade or so, significant effort has been made in introducing women to the outdoors. Delaware has an aggressive program in which women are provided the foundation to enjoy many aspects of the outdoors, hunting and shooting included.

According to the Delaware’s DFW, while the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Program is aimed primarily at women, it offers an opportunity for everyone 18 or older to learn skills that will let them participate in numerous outdoor activities. The BOW Weekend features four half-day training sessions that begin on Friday afternoon.

Participants have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of course offerings during each of the sessions. Included among the many hands-on courses during the weekend are archery, surf-fishing, camping, shotgun shooting, basic boating, sea kayaking, hunting skills, fly-fishing, nature photography, and various other outdoor activities.

The instructors of these courses have been selected for their expertise as well as their ability to provide instruction in a safe, supportive, and non-competitive atmosphere.

While no reports of chronic wasting disease (CWD) had occurred up to the time of this writing, the potential spread of the fatal disease to the three-state area is of primary concern, particularly after its having been discovered in West Virginia, not far from the Maryland border.

All three states have programs to monitor deer populations, both domestic and wild.

Herrighty said personnel in New Jersey monitor harvested deer. He said over 800 deer were tested last year, and all were negative for CWD.

“We have tested live captive deer brought into the state illegally,” he added. “All were negative for CWD. Like in other states, inter-state transportation of live deer in New Jersey is banned.”

Last fall, according to the Delaware’s DFW, brain and lymph node tissue samples from hunter-harvested white-tailed deer in Delaware were submitted to the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine for testing. Three hundred random samples were collected in Delaware, 100 from each county. Final test results showed all the samples to be negative for the disease.

BLACK BEAR HUNTING
In recent years, both Maryland and New Jersey have conducted black bear hunts. A bear hunt was conducted in New Jersey in 2005, but not last season amid much controversy. Though the status of a future hunt is unclear, it doesn’t seem likely that black bears will be hunted in the Garden State this fall. Herrighty said he doesn’t anticipate a hunt for 2007.

“The Commissioner and the Council are discussing issues related to a comprehensive bear-management plan,” he said. “The commissioner must approve such a plan prior to a hunt.”

Despite hunting being the most effective management tool in keeping wildlife populations in check with habitat limitations and social acceptance, much of New Jersey’s inability to conduct a black bear hunt last season was due to political pressure from the non-hunting community.

Youth hunts -- designed to introduce young hunters to the outdoors, potential caretakers of the fields and forests for years to come -- are offered in all three states.

“The youth hunts are very popular in New Jersey,” noted Herrighty. “We have a youth archery deer, youth shotgun/muzzleloader deer, youth upland game, youth turkey and also youth waterfowl days.”

While the DFW hasn’t conducted research to measure participation specifically, Herrighty said that it is good and continues to grow.

Youth hunt results are similar in Maryland, where participation levels are good, as are opportunities. Delaware also provides a waterfowl day and a deer day. To this point, participation in those two hunts has been limited.

Youth hunts are just one way of increasing interest in the outdoors. During the past decade or so, significant effort has been made in introducing women to the outdoors. Delaware has an aggressive program in which women are provided the foundation to enjoy many aspects of the outdoors, hunting and shooting included.

According to the Delaware’s DFW, while the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Program is aimed primarily at women, it offers an opportunity for everyone 18 or older to learn skills that will let them participate in numerous outdoor activities. The BOW Weekend features four half-day training sessions that begin on Friday afternoon.

Participants have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of course offerings during each of the sessions. Included among the many hands-on courses during the weekend are archery, surf-fishing, camping, shotgun shooting, basic boating, sea kayaking, hunting skills, fly-fishing, nature photography, and various other outdoor activities.

The instructors of these courses have been selected for their expertise as well as their ability to provide instruction in a safe, supportive, and non-competitive atmosphere.

While no reports of chronic wasting disease (CWD) had occurred up to the time of this writing, the potential spread of the fatal disease to the three-state area is of primary concern, particularly after its having been discovered in West Virginia, not far from the Maryland border.

All three states have programs to monitor deer populations, both domestic and wild.

Herrighty said personnel in New Jersey monitor harvested deer. He said over 800 deer were tested last year, and all were negative for CWD.

“We have tested live captive deer brought into the state illegally,” he added. “All were negative for CWD. Like in other states, inter-state transportation of live deer in New Jersey is banned.”

Last fall, according to the Delaware’s DFW, brain and lymph node tissue samples from hunter-harvested white-tailed deer in Delaware were submitted to the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine for testing. Three hundred random samples were collected in Delaware, 100 from each county. Final test results showed all the samples to be negative for the disease.

BLACK BEAR HUNTING
In recent years, both Maryland and New Jersey have conducted black bear hunts. A bear hunt was conducted in New Jersey in 2005, but not last season amid much controversy. Though the status of a future hunt is unclear, it doesn’t seem likely that black bears will be hunted in the Garden State this fall. Herrighty said he doesn’t anticipate a hunt for 2007.

“The Commissioner and the Council are discussing issues related to a comprehensive bear-management plan,” he said. “The commissioner must approve such a plan prior to a hunt.”

Despite hunting being the most effective management tool in keeping wildlife populations in check with habitat limitations and social acceptance, much of New Jersey’s inability to conduct a black bear hunt last season was due to political pressure from the non-hunting community.

Youth hunts -- designed to introduce young hunters to the outdoors, potential caretakers of the fields and forests for years to come -- are offered in all three states.

“The youth hunts are very popular in New Jersey,” noted Herrighty. “We have a youth archery deer, youth shotgun/muzzleloader deer, youth upland game, youth turkey and also youth waterfowl days.”

While the DFW hasn’t conducted research to measure participation specifically, Herrighty said that it is good and continues to grow.

Youth hunt results are similar in Maryland, where participation levels are good, as are opportunities. Delaware also provides a waterfowl day and a deer day. To this point, participation in those two hunts has been limited.

Youth hunts are just one way of increasing interest in the outdoors. During the past decade or so, significant effort has been made in introducing women to the outdoors. Delaware has an aggressive program in which women are provided the foundation to enjoy many aspects of the outdoors, hunting and shooting included.

According to the Delaware’s DFW, while the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Program is aimed primarily at women, it offers an opportunity for everyone 18 or older to learn skills that will let them participate in numerous outdoor activities. The BOW Weekend features four half-day training sessions that begin on Friday afternoon.

Participants have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of course offerings during each of the sessions. Included among the many hands-on courses during the weekend are archery, surf-fishing, camping, shotgun shooting, basic boating, sea kayaking, hunting skills, fly-fishing, nature photography, and various other outdoor activities.

The instructors of these courses have been selected for their expertise as well as their ability to provide instruction in a safe, supportive, and non-competitive atmosphere.

While no reports of chronic wasting disease (CWD) had occurred up to the time of this writing, the potential spread of the fatal disease to the three-state area is of primary concern, particularly after its having been discovered in West Virginia, not far from the Maryland border.

All three states have programs to monitor deer populations, both domestic and wild.

Herrighty said personnel in New Jersey monitor harvested deer. He said over 800 deer were tested last year, and all were negative for CWD.

“We have tested live captive deer brought into the state illegally,” he added. “All were negative for CWD. Like in other states, inter-state transportation of live deer in New Jersey is banned.”

Last fall, according to the Delaware’s DFW, brain and lymph node tissue samples from hunter-harvested white-tailed deer in Delaware were submitted to the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine for testing. Three hundred random samples were collected in Delaware, 100 from each county. Final test results showed all the samples to be negative for the disease.

BLACK BEAR HUNTING
In recent years, both Maryland and New Jersey have conducted black bear hunts. A bear hunt was conducted in New Jersey in 2005, but not last season amid much controversy. Though the status of a future hunt is unclear, it doesn’t seem likely that black bears will be hunted in the Garden State this fall. Herrighty said he doesn’t anticipate a hunt for 2007.

“The Commissioner and the Council are discussing issues related to a comprehensive bear-management plan,” he said. “The commissioner must approve such a plan prior to a hunt.”

Despite hunting being the most effective management tool in keeping wildlife populations in check with habitat limitations and social acceptance, much of New Jersey’s inability to conduct a black bear hunt last season was due to political pressure from the non-hunting community.