THE application period for New Jersey’s deer permits not only was extended, but the number of permits issued almost doubled in some cases, according to the state’s Division of Fish and Wildlife.
In the past, the period in which hunters could apply for the special permits to hunt during the annual extended Fall bow and arrow, muzzleloader, and either-sex shotgun seasons was Aug. 15 to Sept. 10. This year, the application period began on June 1 and will run to Sept. 10.
This fall, 55,375 permits will be allocated to the extended fall bow and arrow deer season, compared to 40,181 allocated last year. In addition, 42,255 permits will be given to muzzleloaders compared to 34,673 last year, while a whopping 70,260 permits will be issued for the either-sex shotgun deer seasons, as compared to 48,411 given out last year.
The large increases are due primarily to farmer complaints of extensive crop damage by deer. This makes the chances of obtaining permits for all three permits season this fall far more promising.
Application forms are included in the division’s 2000 Deer Supplement and are available at all license-issuing agents. For more information about the permit system, call the division’s hot line at (609) 292-9192.
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MONTAUK’S oldest shark tournament will kick off the offshore angling season this weekend.
The 30th annual Montauk Marine Basin Shark Tagging Tournament will again stress the tagging and releasing of sharks and also the participation of families.
The tournament is limited to 150 boats and a minimum-size limit of 175 pounds for sharks brought back to the dock. There will be 14 prize categories and a $50,000 purse.
Each year, Montauk Marine Basin has taken a large step in what will eventually be an all tag-and-release tournament. For more information and to register, contact the marina at (631)-668-5900.
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CONDITIONS in most of the nation’s estuaries are expected to worsen by 2020, according to a report released last week by NOAA’s National Ocean Service.
The report, “National Estuarine Eutrophication Assessment: Effects of Nutrient Enrichment in the Nation’s Estuaries,” indicates that by the year 2020, conditions may worsen in the majority of estuaries if population growth and development in the coastal zone is not managed properly.
The results show that 44 of the 139 systems studied have significant problem conditions, and 40 have moderate problems. According to the report, these problem conditions are not isolated. Although they occur in estuaries along all coasts, the Gulf of Mexico and mid-Atlantic regions have the greatest percentage of estuaries with high-level problems.
These conditions have been shown by other studies to alter the uses of the estuaries, at times closing shell-fishing beds, causing human health risks, destroying habitat for fisheries and leading to loss of tourism.
The NOAA study indicates that for the majority of estuaries with significant problems, human-related nutrient inputs are an important influence on development of those problems. However, many of these estuaries are also naturally sensitive to nutrient inputs.
Nutrient-related water-quality problems have worsened in 48 estuaries since 1970, while in 14 estuaries conditions have improved. Alarmingly, scientists predict that conditions will become even worse in 86 estuaries by the year 2020, as population growth and development in the coastal zone increases. Conditions are predicted to improve in only eight estuaries. According to NOAA scientists, these results highlight the need for a strong national response to this pervasive problem.
