Jessica Fender
The Tennessean

NASHVILLE, TN -- A state senator who for years has pushed bills benefiting Tennessee's wildlife agency leads a Dickson nonprofit that landed an annual $450,000 grant to produce the agency's outdoors television program.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency bypassed open bidding rules in 2000 when it awarded its second-largest grant to the Renaissance Center — run by state Sen. Doug Jackson — instead of inviting competing proposals

NEW ORLEANS, LA- Grand Isle Pier served as a free fishing pier until Hurricane Katrina's storm surge destroyed it. The disused bridge in Jefferson Parish will once again become home to some of the state's best fishing.

FEMA funds will pay to rebuild the fishing pier, which will be constructed of concrete. The new pier will also be handicap accessible, an amenity that old pier did not possess. Construction should be complete in 18 to 24 months. The relics of the old wooden pier will be removed.

The pier has been a favorite fishing spot for both the Grand Isle community and tourists. The area's warm Gulf of

Dove season opens Sept. 1, with an estimated 90,000 dove hunters taking the field. Hunters are expected to harvest more than 1.5 million doves this season, which runs Sept. 1-15 and Nov. 10-Dec. 24, 2007 according to Tom Blankinship, California Department of Fish and Game's (DFG) Upland Game Bird Coordinator. The Eurasian collared-dove, now common in some locations in southern California, became a legal game species this season and can now be included in the daily bag and possession limit.

Hunters are reminded that they are required to leave a fully feathered wing attached to doves when transporting them. The daily bag limit is 10 (in combination of all species) and the possession limit is 20.

HARRISBURG- Sportsmen's groups and gun dealers may go to court for an injunction to block state police from taking a background investigation system for gun buyers out of action from Sept. 2 to 6.

The gun owners and dealers, along with some legislators from both parties, are upset that would-be gun buyers won't be able to buy handguns, shotguns or rifles during the five-day span when the computerized instant

PINE BLUFF, AR.— A bass tournament made deductions from its prize payouts after fewer people entered the event last weekend than expected.

The Big Bass Bonanza paid $100,000 — as advertised — to the winner. But four anglers who were supposed to receive $10,000 only got $1,000.

"I just got ripped out of a pretty good chunk of money,'' said Bart Moore, one of those who was to receive $10,000. "This is the first time I've ever heard of this happening. Everybody is just beside themselves.''

Bob Maciulis

Star Columnist

The turnaround of North America's waterfowl populations is an incredible success story, one that underlines the cooperation between the private sector and professional fish and game management.

Organizations like Ducks Unlimited working in tandem with the various Department of Natural Resources have preserved or enhanced millions of acres of wetlands in critical breeding areas of the upper plains and Canada. Thousands of species of animals, birds, fish and lesser creatures also rely on wetlands for survival.

The result has been a dramatic resurgence in the numbers of North American waterfowl.

Todd Richmond (AP)

OSHKOSH, WI— Under Lake Winnebago's sparkling waters lurks an invader too tiny to see with the naked eye.

Wildlife officials detected the viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus in the lake system in May, alarming the state's fishing community.

Anglers fear it could devastate Wisconsin's billion dollar-plus fishing industry, and if left unchecked, threaten waters to the west.The virus poses no threat to humans, but can cause a wide range of trophy fish, including musky, trout and bass, to bleed to death.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — At its sixth annual induction ceremony, Tennessee-based Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame inducted seven new members, including well-known bass angling and industry personalities Larry Nixon, Pam Martin-Wells and Tommy Akin.

Held at the Sheraton Music City Hotel, in Nashville on August 17, 2007 before a crowd of just under 300, the evening began with country music entertainment and remarks from founder Garry Mason and guest speaker Hank Parker. It concluded with the presentation of awards to the inductees.

The annual alligator prowl started Wednesday and would-be, big-time game hunters who participated in a lottery earlier this year have a shot to bag and tag a gator over four staggered weeks ending in November.

And for those who lack expertise in snagging an American alligator, known as alligator mississippiensis in scholarly circles, there are plenty of licensed trappers and hunters offering services as guides.

AUGUSTA, ME - As the investigation into the Long Lake fatal boating crash continues, the Maine Warden Service and the Cumberland County District Attorney’s office are releasing several details surrounding the crash investigation.

On Saturday night, August 11, 2007 at approximately 9:00 p.m, a 32’ Sunsation boat with twin 435 horsepower engines was involved in a fatal collision with a 14’ Glasspar powered by a 115 horsepower outboard on Long Lake in Harrison.

The owner of the 32’ Sunsation was Robert Lapointe, age 38, of Framingham, Mass. In the Sunsation boat with Lapointe was 19-year-old Nicole Randall of Bridgton, Maine. The owner of the 14’ Glasspar was Terry Raye Trott, age 55 of Naples, Maine, and with him was 44-year-old Susanne Groetzinger of Berwick, Maine.

The three-day tournament was originally scheduled for June 22-24 then was postponed when high water conditions made the Arkansas River potentially hazardous for small watercraft.

All current tournament registrations will be honored and the tournament rules and prize pay-out arrangements will remain the same. Tournament rules and pay-outs are available at www.arkansasbigbass.com.

The 2007 Kansas Hunting Atlas, which includes maps showing locations of Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) and other public hunting areas, is now available online. Printed copies of the atlas will be available the week of Aug. 27 at department offices and hunting license vendors around the state.

The atlas provides 30 maps covering all of the state’s 105 counties and illustrating the locations of all WIHA and public hunting areas. Online visitors can view and print the complete atlas or may select specific maps they are most likely to use. Maps are arranged alphabetically, and each includes an index listing the game species most likely to occur on WIHA properties.