Wild New Jersey Exclusive: Volunteers Needed to Help Trout and Pheasant Stocking Programs
Photo credit: state.nj.us/dep
The Division of Fish and Wildlife began raising and stocking trout in 1912 and began pheasant rearing and stocking in 1923. Over the course of nearly a century, their trout and pheasant programs have not been merely maintained, but continually improved to the point where they are the envy of many states. The increasing number of nonresidents coming to our state to trout fish and pheasant hunt confirm that.
Rising costs and shrinking staff pose challenges to maintaining the excellent quality of the trout and pheasant programs that everyone, including Wildlife Conservation Corps (WCC) volunteers, have worked so hard to develop. Stocking of both pheasants and trout are the most demanding in terms of time and staff yet the stocking regimes largely define the quality and quantity of fishing and hunting opportunities for both species. Fish and Wildlife's goal is to explore every option to maintain the current outstanding stocking regimes for both species and the excellent fishing and hunting opportunities those stocking regimes provide.
One of the options they are exploring is the enlistment of WCC members who currently have CDLs to assist with stocking programs by driving stocking trucks. A handful of reliable volunteer drivers to assist on one or several days each week in the spring and/or fall would go a long way in maintaining the quality of our trout and pheasant stocking programs. Interested WCC members are asked to reply to paul.ritter@dep.state.nj.us. Those who respond will be contacted with additional information on the application and interview process to be considered for this volunteer project.
Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 3/3/2010 7:00 AM 
Categories: WNJ Exclusives, Hunting
Tags: fishing hunting dep fish and wildlife pheasant wcc stocking trout
Categories: WNJ Exclusives, Hunting
Tags: fishing hunting dep fish and wildlife pheasant wcc stocking trout
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