FORT BENNING, Ga., (Aug.26, 2015) --More than 500 people flocked to the annual Hunting, Fishing and Recreation Open House Aug. 19 to receive the latest information on opportunities and new regulations for on post activities.
"(This) event provides a venue for hunters, shooters and fisherman to kick off the 2015-2016 hunting season," said Kirk Michael, marketing director for Outdoor Recreation.
The open house, hosted by Outdoor Recreation, included activities for kids, free food and raffle prizes.
'This is a great event, and it's nice that they host it every year," said 2nd Lt. Scott Riley, an ABOLC student whose father is also stationed at Fort Benning. "It gives us new guys the opportunity to meet other sportsmen, and learn from them. I bought my hunting bow last year when I came with my dad, and just made plans to go shooting this year with someone standing behind me in line for food."
The open house was also a forum to update patrons on changes to regulations, changes to the hunting and fishing map and new post weapons policies. Some of the changes include:
• Hunters are encouraged to identify and lock up all personal property while in the field, and the permanent revocation of hunting and fishing privileges for theft of personal property has been added as a penalty,
• Language has been added to the hunting regulation documents to restrict off road traffic - reference MCoE Regulation 190-13,
• Language has been added to restrict the use of exploding broadheads.
• 40-caliber pistols were added to the list of authorized pistols in shotgun areas,
• Two types of fishing poles were removed from the restricted list for fishing in ponds,
• Fishing with minnows is no longer allowed in Twilight Pond.
Hunters learned about the Big Buck and Most Does Contest, a competition for hunters on mandatory deer check dates by the conservation branch. The dates are Oct. 17-18 and Nov. 7- 8 for the Georgia side of post and the check is at Building 5883 on Harmony Church and Nov. 21- 22 for the Uchee Creek Campground area in Alabama. Bucks are judged on the Boone and Crockett scale.
They will host Woman's Hunting Clinic Oct. 1 at the Range Shooting Complex. The class is for women who want to learn about the basics of hunting.
"We are encouraging women to come learn, among other women, the basics of safe hunting, different techniques and popular products used to hunt," Micheal said.
Outdoor Recreation and Wildlife Conservation Branch officials said hunters should make sure any weapons brought on post are unloaded, cased and separate from ammo. Shotguns should be plugged. Weapons should only be loaded in hunting areas during legal hunting hours.
For more information about hunting, fishing or recreation, call Outdoor Recreation at 706-545-7978 or visit www.benningmwr.com/documents/odr/FortBenningHuntingandFishingFAQ2015-16Season.pdf
Social Sharing