bluecordfishermen 
Greetings Fort Bragg Hunters and Anglers!
(Letter From Alan Schultz 25 JUN 2019
We hope your summer outdoor excursions are rewarding, with quality field time whether individually, or with family and friends.
We have many exciting activities going on here at Fort Bragg Wildlife:
– The lakes have been stocked and we know many of you are partaking. We have reports coming in from many lakes with great success. Don’t forget that in addition to 19 managed lakes, there are also fishing opportunities in many of our beaver ponds, in the Little River, and in Drowning Creek (maybe a snake or two to keep you company there!).
– Of course, we are gearing up our aquatic weed control and summer fisheries surveys to plan our next stocking and harvest requirements.
– We are extremely pleased that Fort Bragg has committed to full renovations of both Kiest and Smith Lakes, now underway!! Rest assured that we will crank them back up full of fish as soon as the water is back on. (Remember also that Simmons breached last year, and we had to relocate all the fish from there, so fish elsewhere until we get that population back up.) The hurricane might have boosted the small watershed to make Andrews Church Lake a lake again. It has been restocked, so plan to check it out next season when the fish are grown and ready!
– We had a great turkey season with a significant increase in hunts and many new hunters. If you are one of those and found it challenging – welcome to turkey hunting!!
– We completed another great season of coyote removal, now just shy of 400, so our fawns are again surviving to provide us a sustainable herd. We see the numbers in our annual population survey (starting next month), and our check station data (thanks to your valuable assistance!).
– Hunting season will be here before you know it! The dove fields are planted, this year we have worked over 430 of our Wildlife Openings/Food Fields throughout the training areas, the Agriculture Outleases will be full of soybeans, and of course we will plant our winter forage Wildlife Openings in fall.
In addition to your personal fishing and hunting, there are many things in the queue, here and with our partners, which you may find of interest:
– We have various Volunteer and Intern programs and activities here at Wildlife (and we are always looking for folks who want to be involved). We are scheduling Deer Hunting (Oct 1) and Deer Processing Seminars (Oct 3 – watch our Facebook for details). We are also working on a Big Buck Contest and Getting Started Outdoors Hunting Introduction Workshop for folks who have never had the chance or exposure.
– Our local Quality Deer Management Association Branch is building back up and would welcome you at their meetings and activities. They meet the first week of the month (see https://www.facebook.com/FortBraggQDMA/) or visit their booth at the Hoke County Wildlife Expo 28 July.
– The Fort Bragg Quail Hunters Club meets here at the Hunting and Fishing Center on the 3rd Wed of the month at 7pm. They always welcome new members, so if you are a small game hunter, wing shooter, or bird dog enthusiast come out and meet others with shared interests.
– Our local Sandhills Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation along with NCWRC, are hosting the Cape Fear Youth Day on 17 Aug. (https://www.facebook.com/Sandhills-Chapter-NWTF-163722266974430/) This is a truly awesome summer activity for the kids with all the shooting and fishing sports at a great facility. This is something the kids will remember – forever. They are also planning a Handicapped Fishing Event in Oct – watch their Facebook. They always welcome new members; to get more involved with the Chapter contact them through their Facebook or call Trevor Capps at 910-591-8548
– Our Partners with the Military Warrior Support Foundation and the Purple Heart Ranch are, as always, making plans for classes and hunts. Details to follow.
– Our NC Wildlife Commission friends at the Pechman center have so many great fishing related classes, seminars, and activities that we couldn’t even begin to list them here. See: (https://www.facebook.com/pg/JEPFEC/events/)
– MWR Outdoor Recreation (https://bragg.armymwr.com/categories/outdoor-recreation) has all sorts of activities at Smith Lake, Equipment Checkout, the Clay Target Center, the Rod and Gun Club, and the Archery Range: Especially you bowhunters – get out that bow and stay sharp to be sure that shot counts when you get it!
Enjoy your summer in our forests, fields, and streams!
Your Fort Bragg Wildlife Branch
Much more at https://www.facebook.com/fortbraggwildlife/ and https://bragg.isportsman.net/, and don’t hesitate to use the ‘contact us’.
Email Note: We will only periodically send you an email about upcoming Fort Bragg Hunting & Fishing events or activities. If you have moved on or otherwise do not want to receive these occasional notices, just reply to this email accordingly. And of course, we would never release your email or any personal information to anyone.