Virginia Outdoor Report revived by popular demand
By David Coffman
Sportsmen still asked about the Virginia Department of Game &
Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) Outdoor Report four years after it was discontinued. So
in response to numerous requests for timely and detailed information about the
department, its newly formed information and education division is reviving the
Outdoor Report in an electronic, e-mail subscription format.
The former, weekly newsletter contained information on
regulations, seasons, classes, fishing, VDGIF programs and other news. Staff
reorganization and budget concerns resulted in it being cancelled in 2002. New
developments in electronic production and distribution capabilities have
overcome many of the cost and staff concerns that caused cancellation of the
report.
Outdoor Report Editor David Coffman serves on the 2007 Roanoke
OWAA Conference Host Team. He notes, “The primary purpose in reviving the Report
is to proactively communicate with our constituents and the public. Although
many people routinely check our Web site for information, the Report allows us
to ‘push out’ news and information in a timelier manner to a broad and diverse
constituency. Subscribers can quickly scan the brief, bulleted articles at their
convenience and then go to various Web links for more details as their time
permits.”
Editorial staff is insistent on retaining the tried and true
qualities of the old report. The success of the original newsletter was largely
due to the talents of its longtime editor, Spike Knuth. Knuth wore many hats in
the department, being an accomplished artist, writer and knowledgeable
outdoorsman. When he retired in 2002, the Report also was retired. In reviving
it, VGDIF tapped Knuth to help with a new feature. Each issue will feature his
beautiful illustrations and informative natural history articles covering one of
the 925 “species of greatest conservation need” that were identified in
Virginia’s Wildlife Action Plan as imperiled or in decline.
To subscribe, go to
www.dgif.virginia.gov and click “Outdoor Report.”
David Coffman is the sportsman’s education coordinator in the
wildlife division in the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries. |
