Fish and Wildlife
Fish and Wildlife
Game
management is an important component of fish and wildlife management, but it is
considerably different from management of other fish and wildlife
species. Game management focuses on the production of harvestable
surpluses on a sustained basis.
Objectives
- Determine biological and
recreational carrying capacities of game and fish species, and set
management prescriptions and hunting/fishing harvesting quotas to ensure
longevity and sustainment.
- Identify
and map areas to improve or expand habitat for upland game birds through
timber harvesting, TSI and the establishment of native grasses
- Identify
and map critical areas of wildlife habitat for protection during timber
harvesting
- Implement
any mitigation measures specified in project-specific NEPA analysis
relevant to fish and wildlife management or habitat management
- Establish
a schedule for monitoring of lake/pond fish species and plant communities
- Evaluate
and review the effectiveness of the iSportsman program as an upgrade from
program usage
- Evaluate
effectiveness of process for coordinating with Range Operations to ensure
that an up-to-date roster of closed areas and areas designated for hunting
and fishing is available at all times
- Rebuild
the whitetail deer herd population to near carrying capacity levels
- Combat
predator invasive species and feral pigs through an organized volunteer
management program
- Encourage
the development of facilities that improve use and enjoyment of fishing,
hunting, and other natural resources-based recreation, and increase the
use of underutilized areas
- Install
nesting boxes in priority areas
- Conduct
deer herd health surveys on a three-year interval
- Combat
aquatic invasive species in all Installation impoundments
- Establish
schedule for checking pond dams and spillways for maintenance and
replacement needs
- Submit
annual REC for NEPA review of upcoming fish and wildlife management
activities
When
The State of Alabama transferred this land to the War Department in 1942, wild
game was scarce (Barkalow, 1949). Since that time, the installation has
been stocked with deer and turkey obtained from state agencies.
Terrestrial Habitat Management
Habitat
trends on Fort Novosel are largely determined by military use, development,
forestry practices, and prevailing climate. The rapid growth of plants,
moderate temperatures, and long, snow-free conditions combine to provide a
steady supply of food for wildlife. The harvesting of timber, creation of
open areas for flight safety strips, and prescribed burning alter the
successional trend in wildlife habitat. Open fields (covered with native
herbs and forbs and interspersed with sparse woody growth) occur throughout the
installation, especially in LMUs 1 and 3. Many upland sites are being
converted to native longleaf pine, replacing even-aged stands created by past
logging and agricultural practices. Along streams, larger hardwoods and
dense shrubs and vine understory are prevalent.
Information
from the following surveys is used to support terrestrial habitat
management: plant survey (1992), vegetation communities survey
(2009). Gopher Tortoise Baseline Survey (2012), and threatened and
endangered species survey (2003).
Game Management
Game
management is an important component of fish and wildlife management, but it is
considerably different from management of other fish and wildlife
species. Game management focuses on the production of harvestable surpluses
on a sustained basis. Census of game species is required for the establishment
of harvest regulations that allow for the sustained use of game species.
The State of Alabama provides the framework within which Fort Novosel must
harvest game species. In some cases, such as management of deer, Fort
Novosel imposes more restrictive regulations. Harvest numbers provide an
inexpensive means to monitor game populations. All game harvested must be
reported. Combining harvest data with hunter effort provides information
adequate to manage most game species.
All
legally harvested deer are evaluated at deer check stations. Harvest data
collection is the primary source of information to evaluate deer herd condition
and establish antlerless deer seasons. Biologists collect data regarding
area harvested, age, and body weights from all deer and determine antler
development for bucks and collect incidence of lactation data from does.
Ovaries are sampled for corpora lutea data (to evaluate incidence of pregnancy).
Age-specific antler measurements, body weights, and reproductive data are
compared with data from previous years to obtain a trend of the herd’s overall
condition.
Fort
Novosel Regulation 215-1 outlines specific requirements of hunters, anglers, and
trappers for check-out and clearing procedures. This regulation can
change frequently, the most current version is available at the Fort Novosel MWR
website (link at top of page).
All hunting is controlled through the iSportsman system, which is an automated
system. No hunting is allowed during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New
Years’ Day. Range Operations notifies Outdoor Recreation of areas open or
closed to hunting daily, subject to aircraft/training changes. Hunters
are required to use the iSportsman system prior to hunting and following
hunting to clear the area. Hunters are also required to call Range
Operations prior to hunting to confirm areas are open at times other than
during deer season. Harvested deer and turkeys must be registered through
the weigh-in stations.
Anglers
are not required to check-in or check-out. When ponds or streams are
closed for any reason, notices will be placed on the Outdoor Recreation web
site.
Trappers
are required to check with Range Operations and utilize the iSportsman system
prior to entering areas for trapping. Trapping is only allowed in open
training areas. Trappers must check with Range Operations and iSportsman
each day to determine if areas with traps are open the following day. If
they are to be closed for training, all traps in areas to be closed must be
removed prior to that day. This provision is very restrictive, and it is
a primary reason for the extremely limited use of traps on Fort Novosel.
FR Reg. 215-1 includes additional trapping provisions including the requirement
to report take to the Fish and Wildlife Section.
The
following game species are present on Fort Novosel:
- White-tailed
deer
-
Eastern wild turkey
-
Feral hog
-
Bobwhite quail
-
Mourning dove
-
Waterfowl
-
Squirrels
-
Eastern cottontail/swamp rabbit
-
Raccoon
-
Opossum
-
Fox
-
Bobcat
-
Snipe
-
Rail
-
Purple gallinule
-
Common moorhens
-
Woodcock
Fishing
Lakes,
streams, and rivers are available for recreational fishing, provided they are
not closed due to military training, fisheries management, renovation, or other
activity. Fish harvest for each body of water will be designated by
creel, possession, and length limits for each game fish species.
Possession and length limits are posted at each managed lake.
A
state license and a post fishing permit are required to fish on Fort
Novosel. For more information call Outdoor Recreation at
334-255-4305.
The
following fish are the primary species at Fort Novosel:
-
Florida largemouth bass
-
Bluegill
-
Shellcracker (redear)
Endangered,
Threatened, and Species at Risk
There
are a number of federally listed mussel species for which streams on Fort
Novosel provide suitable habitat. The southern sandshell, southern
kidneyshell, Choctaw bean, tapered pigtoe, and fuzzy pigtoe occur in the
Choctawhatchee watershed, of which Claybank Creek and Steephead Creek on the
Installation are part. The Choctaw bean and fuzzy pigtoe have been
recorded on Fort Novosel in recent invertebrate surveys. However, the other
species have not been found in any recent surveys. Also, the gopher
tortoise is an Army Species-at risk and a state of Alabama protected species.
The eastern population of the gopher tortoise is a candidate species for
listing under the Endangered Species Act. Much of the prime gopher
tortoise habitat on Fort Novosel occurs in the Impact Area. Should the
eastern population of the gopher tortoise be listed as endangered or
threatened, it could impact the mission.