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• Thanks to Hunter Mentoring, Hunter Education, and Becoming an Outdoors -Woman Programs, the number of women hunters has increased 42% in the last 6 years:

# of licenses sold to women: 2006–07 : 12,994 2011–12 : 18,429

• What is the economic impact of a single hunter/fsherman?

$1,115 per year - fsherman $4,930 per year - hunter

SOURCE: Economic Impact Report, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation 2006

New Minimum-length limits Smallmouth Bass in Western North Carolina Rivers and Streams

Commission biologists collected more than 2,800 small­mouth bass from over 40 rivers and streams in western North Carolina as part of a three-year study to determine the distribution and quality of these sport fsheries. Small­mouth bass occurred in a wide variety of streams and habitat types, and some of the best fsheries were found at surprisingly low elevations and warm temperatures in rivers of the western Piedmont. Although most smallmouth bass averaged 8 to 10 inches long, many streams produced good numbers of fsh, and 20-inch fsh were found at some locations. Data on growth and mortality rates allowed biologists to predict effectiveness of different fshing regulations, and a new minimum length limit was implemented in 2012 based on the analysis of these data. Biologists also used the data to provide anglers with guidance on the locations and quality

of smallmouth bass streams through directional brochures and from information on the Commission website.

Effectiveness of

Fish Attractors

Fish attractors are often used to enhance fsh habitat and con-gregate fsh in specifc areas for anglers with the objective of increasing catch rates. The study was conducted using sonar equipment capable of producing video imaging. Sets of three types of artifcial structures as well as traditional Christmas tree attractors were deployed in Lake Townsend in Greensboro and Lake Cammack in Burlington. The study demonstrated that all of the fsh attractors held fsh, but artifcial structures remained intact and did not degrade over time when compared to the tra-ditional Christmas tree attractors. Staff time and resources will be more effciently used deploying artifcial fsh attractors, and this information will guide the Commission’s work in this area.

Economic Value of Mountain Trout Fishing:

• $146 Million in direct spending, adding to the N.C. economy

• 92,729 Mountain trout anglers per year

SOURCE: Responsive Management Report (2008)

To sustain mountain trout fshing, the NCWRC produces and stocks more than:

• 800,000 catchable-size trout from 3 state hatcheries.

North Carol ina Wi ldl i fe Resources Commi ss ion • 3

MELISSA McGAW/NCWRC MELISSA McGAW/NCWRC