Visitors to the West Virginia Wildlife Center during the 1980s and early 1990s undoubtedly remember Jack, a black bear big enough to qualify for his own ZIP code.

Jack loved to eat junk food and drink pop, both of which visitors to the center were all too happy to provide. He grew large on the rich diet. In his prime, he was estimated to weigh as much as 700 pounds.

Now, thanks to the efforts of concerned volunteers, Jack’s memory will live on. A taxidermist mounted the great bear’s hide, and the mount now occupies an exhibit in the center’s gift shop.

Great.

After months of enforced inactivity, West Virginia’s turkey hunters finally get to play. What happens? It rains!

Yesterday’s opening day of the 2008 spring gobbler season dawned cool and wet. This morning was no better — not as wet, but much colder.

A sizable portion of West Virginia’s spring harvest comes during the first three days of the season. The first two days have been washouts. Wildlife officials had predicted an increase from last year’s kill of 9,965, but if this sort of weather continues the number will come in lower.

On the bright side, maybe these inclement conditions will force hunters to hunt more during the season’s last two weeks. A second peak of gobbling occurs during that time, but most sportsmen miss out on it because they prefer to hunt early.

Sunday’s Gazette-Mail feature outlines the Division of Natural Resources’ expectations for the season.

By all descriptions, the new Elk Creek Wildlife Management Area in Logan and Mingo counties will provide good hunting for deer, turkeys and squirrels.

Division of Natural Resources officials recently dedicated the 6,004-acre tract, which will be open to turkey hunters when West Virginia’s  spring gobbler season opens April 28. Sunday’s Gazette-Mail article gives details.

Ever wonder where the money goes that you spend on that “conservation stamp” for your hunting or fishing license?

Every year, that stamp brings in an estimated $1.6 million, all of which goes toward capital improvements such as rifle ranges, boat ramps and land for public hunting and fishing.

Sunday’s Gazette-Mail feature takes a closer look at how the program has affected hunting and fishing in the Mountain State.

After a North Dakota doctor found lead in venison being given to needy families, charitable programs that rely on hunter-donated venison came under scrutiny.

Officials who administer West Virginia’s Hunters Helping the Hungry program aren’t worried about the venison being distributed in this state. Curtis Taylor, wildlife chief for the state Division of Natural Resources, says that because all the meat is cut and prepared by state-certified meatcutters, the chance of contamination is slim.

Sunday’s Gazette-Mail column outlines the entire story.  

Everywhere one looks, it seems, critters are “going wild.”

People in Alaska, for example, are learning to deal with dumpster-diving moose.

Members of a theater’s board of directors got invaded by a kamikaze turkey gobbler.

A deputy answering a home-intruder call ended up having her police dog tangle with a burgling turkey.

Postal workers in Madison, Wis., have armed themselves with water pistols to fend off attacking turkeys.

And a 63-year-old New Hampshire motorcyclist is recovering from injuries he received after a turkey flew into him.

(Hat tip for all the above: J.R. Absher at the Outdoor Pressroom.)

You could have knocked me over with a feather when I discovered that Rob Keck, for 27 years the chief executive officer for the National Wild Turkey Federation, had submitted his resignation.

Keck cited the usual “personal and family reasons” for his planned June 1 departure, but sources within the NWTF believe he was protesting the organzation’s board of directors recent vote to relieve two Keck assistants of their duties.

Details are in this week’s Sunday Gazette-Mail column.

Long gone are the good old days when ammunition reloading supplies were: 1.) easy to get,  and 2.) cheap.

Shortages caused by the United States’ war on terror have made brass and bullets hard to get, and have dramatically increased shipping costs for gunpowder. This week’s Sunday Gazette-Mail feature outlines the situation.

Members of Mississippi’s legislature are considering a bill that would make deer baiting legal in that state. Their debate, however, has centered on side issues that fail to address the bill’s biological and ethical shortcomings. See Sunday’s column for details.

Tried to order any gunpowder lately? Cartridge cases? Bullets? The United States’ ongoing war on terror has dried up some sources of the materials hunters and target shooters use to reload ammunition. Sunday’s Gazette-Mail feature highlighted the problem.