Local Students Win F&W Art Contest
Gary Moore
April 09, 2026
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department announced the Vermont winners of the 2026 Art of Conservation Fish Art Contest in partnership with Wildlife Forever.
The department received submissions from Vermont students in grades K-12. Participants selected a fish species found in Vermont waters and submitted an illustration and one-page creative essay on the species.
West Newbury resident and Oxbow student Kara Willett took first place in the grades: 10-12 category.
First in grades 4-6 went to Sutton resident McKenzie Carpenter.
Irasburg’s Colby Thomas garnered second place in grades the 7-9 category.
Congratulations to the winners and to all who entered their art and essays.
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department Education Specialist Corey Hart said, “A total of 337 Vermont Students submitted artwork of Vermont fish species.”
The winners will receive a fishing rod and reel, and their art will be entered into a selection process to be featured in the department’s forthcoming 2027 Fishing Guide and Regulations publication.
Vermont’s Trout Fishing Opens Saturday
We have waited all winter and Saturday we finally get a chance to fish for trout in Vermont’s lakes and streams. As is usual, opening weekend the fishing will likely be slow as the water will still be cold and my well be high and fast.
“Just like any other time of year, anglers fishing early in the spring should adjust their tactics based on conditions,” said State Fisheries Biologist Shawn Good. “Trout will become more active with warmer water temperatures. If you can find a good location and present your bait or lure without spooking the trout, you’ll have a good chance of catching a few fish, and enjoy a nice day outside.”
Good adds that finding a small to medium low-elevation river or stream that is not too murky from spring runoff can be key. Trout are cold-blooded and may be slow to bite especially with cold water temperatures, so it is important that they can also see your bait, lure or fly.
Trout will often hold close to the bottom in the deeper areas of streams during high flow conditions to conserve energy. Choose locations and tactics that allow you to fish using a slow retrieval right along the bottom. Focus on deep holes behind current breaks created by big boulders, downed trees or log-jams where trout may be resting. If possible, approach the hole from downstream as trout will often orient themselves facing the current.
Anglers are advised to check the 2026 Vermont Fishing Guide and Regulations which is available free from license agents, and it is on Fish and Wildlife’s website. For any river, stream, lake, or pond not listed in the Index of Rivers and Streams or Index of Lakes and Ponds go to General Fishing Regulations on page 54.
Bits and Pieces
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board voted on April 1 to have 65 either-sex moose hunting permits and 20 antlerless moose hunting permits available this year for a hunt limited to Vermont’s Wildlife Management Unit E in the northeastern corner of the state. The hunt is expected to result in a harvest of 40 to 50 moose, or about 6 percent of the current moose population in WMU E.
Permit applications are now available on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s website. The deadline to apply is June 17, and the permit lottery drawing is July 15.
Lottery applications for moose permits are $10 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. Lottery winners need to purchase resident moose permits for $100 and non-resident moose permits for $350.
The goal of the department’s 2026 moose harvest recommendation is to improve the health of moose in WMU-E by maintaining a lower number of moose and thereby reducing the abundance and impact of winter ticks.
New Hampshire’s 2026 moose hunt lottery is open. The lottery entrance fee is $15 for Granite State residents and $25 for non-residents. Visit www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/moose-hunting-new-hampshire where you can enter the New Hampshire moose hunt lottery online or print out a mail-in application. You can also pick up an application at any Fish and Game license agent, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department headquarters, or at Fish and Game regional offices. Moose hunt lottery applications for 2026 must be postmarked or submitted online by midnight Eastern Standard Time on Friday, May 29.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s popular outdoor festival, Discover Wild New Hampshire Day, is set for Saturday, April 18. This annual community event takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the Fish and Game Department at 11 Hazen Drive in Concord, rain or shine. Admission is free. Only trained service dogs will be admitted; no pets allowed.
Discover Wild New Hampshire Day is a fun way for the whole family to explore New Hampshire’s wildlife resources and outdoor traditions, browse educational exhibits presented by environmental and conservation organizations from across the state, see live animals, big fish, and trained falcons, try archery, casting, fly-tying, and B-B gun shooting and watch retriever dogs in action.
Sign up now to take a Hunter Education class and be ready for this fall’s hunting seasons. Register at https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/hunter-education. Select “Find a class,” to locate traditional in-person courses or pick “Start online course” to take the online Hunter Education course.
The 2026 New Hampshire Wildlife Control Operator Level II (WCO II) training class will be offered on Thursday, April 30, at New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Headquarters in Concord, from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There is no charge for this annual one-day class, but pre-registration is required. To register online, visit Events | New Hampshire Fish and Game (s3licensing.com).
For more information on the variations and requirements of trapping, WCO I and WCO II licenses, as well as a full agenda of the WCO II class, visit Wildlife Control Operators | State of New Hampshire Fish and Game (nh.gov).
Mark Breen reports in the Fairbanks Museum's Skywatch Almanac that on April 9, 1956: “One last snow storm topped things off across the southern Green Mountains, with 47 inches of snow on the ground in Somerset, VT.”
April 2, 1975: “A three day snow storm brought 6 to 12 inches in the valleys, and 2 feet to places like Montpelier, and Peru, VT, with strong winds.”
Parting Shots
Congratulations are in order for Bethlehem, NH resident Renee Blacken who completed her quest to row the Atlantic Ocean covering 3,200 miles in 65 days, two hours and 51 minutes.
This makes the 43 year old the first woman to solo in the history of the Atlantic Dash competition.
Syndicated columnist Gary W. Moore may be reached by e-mail at gwmoore1946@icloud.com or at Box 454, Bradford, VT 05033.
copyright 2026 Gary W. Moore
The department received submissions from Vermont students in grades K-12. Participants selected a fish species found in Vermont waters and submitted an illustration and one-page creative essay on the species.
West Newbury resident and Oxbow student Kara Willett took first place in the grades: 10-12 category.
First in grades 4-6 went to Sutton resident McKenzie Carpenter.
Irasburg’s Colby Thomas garnered second place in grades the 7-9 category.
Congratulations to the winners and to all who entered their art and essays.
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department Education Specialist Corey Hart said, “A total of 337 Vermont Students submitted artwork of Vermont fish species.”
The winners will receive a fishing rod and reel, and their art will be entered into a selection process to be featured in the department’s forthcoming 2027 Fishing Guide and Regulations publication.
Vermont’s Trout Fishing Opens Saturday
We have waited all winter and Saturday we finally get a chance to fish for trout in Vermont’s lakes and streams. As is usual, opening weekend the fishing will likely be slow as the water will still be cold and my well be high and fast.
“Just like any other time of year, anglers fishing early in the spring should adjust their tactics based on conditions,” said State Fisheries Biologist Shawn Good. “Trout will become more active with warmer water temperatures. If you can find a good location and present your bait or lure without spooking the trout, you’ll have a good chance of catching a few fish, and enjoy a nice day outside.”
Good adds that finding a small to medium low-elevation river or stream that is not too murky from spring runoff can be key. Trout are cold-blooded and may be slow to bite especially with cold water temperatures, so it is important that they can also see your bait, lure or fly.
Trout will often hold close to the bottom in the deeper areas of streams during high flow conditions to conserve energy. Choose locations and tactics that allow you to fish using a slow retrieval right along the bottom. Focus on deep holes behind current breaks created by big boulders, downed trees or log-jams where trout may be resting. If possible, approach the hole from downstream as trout will often orient themselves facing the current.
Anglers are advised to check the 2026 Vermont Fishing Guide and Regulations which is available free from license agents, and it is on Fish and Wildlife’s website. For any river, stream, lake, or pond not listed in the Index of Rivers and Streams or Index of Lakes and Ponds go to General Fishing Regulations on page 54.
Bits and Pieces
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board voted on April 1 to have 65 either-sex moose hunting permits and 20 antlerless moose hunting permits available this year for a hunt limited to Vermont’s Wildlife Management Unit E in the northeastern corner of the state. The hunt is expected to result in a harvest of 40 to 50 moose, or about 6 percent of the current moose population in WMU E.
Permit applications are now available on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s website. The deadline to apply is June 17, and the permit lottery drawing is July 15.
Lottery applications for moose permits are $10 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. Lottery winners need to purchase resident moose permits for $100 and non-resident moose permits for $350.
The goal of the department’s 2026 moose harvest recommendation is to improve the health of moose in WMU-E by maintaining a lower number of moose and thereby reducing the abundance and impact of winter ticks.
New Hampshire’s 2026 moose hunt lottery is open. The lottery entrance fee is $15 for Granite State residents and $25 for non-residents. Visit www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/moose-hunting-new-hampshire where you can enter the New Hampshire moose hunt lottery online or print out a mail-in application. You can also pick up an application at any Fish and Game license agent, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department headquarters, or at Fish and Game regional offices. Moose hunt lottery applications for 2026 must be postmarked or submitted online by midnight Eastern Standard Time on Friday, May 29.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s popular outdoor festival, Discover Wild New Hampshire Day, is set for Saturday, April 18. This annual community event takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the Fish and Game Department at 11 Hazen Drive in Concord, rain or shine. Admission is free. Only trained service dogs will be admitted; no pets allowed.
Discover Wild New Hampshire Day is a fun way for the whole family to explore New Hampshire’s wildlife resources and outdoor traditions, browse educational exhibits presented by environmental and conservation organizations from across the state, see live animals, big fish, and trained falcons, try archery, casting, fly-tying, and B-B gun shooting and watch retriever dogs in action.
Sign up now to take a Hunter Education class and be ready for this fall’s hunting seasons. Register at https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/hunter-education. Select “Find a class,” to locate traditional in-person courses or pick “Start online course” to take the online Hunter Education course.
The 2026 New Hampshire Wildlife Control Operator Level II (WCO II) training class will be offered on Thursday, April 30, at New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Headquarters in Concord, from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There is no charge for this annual one-day class, but pre-registration is required. To register online, visit Events | New Hampshire Fish and Game (s3licensing.com).
For more information on the variations and requirements of trapping, WCO I and WCO II licenses, as well as a full agenda of the WCO II class, visit Wildlife Control Operators | State of New Hampshire Fish and Game (nh.gov).
Mark Breen reports in the Fairbanks Museum's Skywatch Almanac that on April 9, 1956: “One last snow storm topped things off across the southern Green Mountains, with 47 inches of snow on the ground in Somerset, VT.”
April 2, 1975: “A three day snow storm brought 6 to 12 inches in the valleys, and 2 feet to places like Montpelier, and Peru, VT, with strong winds.”
Parting Shots
Congratulations are in order for Bethlehem, NH resident Renee Blacken who completed her quest to row the Atlantic Ocean covering 3,200 miles in 65 days, two hours and 51 minutes.
This makes the 43 year old the first woman to solo in the history of the Atlantic Dash competition.
Syndicated columnist Gary W. Moore may be reached by e-mail at gwmoore1946@icloud.com or at Box 454, Bradford, VT 05033.
copyright 2026 Gary W. Moore
Pumpkinseed Sunfish by Kara Willet took first place in the Grades 10-12 category
Credit: VTF&W photo
Credit: VTF&W photo
Have a story?
Let's hear it!
(802) 757-2773
(603) 787-2444
news@thebridgeweekly.com
