Outdoors news and notes

Making news

State Deer clear of chronic wasting disease

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has not found any evidence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) after extensive testing of the state's white-tailed deer population. The FWC tested 400 free-ranging deer during the past year and more than 4,600 deer during the past eight years, with no CWD-positive results. CWD is a contagious neurological disease that has been found in captive and wild mule deer, white-tailed deer, moose and Rocky Mountain elk within several western states and more recently, several eastern states. The disease causes degeneration of the brains, resulting in emaciation, abnormal behavior, loss of bodily functions and death. Virginia and West Virginia are the nearest states where CWD has been detected. Florida prohibits importing live deer unless they come from a herd that has been certified CWD-free for five-plus years.

Education

Course will put sailors on track

The Anclote Key Sail and Power Squadron, which operates in the area from Dunedin to Hudson, will offer a 12-hour safe boating course from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays starting Sept. 7 and running for seven consecutive weeks. The $55 course covers rules, boat handling, seamanship, equipment, lines and knots, aids to navigation and more. It will be held at the Gulf Harbors Civic Center in New Port Richey. For information, call (727) 785-7923 or go to USPS.org/localusps/anclote.

Join the crew learning to row

The Stewards Foundation will hold an adult rowing class beginning Sept. 7. The class will consist of 10 lessons during a four-week period, and will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:15 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Participants (age 13 and up) must be able to swim. For information, call (813) 205-4013 or e-mail dadivot@aol.com.

FishinG

In/offshore event aids foster youth

The Leslie Family Childrens Foundation, which aids foster youth transitioning from youth homes into the community, will host a fishing tournament Sept. 25. The captains' meeting is Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at Jimmy Guana's in Indian Rocks Beach. The event, which costs $250 a vessel, targets both inshore and offshore species. For information, go to LFCfoundation.org.

Rodney Page, Times staff writer