Times testified before U.S. Congress: 1
Trips to Quebec: 2
Meetings with President Obama: 3
Potholes filled: 4
Ski areas visited: 5
Town meetings attended: 6
Military events: 7
Hospitals visited: 8
Sportsmen events: 9
Bills signed: 10
Schools visited: 16
Videos uploaded to VTGovernor YouTube Channel: 21
Community and business leaders events: 24
Businesses visited: 27
Proclamations issued: 38
Towns visited: 50
Legislative meetings: 76
Appointments to boards and commissions: 133
Tweets: 246
Questions received through "Ask the Governor”: 397
Likes on Facebook: 642
Views on VTGovernor YouTube Channel: 951
Followers on Twitter: 1128
Pictures uploaded to Vermont Governor flickr page: 1470
Letters fielded: 1722
Constituent emails fielded: 1806
www.governor.vermont.gov visits: 34,825
Dollars raised for the VT National Guard families: 70,500

Maple syrup mentions: Countless
 

Lake Willoughby has long been known for it's lake trout, salmon and smelt fishing. But there are a handful of Vermonters drilling holes in the spring ice in search of a fish that most locals have never seen, burbot. The only freshwater member of the cod family, these odd looking fish can be found in several of the deep cold northeast kingdom lakes. And they certainly taste a lot better than they look.

One of the outstanding attractions of Brighton State Park is its remoteness. The wild lands to the northeast and southeast of the town of Island Pond are suited to the angler, the hunter, or the outdoor lover who likes to roam away from developed roads or towns. Brighton State Park is located on the shores of Spectacle Pond. A sandy day use beach and bathhouse is located on Island Pond just a half mile from the campground.

Known as Mr. Ice Fishing, Dave Genz can turn just about any angler into a successful ice fisherman. The days of drilling a few holes and fishing that same area for hours are long gone thanks to many of Dave's innovations. The introduction of electronics and portable shanties has Dave and his crew constantly on the go. We hook up with Dave and a few diehard ice fishermen on the southern end of Lake Champlain to learn some of Dave's techniques.

Almost half of today's students graduating with a wildlife degree have never hunted and have a minimal understanding of the impact that hunters provide to wildlife management and other conservation programs. In 2005 the Wildlife Management Institute and Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation began the Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow program as a way to introduce students to the culture and concepts of hunting. For the last two years the Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow program has held their program at Camp Kehoe on Lake Bomoseen in Castleton, Vermont.

The Town of Lake Elmore calls itself 'The Beauty Spot of Vermont." And Elmore State Park is a perfect place to enjoy the scenery and activities in the area. The park had its beginning in 1936 when the town of Elmore and local citizens made a gift of 30 acres on Lake Elmore to the state of Vermont. With modest means, a picnic and beach area were created. Today, with more than 700 acres, Elmore State Park has become a very enjoyable recreation facility. Elmore State Park is staffed by the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC), in an educational partnership with the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.

Young hunters and their adult mentors have a variety of special seasons to choose from, but the oldest youth hunt just might be the best. Youth waterfowl weekend in late September may not be as popular as the special seasons for deer and turkey, but it offers youngsters an unparalleled opportunity to experience some of Vermont's finest public marshes at a time of year when duck numbers are high. It's a great chance to introduce a young person to a life-long sport that fosters a deep appreciation for wetlands and wildlife.

Vermont is home to some of the best skiing in Vermont and with that, the state has become home to a growing population of ski bums. People that just can't spend enough time on the slopes during the winter season. Believe it or not this same phenomenon is happening on Vermont's trout streams. We caught up with a couple of young trout bums during the last days of the season on the Middlebury River. These two fishing guides may fish for a living but they also live to fish.

Canoes are perfect for fishing Vermont's countless small ponds. Native Americans developed these simple, versatile vessels over the course of thousands of years and they are well suited to exploring everything from tiny creeks to the shores of Lake Champlain. Today's canoes are lightweight, low maintenance and relatively inexpensive, and they open up a world of hidden waters that are either off-limits or inaccessible to larger boats. We visit Emerald Lake State Park as well as another local pond for some exciting bass fishing.

As winter slowly loosens its icy grip on Lake Champlain, activity on and around the lake is almost nonexistent. But under its slushy surface, it is a different story. As spring approaches, multitudes of fish are gearing up for the spawning season, and many of the lake's bays and marshy setbacks teem with life. For the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, it's the perfect opportunity to begin gathering data for its northern pike management project.