Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 12-2015

The rut. It’s one ofthe most fascinatingyet misunderstoodaspects in the worldof whitetails. Everyseason, hunters ask,“When will the rutstart this year?” Overthe years, many theo-ries have been devel-oped to try to predictthe beginning and in-tensity of the rut and when will be thebest times to hunt. Sometimes, though,what really happened and when the ruttook place can only be determined aftermost of the breeding has been done.A number of hunters I talked to this

season claimed that the rut was going tostart earlier than usual, and it certainlyseemed that way. Personally, I witnessedrutting activity first week of October. Iobserved small bucks nosing around andharassing several does and on one occa-sion a light-hearted sparring match be-tween year-and-a-half-old bucks.On October 11th, I encountered a very

nice 10-point that was coming to anapple tree every night. There was an ac-tive scrape by the tree and before climb-ing into my stand that evening, Ifreshened it up with doe-in-estrus. Bythe time the buck got there, it was almosttoo dark to see and I had no shot. How-ever, I watched through binoculars,which have excellent light gatheringqualities, as the buck worked that scrapeand licking branch with a passion.On October 15th, that buck came in 10

minutes earlier, while it was still light,and I got the shot I wanted. The buckfollowed two does out of some thickbrush onto a tractor trail. It checked thedoes and lunged at them a couple oftimes before the does finally had enoughand scampered away. Rather than fol-low, though, he turned and came to theapple tree. I shot and the buck piled uponly 50 yards away.I knew the buck had a nice rack but

wasn’t prepared for the size of its body,especially its neck which was rut-swollen and maxed out. Also, its tarsalglands had the characteristic dark fur andsmell of a rutting buck.The main reason I observed rutting ac-

tivity so early was because of theweather. After a warm stretch of weatherin late September, it cooled off substan-tially the first week of October andstayed cool until the middle of themonth. The change got deer moving andfeeling frisky. Around the third week ofOctober, though, the weather shifted

OutdoorCool WaterFishing TipsStory inside page 6 December 2015

FREE!Ohio ValleyWIN A PARKER CROSSBOW - P.10-11

Deer Seasonin Review…and A Predictionfor this Winter

Turn To Deer Season Page 4

Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo courtesy of Ralph ScherderThe author with his 10-point buck, taken on October 15, 2015.

“I knew the buck had a nice rack but wasn’t prepared for the size of its body,especially its neck which was rut-swollen and maxed out.”

Times

By Ralph ScherderHunting Editor

OVOu

tdoo

rTim

es

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES2 December 2015

We need one more TVshopping network.Right?Before you say, “NO”,

listen up! It’s all aboutGUNS!Now you’re paying at-

tention.Why didn’t I think of

this? It’s called GunTV,or GTV Live Shopping.And this is for real! And

going online, well television actually and on-line, in a few weeks (January 2016).GunTV is modeled after shopping network

channels QVC and Home Shopping Network.A big difference for GunTV will be a focusgeared toward a male audience.That is not to say, however, that only men

will be making the purchases on this new net-work. We all know that outdoor products nowalso have a greater appeal toward females whoare spending more and more time in the out-doors.This brings up two good points about the

new network. Firstly, GTV Live Shopping’sproduct lines will go beyond just firearms.More on that below. Secondly, we know itwon’t only be men watching these fancy mul-timedia presentations. I predict we’ll all getsucked into watching these broadcasts. Andwho cares who will be making the purchases.It should be entertaining television.And if not,it beats watching reruns of Two and a HalfMen.If not for any other reason to tune in, I feel a

good portion of us will watch GunTV just tosee new, shiny guns and other trinkets and ac-cessories. Let’s be honest, you’re in!Now the ‘beyond the firearms’ part. And

hopefully this won’t dilute it for those justwanting to see more guns. There are plans tosell many, many types of outdoor products onGunTV, including: all types of (legal) firearms,gun and shooting accessories, archery equip-ment, hunting gear, tactical gear, hunting cloth-ing, game calls, treestands, trail cameras,decoys, dog training supplies, knives/tools,fishing and boating gear, hiking and camping

equipment, and much more.All of the above products will not be sold

when the network launches but co-founderValarie Castle said the programming will ap-peal to the gun-loving fans. Their slogan is,“Live Shopping. Fully Loaded”.Castle said the goal of GTV Live Shopping

will be to expand to a 24/7 lineup in its firstyear. They will start out with four hours of pro-gramming a day, late night in a 1-5 a.m. timeslot.It appears that GTV is leaving no stone un-

turned with ramping up the new project. Theyplan to offer a ‘social broadcasting platform’,streaming on social networks to capitalize onmobile, text/sms, push and social media net-works with ‘real time’ planning and placementcapabilities. They also plan contests and en-gaging interaction with their customers.The idea for the firearms shopping channel

was envisioned to appeal to gun companies,according to Castle. They wanted a new venueto advertise their products.I doubt that. This is all about making money.Now, if you think about all of the outdoor

products — not just guns — that are manufac-tured in the United States that may be inter-ested in hawking goods on GunTV, that couldbe interesting and entertaining.And very prof-itable for many companies.GunTV will be broadcast from its home in

Palm Springs, California. As of early Decem-ber they were still seeking employees to fillsome jobs with the new network. I found onejob posting most interesting: Props/FirearmsWrangler. The job description says: “Televi-sion network seeks experienced prop person tomanage the constant flow of props andfirearms for busy on-air television network.”Note: California is very tough on gun laws,

but no firearms will be sold from that state. In-terested guns buyers will be directed to aLouisiana gun dealer, Sports South, who willthen dispatch the weapon to your local FFLdealer to complete the transaction.For additional information on GunTV, and

to see job postings, visit their website at:http://guntv.tv/. Also click, “Media Kit”, fordetailed information.

5 Ohio Young HuntersHarvest 7,000+ Deer

ODNR

6 The Magic of GettingUn-snagged

Jeff Knapp

6 PA Mentored YouthCan Hunt Rabbits, Doves

PAGC

8 Study ShowsContinued Growth ofArchery

12 ODNR TakesAction to Monitor CWD

13 PA HuntersReminded to Report Deer& Turkey Harvests

PAGC

14 Forest ServiceReleases i-Tree Tool

USFS

15 Ohio HuntersHarvest 1,500 Turkeys

INSIDE THIS MONTH

Public Trap Shoot - Each Sunday (11-4 p.m.) and Wednesday (6-9 p.m.) at Columbiana CountyFish and GameAssociation; 45716Middle Beaver Rd, Lisbon, OH 44432. Visit website: columbiana-countyfishandgame.com.Indoor .22/Air Rifle Shooting - Range open to public eachWeds. thruApril 26, 2016. (6 p.m., Sun.11 am.) and Indoor Pistol Shooting - each Fri. (7-10 p.m.) thru April 29, 2016. All calibers exceptmag loads. At Columbiana County Fish and Game Association; 45716 Middle Beaver Rd, Lisbon,OH 44432. Visit website: columbianacountyfishandgame.com.Old Fashion Style Turkey Shoot - Each Sunday thru March 2016 at Beaver Creek Sportsman Club,14480 Washingtonville Road, Washingtonville, OH. Field stock guns, .680 choke max., scopes per-mitted, meat and money rounds, $3 per round, 1 p.m. start time. For info. contact Tom Brunner 330-692-6577 or email:[email protected].*See more Calendar of Events on Page 7.

By Larry ClaypoolEditor

OVOu

tdoo

rTim

es

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

Publisher/Editor, Larry [email protected]

Graphics Designer, Linda [email protected] Consultant, Tracy [email protected]

[email protected] Valley Outdoor Times

is published by Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine©Offices located at

210 E. 4th Street, East Liverpool, OH 43920Phone 330-385-2243, Fax 330-385-7114ohvod@ohiovalleyoutdoors.comwww.ohiovalleyoutdoors.com

To Advertise CALL 330-385-2243

OutdoorOhio Valley

TimesDecember 2015 VOL. 7, NO. 12

Contributing EditorsRalph Scherder, Hunting EditorJeff Knapp, Fishing EditorBrian Miller, Field Editor

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS

Ohio Valley Outdoor Times is all about its readers.We’d love to hear from you.

Send us something [email protected]

GunTV Shopping Network to Launch...No Kidding!

9 Book of Trapping Featured

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES 3December 2015

ph 330.359.5708 toll free 800.359.7522 1.5 miles West of Winesburg on US 62 • Monday-Friday 7-5, Saturday 9-2

Cabins

www.alpinestructures.net

hunting • fishing • vacation

20x30' Alpine Garage

12x20' A-Frame

$400 OFFANY 12' WIDE OR LARGER BUILDING

OFFER CANNOT BE COMBINED. EXPIRES 01/23/2016WIDE'12ANY$400

ARGERLORDEOFF400

BUILDINGF

back to warm again and deer movementtapered off until the week of Halloween,which is the traditional start of rut activ-ity in this part of the country.Many outdoor writers have touted the

importance of moon phases on the rut.Theories state that the closer the fullmoon falls to November 1, the more in-tense the rut will be. The farther fromthe first that it occurs, the more sporadicit will be. To an extent, I think this istrue, but I don’t believe that the actualmoon phase has anything to do with rutintensity. Rather, I believe that moonphase affects the weather, which in turnaffects whitetail movement.The other school of thought claims

that photoperiodism signals the start ofthe rut. I tend to agree with this morethan anything. After all, photoperi-odism, or the shortening of daylight, iswhat causes deer, waterfowl, uplandbirds, and furbearers to transition fromtheir summer coats to winter coats. A

raccoon, for instance, will be prime inthis part of the country roughly firstweek of November regardless ofwhether the temperature is 30 degrees or80 degrees. Years of trapping and pred-ator hunting have taught me that temper-ature has nothing to do with fur quality,and it certainly doesn’t have anything todo with whitetails growing their ownwinter coats, so why would it affect therut as much as some suggest?The fact is, regardless of moon phase

or photoperiodism, if the weather isright, deer movement increases. If theweather is unseasonably warm, deermovement decreases. Warm weatherduring the rut can inspire two things: lotsof nighttime rutting activity (when thetemperature is cooler) and prolongedrutting activity. In other words, one dayyou may see bucks chasing does likecrazy, and the next day you can see thosesame bucks acting like they just don’tgive a hoot. Also, you’re more likely tosee rutting activity occur much later inthe season than usual. And that’s exactlyhow this season played out according tomy personal observations, as well as themany hunters I’ve talked to this fall.When rutting activity is sporadic and

spaced out over a longer duration, ittends to be less intense. Some does can

actually come into estrus and go out ofestrus without being bred, especially inareas of high deer densities. There sim-ply isn’t enough time for bucks to breedevery receptive doe. This can be goodnews for late season hunters becausemany of those does, especially the year-lings that finally reach the necessarybody weight to breed, will come backinto estrus approximately 30 days later.This second rut, though less intense thanthe first, can be a great time to hunt.Taking advantage of second rut activ-

ity often means locating doe groups – es-pecially doe groups that have yearlings –and pinpointing winter food sources.After the stress of the first rut in Novem-ber, many bucks simply don’t have theenergy or ambition to chase tail all overthe countryside in late December. How-ever, they will have a knack for puttingthemselves in the same areas as thosedoes they know will eventually comeback into estrus, and that usually meansfrequenting winter food sources.Based on the unseasonably warm

weather we experienced this fall, and thesporadic nature of the rut, I’m predictingexcellent second rut activity this year. Ifyou haven’t tagged your buck yet, nowcould be the perfect time to get into thewoods.


Deer Season From Page 1

HARRISBURG, PA — Do you huntdeer or bear and want to know where thebig ones are being taken.Check out the 2015 edition of the Penn-sylvania Big Game Records book, whichis now on sale.The 2015 Pennsylvania Big Game

Records book contains more than 4,000entries in 10 categories: Typical and non-typical deer taken with firearms andarchery equipment, black bears takenwith firearms and archery equipment,and typical and nontypical elk taken withfirearms and archery equipment.A few of the trophies listed in the

records were taken 100 or more yearsago, but many others have been taken inrecent years.Where in Pennsylvania can you find

the top counties for trophy whitetails?Some of the answers might surprise you.The 2015 records book is available for

$6, plus shipping, plus 6 percent salestax. Make checks payable to and orderfrom: Pennsylvania Game Commission,Dept. MS, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harris-burg, PA 17110-9797; visit “The Out-

door Shop” at www.pgc.state.pa.us orcall 1-888-888-3459 to make purchaseswith your credit card, or stop by theGame Commission’s Harrisburg head-quarters to pick up a copy.

COMING SOONAlready listed in the record book?Big-game hunters who are listed in the

Pennsylvania records book will want tobag a special patch signifying being amember of this exclusive fraternity.The record-book patch design, which

features a bull elk, bear and buck on aKeystone State outline, was crafted bywell-known graphic designer Mark An-derson.This patch is available only to those

trophy owners who are listed in therecord book, and is sure to become ahighly collectible and coveted item.Patches are $10, plus shipping cost,

plus sales tax.Funds from the sale of these patches

will be used to support the Big GameScoring Program.

PA Big Game Records Book Available

Goal-Setting SurveySent to Ohio Deer

Hunters

COLUMBUS, OH — The first-evergoal-setting survey involving Ohio’sadult resident deer hunters was recentlymailed from the Ohio Department of Nat-ural Resources, Division ofWildlife. Theletters went out on November 30, 2105.A similar survey was mailed in Septem-ber to the state’s production landowners.The letter and survey comes from the of-fice of Michael J. Tonkovich, Ph.D., DeerProgramAdministrator for the ODNR.The survey will help determine deer

population goals for Ohio. A letter at-tached to the survey says, “Your partici-pation is vital, as it will help shape thefuture of Ohio’s deer management poli-cies. In the past, surveys of farmers havebeen used to set deer population goals.Hunters will now also have an opportu-nity to participate in the goal-settingprocess.The letter outlines a few things about

the survey that may be helpful beforehunters start. Since the hunting season isalready underway, hunters will need toestimate the number of days they’ve al-ready bowhunted.Plan to return the survey after the 2-day

gun hunt in December with estimates fordays hunters plan to hunt during muzzle-loader and late archery seasons. For ad-ditional information, visit the ODNR’swebsite: www.wildohio.gov/dmu.

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohio’s younghunters checked 7,223 white-tailed deerduring the two-day youth gun season,November 21-22, according to the OhioDepartment of Natural Resources(ODNR).“The weather this year provided ouryouth hunters with a great opportunityto enjoy their time in the field,” saidODNR Director James Zehringer. “Pro-viding exclusive youth hunting seasonsis a great way to provide our kids with amentored and educational environmentto learn and succeed in the field.”Youth hunters could pursue deer witha legal shotgun, muzzleloader, handgunor specific straight-walled cartridge rifleand were required to be accompanied bya non-hunting adult during the two-dayseason. The youth deer-gun season isone of four special youth-only huntingseasons designed to offer a dedicatedhunting experience for young hunters.Youth hunting seasons are available forsmall game, wild turkey and waterfowl.Ohio offers many more opportunitiesfor hunters of all ages to pursue deer.The deer-gun season opened Nov. 30-Dec. 6, and continues Dec. 28-29. Deer-muzzleloader season is Jan. 9-12, 2016.

Deer-archery season is open nowthrough Feb. 7, 2016. Find complete de-tails in the 2015-2016 Ohio Hunting andTrapping Regulations at wildohio.gov.Youth hunters can commemorate theirhunt with a First Harvest certificate,available at wildohio.gov.The goal of Ohio’s Deer ManagementProgram is to provide a deer populationthat maximizes recreational opportuni-ties, while minimizing conflicts withlandowners and motorists. In most coun-ties, deer populations are at or near tar-get levels. Therefore, to help stabilizedeer populations, bag limits were re-duced, and antlerless permit use hasbeen eliminated in most counties for the2015-2016 season.In general, deer hunters will likelyfind deer populations similar to last year.However, because of the regulationchanges (smaller bag limits and limitedavailability of antlerless permits), fewerantlerless deer will be harvested, and theoverall deer harvest will likely be down4-8 percent.For summaries of past deer seasons,visit wildohio.gov/deerharvest.ODNR ensures a balance betweenwise use and protection of our natural

resources for the benefit of all. Visit theODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.A county list of all white-tailed deerchecked by youth hunters using a shot-gun, muzzleloader, handgun or straight-walled cartridge rifle during the 2015youth deer-gun hunting season includes:Adams: 170; Allen: 44; Ashland: 149;Ashtabula: 147; Athens: 169; Belmont:167; Brown: 100; Carroll: 140; Cham-paign: 47; Clermont: 65; Columbiana:122; Coshocton: 258; Cuyahoga: 0;Darke: 21; Defiance: 75; Erie: 17; Fair-field: 79; Gallia: 124; Geauga: 39;Greene: 18; Guernsey: 188; Hamilton:13; Hancock: 50; Hardin: 58; Harrison:183; Henry: 20; Highland: 132; Hock-ing: 125; Holmes: 203; Huron: 85; Jack-son: 135; Jefferson: 117; Knox: 182;Lawrence: 69; Licking: 182; Logan: 82;Lorain: 56; Mahoning: 65; Medina: 38;Meigs: 171; Mercer: 47; Monroe: 128;Morgan: 143; Muskingum: 200; Noble:114; Ottawa: 18; Paulding: 49; Perry:128; Pickaway: 41; Pike: 83; Portage:104; Preble: 43; Putnam: 38; Richland:116; Ross: 162; Sandusky: 15; Scioto:127; Seneca: 95; Stark: 64; Summit: 9;Trumbull: 81; Tuscarawas: 226; Vinton:102; Warren: 35; Washington: 145;Wayne: 79; Williams: 48; Wyandot: 79.Total: 7,223.


Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo courtesy of Seth GrimesOhio’s young hunters checked in over 7,000deer during the latest two-day youth gun sea-son in November. One of those include 12-year-old Seth Grimes, who took this nice

buck in Jefferson County, OH.

Ohio’s Young Hunters Harvest 7,000+ Deer

After popping hisjig loose from arock, I handed therod back to my guideclient. He thankedme, but a few castslater the leadhead jigwas again lodged be-hind a subsurfacerock. This time hemimicked theprocess I had justdemonstrated and again the jig camefree. With a relieved look on his face hesaid, “learning that tip was worth theprice of the guide trip.”Late fall is a time of year when most

gamefish spend the majority of theirtime close to the bottom. Trout eat lar-val stage bugs; walleyes forage on bot-tom-oriented chubs and shiners; basssniff out crayfish. It’s not that they don’tdo the same during warmer periods. It’sjust that by late fall, when the water tem-perature is anywhere from the mid-40sand lower, they are far less inclined tomove up for a bait or lure. Which means

going down to the bottom for them.Which in turn means dealing with fre-quent snags. And old fishing axiomstates, “if you’re not getting hung up,you’re not catching fish,” a particularlytrue observation when the water’s cold.If you follow a few steps getting a

hung-up bait loose, especially a jig-typeoffering, can often be accomplished byfollowing these simple steps.• The first objective is in determining

if the resistance on your line is beingcauses by a fish or by an obstruction.Bites are light at this time of year, oftenjust a spongy stoppage. I like to applyjust a light degree of pressure. If it’s afish there will be a bit of give, perhaps alight tap as the fish clamps down. If theresistance is of a solid nature, with nosigns of life, chances are very good it’sa snag.• The next step is in repelling the urge

to heave back on the rod to free the bait.Chances are this will only wedge thelure further.• Rather than applying the heave-ho

and loading up the rod, using your wrist

apply a series of buggy-whip snaps thatreally get the rod tip shaking. Holdingthe rod up high when doing this im-proves the angle, and ups the chancesthat the buggy whip will shake the lurefree.• If the bait is still lodged load the rod

up a bit, and then, using the thumb ofyour free hand, grab the line between thereel and the first guide, give it a quickpull and release it, like “twanging” aguitar string. This quick release trans-fers energy down the line to the bait,often popping it free. Be sure not to loadthe rod too heavily before giving it thethumb snap. The heavy loading needsto occur when you pull the line downwith the thumb. This method workswith all types of line – nylon monofila-ment, braided line, and fluorocarbon. Ittakes just a bit of practice to get good at,something you get plenty of when drag-ging jigs across rocky bottom.• In addition to learning the skill of

getting a jig free one should minimizegetting is hung in the first place. Keepin contact with what the bait’s doing.Jigging takes concentration, somethingthat’s tough to maintain if you’re con-serving with your buddy.• One can also opt for less snaggy rig-

gings. For instance, Winco’s Custom

Lures (www.wincoscustomlures.com)offers a great jig hook with a light wireguard. The guard is designed to main-


Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Jeff KnappKeeping your lures from snagging can equateinto some fine fall action, like these two big

smallmouth bass displayed by Joe Bright.

By Jeff KnappFishing Editor

OVOu

tdoo

rTim

es

Turn To Un-snagged Page 7

The Magic of Getting Un-snagged

HARRISBURG, PA — Mentoredyouth hunters now may pursue rabbitsand mourning doves, in addition to otherselected species.The new opportunities, recently ap-

proved by the Pennsylvania Board ofGame Commissioners, have undergone aperiod of mandatory review and givenfinal approval.Both the rabbit season and the dove sea-

son are now underway, and will be openfor weeks to come. The rabbit season wasopen through Nov. 28, and then opensagain from Dec. 14 through 24 and Dec.26 through Feb. 29. The mourning doveseason also was open through Nov. 28,and reopens from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.The Mentored Youth Hunting Program

was established in 2006 as a way to giveyouth under the age of 12 an opportunityto experience hunting in a tightly con-trolled setting under the close supervisionof an adult mentor. In the interest ofsafety, the adult mentor and mentoredyouth, together, may possess only onesporting arm between them while hunting,and the adult must carry it at all timeswhile moving. The mentored youth thenmay hold the sporting arm once the pair

takes a stationary position.These safety measures will be applied

as well to the hunting of rabbits and dovesby mentored youth.Mentored youth hunters must obtain a

$2.70 permit prior to heading afield.In order to pursue mourning doves,

mentored youth hunters also must obtaina migratory game bird license, which is$3.70 for residents and $6.70 for nonres-idents.Requiring the license facilitates the

Harvest Information Program (HIP), a co-operative state and federal program de-signed to improve the informationcollected regarding the harvest of migra-tory game birds.Since its inception, the MentoredYouth

Hunting Program has proven successfuland safe, and the list of species that canbe pursued by mentored youth hunters hasbeen expanded over the years.Sporting organizations and other inter-

ested groups have continued to encouragethe Game Commission to expand men-tored youth hunting opportunities and,particularly, to add rabbits and mourningdoves to the list approved for mentoredyouth.

PA Mentored YouthsNow Can Hunt Rabbits, Doves

PA Bear HarvestNumbers Released

HARRISBURG, PA — Hunters dur-ing the final day of Pennsylvania’sstatewide bear season harvested 143bears, raising the statewide season totalto 2,693 – an increase compared to the2,444 bears taken during the four days ofthe statewide season in 2014.Archery and other early bear season

harvest data still is being entered into theGame Commission’s database, and finaltally of the total bear harvest will be re-leased at a later date, after all bear sea-sons for the 2015-16 license year arecompleted.Bears were harvested in 54 counties

during the statewide season in 2015.Chad A. Seeger, of Port Matilda, Pa.,

harvested a male estimated at 632pounds late in the afternoon on Nov. 24in Worth Township, Centre County; andSkyler M. Hubler, of Dushore, Pa., har-vested a male estimated at 631 pounds inHillsgrove Township, Sullivan County at9 a.m. on Nov. 25.Two 713-pound bears tied for the

heaviest among those harvested duringthe statewide season. A 713-pound malewas taken in Granville Township, Mif-flin County, on Nov. 23 by Gregory A.

Wilson, of Lewistown, Pa.; and anothermale estimated at 713 pounds was takenNov. 21 in Blair Township, Blair County,by Richard A. Watt, of Gallitzen, Pa.Hunters harvested a total of 3,366

bears during the 2014 season – the sev-enth-largest harvest in state history. The2,693 bears taken during the statewideseason, compares to 2012 – the third-largest harvest on record. The state’slargest bear harvest – 4,350 bears – hap-pened in 2011, when preliminary four-day totals numbered 3,154.The top bear hunting county in the

statewide season was Lycoming County,with 237. It held off Clinton County,where hunters took 224 bears.

tain a 90 degree angle from the head. Itprovides some protection from snags, butdoesn’t hinder getting a good hookset.Winco also offers a flutter head jig thatcouples up nicely with tube bodies. It’s agood combination that is much lesssnaggy that a traditional insert-style openjig hook. And many soft baits can befished on a Texas-rig – with a slidingsinker and worm-style hook – that’s farless likely to hang-up than an open jighook.


How to Contact US

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR• E-mail: [email protected]•Write: “Dear OVTimes” at Ohio Valley Outdoor Times: 210 E. 4th Street,East Liverpool, Ohio 43920

• Please include your full name, address and phone number. Letters may beedited for clarity and space.

ADVERTISING• E-mail: [email protected]• Phone: 330-385-2243• Fax: 330-385-7114•Write: advertising at Ohio Valley Outdoor Times:210 E. 4th Street, East Liverpool, Ohio 43920

Un-snagged From Page 6

Gun Show by Mahoning Valley Gun Collectors - Dec. 12-13, 2015; (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) atLowellville Rod and Gun Club. Admission $4, vendor tables $25. Buy, sell and trade. Freeappraisals, free parking. GPS address 6225 Quarry Road, Lowellville, OH. For info. callBill at 330-506-9194.Public Trap Shoots - 11-4 p.m each Sunday and 6-9 p.m. each Weds. at Columbiana

County Fish and GameAssociation; 45716 Middle Beaver Rd, Lisbon, OH 44432. NO TrapShoots on Weds. Dec. 24, Dec. 31 due to holidays. Visit website: columbianacountyfis-handgame.com.Indoor .22/Air Rifle Shooting - Range open to public each Tues, thru April 26, 2016 (6-

9 p.m.). Offhand at 50ft., closest to bull and best group. At Columbiana County Fish andGameAssociation; 45716 Middle Beaver Rd, Lisbon, OH 44432. Visit website: columbiana-countyfishandgame.com.Indoor Pistol Shooting - Every Fri. (7-10 p.m.) thruApr. 29, 2016. Open to public; all cal-

ibers except mag. loads. At Columbiana County Fish & Game Association, 45716 MiddleBeaver Rd, Lisbon, OH. Visit website: www.columbianacountyfishandgame.com.Old Fashion Style Turkey Shoot - Each Sunday thru March 2016 at Beaver Creek Sports-

man Club, 14480Washingtonville Road, Washingtonville, OH. Field stock guns, .680 chokemax., scopes permitted, meat and money rounds, $3 per round, 1 p.m. start time. For info.contact Tom Brunner 330-692-6577 or email:[email protected] Virginia Trappers Association Fur Auction - Jan. 8-10, 2016 at Gilmer County

Recreation Center, Glenville, WV. Several vendors. Auction is 1 p.m. Sunday. Fur HandlingClinic on Jan. 9. For info. call Scott Schimmel at 304-462-7270, email Janet Hodge [email protected] or visit website at: www.wvtrappers.com.Ohio State Trappers Association FurAuction - Jan. 16, 2016 at Crawford County Con-

servation League, 3477 St. Rt. 98, Bucyrus, OH. Starts at 9 a.m. Call-ins for lot numbers (forall three auctions) will be taken on Jan. 2 only from noon - 9 p.m. Call Steve Hiller at 937-206-1934. For info. contact Hiller, OSTA Fur Auction Coordinator via email:[email protected]. Visit the OSTAwebsite at: www.ohiostatetrapper.org.Northeast Ohio Sportsman Show - Jan 21-23, 2016 at Buckeye Event Center, 624 Henry

St., Dalton, OH 44618. Now three days; Thurs. 2-8 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m. -9 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. -5p.m. Vendors, demonstrations, seminars, deer scoring (Sat. only). Admission $10, kids 12 &under free. Parking free. Visit www.ohiosportsmanshow.com. For info. 740-397-7788. Seead on Page 20.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

NEWULM,MN—For those wonder-ing whether “The Hunger Games” moviefranchise has truly generated archerygrowth, the answer is a resounding“Yes!”The Archery Trade Association (ATA)

recently released the results of a study todetermine adult Americans’ archery par-ticipation, and the clear outcome is asteady upward trend in archery participa-tion numbers.According to the study — conducted

by the highly regarded Responsive Man-agement research firm — 21.6 millionU.S. residents participated in archery in2014. That’s a 14 percent increase fromthe ATA’s 2012 study, which found 18.9million American participated. Thosefindings coincide with statistics fromUSA Archery, the sport’s national gov-erning body, which also documentedstrong growth from 2012 to 2014.That increase in participation also mir-

rors archery’s nationwide popularitysurge in 2012 after the first “HungerGames” debuted. Soon after, archeryburst into pop culture, with bows and ar-rows playing lead roles in films like“Brave” and “TheAvengers,” and on tel-

evision shows such as “Arrow.”“We definitely see a correlation be-

tween the ‘The Hunger Games’ and a re-newed excitement about archery,” saidJay McAninch, ATA president/CEO.“Several contributing factors helped,such as the availability of more archeryprograms and instructors, but majorevents like ‘The Hunger Games’ and theOlympic Games did great things to growour sport.”Archery was also NBC’s most watched

sport during the network’s first week ofOlympic Games coverage in 2012, aver-aging 1.5 million viewers. That bodeswell for coverage of the sport at the up-coming Rio 2016 Olympic Games.The 2015 report also found strong in-

terest in both target archery andbowhunting among U.S. archers. For ex-ample, 45 percent of respondents shoottarget archery but do not bowhunt, whilethe other 55 percent either bowhunt ex-clusively, or participate in both targetarchery and bowhunting.Of those who shot archery in 2014, 39

percent said their participation had in-creased, while another 35 percent saidtheir participation remained consistent.

Why the increases? Key reasons citedincluded more interest, more free time,and more bowhunting. However, the No.1 reason for increased participation wasmore family involvement.Since the 2012 archery boom, theATA

has worked hard to capitalize on that in-

terest and convert casual participants intoarchers and archery fans. With help fromindustry partners, the ATA developedArchery 360, a website and social mediapresence that takes the idea of archeryand makes it real by showcasing the funand excitement of shooting bows.


Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Larry ClaypoolStudies show that the sport of archery continues to grow in the United States.

Study Shows Continued Growth of Archery

Donations Accepted for HHH Program in WVFRENCH CREEK, WV — Donations of harvested deer

and financial donations are being accepted for theWest VirginiaHunters Helping the Hungry (HHH) program, sponsored by theWest Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR). HHH pro-vides low-fat, low-cholesterol meat to needy families aroundthe state through the Mountaineer Food Bank and the FacingHunger Food Bank.

Hunters can donate legally harvested deer by delivering thedeer to the nearest participating meat processor. A list of processors is available atwww.wvdnr.gov/Hunting/HHH.shtm. Venison is deboned, ground and frozen in two-pound packages. The food banks pick up the venison and distribute it to more than 500food programs throughout West Virginia.“We need donations of not only deer, but also money,” said Tyler Evans of the DNR

Wildlife Resources Section. “Federal law prevents the use of hunting license fees tooffset the processing and distribution costs, so DNR requires financial assistance tomanage this charitable program.”The West Virginia Council of Churches has established “Share the Harvest Sun-

day” to raise awareness of the program and funds to support it. Sunday, Nov. 1, hasbeen designated as the day when members of each participating church will be askedto donate $1, $5, or whatever they can, to HHH.Each tax-deductible donation, whether direct or through church, will help feed

someone less fortunate. Checks should be made out to: Hunters Helping the Hungry,163 Wildlife Road, French Creek, WV 26218.Since its inception in 1992, HHH has provided 892,637 pounds of venison for more

than 1.2 million family-style meals at a total cost of $1,225,974. Processing costs are$1.45 per pound, with the average deer producing 35.5 pounds of ground venison.For information about HHH, Share the Harvest Sunday, or general questions about

the program, please contact Tyler Evans or Judy Channell with DNR at 304-924-6211or email [email protected] or [email protected].

Check out the Winter Issue of OhioValley Outdoors Magazine — on news-stands now — for the special section:Book of Trapping. Several trapping arti-cles, photographs and information arefeatured, including: Two-Hole DirtholeSets; Running a Trapline from a JonBoat; Grapple Drags for Securing Trapsand Keep Sets Working.Below is a list of regional auctions and

events of interest for trappers and furri-ers.• West Virginia Trappers Association

Fur Auction - Jan. 8-10, 2016 at GilmerCounty Recreation Center, Glenville,WV. Several vendors. Auction is 1 p.m.Sunday. Fur Handling Clinic on Jan. 9.For info. call Scott Schimmel at 304-462-7270, email Janet Hodge [email protected] or visit web-site at: www.wvtrappers.com.• Ohio State Trappers Association Fur

Auction - Jan. 16, 2016 at CrawfordCounty Conservation League, 3477 St.Rt. 98, Bucyrus, OH. Starts at 9 a.m.Call-ins for lot numbers (for all threeauctions) will be taken on Jan. 2 only

from noon - 9 p.m. Call Steve Hiller at937-206-1934. For info. contact Hiller,OSTA Fur Auction Coordinator viaemail: [email protected]. Visit the OSTAwebsite at: www.ohiostatetrapper.org.• Ohio State Trappers Association Fur

Auction - Feb. 13, 2016 at 50 BoyerLane (just off Rt. 41) in Jeffersonville,OH. Starts at 9 a.m. Call-ins for lot num-bers (for all three auctions) will be takenon Jan. 2 only from noon - 9 p.m. CallSteve Hiller at 937-206-1934. For info.contact Hiller, OSTA Fur Auction Coor-dinator via email: [email protected] the OSTA website at:www.ohiostatetrapper.org.• West Virginia Trappers Association

Spring Rendezvous and Fur Auction -March 4-6, 2016 at Gilmer CountyRecreation Center, Glenville, WV. Sev-eral vendors. For info. call Scott Schim-mel at 304-462-7270, email Janet Hodgeat [email protected] or visitwebsite at: www.wvtrappers.com.• Ohio State Trappers Association Fur

Auction - March 12, 2016 at WallicksAuction House, 965 N. Wooster Ave.,

Strasburg, OH, 44680. Starts at 9 a.m.Call-ins for lot numbers (for all threeauctions) will be taken on Jan. 2 onlyfrom noon - 9 p.m. Call Steve Hiller at937-206-1934. For info. contact Hiller,OSTA Fur Auction Coordinator viaemail: [email protected]. Visit the OSTAwebsite at: www.ohiostatetrapper.org.• PATrappersAssociation Rendezvous

- June 23-25, 2016 at West End Fair-grounds, 570 Fairgrounds Rd., Gilbert,PA, 18331. Auction is Fri. 6:30 p.m. OnSat. Cable Restraint Cert. Class. Demos,dealers, contests, auction. $5 admission,$10 for three days. Tailgate space $50.Camping available. Contact Bob Coun-terman 610-759-9203 or Scot Mucha610-863-9759. Website:www.patrappers.com.—Larry Claypool


www.boltconstruction.cc

CONSTRUCTION, INC.

Headquarters 10422 South Avenue Youngstown, Ohio 44514

Phone 330-549-0349 Fax 330-549-0344Email [email protected]

The Petroleum IndustryJet Fueling SystemsGas Compressor Stations

Over 30 Years of Doing Things Right

TAKE A KIDHUNTING,FISHING,

ORTRAPPING

Book of Trapping Featured

Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo by Larry ClaypoolTrapper Ralph Scherder with a pair of

raccoons he trapped during the 2015 PAtrapping season opener in October.

COLUMBUS, OH — Hunters checked22,256 white-tailed deer on November 30,the opening day of Ohio’s deer-gun hunt-ing season, according to the Ohio Depart-ment of Natural Resources (ODNR).

Ohio’s deer-gun opening week ranthrough December 6. Weekly results werenot competed before press time. New thisyear, an additional two days (Dec. 28 andDec. 29) have been added to increase theopportunity for people to hunt withfirearms. Find more information aboutdeer hunting in the Ohio 2015-2016 Hunt-ing and Trapping Regulations or at wildo-hio.gov. Past year’s harvest summariesand weekly updated harvest reports can befound at wildohio.gov/deerharvest.Deer Management Goals

The ODNR Division of Wildlife re-mains committed to properly managingOhio’s deer populations through a combi-nation of regulatory and programmaticchanges. The goal of Ohio’s Deer Man-agement Program is to provide a deerpopulation that maximizes recreationalopportunities, while minimizing conflictswith landowners and motorists.

Until recently, deer populations innearly all of Ohio’s counties were wellabove goal. In the last few years, throughincreased antlerless harvests, most coun-ties are now at or near goal. Therefore, tohelp stabilize deer populations, bag limitswere reduced, and antlerless permit usehas been eliminated in most counties forthe 2015-2016 season.

The ODNR Division of Wildlife is inthe process of resetting Ohio’s populationgoals and is asking hunters that receivethe survey to help by completing and re-turning the survey as soon as they aredone hunting or at the end of the season.Landowner surveys have already beendistributed, and hunter surveys should ar-rive in the mail later this week. Huntersfor this year’s survey were randomly se-lected from the list of hunters who pur-chased a license and deer permit by Nov.16. Public input is an important part ofOhio’s deer management program, andsurvey participants are asked to completeand return their surveys.Hunting Popularity

Ohio ranks fifth nationally in residenthunters and 11th in the number of jobs as-sociated with hunting-related industries.Hunting has a more than $853 millioneconomic impact in Ohio through the saleof equipment, fuel, food, lodging andmore, according to the National ShootingSports Foundation’s Hunting in America:An Economic Force for Conservationpublication.

A list of all white-tailed deer checkedby hunters during opening day of the 2015

deer-gun hunting season is shown below:Adams: 373; Allen: 116; Ashland: 483;Ashtabula: 772; Athens: 420; Auglaize:99; Belmont: 429; Brown: 248; Butler:66; Carroll: 571; Champaign: 104; Clark:52; Clermont: 154; Clinton: 79;Columbiana: 522; Coshocton: 888; Craw-ford: 177; Cuyahoga: 7; Darke: 74; Defi-ance: 316; Delaware: 110; Erie: 66;Fairfield: 219; Fayette: 33; Franklin: 31;Fulton: 140; Gallia: 372; Geauga: 167;Greene: 54; Guernsey: 647; Hamilton: 44;Hancock: 135; Hardin: 149; Harrison:556; Henry: 125; Highland: 300; Hock-ing: 521; Holmes: 552; Huron: 367; Jack-son: 377; Jefferson: 386; Knox: 619;Lake: 44; Lawrence: 224; Licking: 563;Logan: 249; Lorain: 195; Lucas: 27;Madison: 28; Mahoning: 165; Marion:120; Medina: 152; Meigs: 418; Mercer:76; Miami: 52; Monroe: 334; Mont-gomery: 28; Morgan: 387; Morrow: 184;Muskingum: 722; Noble: 352; Ottawa:20; Paulding: 157; Perry: 399; Pickaway:107; Pike: 209; Portage: 157; Preble: 80;Putnam: 90; Richland: 462; Ross: 320;Sandusky: 76; Scioto: 207; Seneca: 273;Shelby: 97; Stark: 248; Summit: 24;Trumbull: 468; Tuscarawas: 658; Union:97; Van Wert: 63; Vinton: 401; Warren:61; Washington: 490; Wayne: 211;Williams: 327; Wood: 87; Wyandot: 227. Total: 22,256.

Ohio’s Deer-Gun Season Opens with 22K+ Deer Harvested

Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo courtesy of Thomas PuzEthan Puz (right) harvested this 11-point

buck in Columbiana County, OH in 2015.His proud grandfather, Thomas Puz, assisted

with the hunt.


Additional 25%off all Clearance

Boots and Shoes - 3rd Saturday of the Month!

Alan Mullet (440)693-43631 mi. west of Mespo

20% OffWeaver Display Barns

during December

Hrs: Mon-Fri 8-5; Sat 8-4 -CASH OR CHECK ONLY, SORRY NO CREDIT CARDS

F

am

ily Shoe Store

O

utdoor Furnitu

re

need a place for your

garden tools and

mower for the winter?

Come to Us for the Perfect Pair of Winter Boots!

Additional 25%f all Clearance offf all Clearance f all Clearance offf all Clearance

Boots and Shoes - dayd Satur3r

of the Month!

lyiilmm

iaa

m

F

ylhS oe

re

oortto

SSt

er

tu

OO

u ere

uu

r

ttuooddo

tr uF ni

ruttu

iitn

COLUMBUS, OH — Portions ofHolmes and Wayne counties have beendeclared a ChronicWasting Disease Sur-veillance Area (DSA) as part of thestate’s ongoing efforts to monitorChronic Wasting Disease (CWD), ac-cording to the Ohio Department of Nat-ural Resources (ODNR). Thisdesignation requires that additional rulesmust be followed by deer hunters in thisarea.Since October 2014, 19 captive white-

tailed deer have tested positive for CWDat a shooting preserve and a breeding fa-cility in Holmes County. Twenty-fourescaped white-tailed deer have beenfound outside of those facilities andhave been tested. Since CWD was firstdetected, ODNR Division of Wildlifestaff have also collected hundreds ofsamples of wild deer with the coopera-tion of hunters and local landowners.While none of these deer have testedpositive for CWD, it cannot be assumedthe disease is confined to a fenced facil-ity, and the ODNR Division of Wildlifeis taking additional steps to protectOhio’s deer herd.The DSA includes the areas within a

6-mile radius from the CWD positive

samples in Holmes County and includes:Franklin and Clinton townships inWayne County, and Ripley, Prairie, SaltCreek, Monroe, Hardy, Berlin, Killbuckand Mechanic townships, as well as thenortheast portion of Richland Township(defined by the boundary of Twp. Road36 to State Route 520 to Twp. Road 31to U.S. Route 62) in Holmes County.This DSAdesignation will remain in ef-fect for a minimum of three years. Thearea will be mapped and posted on thedivision’s website at wildohio.gov.The following regulations apply

within the DSA:Requires hunters to bring deer car-

casses harvested within the DSAbound-aries to an ODNR Division of Wildlifeinspection station for sampling duringthe deer-gun and deer muzzleloader sea-sons;Prohibits the placement of or use of

salt, mineral supplement, grain, fruit,vegetables or other feed to attract or feeddeer within the DSA boundaries;Prohibits hunting of deer by the aid of

salt, mineral supplement, grain, fruit,vegetables or other feed within the DSAboundaries; andProhibits the removal of a deer carcass

killed by a motor vehicle within theDSAboundaries unless the carcass com-plies with deer carcass regulations. Ad-ditional information on carcassregulations can be found at wildo-hio.gov.Normal agricultural activities includ-

ing feeding of domestic animals as wellas hunting deer over food plots, natu-rally occurring or cultivated plants andagriculture crops are not prohibited.Hunters harvesting deer within the

DSAare required to deliver their deer toa carcass inspection station. Two loca-tions have been designated as CarcassInspection Stations for the deer-gun sea-sons and the deer muzzleloader season.Both locations will be open and staffedfrom 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the deer-gun and deer muzzleloader seasons. Thedates for these seasons are: Nov. 30 toDec. 6, Dec. 28-29 and Jan. 9-12.Ohio Department of Transportation

(ODOT) garage, 1800 South Washing-ton Street, Millersburg, OH 44654.Hunters will be asked to provide their

confirmation number from the gamecheck process as well as the locationwhere the deer was killed (the addressof the farm or nearest road intersectionare acceptable). Tissue samples will betaken and tested for CWD. The process

should take no more than 10 minutes,however, delays are likely at peak timesof the day. Hunters are strongly encour-aged to complete the game checkprocess before proceeding to the inspec-tion, but division staff will be able to as-sist with checking deer.Hunters that harvest a deer and wish

to have it mounted will still need tobring their deer to a carcass inspectionstation. Samples will not be taken at thetime, but staff will collect additional in-formation so samples can be collectedlater.If hunters have questions about the

carcass inspection stations or need direc-tions to the locations, they may call 800-WILDLIFE or the Wildlife DistrictThree office at 330-644-2293.The ODNR Division ofWildlife is re-

sponsible for protecting and managingOhio’s fish and wildlife resources for thebenefit of all Ohioans.We greatly appre-ciate hunters’ cooperation in helping usmonitor Ohio’s deer herd. For more in-formation about CWD, visit wildo-hio.gov.ODNR ensures a balance between

wise use and protection of our naturalresources for the benefit of all. Visit theODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.

ODNR Takes Action to Monitor CWD


HARRISBURG, PA— In Pennsylva-nia, each hunter who harvests a deer orturkey has a legal obligation to report itwithin 10 days.And hunters are advised they must

have a number printed only on the har-vest ear tag in order to completeantlered-deer harvest reports by phone.Reporting by phone is one of three op-

tions for successful deer and turkeyhunters. Deer and turkey harvests alsomay be reported online or by mail.The toll-free phone system, which can

be accessed by dialing 1-855-PAHUNT1 (1-855-724-8681), requireshunters to enter the “tag number” whenreporting antlered-deer harvests. Forantlered deer, the tag number is foundonly on the harvest ear tag, and nowhereelse on the general license.For all other deer and turkey licenses

the tag number appears on the carcasstag as well as the license panel itself.For hunters who process their own

deer, this likely poses no issue since thetag stays with the hunter. But for hunterswho drop a tagged antlered deer off at abutcher shop, it could be problematic,

because the tag number is required bythe harvest-report phone system, andthat number appears only on the ear tag.Hunters who harvest bucks and intend

to report them by phone should writedown the tag number before taking anantlered deer to a processor or disposingof the head and hide.Along with this tag number, hunters

reporting by phone also should have onhand their licenses and other informa-tion about the animal, such as the num-ber of points on a buck’s rack or thelength of a turkey’s beard, when placingthe call.Hunters who are unable to complete

harvest reports by phone have other op-tions.To report harvests online, visit the

Game Commission’s website,www.pgc.state.pa.us and click on the“Report Your Harvest” button foundnear the top right side of the homepage.Have your hunting license number andharvest tags ready.Hunters with multiple tags also should

make certain they correctly report theharvest based on the tag that was used in

the field.This also is true for harvests reported

by mail.Each hunter, at the time he or she pur-

chases a license, is issued the currentedition of the Pennsylvania Hunting &Trapping Digest. The digest containspostage-paid postcards to report deerand turkey harvests, and these can befilled out by hand and mailed in.While licensed hunters have 10 days

to report deer and turkey harvests, men-tored youth and mentored adult huntersmust report their harvests within fivedays.In addition to deer and turkey har-

vests, harvests of fishers and bobcatsmust be reported to the Game Commis-sion within 48 hours, and otter harvestsmust be reported within 24 hours.Bear and elk harvests must be re-

ported at a Game Commission checkstation.By reporting their harvests, Pennsyl-

vania’s hunters help to provide the bestinformation possible to aid the GameCommission in managing the state’swildlife, said Game Commission Exec-utive Director R. Matthew Hough.“Deer and turkey harvests are among

those that are required by law to be re-ported,” Hough said. “But hunters

should know that, by reporting harvests,they’re not only fulfilling their legal ob-ligation, they’re also providing valuableinformation that will aid the Game Com-mission in making future managementdecisions.“Every time a hunter or trapper re-

ports a harvest, wildlife management inPennsylvania improves,” Hough said.“And I thank them all for their effort.”

PA Hunters Remindedto Report Deer and Turkey Harvests

SOUTH CHARLESTON, WV —“The 2016West VirginiaWildlife Calen-dar is now available for everyone toenjoy,” according to Paul R. Johansen,chief of the Division of Natural Re-sources Wildlife Resources Section.The cover of this award-winning wall

calendar features a painting of two maleturkeys in the snow. Paintings by WestVirginia artists include a groundhog, abeagle with cottontail rabbit, a malebrook trout, a springer spaniel and ruffedgrouse, an opossum, a pair of coyotes,red fox kits and a green darner dragonfly.Additional wildlife species featured in-clude a Baltimore oriole, a mother blackbear with cubs, and a snowy owl.Accompanying each painting is a brief

description of the featured animal andthe artist’s contact information. Featurearticles in the back of the calendar high-light lichens and the new electronicgame check system, along with a com-pilation of nature quotes accompaniedby photos.“The calendar is full of interesting

daily facts, best fishing days andmonthly tips to help you fully enjoy theoutdoors,” Johansen said. “Its $10 price

tag makes it a terrific bargain and a greatholiday gift.”Proceeds from the calendar sales help

fund projects of the DNR Wildlife Di-versity Program such as monitoring birdpopulations, developing educationalwildlife trunks for use in schools, andprinting of publications about wildlifespecies which are not hunted, trapped orfished.The 2016 West Virginia Wildlife Cal-

endar is available at DNR district of-fices, card stores, convenience and drugstores throughout the state, or throughthe West Virginia DNR Wildlife Re-sources Section, P.O. Box 67, Elkins,WV 26241; phone: 304-637-0245.A listof vendors selling the calendars is avail-able online atwww.wvdnr.gov/Wildlife/WildlifeCalendar.shtm.If buying the calendar through the

mail, make checks payable to WVDNRin the amount of $16.50 for each calen-dar, which includes shipping and han-dling (West Virginia residents add $.60tax for each calendar. VISA, Master-Card, Discover and American Expressare accepted.

2016WVWildlife Calendars are Available

Camp Perry Closed to Ice Fishing

PORT CLINTON, OH – Due to facilitydamage incurred as a result of excessiveuse during the 2014-15 ice fishing season,Camp Perry officials have determined itnecessary to prohibit public use of the areafor ice fishing from this date forward.Should conditions become feasible for

ice fishing, parking access will be grantedto guests staying overnight in a CampPerry Lodging facility ONLY. Parking indesignated areas will be authorized by dis-play of facility-issued parking permitsonly. All others will be towed at theowner’s expense.For additional information about Camp

Perry Lodging contact Debbie Paul at:614-336-6215 or email [email protected]. The website is:http://cplcc.com/.

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S.Forest Service recently launched the up-dated version of the increasingly popu-lar, free software i-Tree. This versionincludes a major new function that sim-ulates future tree population totals,canopy cover, tree diversity and tree val-ues by species based on user informa-tion.i-Tree and its growing suite of toolsmake it possible for anyone to analyzeindividual trees, parcels, neighborhoods,cities or an entire state.“The i-Tree enhancements will pro-vide the public with helpful scientific in-formation about the trees across theU.S.,” said U.S. Forest Service ChiefTom Tidwell. “With i-Tree you won’thave to imagine how trees enhance yourcommunities because it will demonstratetheir value to all of us.”The Forest Service worked with pri-vate industry, professional associations,non-profit groups, and universities to de-velop i-Tree, a public-domain suite offorest assessment tools.

Since the initial release in 2006, thou-sands of communities, nonprofit organ-izations, managers, consultants,volunteers and students in more than100 countries have used i-Tree to pro-duce customized reports.The enhancements provided in i-Tree,Version 6.0, include:i-Tree Landscape: Users canlearn about the benefits andvalues of trees (carbon storage,air pollution removal, hydro-logic effects) in their area, seehow increasing tree cover willincrease the benefits provided,and prioritize areas in which tofocus tree planting efforts. Thedata is preloaded and analyzed from var-ious sources, so the users just need to se-lect an area to begin understanding andvaluing their forest resource.i-Tree Eco interface: i-Tree Eco ismodernized with a new application in-terface, updated science and values, anupgraded web-based mobile data collec-tion tool and reporting features, and full

functionality for the United Kingdom.These upgrades make it easier for usersto assess and understand their local for-est resource.i-Tree Forecast: This new function ini-Tree Eco simulates future tree popula-tion totals, canopy cover, tree diversityand diameter at breast height distribu-tion. The tool also looks at carbon andair pollution removal services and val-ues by species based on user-input treedata and planting rates, and default oruser-defined mortality rates.“The new ability to prioritize tree

planting locations throughoutthe U.S. is a major step forwardfor improving human health inour nation,” said David J.Nowak, i-Tree team leader forthe Forest Service. “i-Tree hastools to help users select and seethe benefits of individual trees.The new Landscape program

now lets people compare the benefits oftrees, then determine which neighbor-hoods are the highest priority areas toplant to boost environmental quality andhuman health.”i-Tree already includes i-Tree Streets,which focuses on the benefits providedby a municipality’s street trees and putsa dollar value on the street trees’ annual

environmental and aesthetic benefits.The program’s i-Tree Design is a simpleonline tool that provides a way to assessindividual or multiple trees at the parcellevel. The tool links to Google Maps andallows a homeowner to see how tree se-lection, size and placement on theirproperty affect energy use and otherbenefits.The mission of the U.S. Forest Serv-ice, an agency of the Department ofAgriculture, is to sustain the health, di-versity and productivity of the nation’sforests and grasslands to meet the needsof present and future generations. Theagency manages 193 million acres ofpublic land, provides assistance to stateand private landowners and maintainsthe largest forestry research organizationin the world. Public lands the U.S. For-est Service manages contribute morethan $13 billion to the economy eachyear through visitor spending alone.Those same lands provide 20 percent ofthe nation’s clean water supply, a valueestimated at $7.2 billion per year. Theagency also has either a direct or indi-rect role in stewardship of about 80 per-cent of the 850 million forested acreswithin the U.S., of which 100 millionacres are urban forests where mostAmericans live.


Forest Service Releasesi-Tree Tool for Public Use

HARRISBURG, PA — It’s just beforedark and you see an elusive mammal. Ifyou are lucky, you snap a good picture be-fore it takes off. You wonder if others haveseen it too. Is it common to find this ani-mal in your county?Now you can find out.The Pennsylvania Game Commission

and its partners at the Pennsylvania Biolog-ical Survey have created a website for justthat. When visitingwww.pamammalatlas.com you can browsemaps, statistics, photographs, and descrip-tions of each wild mammal species inPennsylvania. You also can search throughphotographs submitted by other outdoorenthusiasts.Consider registering as a volunteer and

sharing your own photographs while youare at it. In doing so, you will greatly helpbiologists working on the PennsylvaniaMammal Atlas.What is the Pennsylvania Mammal Atlas?The Pennsylvania Mammal Atlas is a

project designed to map the current loca-tions of the 64 wild mammal species foundin Pennsylvania.Atlas projects aren’t a new idea, but this

is the first such project for mammals inPennsylvania.“The result of this project will be an ap-

proximately 10-year snapshot of Pennsyl-

vania wild mammal distributions” saidLindsey Heffernan, a wildlife biologist forthe Pennsylvania Game Commission.“While professional biologists will be trav-eling around the state conducting in-depthsurveys, we simply can’t cover enoughground. Citizen scientists will be crucial inhelping us to search the entire Common-wealth.”Why is the Pennsylvania Mammal AtlasImportant?In completing the Pennsylvania Mam-

mal Atlas project, citizens and researcherswill gather much-needed information onrare and elusive mammal species. Speciesdistribution maps will be updated, and re-searchers will have a greater foundation forfuture projects and a better understandingof where to focus conservation efforts.“This project is also important long-

term, as the world we live in is constantlychanging,” Heffernan said. “Climatechange, human activities, and populationgrowth are among the list of things thatcould, and likely will, have some effect onwild animals.“By creating a repeatable atlas, biolo-

gists will have the data they need to ana-lyze those changes in mammaldistributions past, present, and future,”Heffernan said.

PA Mammal Atlas Wants Your Photos


COLUMBUS, OH — Hunters har-vested 1,536 wild turkeys during Ohio’s2015 fall wild turkey season, accordingto the Ohio Department of Natural Re-sources (ODNR). Ohio’s 2015 fall wildturkey hunting season was open in 56counties Oct. 10-Nov. 29.Wild turkeys were extirpated in Ohioby 1904 and were reintroduced in the1950s by the ODNR Division ofWildlife. Ohio’s first modern day wildturkey season opened in the spring of1966 in 9 counties, and hunters checked12 birds. The wild turkey harvest topped1,000 for the first time in 1984. Springturkey hunting opened statewide in2000. Fall turkey season first opened in19 counties in 1996.For summaries of past turkey seasons,visit wildohio.gov/turkeyharvest.A list of all wild turkeys checked dur-

ing the 2015 fall hunting season isshown below: Adams: 44; Ashland: 27;Ashtabula: 73;Athens: 31; Belmont: 33;Brown: 26; Butler: 13; Carroll: 21; Cler-mont: 43; Columbiana: 43; Coshocton:43; Cuyahoga: 2; Darke 1; Defiance: 18;Delaware: 9; Fairfield: 14; Franklin: 1;Gallia: 50; Geauga: 45; Greene 1;Guernsey: 35; Hamilton: 10; Harrison:32; Highland: 40; Hocking: 52; Holmes:27; Huron: 6; Jackson: 43; Jefferson: 30;Knox: 34; Lake: 11; Lawrence: 31; Lick-ing: 36; Lorain: 29; Mahoning: 23; Med-ina: 22; Meigs: 33; Monroe: 21; Morgan:13; Morrow: 17; Muskingum: 27;Noble: 35; Perry: 29; Pike: 35; Portage:38; Richland: 21; Ross: 24; Scioto: 27;Seneca: 6; Stark: 27; Summit: 12; Trum-bull: 50; Tuscarawas: 23; Vinton: 34;Warren: 9; Washington: 23; Wayne: 13;Williams: 20. Total: 1,536.

Ohio Hunters Harvest 1,500+ Wild Turkeys

COLUMBUS, OH—While shoppingfor friends and family this holiday sea-son, why not consider giving the gift ofthe great outdoors? The Ohio Depart-ment of Natural Resources (ODNR) isready to help with stocking stuffers forthe entire family.

Ohio State Parks Gift CardsAn Ohio State Parks gift card makes agreat present for anyone who enjoys thebeauty of the great outdoors right here inthe Buckeye State. Gift cards may be re-deemed for camping, getaway rentals,cottage rentals or in most of Ohio’s statepark lodges. They may also be used forgolfing at Ohio State Parks’ six publiccourses or for boat rentals at many statepark marinas. Available in any denomi-nation and with no expiration date, giftcards may be purchased online atohiostateparks.org, at any state park of-fice or by calling 866-644-6727.

Wild Ohio MagazineWild Ohio Magazine features articlesand photos about fishing, hunting, con-servation, species profiles, habitat im-provement and more. Wild OhioMagazine is produced by the ODNR Di-vision of Wildlife and delivered to yourmailbox. The magazine is available atwildohio.gov and at license vendors. Thecost is $10 for all others. Order now toreceive the January/February 2016 edi-tion.

Wildlife Gift CertificatesOhio offers countless hunting and fish-

ing opportunities for every level of out-doorsmen and women. Gift certificatesare available at wildohio.gov and may beused toward fishing and hunting li-censes, turkey or deer hunting permitsand Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamps. Giftcertificates can be purchased for anyamount and are valid for one year fromthe date of purchase. Gift certificates canonly be purchased and redeemed online.

Ohio Wildlife Legacy StampsThe Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp isavailable for purchase online, by mail orat any location that sells hunting andfishing licenses. The 2015 OhioWildlifeLegacy Stamp depicts an eastern blue-bird. People who purchase a stamp willalso receive a commemorative card suit-able for framing. Buyers may personal-ize and print a certificate of appreciationto accompany the gift stamp at wildohio-stamp.gov.

Geology StoreLooking for a unique gift for the holi-days? Check out OhioGeologyStore.comwhere people can save 20 percent on alarge selection of our most popular pub-lications through Dec. 31. Shop onlinefrom the convenience of your home andavoid the Black Friday madness. Thestore features great books, maps andposters for rock hounds, explorers, hik-ers and young geologists.Visit the ODNR website atohiodnr.gov.

Give the Gift of the Outdoors this Season


John HinchliffeJobe TullisCoyote

Columbiana County, OH

Jason Tatgenhorst Jr., age 61st squirrel


John Bellanca15-pt., bow


Emily Snoderly, age 10squirrels

Brooke County, WV

Anna Snoderly, age 12fall turkey

Brooke County, WV

Bill Hall Sr.11pt., crossbow

Franklin County, OH

David Donaldson Jr.10-pt., compound bowMahoning County, OH

Send Us Your PhotosWe’ll print your hunting, fishing or trap-

ping photos in the next issue of OV Times orOhio Valley Outdoors magazine. Send pho-tos via mail, email or Facebook.Email to: [email protected] to: Photo Showcase210 East Fourth St., East Liverpool, OH 43920

John HinchliffeCoyotes



Hunter Seminskydouble beard 9-1/2" & 8",1-3/8" & 1-1/8 spurs, WV

Seth Grimes, age 12Jefferson County, OH

Chloe Wagler1st buck, crossbowStark County, OH

Brady Clark, age 61st deer, 2-pt.


John Lutsch (left)8-pt., buck


Randy G. Sproucebow


Danny Swiger15-pt.

Jefferson County, OH

Hayden Russell, age 8spike buck

Jefferson County, OH

Jerry Hileman & father Big Jerry10-pt.

Cambria County, PA

Jason Tatgenhorst Jr., age 61st deer, 11-pt.


Luke Sprouse13-pt., compound bowColumbiana County, OH

Lillian May, age 111st deer, shotgun

Mahoning County, OH


Ohio Valley Outdoorswww.ohiovalleyoutdoors.com

You need morecustomers!YOUR CARD HEREContact Sales Consultant

Tracy Bissell at330-385-2243

Documents

Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 12-2015