Central Ohio sportsmen and women who are interested in becoming Hunter Education Instructors are encouraged to register for a training workshop in Columbusaccording to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.  The workshop will take place on Saturday, March 10^th and Sunday, March 11^th, 2012.

Training will be held at the Wildlife District One office located at1500 Dublin RoadinColumbusfrom 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day.  There is no cost to participate in the Hunter education instructor workshop.  Those interested in attending must register by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE (945-3543).

Participants must attend both days of training, be at least 18 years of age and have successfully completed a hunter education course.Ohiocurrently has 1,700 volunteer instructors who train thousands of hunters each year to be safe and responsible in the field.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Ohio Hunter Education Instructor Training Offered

An investigation into the selling of venison by Happy Jack’s deer processing recently resulted in a guilty plea in the Miami County Municipal Court, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Division of Wildlife law enforcement received information that Happy Jack’s was selling deer meat contrary to Ohio Administrative Code. The Division of Wildlife initiated a plain clothes investigation.  On multiple occasions during the investigation Happy Jack’s sold deer summer sausage and trail sticks to a Division of Wildlife Investigator.  A search warrant was obtained for Happy Jack’s facility and a large amount of deer meat in various stages of processing as well as records and a computer were seized and held as evidence.

On December 19, 2011 Jack W. Orth 68, New Carlisle, owner and operator of Happy Jack’s, pled guilty to wildlife charges stemming from a 2011 investigation into the selling of deer meat. Mr. Orth along with his attorney appeared in the Miami County Municipal Court before Judge Elizabeth Gutmann and pled guilty to one charge of the sale of deer meat and guilty to one charge of failing to keep accurate records.  As part of the sentence, Judge Gutmann ordered a $50 fine on each charge plus court costs, restitution in the amount of $350 and she also ordered that the deer meat seized during the search warrant be forfeited to theBethanyCenterinPiqua,Ohio.

Also charged in the investigation was Benjamin J Campbell 25, ofHuber Heights,Ohiowith sale of deer meat.  Benjamin Campbell appeared in the Miami County Municipal Court before Judge Mel Kemmer and pled guilty to the sale of deer meat.  Judge Kemmer ordered a $25 fine plus court costs.

On January 13, 2012 approximately 521 packages of deer trail sticks and summer sausage as well as 698 pounds of ground venison were donated to theBethanyCenterlocated at339 South Street,Piqua,Ohio45356(937)615-9762. TheBethanyCenteris an ecumenical non-profit organization whose purpose is to serve those in need. Their services include a soup kitchen, food pantry, and clothing bank.

A portion of the 698 pounds seized in the case had not been processed. Through the generosity of Ted Davis, Davis Meats inSidney, and the Shelby County Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited the processing costs and labor were covered and the processing of the venison completed.

Anonymous tips to the county wildlife officer from concerned hunters sparked the undercover investigation into illegal activities at Happy Jack’s. Hunters can also report wildlife violations to through the Turn-In-A-Poacher (TIP) Program. Established in 1982 TIP allows Ohioans to call a toll-free number from anywhere in the state to report wildlife violations.  Calls regarding wildlife violations can be placed anonymously at 1-800-POACHER (800-762-2437).

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Investigation Leads to Guilty Plea for Miami County, Ohio Deer Processor

The 53rd Annual Buckeye Big Buck Club event that includes a banquet and awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, Feb. 18, at Myers Convocation Centeron the Ashland University campus.

The day will include a number of events, with doors opening at 9 a.m. There will be a scorer’s meeting at 10 a.m. followed by hunting seminars that will begin at 11 a.m.  A general membership meeting will be held at 3 p.m., while the buffet style dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the awards program at 6:30 p.m. As always, dress is casual for the event.

According to Jon and Lori Byers, banquet chairmen and organizers of this year’s banquet, this year’s event will feature a deer head display of approximately 200 deer heads that will be open to the public. “We encourage all members, new and old, to bring their mount for display. If you have more than one club qualifier, then bring them all,” Lori Byers said.

Byers said Dr. Mike Tonkovich, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife Deer Project Leader, will be “The main speakers for the event are hunting celebrity Eddie Salter of Down and Dirty Game Calls and Dr. Tonkovich,” she said.

Also, many representatives and vendors from hunting and shooting sports industries will be in attendance. “In addition to the vendors and hunting and shooting experts, there will be hunting seminars throughout the day and they are all free,” she said.

The dinner is by ticket only and has to be purchased ahead of the event. No tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets for this year’s banquet dinner are $35 for adults and $25 for children under 12 years of age. New members must also purchase tickets.

Those interested should send dinner ticket requests along with a check or money order and self-addressed stamped envelope to: Banquet Tickets, Buckeye Big Buck Club,15201 E. Scatter Ridge Road,Athens,Ohio45701. Ticket orders must be postmarked no later than Feb. 4 and no ticket orders will be processed after that date.

Those with questions about this year’s event can contact the club by phone at 740-591-4746 or by email at mrex@frognet.net.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Big Buck Club to Hold Annual Event at Ashland University, Ohio

Sportsmen and women interested in pursuing coyotes are encouraged to attend a free, informational workshop provided by Division of Wildlife on Thursday, February 23^rd, 2012 inAkron.

Division of Wildlife biologists will cover such topics as life history, calling techniques (call types and setups), appropriate firearms and ammunition, field sets, and scouting. Weather permitting, attendees will have an option to follow biologists outside to view proper setups. Attendees are encouraged to dress appropriately.

The workshop will be from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Wildlife District Three, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron. Pre-registration is required as seating is limited. Call Ken Fry at (330) 245-3030.

To learn more about hunting and trapping in Ohiovisit www.wildohio.com

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Free Coyote Hunting/Trapping Workshop in Akron Ohio

The city of Mansfield will hold a lottery card drawing for controlled beaver trapping at Clear Fork Reservoir according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife.  Two units will be available, a north unit and a south unit.  Each successful trapper may have one assistant.

Interested trappers may apply by mailing a 4 x 6 inch post card to Gary Foster, 2678 Gass Road, Mansfield, Ohio 44904.  Both the applicant and the assistant must hold current hunting and trapping licenses.  Applicants need to print their name, address, and phone number on the card as well as their assistant’s name, address, and phone number.  Postcards must be postmarked by January 20, 2012.  The drawing will be held on January 25, 2012.  Only two permits will be issued.  Successful applicants will receive a letter with the permit and a map of the trapping unit.

The ODNR-Division of Wildlife assists local governments in conducting controlled trapping throughout the state in order to reduce beaver damage and increase opportunities for trappers. For more controlled trapping drawings, visit the Division of Wildlife’s webpage at wildohio.com and go to Hunting and Trapping tab, and click on the Controlled Hunts link.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Mansfield Ohio Will Hold Beaver Trapping at Clear Fork Reservoir

Hunters took 19,251 deer during Ohio’s muzzleloader season, January 7-10, with Coshocton County again leading the state with 722 deer checked.   In 2011, a preliminary total of 16,934 deer were taken during muzzleloader season.

Counties reporting the highest number of deer checked during the muzzleloader season included: Coshocton-722, Licking-639, Muskingum-638, Guernsey-612, Tuscarawas-581, Belmont-577, Harrison-569, Knox-470, Meigs-466, and Jefferson-465.

Hunters can enjoy deer hunting through February 5 as the archery season continues.  Hunters who wish to share their success may submit a photo of themselves and the deer taken at wildohio.com.

Hunters can still donate extra venison to organizations assisting Ohioans in need.  The division is collaborating with Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry to help pay for the processing of donated venison.  Hunters who give their deer to a participating food bank are not required to pay the processing cost while funding for the effort is available.  Counties being served by this program can be found online at www.fhfh.org.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Hunters Take 19,251 White-tailed Deer During Ohio Muzzleloader Season

The 2012-13 hunting and trapping regulation proposals were presented on January 4 to the Ohio Wildlife Council by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.

September 1 is the proposed kick-off date for the state’s fall hunting season beginning with squirrel and dove hunting. Other proposed hunting and trapping rules will be similar to those now in effect, with only slight changes to fall and spring hunting dates.

Hunters age 17 and under are proposed access to hunt statewide for rabbit, pheasant and all other legal game in season during two designated weekends, October 20-21 and 27-28. Spring youth turkey season is proposed for April 20-21, 2013.

The remainder of the proposals concerning Ohio’s white-tailed deer hunting will be heard during a separate Wildlife Council meeting on February 8.

Open houses will be held on Saturday, March 3 in each of the state’s five wildlife districts to provide the public an opportunity to view and discuss proposed hunting and trapping regulations with state wildlife officials. Directions to the open houses can be found at wildohio.com or by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.

A statewide hearing on all of the proposed rules will be held at the Division of Wildlife’s District One office on Thursday, March 8 at 9 a.m.. The office is located at 1500 Dublin Road in Columbus.

After considering public input, the Ohio Wildlife Council will vote on the proposed rules and season dates during its April 4 meeting.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Ohio Wildlife Council Hears 2012-2013 Hunting Regulations Proposals

A male river otter was recently discovered by a trapper in Putnam County, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife. The otter was found along the Auglaize River, near Cloverdale, Ohio. This is the first verified report of an otter in Putnam County in recent history.

River otters are native to Ohio; however, they were extirpated from the state by the 1900’s. In 1986, the ODNR-Division of Wildlife began a seven year reintroduction program for river otters. In total, 123 river otters were captured and relocated from Arkansas and Louisiana using modern foothold traps. The otters were released in the Grand River, Killbuck Creek, Little Muskingum River, and Stillwater Creek. Since then, otters have been seen in two-thirds of Ohio’s counties.

River otters are very adapted for swimming. They have a long tapered body, webbed feet, and a long, flattened muscular tail that helps them swim. Otters can reach 38 to 58 inches in length, with 50 percent of their length being tail. They average 7 to 10 inches high and adults can weigh 11 to 33 pounds. In the wild, river otters generally live 10 to 15 years.

Otters generally feed on fish, aquatic insects, crayfish, snakes, frogs, and occasionally some waterfowl and small mammals.  Otters are usually nocturnal and feed at night; however, they will sometimes feed at twilight as well.

Due to the otter’s success in much of the state, the ODNR, Division of Wildlife recommended that river otters be removed from the State’s endangered species list in 2002. In 2005-2006, Ohio held its first regulated trapping season for river otters. Currently, in 2011-2012, 43 counties are open to trapping otters with bag limits of either 1 or 3 depending on the county. Successful trappers are required to present the otter pelt to the ODNR-Division of Wildlife within 72 hours of capture for tagging.

The river otter discovered in Putnam County was found in a raccoon snare located along the river bank. Snares and foothold taps do not cause captured animals to die; rather, they hold the animal until the trapper returns. Unfortunately, with all the recent rains, the Auglaize River flooded and the river otter drowned. Since Putnam County is closed to trapping for river otters, the trapper turned over the animal to the ODNR-Division of Wildlife.

The ODNR, Division of Wildlife continues to conduct research and monitor river otter populations within the state to ensure they remain healthy. A helicopter snow-track survey, a bridge-crossing survey, and public observation reports are all combined and utilized to keep track of the river otter populations here in Ohio.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Ohio River Otter Captured in Putnam County

Columbus, OH – Governor John Kasich today issued an emergency rule reiterating that the statewide muzzleloader season for deer is January 7-10, as published in the 2011-12 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet.

The emergency rule was requested by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife because the dates printed in the hunting regulations handbook were inconsistent with the Ohio Administrative Code.

The ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR Web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Ohio Muzzleloader Season Dates are Jan. 7-10

Columbus, OH – Ohio deer hunters have donated more than 79,750 pounds of venison to local food banks since opening day of deer season on September 24, according to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife.

The 1,595 donated deer equal approximately 319,000 meals for needy Ohioans. Last year at this time, 2,082 deer had been donated representing 104,100 pounds of venison. The Division of Wildlife reminds hunter that there are plenty of opportunities to pursue deer in the 2011-12 season.

“I’m proud of Ohio’s deer hunters who continue to show their generosity despite overall lower harvest numbers this year as compared to last,” said Scott Zody, chief ODNR Division of Wildlife. “I encourage hunters to get out in the field, enjoy the rest of the season and to consider donating any extra deer they are fortunate enough to harvest.”

FHFH collected 125,150 pounds of venison from 2,503 deer during all of last year’s season, which ran from September 25, 2010 to February 6, 2011.

The Division of Wildlife collaborated with FHFH to assist with the processing costs associated with donating venison to a food bank. The program allows for subsidy grants to be provided in allotments that are matched with funds generated or collected by local Ohio FHFH chapters. The division subsidized this year’s FHFH operation as an additional deer management tool, helping wildlife managers encourage hunters to harvest more does.

Venison that is donated to participating food banks must be processed by a federal, state or locally inspected and insured meat processor. Hunters wishing to donate their deer are not required to pay for the processing of the venison as long as the program has funds available to cover the cost.

Currently, there are 78 participating meat processors across the state and 34 FHFH local chapters. Anyone interested in becoming a local program coordinator or a participating meat processor should visit the “Local FHFH” page at www.fhfh.org. The Web page includes a list of coordinators, program names and the counties they serve.

The ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR Web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Deer Hunters Helping Ohioans in Need