Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 3-2016

OutdoorFREE!

For the most part,we lucked out thiswinter. We didn’t getmany long stretchesof extreme cold and itwarmed up just oftenenough to keep thesnow drifts at bay.Overall it seems likewildlife fared prettywell this winter, too,and it’s now time toturn our thoughts toward spring gobbler.It’s common to see gobblers strutting

in a field with hens by mid March. All ittakes is a nice warm day, and sometimesnot even that, to get them feeling friskyeven in February. The primary breedingseason for turkeys, though, is late Marchthrough April. Like any other breedingwindow for any other species, there’susually a buffer of a few weeks beforeand after that time when breeding canoccur. I’ve seen gobblers breed hensfrom February clear through May, al-though they may not actually lay theireggs during that time.Hens are able to store sperm from

males for up to eight weeks after breed-ing takes place. This delayed fertiliza-tion allows them time to wait untilconditions are right before beginning thenesting process. Weather and habitat arethe two primary factors that dictate nest-ing, which is why there can be a big dif-ference from year to year as to whenpoults start showing up.When a hen finally decides to make

her nest, she will lay one egg per day foreight to 20 days. The typical nest con-sists of 10-15 eggs. Throughout theprocess, she keeps close watch and staysnearby, although she won’t actually startto incubate the eggs until they’ve all beenlaid. The incubation process then takesabout 28 days, during which time shewill rarely leave the nest.At least half, and sometimes more, of

the poults won’t live longer than one yeardue to predation by coyotes, foxes, rac-coons, and avian predators. If they cansurvive their first year of life, though,turkeys are pretty much in the clear andwill only occasionally get picked off by apredator. Their flocking nature helpskeep them safe. By fall of their first year,young males leave the flock and createtheir own little bachelor groups, andthese jakes hopefully make it to the fol-lowing spring where they call out fromtheir roosts in the early morning light.We don’t often think about the life

cycle of a hen turkey, but in truth, thehens control everything in the turkeyhunting world. Figure out what the hensare doing and you’ll likely have moresuccess bagging that trophy gobbler.

Story inside page 8

THE ART AND SCIENCE OF STAYING DRY - P.6

To Find theGobblers, KeepTrack of theHens

SuperSauger

March 2016

Ohio Valley

Times

Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Ralph ScherderIf you want to know where the gobblers are, then find the hens, and that means finding

the habitat where they will feel safe while nesting and rearing their brood.

It all starts with nesting habitat. If thearea you’re hunting lacks quality nestinghabitat, there simply won’t be any hensin the area. Nesting habitat consists ofdense brush, thick grassy fields, andareas that have been timbered in the pastfew years. The key is that a hen needs tofeel safe. During the 28-day incubation

period, hens and their nests are extremelyvulnerable, and there has to be enoughcover to conceal her from predators.If the area you’re hunting lacks good

nesting habitat, it will also lack birds,plain and simple. No hens, no gobblers.

Turn To Gobblers Page 4

By Ralph ScherderHunting Editor

OVOu

tdoo

rTim

es

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES2 March 2016

What were these guysthinking?

It was late in the 2015deer-gun season, in cen-tral Ohio. After thelarge group of huntersencountered a routinelicense inspection froma local Division ofWildlife Officer, thegroup continued theirplanned deer drive. They didn’t think they’dsee Officer Matt Teders again that day. Theydid, and a few of his friends.

A seven-year DNR veteran, Teders kepthis eyes and ears open as he visited with thegroup of hunters. Evidently none of thehunters had their ‘brains’ turned on. Theydid, however, turn on their two-way radiosto communicate with each other as the deerdrive was on. Teders reported most of thehunters had radios and he overheard otherscommunicating with the group. After re-leasing the hunters Teders managed to dail-in his two-way radio to the same channelthe hunters were using.

Conversations heard by the DNR officerled to two of the hunters earning citationsfor their actions — and not for their “bigbucks”.

The most recent “Field Reports” from theDNR reported this information about thegroup’s late season hunt at Deer CreekWildlifeArea, “after an investigation, it wasdetermined that one hunter had killed a sec-ond deer before temporarily tagging thefirst deer. The investigation also revealedwhich hunter had spoken on the radio to letthe other hunters know which way the deerwas running. Radios can be used whilehunting, but cannot be used to communicatedeer movement. Two hunters were cited,one for harvesting a second deer before at-

taching a tag to the first, and the second forthe use of a radio to communicate deermovements. The hunters paid $390 in finesand court costs.

What were they thinking?And continuing in the ‘what were they

thinking’ department, ODNR District FourWildlife Officer Jerrod Allison managed tonab 11 (yes eleven!) hunters in one day forhunting without permission in southeasternOhio. This multiple display of ignorance —or disrespect — led all 11 ‘hunters’ to be or-dered to pay fines and court costs inCoshocton Municipal Court recently.

The ODNR’s Field Reports said, “duringthe extra two days of the 2015 deer-gunhunting season, State Wildlife Officer Jer-rodAllison observed two hunters on privateproperty in Coshocton County. OfficerAlli-son received complaints about people hunt-ing without permission on this property, sohe made contact with the two hunters. Theydid not have written permission to be on theproperty, and further investigation revealedtwo other individuals were hunting withthem. Officer Allison met the hunters attheir vehicle on the next road over. As Offi-cer Allison drove to that location, he ob-served a second group of seven hunters onthe same property. He made contact withthose hunters, who also did not have writtenpermission.All 11 hunters were issued tick-ets for hunting without permission and allwere ordered to pay fines and court costs inCoshocton Municipal Court.”

Disrespect for the law also extends to thefishing community. One Indiana man foundhimself in hot water, and an Ohio court,after he left several undersize dead fish neara campground near Lake Loramine (ShelbyCounty). The man also lightened his wallet($205 in court fines) for not having a non-resident fishing license.

What Were They Thinking?

5 Historic PA Bull Elkon Display

PAGC

6 The Art & Science ofStaying Dry Outdoors

Grey D. Berrier II

8 Super Sauger of ourLocal Rivers

Jeff Knapp

12 Study MeasuresAnglers’ & Hunters’Awareness

13 Catchable Trout Re-lease Schedule

ODNR

14 Special Rules inPlace for Spring Walleye

The Associated Press

15 Preliminary 2016-17 PA Hunting Seasons

PAGC

16 RBFF to AgainSponsor Top FamilyFishing Contest

INSIDE THIS MONTH

10 2015 PA Bear Harvest Ranks 3rd All-Time

3-D Archery Sunday Shoots - March 20, April 17 at East Palestine Sportsmen’s Club, Failer St.,East Palestine, OH 44413. 30 targets; registration: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Cost $10 adults, cubs under 12 free.Call Gary Day at 330-457-2205/330-853-9941. Website: www.epsportsmensclub.org.3-D Archery Shoots - April 2-3; May 1; June 4-5 at Beaver Creek Sportsman Club, 14480 Wash-ingtonville Rd., Washingtonville, OH. All ages and equipment welcome; McKenzie Targets, 30 tar-gets, no rangefinders. Reg. 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.Adults $10, Youth (10 & under) free. Contact Chuck Yorkat 330-978-3253 or 330-716-3964.Gun & Sporting Goods Show - April 2-3 (9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.) at Hidden ValleySportsmen’s Club, 268 Gilkey Rd., West Middlesex, PA. Admission $5, 12 & under free with anadult. For info. call 724-528-2700.Gun Show by Mahoning Valley Gun Collectors - April 16-17; (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) at Lowellville Rodand Gun Club. Admission $4. GPS address 6225 Quarry Road, Lowellville, OH. CallBill at 330-506-9194.

By Larry ClaypoolEditor

OVOu

tdoo

rTim

es

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

Publisher/Editor, Larry [email protected]

Graphics Designer, Linda [email protected]

Sales Consultant, Tracy [email protected]

[email protected] Valley Outdoor Times

is published by Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine©

Offices located at210 E. 4th Street, East Liverpool, OH 43920Phone 330-385-2243, Fax 330-385-7114

[email protected]

To Advertise CALL 330-385-2243

OutdoorOhio Valley

TimesMarch 2016 VOL. 8, NO. 3

Contributing EditorsRalph Scherder, Hunting Editor

Jeff 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]

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES 3March 2016

ph 330.359.5708toll free 800.359.7522 1.5 miles West of Winesburg on US 62 • Monday-Friday 7:00-3:30 (Winter Hours)

Cabins

www.alpinestructures.net

hunting • fishing • vacation

12x 20' A-Frame

$400 OFF ANY 12' WIDE OR LARGER BUILDING

OFFER CANNOT BE COMBINED. EXPIRES 04/16/2016

16x24' Cottage

CANNOTOFFERWIDE'12ANY$400

04/16/2016EXPIRES.COMBINEDBENOTARGERLORDEOFF400

/16/2016BUILDINGF

A gobbler, after all, will only occupy anarea if he feels there is a reasonablechance of encountering a receptive hen.By breeding season, hens are alreadygravitating toward good nesting areas,and by default so are the gobblers. Whenyou think about it, it’s no different thanhunting whitetails in the rut. Find thedoe groups and you will surely find thebucks.One way to locate the hens is to scout

food sources and look for fresh scratch-ings. Food sources bordering good nest-ing habitat are golden in the world ofturkey hunting. Write them down ormark them on a map if you have to. Theywill be consistent places to hunt yearafter year.Of course, there’s another element that

shouldn’t be overlooked and that is rear-ing habitat. Rearing habitat is oftenclosely associated with food sources, andcan be one in the same if those foodsources meet certain requirements. Forinstance, once broods are hatched, thehen will quickly lead her chicks to rear-ing habitat, and the closer it is to the nest-ing site, the better. A shorter traveldistance means greater poult survivalrates.

Rearing habitat consists of grasses orareas where there are lots of insects.Many times, these are little openings inthe woods where the ground may be a lit-tle swampy or especially damp and behome to large populations of bugs forchicks to feed on. If you plant food plotsfor whitetails, consider planting a few na-tive grasses preferred by turkeys as nest-ing and rearing habitat in the spring.Also, leave plenty of natural openings inyour woods.Hearing a gobbler sound off from its

roost on a cool spring morning is a mag-ical thing. It’s also the easiest and mostobvious way to locate a bird. However,not all birds gobble every morning – infact, there are certain individuals that justdon’t gobble at all – but you can still lo-cate them if you know where to look.When you have success in the turkey

woods, it’s easy to forget the big picture.It’s more natural to place emphasis onyour decoying and calling abilities thanit is to focus on why those birds wereeven in the area in the first place. If youwant to know where the gobblers are,then find the hens, and that means find-ing the habitat where they will feel safewhile nesting and rearing their brood.


Ice Fishing From Page 1

SOUTH CHARLESTON, WV (AP)— Wildlife officials in West Virginiahave proposed regulations to allowhunters to kill more white-tailed deer,black bears and turkeys in the fall.The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports

Division of Natural Resources biologistsmade the proposal recently in SouthCharleston during the quarterly meetingof the state Natural Resources Commis-sion, a panel responsible for setting sea-son lengths and bag limits.If approved, the proposal would allow

hunters to kill more antlerless deer andmore female bears to control deer andbear populations.Division of Natural Resources game

management supervisor Gary Foster saysthe changes were prescribed in the state’smanagement plans for the two species.“Our deer and bear operational plans

give us guidance on the setting of theseasons,” Foster said.The proposal would make deer bag

limits more liberal in 21 counties or partsof counties, more restrictive in two andwould remain the same in 33. It wouldalso set more liberal regulations to 13counties for bears.Another proposal would open the en-

tire state to turkey hunting in the fall. Ifapproved, the regulation would allow atleast one week of hunting in everycounty during the fall.

WVDNR ProposeMore Liberal Hunting Seasons

SALT LAKE CITY, UT (AP) — Leg-islation that would open special huntingpermits for 12-year-olds has gotten ap-proval from Utah lawmakers.The Deseret News reports that a bill

that would let 12-year-olds apply foronce-in-a-lifetime or limited-entry per-mits received approval from the Senate

late February.In Utah, 12-year-olds are allowed to

hunt big game.The legislation would also let children

that age accumulate points every timethey enter a permit lottery but aren’t cho-sen.It now awaits action from the governor.

Utah May Allow 12-year-olds a Lifetime Permit

HARRISBURG, PA — Killed unlaw-fully in a 2014 poaching spree, one ofthe largest bull elk in state history ismaking its way back to Pennsylvania aspart of a traveling display of exceptionalbulls that was featured at the GreatAmerican Outdoor Show in Harrisburgin February.The bull was taken, alongside two oth-

ers, in a night of poaching by three menin Karthaus Township (ClearfieldCounty, PA) in September 2014.Wildlife Conservation Officer MarkGritzer had been staking out the areawhere the giant 10- by 9-point bull hadbeen hanging around and was quick tointercept the poachers after the shot rangout. The three men each pleaded guiltyto their charges, and their sentences in-cluded time in jail and fines totaling al-most $39,000.With the case resolved, the Rocky

Mountain Elk Foundation had a mountfashioned from elk’s cape and antlers.And following completion of this year’sGreat Elk Tour, it will returned to theGame Commission’s ownership.With a Boone & Crockett gross score

of 460 1/8 inches, the Historic Pennsyl-

vania Poaching bull is the largest amongthose on the tour this year. It’s the largestpoached bull in state history, and amongthe largest ever.Game Commission Executive Direc-

tor R. Matthew Hough said the historicbull is a testament to the quality elkPennsylvania produces. It exemplifiesthe reason people flock to the state’s elkrange each fall to view elk, and why agrowing number have submitted appli-cations each year in hopes of huntingthem.“While it’s a shame to lose an animal

of this quality to a senseless, unlawfulact, from a conservation perspective,this is case to be proud of,” Hough said.“It shows the dedication of our officers,who often work overnight and into thenext morning to catch poachers in theact. It shows the resolve of our justicesystem to take these cases seriously.Andit shows that, through the generosity ofpartner organizations like the RockyMountain Elk Foundation, a trophy likethis won’t entirely go to waste as it’s puton display for all to see.”Mark Holyoak, director of communi-

cation for the Rocky Mountain Elk

Foundation, said the impressive mountprovides a unique teaching opportunity.“Featuring the Pennsylvania bull

among the six Great Elk Tour mountsgives us the opportunity to talk about theimportance of legal, ethical hunting andits vital link to conservation,” Holyoaksaid. “We are grateful to our partners atPennsylvania Game Commission fortheir dedication and are excited to bringthe tour back to Harrisburg.”


Historic PA Bull Elk on Display

Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo courtesy of PAGCThis bull elk was taken, alongside two oth-ers, in a night of poaching by three men inKarthaus Township (Clearfield County,

PA) in September 2014. The mount will beused as an educational display piece for the

PA Game Commission.

JOIN OVOON THE NET:

Ohio Valley Outdoorswww.ohiovalleyoutdoors.com


Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo by Grey D. Berrier IIThe author’s collection of rainy weather clothing that he dependson to keep him dry while hunting, fishing, hiking or kayaking.

“What was theworst weather youever experienced,while you were in thefield?” This is one ofthe most frequentquestions I receivewhen I tell people Iwas assigned to FortWainwright in Fair-banks, Alaska from1985-89. I’ve learnedthat what they’re reallyasking is, “What was the coldest temper-ature you ever encountered while youwere in the field in Alaska?” My stan-dard response is that we endured -82°F(that was the temperature, not the windchill) during Joint Training ExerciseBrim Frost ’89 out in the Tanana Flats,south of Fairbanks, in January 1989 asverified by a U.S. Air Force weatherteam sent out from nearby Eielson AirForce Base.If our discussion continues, I usuallyelaborate that from my personal experi-ence, the worst weather to be out in thefield for an extended period of time is33° to 39°F with persistent rain. Duringthose continuous cold, wet conditions,after a day or so, your clothing and sleep-ing gear both start to get damp and youbegin to lose the ability to retain heat anddry out. This can quickly result in a very

real hypothermic situation, where youmay encounter an uncontrollable loss inbody temperature and corresponding life-threatening complications. The truth ofthe matter is that I’ve experience moreextended periods of cold rains afield,here in Pennsylvania and Ohio, than Iever did in Alaska.With Spring just around the corner,outdoorsmen and women are starting tolook ahead to fishing, hunting, hiking,camping, and other eagerly anticipatedoutdoor activities. Frequently, our busyschedules force us to pick a day or sev-eral day period, well in advance, whenwe can head out; but often the weatherdoes not cooperate when the time finallyarrives. We’re forced to make a decisionto either: drive on with our plans, in spiteof the cold, wet weather, or with greatdisappointment, abandon the effort andjust stay home. If you’re like me, youmost likely are going to tough it out andcontinue to head afield in the rain to pur-sue your passion. That is when a littleknowledge in the art and science of stay-ing dry outdoors can make the differencebetween being comfortable in the midstof the rain or being absolutely miserablebecause of the rain.Human beings living in temperate en-vironments, such as ours, have perpetu-ally had to deal with periods of cold, wet

By Col.(Ret.)Grey D. Berrier IIFIN Pro Staff

OV

Out

door

Tim

es

The Art and Science of Staying Dry Outdoors

Turn To Staying Dry Page 7

weather in the Spring, Fall, and Winter.Some agricultural, commercial, con-struction, and military occupations havealways forced individuals to spend ex-tended periods outdoors in these inhos-pitable conditions. Historically, some ofthe most important, yet often over-looked, technological developments thatbenefitted the common man were in wetweather gear. The simple vulcanizedrubber poncho/ground cloth was a majorstep forward for soldiers in theAmericanCivil War. The oil cloth slicker, refinedby Filson and other manufacturers, hasbeen a stalwart companion of farmers,ranchers, cowboys, and outdoorsmen forover a century. Staying dry and avoid-ing hypothermia is a persistent fight forthose who are forced or simply choose tohead outdoors in cold rain.

When I was in elementary school inthe late 1960’s and early 1970’s, I thinkevery child had their standard yellowPVC raincoat they donned for the oblig-atory walk to school or the bus stop. Iremember learning about “field expedi-ent” rain gear from my maternal grandfa-ther on the opening day of trout season,when I was only 11. My dad, uncle, andI were getting ready to head to the stream

shortly after sunrise, when the skiesopened up and none of us had raingear.Not to be deterred by the inclementweather, Pop-Pop quickly pulled outthree large garbage bags, cut out the nec-essary holes for our heads and arms, andsent us on our way. When it came timeto head to Penn State as a freshman inAugust 1981, I can still recall my parentshaving a disagreement over the $55 (a lotof money back then) Woolrich raincoat Iwanted, since I didn’t relish the thoughtof walking around campus toting an um-brella. Fortunately, Dad saw my point ofview and made the purchase. I still occa-sionally remind my Mom, almost 35years later, I still wear that Woolrichraincoat and it was a good investmentthat has stood the test of time.

My biggest challenge with all raingear,and probably yours too, is I can sweatprofusely when I’m active. The decisionfrequently comes down to how wet I amgoing to get on the outside (from therain) vs. how soaked am I going to geton the inside (from perspiration). If youwill be relatively stationary, there isnothing wrong with staying dry andwarm in a cold rain with an unbreathableouter layer, such as rubber, PVC, coatednylon, or plastic tops and bottoms, or aponcho. However, if you are going to be

conducting more strenuous activities,such as hiking, walking an extended dis-tance to your hunting stand or fishingspot, chopping wood, or dragging a deer;you are probably going to want raingearmade from one of the newer waterproof-breathable fabrics. Cost also becomes anissue, since high quality raingear candefinitely become the most expensiveclothing choice in your outdoor apparelarsenal.

Rather interesting is that the recentrapid progression in rainwear technologysomewhat parallels my military career.When I first started out as an ArmyROTC Cadet at Penn State in 1981, oursole piece of wet weather gear was astandard issue military poncho. Wefolded it to specified dimensions and car-ried it on the back of our LBE (load-bearing equipment), everywhere wewent. That way it was always availableand easily donned when needed. To thisday, a surplus military poncho is a goodinvestment since it is compact to carry,permits some air circulation to dissipateperspiration, and makes an excellentfield-expedient “poncho hooch” shelterwhen stretched between two trees. Itwasn’t until I was commissioned and at-tending the Field Artillery Officer BasicCourse at Fort Sill, OK in June 1985 that

we received the standardArmy-issue ODgreen wet weather gear top and bottoms.We quickly found that while the dual-coated nylon material kept you dry fromthe rain, it did not breathe and you sub-sequently became sweat-soaked on theinside, if you were active.

It was a substantial leap forward whenthe U.S. Army developed and began toissue Gore-Tex parkas and trousers as acomponent of their 1st Generation Ex-tended Cold Weather Clothing System(ECWCS) in the late 1980’s. For thefirst time, we had an external clothingoption that was waterproof on the out-side, yet breathable from the inside. Re-markably, Gore-Tex fabric is made frompolytetrofluorethylene (PTFE), the samematerial as the Teflon that lines your fa-vorite cookware. However, Gore-Tex isa virtually weightless film, called ex-panded polytetrofluorethylene (ePTFE),that is rapidly stretched to form an ex-tremely thin membrane containing bil-lions of microscopic pores that are toosmall to permit water droplets (rain) toget in, but are large enough to allowwater vapor (sweat/perspiration) to getout. Gore-Tex, patented and licensed byW.L. Gore &Associates of Newark, DE,is the “gold-standard” of the waterproof-


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

Staying Dry From Page 6

Turn To Staying Dry Page 9

A recent spell ofmild weather had un-locked the ice on thelower AlleghenyRiver. We haddrifted about a hun-dred yards downriverof the mouth of Buf-falo Creek, nearFreeport, when mypartner Dave Keithexclaimed, “there’sone.”A couple minutes later a quality-sized

sauger was securely in the net. Themeasuring board showed it to be 17.75inches, a quarter-inch shy of the 18-inchrequirement for citation-sized sauger inPennsylvania.A closely related cousin of the wall-

eye, the sauger, in my experience, can bean enigma of a species. At times theycan be ridiculously plentiful and easy tocatch; at others, as rare as a play withouta yawn.Sauger are river fish, native to the

Ohio River basin, of which the Al-legheny is a large contributor. Members

of the Percidae family, they are consid-ered the most migratory of the percids,which probably has a lot to do with theirhere today, gone tomorrow character.Other than to reintroduce the species

to waters on the rebound, sauger are notstocked in Pennsylvania. Since thespecies is self-supporting, it is subject tothe highs and lows of natural reproduc-tion, the success of which is largely in-fluenced by the conditions duringspawning time, March and April aroundhere.When conditions are good – stable

water levels with gradually increasingwater temperatures – strong year classesof sauger can occur. The fish growquickly, often reaching the legal size of12 inches by autumn of their secondyear. A price is paid for this rapidgrowth, though. They don’t live long,typically breaking down physically bytheir third or fourth year. Most of thesauger caught within Pennsylvania’sshare of the Ohio River drainage average11 to 13 inches or so. Few fish over 15inches show up, and this is why. Mostsimply don’t live long enough to attain a

longer length.But more years than not conditions arenot great for sauger production, which istypical of river situations. It’s common

for year classes to be missing. Perhapsit’s just a bit more evident with sauger,


Super Sauger of our Local Rivers

Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Jeff KnappDave Keith displays a nice sauger taken from the Allegheny River in mid-February.

Turn To Super Sauger Page 9

By Jeff KnappFishing Editor

OVOu

tdoo

rTim

es


more of a cycle of boom or bust.Sauger fare better in turbid water,

which explains why they do well in thelower reaches of the Allegheny River, aswell as the Monongahela and OhioRivers. The water in these river stretchestends to be off color. In the case of theAllegheny, it’s common for sauger tooutnumber walleye from, roughly, theFreeport area on down to the Pittsburgh.Upriver of Freeport, as the water clears,sauger become less numerous. AboveEast Brady, where the free-flowing por-tion of theAllegheny starts (and the riveris much clearer), sauger are rare, butwalleyes flourish.I’ve read that where both walleye and

sauger exist, it’s common to catch saugerin deeper water, given their preferencefor darker settings. But I’ve not foundthis to be the case. When sauger popula-tions are strong I’ve taken them rightalongside walleyes, from deep water andshallow.Sauger and walleye cross breed, at

times in a natural setting, but much morecommonly in a hatchery environment.The saugeye, as the hybrid is called, is animportant component of some state’s fishmanagement program. They do well in

Ohio reservoirs, which tend to be siltyand turbid. Saugeyes were tried in Penn-sylvania, but didn’t seem to fare well,with a high degree of escapement fromthe reservoirs where they were planted.Back in the 1980s and 90s Dave Keithand I caught many saugeyes from theAl-legheny, in an around the mouth of theKiskiminetas River, fish most likelystocked in Loyalhanna Lake originally.Loyalhanna Creek and the ConnemaughRiver form the Kiskiminetas River inSaltsburg. And the Kiski River is about27 miles long. So those fish traveledsome ways to get to the Allegheny.Even though sauger don’t attain the

size of walleyes, when their numbers areup they provide some great fishing.

Super Sauger From Page 8breathable fabrics industry.Gore-Tex fabric employs precision

three-layer technology. The outer layer orface fabric is the color/camouflage pat-tern you see on the clothing rack and it istreated with a durable water-repellant(DWR) finish. The middle layer, the“heart and soul” of Gore-Tex fabric, isthe ePTFE membrane that is treated witha protective coating to repel contami-nants that could retard breathability, suchas sunscreen residue, body oil, and sweat.The inner layer is the soft, silk-like lin-ing you feel against your skin. On a pos-itive note, besides being waterproof,Gore-Tex is windproof, so it also helpsprotect against wind chill. However, oneknock against Gore-Tex is that while it isbreathable to enable water vapor to es-cape, it does not permit hot air (bodyheat) to escape, so Gore-Tex garmentstypically have pit zips that you can opento vent hot air or you can partially unzipyour jacket.Most of the major outdoor clothing and

footwear manufacturers, that we’re all fa-miliar with, are licensees ofW.L. Gore &Associates in order to utilize well-knownand highly-respected Gore-Tex fabric intheir products. However, because of the

lucrative market for waterproof- breath-able fabrics in the billion-dollar-a-yearoutdoor apparel industry, various com-petitors to Gore-Tex are on the market.They include OmniDry by Columbia,NeoShell by Polartec, and eVent by BHAGroup. (It is claimed that eVent canallow hot air to escape through pores inthe membrane, while still remaining im-pervious to external wind currents.)Other well-known options include NorthFace’s HyVent, Patagonia’s H2NO, Mar-mot’s MemBrain. Frogg Toggsuniquely employ a Tyvek bio suit mate-rial by DuPont and are very reasonablypriced.Don’t let a cold rain stop you from pas-

sionately pursuing your favorite outdooractivity. Use some common sense whenit comes to the best raingear options thatwill keep you warm and dry, based onyour activity level and your budget.There is an old Norwegian saying,“There is no such thing as bad weather,only bad clothing choices.” Make theright clothing decision the next time youhead afield in cold, rainy weather. You’llbe glad you still went outdoors and you’llbe very content with the simple things inlife, like staying warm and dry!

Staying Dry From Page 7

Subscribe to OVOA greatgift

1-yr subscription $14.952-yrs for $25.00

Call330-385-2243


Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo courtesy of PAGCPaul S. Mahon, of Montoursville, Pa., poses with the 561-pound male bearhe harvested in Plunketts Creek Township (Lycoming County, PA), during

the statewide archery bear season. Mahon is one of 68 Pennsylvania hunters in2015 to harvest a bear weighing more than 500 pounds.

HARRISBURG, PA — With the totalnow official, the top eight Pennsylvaniabear harvests in state history all have oc-curred in the past decade. It was a largeharvest, and a heavy one.Pennsylvania hunters harvested a total

of 3,748 bears in 2015, the third-highesttally in state history, the PennsylvaniaGame Commission reported today. And awhopping 68 of those bears topped the500-pound mark.The harvest total represents an increase

compared to 2014, when 3,371 bears weretaken.With 2015 total now official, the eight

largest bear harvests all have occurred inthe past decade.The all-time high was recorded in 2011,

when 4,350 bears were harvested. Huntersharvested 4,164 in 2005 and 3,510 bears in2013.Hunters in 2015 harvested bears in 57 of

Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, an increasecompared to 2014, when bears were takenin 56 counties. Bears were taken in 20 ofthe state’s 23 Wildlife Management Units(WMUs), and each of the Game Commis-sion’s six regions saw a larger harvest in2015 compared to the previous year.The 68 bears harvested weighing 500

pounds or more represents a sharp increasefrom 2014, when 41 bears taken by huntersreached or exceeded the 500-pound mark.And 18 bears in the 2015 harvest topped

600 pounds.Two bears tied for heaviest in the har-

vest, each weighing an estimated 713pounds. The first was taken on the Nov. 21statewide opener in Blair Township, BlairCounty, by Richard A. Watt, of Gallitzin,Pa. The second was taken Nov. 23 inGranville Township, Mifflin County, byGregory A. Wilson, of Lewistown.Rounding out the 2015 list of the top 10

heaviest bears were an estimated 685-pound male taken Nov. 21 in LetterkennyTownship, Franklin County by Dustin J.Foust, of Orrstown, Pa.; a 652-pound maletaken in Todd Township, Fulton County,on the Nov. 16 opener of the statewide beararchery season by Garry E. Miller Jr., ofMcConnellsburg, Pa.; a 649-pound maletaken in Limestone Township, WarrenCounty, by Matthew B. Stanga, of Taren-tum, Pa.; a 648-pound male taken in BrushCreek Township, Fulton County, by An-drew D. Fischer, of Crystal Spring, Pa.; a640-pound male taken inWeatherly Town-

2015 PA Bear Harvest Ranks Third All-time

Turn To PA Bear Page 11

ship, Carbon County, by Kenneth J.Mehlig, of Weatherly, Pa.; a 632-poundmale taken Nov. 24 in Worth Township,Centre County by Chad A. Seeger of PortMatilda, Pa.; a 631-pound male taken Nov.25 in Hillsgrove Township, SullivanCounty by Skyler M. Hubler, of Dushore,Pa.; and a 629-pound male taken Nov. 24in Greene Township, Pike County by JohnGilpin, of Newfoundland, Pa.Lycoming County, perennially among

the top counties for bear harvests again ledthe way with 312 harvests in 2014, upfrom 286 the previous year. Among othertop counties for bear harvests in 2015were: Clinton, 265 (179 in 2014); Tioga196 (275); Pike 180 (111); and Centre, 162(117).The four-day general season again set

the pace for the overall harvest, with 2,724bears being taken during that season. Butthe extended seasons and the archery bearseason also contributed to the totals.Statewide, 803 bears were harvested in

extended seasons while 209 were takenduring the archery bear season.Pike County claimed the highest harvest

in extended seasons, with 56 bears takenafter the close of the general statewidebear season. Other top counties, and theirharvest totals during the extended seasons,were: Wayne, 52; Tioga, 51; Lycoming,

50; Luzerne, 49; and Bradford, 46.The Game Commission handled and

tagged more than 900 bears statewide inPennsylvania last year, and the percentageof those bears harvested by hunters sug-gests the state’s bear population grew be-tween 2014 and 2015, said agency bearbiologist Mark Ternent.The state’s bear population had held sta-

ble at about 18,000 from 2008 to 2014.But in 2014, harsh weather greeted bear

hunters in much of the state during thegeneral bear season opener, and this factlikely contributes to the bear populationbumping to an estimated 20,000 animals,Ternent said. The last time the populationbumped after several years of a stable pop-ulation trend, it also did so after a yearafter harsh weather during bear season,Ternent said.A record number of bear licenses –

175,314 – were sold in 2015, as well, con-tinuing a trend of an increasing number ofbear hunters.Game Commission Executive Director

R. Matthew Hough said the growing inter-est in bear hunting isn’t surprising giventhe recent string of top harvests, and thefuture for bear hunting looks as bright asever.“It might sound like a broken record,

but, truly, there has never been a bettertime to hunt bears in Pennsylvania,”Hough said. “Each year, another top har-

vest is added to the record books, and thelargest one yet very possibly might bearound the corner.”What a decade for bear hunting.The 2015 Pennsylvania bear harvest, the

third-largest in state history, joined otherrecent seasons near the top of the record

books. With the totals now official, theeight of the top 10 harvests all have oc-curred in the last decade. Here’s a look: 1.4,350 – 2011; 2. 4,164 – 2005; 3. 3,748 –2015; 4. 3,623 – 2012; 5. 3,512 – 2009; 6.3,510 – 2013; 7. 3,458 – 2008 and 8. 3,366– 2014.

Walleye Madness Tournament Slate SetPENINSULA, OH — Walleye Madness Tournaments (WMT) have announced its

2016 tournament schedule with four Ohio events scheduled. Registration for the eventsare now open. WMT is operated by their officially sanctioned Walleye Federation club- Walleye Team 6 (WT6).The 2016 WMT schedule includes four Hot Bite events: April 24 at Mosquito Lake

(South State Ramp); May 8 at Berlin Lake (Bonner Road Ramp); May 28 at Lake Erie,Lorain (Black River Ramp) blow day, May 29 and June 25 at Lake Erie, Geneva (GenevaState Ramp), blow day June 26. Inland events will have a 40-boat maximum limit andLake Erie events will have 50-boat limit. Organizers expect all events to sell out. Entryfee is $150. Visit their website: www.walleyemadness.net for entry deadlines and regis-tration forms or contactWT6 at: [email protected] or call club presidentAdamMomirov at: 330-904-6446.WT6 is the largest Walleye Federation Club in Ohio. Membership to the club is now

open. Members get a lot of perks, including discounted tackle and gear.The title sponsors ofWalleye Madness Tournaments are: Lund Boats, Mercury Marine

and Buckeye Sports Center. Events will feature $700 in contingency bonuses: $200 NoPay Buckeye Sports Center Big Fish; $300 Lund Boats bonus and $200 Mercury Ma-rine bonus.All WMT tournaments are National Team Championship Side Pot events.


PA Bear From Page 10

Split FirearmsDeer Seasons Up for Approval

HARRISBURG, PA—The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners adopteda slate of deer seasons for 2016-17, proposing to retain a split, five-day antlered deerseason (Nov. 28-Dec. 2) and seven-day concurrent season (Dec. 5-10) in 18WildlifeManagement Units.Hunters with Deer ManagementAssistance Program (DMAP) antlerless deer per-

mits may use the permits on the lands for which they were issued during any estab-lished deer season, and will continue to be permitted to harvest antlerless deer fromNov. 30- Dec. 10 in 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3D 3C, 4A, 4B,4C, 4D and 4E. The board retained antler restrictions in place for adult and seniorlicense holders since the 2011-12 seasons. It remains the “three-up” on one side, notcounting a brow tine.


ALEXANDRIA, VA—A new surveyreleased by the Recreational Boating &Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and theCouncil to Advance Hunting and theShooting Sports (CAHSS), reveals de-tailed information on anglers’, boaters’,hunters’ and recreational shooters’ cur-rent awareness of the connection betweenconservation and licenses. This first-timestudy, which was conducted by Colle +McVoy and Carbonview Research, andfielded between September 29 and Octo-ber 28, 2015, surveyed a total of 1540 re-spondents (788 anglers and boaters; 752hunters and shooting sport participants).The study benchmarked participants’awareness of conservation, knowledge ofhow licenses and excise taxes fund con-servation, and messages that targeted au-dience groups are most likely to respondto.Overall, the study revealed approxi-

mately 75 percent of respondents areaware of the connection between licens-ing and conservation, and over 90 percentlike the idea that their license fees fundconservation efforts. However, conserva-tion is not the primary reason they partic-

ipate. In addition, eight in 10 respondentsreported the main reason for purchasing alicense is not conservation but ratherwidespread awareness that it is requiredand the “right thing to do.”“Supporting conservation by increas-

ing participation is fundamental to ourmission,” said RBFF President and CEOFrank Peterson. “With this new study, wehave a window on how much anglers andboaters actually know about the role of li-censes in funding conservation efforts,and how we can tailor messages to in-crease their understanding and engage-ment.”“We were surprised to find that most

hunters and shooters (over 80%) wereaware that license funds go towards con-servation through the hands of state fishand wildlife agencies” noted CAHSSPresident and CEO, John Frampton.

KEY FISHING & BOATINGFINDINGS:

• Participants boat and fish becausethey appreciate the outdoors and timespent with family or in the solitude of na-ture.

• Outdoor Enthusiasts, Avid Anglersand Boaters are more aware of the con-nection between license fees and conser-vation than their counterparts (FamilyOutdoors, Beginner/IntermediateAnglersand non-Boaters).• Outdoor Enthusiasts, Avid Anglers

and Boaters are all significantly morelikely to purchase a license both becausethey are “passionate” about their sportand because fees go towards conserva-tion.• Almost all anglers and boaters (96%)

care about healthy fish populations andour waterways.• The two highest conservation mes-

sages detail out that 100% of fishing li-censing fees are invested back intoensuring healthy fish populations.•Anglers with less experience were, on

the whole, less aware of the ties betweenlicense purchases and conservation.• Among the study’s anglers, almost

two-thirds own their own boat, and mostuse their boat to fish.

KEY HUNTING & SHOOTINGSPORTS FINDINGS:

• Participants enjoy hunting and theshooting sports because it gives themtime to spend outdoors and to build rela-tionships with family and friends.

• The majority of Shooters and

Hunters participate in outdoor activitiesat least once a month.• The two highest conservation mes-

sages detail out that 100% of hunting li-censing fees are invested back intoensuring healthy wildlife populations.• Only 30% of hunters and 41% of

shooting sports participants are awarethat manufacturers pay excise taxes onthe sale of firearms, ammunition, andarchery equipment that go towards con-servation efforts.• Shooters actively participate more

often than Hunters, who typically huntbetween 1-4 times per year.• Typical demographics of hunting and

shooting sports enthusiasts: 47% femaleto 53%male; age— 18-34 year olds hold41% and 35-44 hold 25%.

About the Recreational Boating &Fishing Foundation (RBFF)

RBFF is a nonprofit organizationwhose mission is to increase participationin recreational angling and boating,thereby protecting and restoring the na-tion’s aquatic natural resources. RBFFdeveloped the award-winning Take MeFishing™ and Vamos A Pescar™ cam-paigns to create awareness around boat-ing, fishing and conservation, andeducate people about the benefits of par-ticipation.

Study MeasuresAnglers’ & Hunters’ Awareness of Conservation

GUN & SPORTING GOODS SHOWAPRIL 2 (9AM - 4PM) • APRIL 3 (9AM - 2PM)

Buy - Sell - Trade - BrowseFree Parking • $5 Admission

(children under 12 free when accompanied by an adult)

Hidden Valley Sportsmen’s Club268 Gilkey Road, West Middlesex, PA • 724-528-2700

(an IRS approved 501(c) non-profit organization)

COLUMBUS, OH — Just over100,000 rainbow trout are expected to bereleased this spring in 64 Ohio publiclakes and ponds, creating excellent fish-ing opportunities for anglers all acrossOhio, according to the Ohio Departmentof Natural Resources (ODNR). The firstrainbow trout release was slated for re-lease on March 11 at Adams Lake inAdams County.Rainbow trout releases will take place

across Ohio through May 7 as long asareas are ice-free and accessible to an-glers. Information about the trout re-leases, including updates to the scheduledue to weather and stocking locations, isavailable at wildohio.gov or by calling1-800-WILDLIFE (945-3543).Stocking these areas across the state

are expected to create opportunities foranglers of all ages to get out and enjoyquality spring trout fishing in a familyfriendly environment. Many stocked lo-cations will feature special anglerevents, including youth-only fishing onthe day of the trout release.Rainbow trout are raised at state fish

hatcheries and measure 10-13 inches be-

fore they are released by the ODNR Di-vision of Wildlife. The daily catch limitfor inland lakes is five trout.Anglers age 16 and older must have an

Ohio fishing license to fish in state pub-lic waters. The 2016-2017 fishing li-cense is now available, and is validthrough Feb. 28, 2017. An annual resi-dent fishing license costs $19.Aone-dayfishing license costs $11 for residentsand nonresidents. The one-day licensemay also be redeemed for credit towardthe purchase of an annual fishing li-cense.Licenses and permits can be pur-

chased online at wildohio.gov and atparticipating agents throughout the state.A complete list of participating licensesales agents can be found at wildo-hio.gov.Sales of fishing licenses along with

the Federal Sport Fish Restoration (SFR)program continue to fund the operationof the ODNR Division ofWildlife’s fishhatcheries. No state tax dollars are usedfor this activity. This is strictly a user-pay, user-benefit program.The SFR program is a partnership be-

tween federal and state government, in-dustry, anglers and boaters. When an-glers purchase rods, reels, fishing tackle,fish finders and motor boat fuel, theypay an excise tax. The federal govern-ment collects these taxes, and the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service administersand disburses these funds to state fishand wildlife agencies. These funds areused to acquire habitat, produce andstock fish, conduct research and surveys,provide aquatic education to youth andsecure and develop boat accesses.

Visit the ODNR website atohiodnr.gov.


Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo courtesy of ODNRThe Ohio DNR annually release about100K rainbow trout each spring in 64 lo-cations throughout the Buckeye State.

Stocking these areas are expected tocreate opportunities for anglers ofall ages to get out and enjoy quality

spring trout fishing in a familyfriendly environment.

Catchable Trout ReleaseSchedule Announced

COLUMBUS, OH — The Ohio De-partment of Natural Resources (ODNR)is still accepting applications throughApril 1 for the Clean Ohio Trails Fund(COTF) and the Recreational Trails Pro-gram (RTP). The application deadlinefor both grants has traditionally beenFeb. 1. However, in an effort to encour-age more communities to pursue this op-portunity, the 2016 application deadlinefor both trail grants has been changed toApril 1.“This extension of the application

deadline is a rare opportunity that willallow communities to further developtheir local and regional trail projects ex-panding recreational trails to new neigh-borhoods,” said ODNR Office of RealEstate Chief Paul R. Baldridge. “Wewant to encourage more communities totake advantage of this extension to helpimprove outdoor recreational access fortheir residents.”The COTF and RTP are reimburse-

ment grant programs that help fundrecreational trails throughout the state.After this year, ODNR intends to returnto the traditional Feb. 1 applicationdeadline for these two trail grant pro-

grams.Studies show recreational trails are ex-

tremely popular with Ohioans and offera great way to exercise, enjoy fresh air,and experience Ohio’s flora and fauna.In an effort to further facilitate trail de-velopment in Ohio, ODNRwill be offer-ing a higher grant award level throughthe COTF in 2016. Traditionally, themaximum funding amount through thisprogram has been $500,000.The COTF is one component of the

Clean Ohio Fund, which restores, pro-tects and connects Ohio’s natural andurban places. Ohioans approved the es-tablishment of the $400 million bondprogram in 2000. Ten rounds of fundinghave been awarded through the COTF.Eligible projects include: acquisition ofland corridors for trails, trail develop-ment, trailheads in combination withtrail development and associated engi-neering design.The application and complete submis-

sion guidelines can be found athttp://realestate.ohiodnr.gov/outdoor-recreation-facility-grants.Visit the ODNR website at

ohiodnr.gov.


Deadline Nears for Recreational Trails Program GrantsThe Associated PressMEDINA, OH — A gun auctioneer

recently had his accounts with FirstMeritBank terminated due to potentially“risky” business practices despite thefact that his business is legal.“Apparently this is a pretty common

thing,” Russ Farnsworth said. “I got acertified letter in the mail on Saturday(Feb. 20) letting me know that my ac-counts were being terminated, but it did-n’t give a reason, and when I went into abranch, they didn’t know either. It was-n’t until I called in that I got an answer.”Farnsworth said the people he spoke

with on the phone told him the fact thathe sells firearms through online auctionsis considered a risky business practice,and as such, they reserved the right toterminate their accounts with him.Farnsworth said he mainly auctions

used guns, usually hunting or basic shot-guns “not anything that would raise a redflag” online and out of his home on BearSwamp Road, in Medina County.“I got a call from the president of the

bank,” he said. “He explained to me thatsince I had all of the legal paperwork,like my federal and state licenses, andseemed to be on the up and up they

could reinstate my account if I wantedto.” Farnsworth said he was planning toswitch his accounts to another bank butdoesn’t have a chip on his shoulder withAkron-based FirstMerit.Farnsworth said when he spoke with

state Rep. Stephen Hambley, R-Brunswick, about the incident he was in-formed of the U.S. Department ofJustice’s “Operation Choke Point,”which was initiated in 2013 and made itlegal for any bank to sever ties withrisky businesses.Rob Townsend, who works with First-

Merit’s media relations department, saidthe bank does not discuss its relation-ships with specific customers but out-lined the bank’s policies in regards toOperation Choke Point.“There are certain things that fall out-

side of what we’re comfortable dealingwith,” Townsend said. “For example, weusually try to avoid dealing with paydayloans. And things that might be legal inother states but aren’t here, like the sell-ing of marijuana or medical marijuana.”Townsend said the bank deals with

many licensed firearms salesmen likeFarnsworth, but it’s the online part ofgun sales that are risky.

Ohio Bank Closes Gun Auctioneer’s Accounts

Special Rules in Place for SpringWalleyeThe Associated PressTOLEDO, OH—When hundreds of thousands of walleyes go through their an-

nual ritual and leave Lake Erie to charge up the Maumee and Sandusky rivers eachspring, their spawning run works as if a superpowered magnet and draws an equallyimpressive number of anglers into those waterways.The walleyes that take part in this mass migration— the largest such walleye run

east of the Mississippi River — are triggered to move by an intricate combinationof water temperature, river flow and the photoperiod (length of daylight). MotherNature tells these fish that it is time to travel up the rivers and perpetuate the species.The fishermen make their move for one very simple reason — the fish. For an-

glers without access to a boat that would allow them to tap into Lake Erie’s wealthof walleyes, this is their one real golden opportunity to catch this freshwater filetmignon.The spring spawning run of Lake Erie walleyes occurs sometime between March

1 andApril 30 — a few wayward souls show up early and a few wander in late, butthe overwhelming majority sticks to the schedule.It is such a unique phenomenon, with such an unusual concentration of a highly

coveted gamefish, that it requires its own special set of rules. Before any angler istruly “Ready for the Run,” they must be very familiar with those guidelines. Igno-rance of the law gets you no free pass during the river run.The Ten Commandments of spring walleye fishing apply to the Maumee, San-

dusky, Portage and Mahoning rivers, but most of the attention is on the Maumee andthe Sandusky. These special regulations are in place fromMarch 1 throughApril 30.Single hooks: Anglers are allowed to use only a single hook — no double or tre-

ble hooks— and the hook may not be larger than one-half inch from shank to point.Fishing hours: Fishing is permitted only from sunrise to sunset in the same closely

defined areas on the Portage and Mahoning rivers.No fishing: Throughout the March 1—April 30 time frame, no fishing is allowed

on the Sandusky River from the Ballville Turn To Rules Page 16


HARRISBURG, PA— The Pennsyl-vania Board of Game Commissionersrecently gave preliminary approval tohunting and trapping seasons and baglimits for the 2016-17 license year.Modifications proposed for the 2016-

17 seasons include: opening the squirreland rabbit seasons on the same day;making the length of the snowshoe-hareseason consistent statewide; decreasingthe length of the fall-turkey season inWildlife Management Units 1A, 1B, 2Aand 4C; adding an extended, four-dayseason for black bears in WMU 1B;eliminating the extended season forblack bears in WMU 3A; and doublingto 12 days the length of the fisher trap-ping season in the 13WMUs with fisherseasons.The public may offer comments on all

proposed 2016-17 seasons and bag lim-its, as well as other board actions, be-tween now and the board’s nextmeeting,April 4 and 5, at which time theboard is scheduled to finalize seasonsand bag limits for 2016-17.Also, the board will receive at itsApril

meeting staff recommendations for

antlerless deer license allocations foreach of the 23 WMUs. Deer harvest es-timates for the 2015-16 seasons will beavailable in mid-March.Following are several articles on

meeting highlights.Fall Turkey Season Changes Move

ForwardThe Commissioners gave preliminary

approval to fall turkey seasons for 2016and spring gobbler dates for 2017.The slate of turkey seasons tentatively

approved represents a reduction in thelength of the fall seasons in fourWildlifeManagement Units – WMUs 1A, 1B,2A and 4C.Those four WMUs all have shown in-

dications of declining turkey populationtrends. The recommendation to reduceseason lengths in those WMUs is in ac-cordance with guidelines in the GameCommission’s Wild Turkey Manage-ment Plan.If the preliminary vote is given final

approval, the fall season in WMUs 1Aand 2A would be reduced to one week(Oct. 29-Nov. 5), plus a three-day

Thanksgiving season (Nov. 24-26). InWMU 1B, the season would be remainone week (Oct. 29-Nov.5), but theThanksgiving season would be elimi-nated. And in WMU 4C, the seasonwould be reduced to two weeks (Oct.29-Nov. 12), plus the three-day Thanks-giving season (Nov.24-26).The tentative fall season dates for

2016, as approved by the board today,are: WMU 1B, Oct. 29-Nov.5; WMU2B (shotgun and bow only), Oct. 29-Nov. 18 and Nov. 24-26;WMUs 1Aand2A, Oct. 29-Nov. 5 and Nov. 24-26;WMUs 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C,3D, 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D; Oct. 29-Nov. 12and Nov. 24-26;WMUs 2C and 4E, Oct.29-Nov. 18, and Nov. 24-26; and WMU5A, Nov. 3-5. WMUs 5B, 5C and 5Dwill remain closed for the fall seasons.For the 2017 spring gobbler season,

which is proposed to run fromApril 29-May 31, the board continued with legalhunting hours to reflect the following:from April 29-May 13, legal shootinghours will be one-half hour before sun-rise until noon timeframe; and fromMay15-31, hunters may hunt all day, fromone-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.The board proposed holding the one-

day Spring Gobbler Youth Hunt onApril

22, 2017, which will run from one-halfhour before sunrise until noon. All jun-ior license holders and Mentored YouthHunting Program permit holders canparticipate in this special half-day hunt,as well as the other spring season dates.

Other Modifications ExplainedRegarding the black bear seasons to

be held in the 2016-17 license year, theonly change proposed – the addition of afour-day extended season inWMU 1B –was given preliminary approval by theboard.If given final approval, this season

would run concurrent Wednesdaythrough Saturday of the first week offirearms deer season in WMU 1B (Nov.30-Dec.3). This season was recom-mended to prevent further expansion ofbears into the western portion of WMU1B, where the potential for bear-humanconflicts is high.

Preliminary 2016-17 PA Hunting SeasonsApproved

Visit our website:ohiovalleyoutdoors.com

COLUMBUS, OH — The Sports-men’s Alliance announced on February26 that the U.S. House of Representa-tives passed the bipartisan Sportsmen’sHeritage and Recreational Enhancement(SHARE) Act.“The House has yet again passed these

critically important measures by a wide,bi-partisan margin,” said EvanHeusinkveld. “These items now join theBipartisan Sportsmen’s Act in the Sen-ate. Sportsmen and women should caltheir Senators today and urge quick pas-sage of these pro-sportsman measures.”While the bill contains many provi-

sions important to hunters, anglers, trap-pers and recreational shooters, the OpenUntil Closed portion of the bill has beenan important goal of the Sportsmen’sAl-liance, and one in which we have playedan instrumental role. Highlights of thebill include:Open Until Closed: Requiring lands

managed by the Bureau of Land Man-agement (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service(USFS) be open for hunting, fishing, andrecreational shooting unless specificallyclosed for cause. This action helps toprevent lawsuits by national anti-hunting

groups attempting to use the courts tostop hunting opportunities on publicland.Removal the gray wolf from the pro-

tections of the Endangered Species Actin the Great Lakes states of Michigan,Minnesota and Wisconsin, where popu-lation levels have exploded past statedrecovery goals.Preventing the EPA or other federal

agencies other than the Fish andWildlifeService from regulating the use of leadin ammunition or fishing weights andsinkers. This action is necessary to stopanti-hunting and -fishing groups fromusing the courts to force the EPA to bantraditional ammunition and fishingtackle.Language allowing for archery equip-

ment to be transported across NationalPark Service lands.Increasing state wildlife management

authority to use Pittman-Robertson fund-ing for acquiring land for shootingranges, and providing liability protectionto public ranges.The bill now heads for the U.S. Sen-

ate where it joins S. 556 and S. 659awaiting action by the full Senate.

SHARE Act Passes House


ALEXANDRIA, VA — The Recre-ational Boating & Fishing Foundation(RBFF) recently announced the return ofits popularAmerica’s Top Family Fishingand Boating Spots Instant Win andSweepstakes. Consumers are being askedto vote for their favorite family-friendlyfishing and boating spots across the coun-try and will be entered to win an instantprize of a Take Me Fishing™ backpackand one lucky grand prize winner will re-ceive their own memory-making experi-ence from Take Me Fishing™: athree-night, four-day stay for four at theWalt DisneyWorld ® Resort, including aGuided Fishing Excursion. The Sweep-stakes, back for its third consecutive yearincludes new features, such as a Spanish-language version, mobile-friendly com-ponents and a broadened list of locationsto vote for. As part of RBFF’s Take MeFishing and Vamos A Pescar™ cam-paigns, the Sweepstakes ultimate goal isto increase awareness of the great family-friendly places across the country and getmore families out on the water fishingand boating.“Fishing and boating are continually

ranked among America’s most popularoutdoors activities. This data, along withthe successes we’ve seen since ourSweepstakes’ inception, led us to add newfeatures this year that will allow for evenmore people across the country to partic-ipate,” said RBFF President and CEO,Frank Peterson. “Adding accessibility toa wide-reaching audience is especiallyimportant this year, as it is the NationalPark Service Centennial. The Centennialprovides us with an expanded opportunityand responsibility to remind and educateeveryone about the positive experiencesfishing and boating provide, as well as theconservation benefits they have on ournation’s waterways, from local, hiddengems to the country’s most beautiful Na-tional Parks.”This year’s Sweepstakes includes sev-

eral National Parks like the Everglades,which ranked No. 1 on the 2015 TopPlaces list . Offering more than 310 pre-selected family-friendly parks fromacross the U.S., entrants can vote daily forthe three parks they feel offer the bestfishing and boating experience based onfamily amenities, location and the likeli-

ness to catch a fish or enjoy a day on thewater. The Sweepstakes voting durationis six weeks-long, ending on March 27,2016 at 11:59 p.m. EST. The parks withthe most votes will make the list of the2016 America’s Top 100 Family Fishingand Boating Spots, which will be releasedduring National Fishing and BoatingWeek from June 4 - 12, 2016 and pro-moted throughout the summer.In order to assist stakeholders in pro-

moting their favorite fishing and boatinglocations, as well as participation in gen-eral, RBFF has provided various re-sources, including banner advertisements,draft social media posts and a press re-lease template.All materials are availableto RBFF stakeholders in the RBFF Re-source Center.To learn more about the sweepstakes

and to vote for your favorite parks, visitAmerica’s Top Family Fishing and Boat-ing Spots Instant Win and Sweepstakes.About the Recreational Boating & Fish-ing FoundationRBFF is a nonprofit organization

whose mission is to increase participationin recreational angling and boating,thereby protecting and restoring the na-tion’s aquatic natural resources. RBFFdeveloped the award-winning Take MeFishing™ and Vamos A Pescar™ cam-paigns to create awareness around boat-

ing, fishing and conservation, and educatepeople about the benefits of participation.Take Me Fishing and Vamos A Pescarhelp boaters and anglers of all ages andexperience levels learn, plan and equipfor a day on the water.

RBFF to Again SponsorTop Family Fishing and Boating Contest

Dam downstream to where the ToledoEdison power line crosses the river at thesoutheast corner of Rodger Young Parkin Fremont. This stretch of the river isclosed to all fishing for this two-monthperiod.Snagging rule: The illegal snagging of

fish is a high priority law enforcementissue during the walleye run since thefish, as well as the anglers, can be pres-ent in significant numbers.Licenses: A 2016 license is required to

fish (March 1, 2016). An Ohio residentlicense costs $19, while a senior/residentlicense for those age 66 and older whohave been Ohio residents for the past sixmonths are $10. A nonresident season li-cense is $40, while a three-day, nonresi-dent license is $19.Limits: The walleye daily limit from

March 1 through April 30 is four fish,with a minimum size of 15 inches.

Rules From Page 14


Jerod McCloy7-pt., buck

WV

Jansen McCloy8-pt., bow

WV

Jeremy McCloy8-pt., buck

WV

Mark Lowersgrouse

Hancock County, WV

Jansen McCloyfoxWV

Luke Wells10 pt., 154 (est.) bow

Jefferson County, OH

Joshua Toms10-pt., 180 green score, bow

Fairfield 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

Justin McCloy7-pt., buck

WV

PHOTO SHOWCASE SPONSORED BY


Ohio Valley Outdoorswww.ohiovalleyoutdoors.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTSRegional EventsTri-State 3-D Archery Shoots - RunsMarch 12 - September 25. Schedulethrough May - March 12 at ColliersSportsmen (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.). ContactShawn at 304-670-8428; March 13 atToronto Rod & Gun (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.).Contact Gary at 740-537-1615; March 20at Mingo Sportsmen (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.).Contact the Club at 740-733-7812 andMarch 26-27 at Paris Sportsmen (8 a.m. to3 p.m.). Contact Max at 304-670-8982.April 2 at Colliers Sportsmen; April 3 atToronto Rod & Gun; April 9 at WyandotBowmen (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Contact Larryat 304-387-1519; April 10 at MingoSportsmen; April 17 at SherwoodArchery(8 a.m. to 2 p.m.). Contact Carl at 740-282-4612 and April 23-24 at Paris Sportsmen.Tuscarawas County, OH EventsOhio State Trappers Association FurAuction - 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 three auc-tions) will be taken on Jan. 2 only fromnoon - 9 p.m. Call Steve Hiller at 937-206-1934. For info. contact Hiller, OSTA Fur

Auction Coordinator via email:[email protected]. Visit the OSTAwebsiteat: www.ohiostatetrapper.org.Columbiana County, OH Events3-D Archery Sunday Shoots - March 20,April 17, June 19, July 17, Aug 21 at EastPalestine Sportsmen’s Club, Failer St.,East Palestine, OH 44413. 30 targets; reg-istration: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Cost $10 adults,cubs under 12 free; 15-target Mini-ShootsJune 15 -Aug. 31 (Weds. evenings 6 p.m.).For information call Gary Day at 330-457-2205/330-853-9941. Website:www.epsportsmensclub.org.Old Fashion Style Turkey Shoot - EachSunday thru March 2016 at Beaver CreekSportsman Club, 14480 WashingtonvilleRoad, Washingtonville, OH. Field stockguns, .680 choke max., scopes permitted,meat and money rounds, $3 per round, 1p.m. start time. For info. contact TomBrunner 330-692-6577 oremail:[email protected] Archery Shoots - April 2-3; May 1;June 4-5; July 3; Aug. 6-7; Sept. 4 atBeaver Creek Sportsman Club, 14480Washingtonville Rd., Washingtonville,OH. All ages and equipment welcome;McKenzie Targets, 30 targets, norangefinders. Reg. 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Adults

$10, Youth (10 & under) free. ContactChuck York at 330-978-3253 or 330-716-3964. Scores posted weekly on Facebook.Indoor Pistol Shooting - Every Fri. (7-10p.m.) thru Apr. 29, 2016. Open to public;all calibers except mag. loads. AtColumbiana County Fish & GameAssoci-ation, 45716 Middle Beaver Rd, Lisbon,OH. Visit website:www.columbianacountyfishandgame.com.Indoor .22/Air Rifle Shooting - Rangeopen to public each Tues, thru April 26,2016 (6-9 p.m.). Offhand at 50ft., closestto bull and best group. At ColumbianaCounty Fish and GameAssociation; 45716Middle Beaver Rd, Lisbon, OH 44432.Visit website: columbianacountyfis-handgame.com.Gun Show - May 21-22, 2016 at BeaverCreek Sportsman Club, 14480 Washing-tonville Rd., Washingtonville, OH. Sat.hours 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Sun. hours 9 a.m. - 2p.m. Admission $5. 12 & under free. Ta-bles $15 per day (beforeApril 30). ContactPhil Brown at 330-482-5125 or 330-502-8429.Mercer County, PA EventsGun & Sporting Goods Show -April 2-3 (9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and 9 a.m. - 2

p.m.) at Hidden Valley Sportsmen’s Club,268 Gilkey Rd., West Middlesex, PA. Ad-mission $5, 12 & under free with an adult.For info. call 724-528-2700.Mahoning County, OH Events3D Archery Shoots - Mar. 26-27;Apr. 23-24; May 21-22; 28-29. (Schedule runsthrough Sept.) Lake Milton Fish & GameClub. Sat. 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.-1p.m.. Cost $10, cubs $5. Crossbows per-mitted, no rangefinders. Contact DennisDabney at 330-414-5795.Gun Show by Mahoning Valley GunCollectors - April 16-17; (9 a.m.-4 p.m.)at Lowellville Rod and Gun Club. Admis-sion $4. GPS address 6225 Quarry Road,Lowellville, OH. CallBill at 330-506-9194.

Trumbull County, OH EventsTrader’s Day Swap Meet & Gun Show -May 14 at Trumbull County Rod & GunClub. Buy, sell, trade your hunting andfishing equipment, firearms, other outdoorsports gear, and more. 50/50 & Gun Raf-fles. Tables (indoor or outdoor) – $15.Food and Drink will be available. For in-formation contact: Jason Chamberlain at330-307-0522.

Documents

Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 3-2016