THE GOODBYE GIRLS - P. 6 Troubled Game Birds Story inside page 9
Swim a Jig for Bass OV Outdoor Times
Swimming jigs, which can trigger bass bites when fished in both a vertical and horizontal manner, provide anglers with a one-two punch. Though design details vary among makers, swimming jigs like All Jeff Knapp Terrain’s Skip-N-Jig, By Fishing Editor Jimmy D’s Swim Jim, and Booyah’s Swimm’n Jig incorporate a more streamlined, bullet-shaped head than the traditional skirted flippin’ jig. While this profile allows it to function well during a swimming retrieve, the bait will also conjure up bites on the fall. It’s customary to add a crawfish-type plastic trailer to a skirted jig; this holds true with swimming jigs. But rather than using the traditional chunk-type trailer, I’ve found it sometimes better to use a bait that has pinchers that really kick, ones like Zoom’s Speed Craw, Winco’s Predator Craw, and Yum’s Money Craw. The combination of the swimming jig and the fluttering pinchers on the trailer create a look that can really turn on fat largemouths. For a subtler action try a more traditional trailer like Strike King’s Perfect Plastic KVD Chunk. By early summer submerged weedbeds will be developed and providing an important
Ohio Valley
FR EE!
Outdoor Times June 2017
cover option for gamefish. During a typical day, there will be active bass holding close to the edge (and suspending in open water close by), as well less active ones tucked back in the cover. It’s an ideal situation for the use of the swimming jig, which can take on the roles of both flippin’ jig and spinnerbait. There are a couple ways to fish a swimming jig along weed edges, based on the physical characteristics of the available cover. One common situation, particularly in dark water situations where weed growth is more sporadic, is the presence of isolated tuffs of weeds out to the edge of the flat. This is an ideal setup for making a short cast that softly places the jig along the edge of the growth. It’s then allowed to fall on a semi-tight line along the edge of the cover. This presentation, which is that of a flippin’ jig, will often trigger bites from bigmouths holding along the edge, or tucked back slightly in the cover. If the bait drops to the bottom without being intercepted by a bass, you can then incorporate the swimming retrieve, like that of a spinnerbait. And like a spinnerbait the swimming retrieve can have many variations. If there are other weed stalks between you and the bait, be sure to bump the bait into them on the way in. You can incorporate pauses, twitches, and easy-totrack straight retrieves. Mix it up, allowing the bass to tell you what they want that day. Clearer lakes and reservoirs often have denser stands of weeds, typically extending out into deeper water (thanks to the greater level of light penetration). Presentation-wise, the same basic approach holds true. When Turn To Jig Page 4
Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Jeff Knapp
The swimming jig is an effective largemouth bass presentation.
INSIDE THIS MONTH
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
4 Eight Indicted in Ohio 14 ODNR 6 7
Parker Bows Remembers Founder Bob Errett
16-17
Ralph Scherder
The Goodbye Girls
18
WV Hunters Harvest 11,539 Spring Turkeys
9
WVDNR
PA Agencies Partner for Troubled Game Birds
12
Photo
OV Times Staff
Showcase
Calendar of Events
PAGC
One Big Hunting Family Ralph Scherder
5
June 2017
Successful Kayak Fishing Class on Beaver Creek
Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine's recent Kayak Fishing Basics class offered a few nice fish caught by participants, along with expert kayak handling and safety instructions from ODNR's NE District Park Naturalist By Larry Claypool Mike Mainhart. The Editor class was part of the OVO's Outdoor Speaker Series. Mainhart is also an ODNR Parks and Watercraft Kayak, Canoe and SUP and ACA certified instructor Level 1. Kayaks, paddles and PFDs were provided by the ODNR, Parks and Watercraft division. Students were able to fish from the kayaks. They caught a nice selection of fish, available on Beaver Creek including; channel catfish, sauger, bluegill and smallmouth bass. Rick Frye of Hubbard, OH caught a nice smallmouth bass during the class, on a Jitterbug plug and Richard Boley of Salineville, OH caught a dandy channel OV Outdoor Times
2
Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Larry Claypool
Richard Boley of Salineville, OH caught a dandy channel catfish during the Kayak Fishing Class. The fish was caught using a spinning lure and plastic grub.
catfish on a spinning lure and plastic grub. The kayaks used for the class were Perfection Swifty 11.5 (feet) models. Other outdoor-related classes are being planned but details are not complete. For additional information about the Outdoor Speaker Series call the OVO office at 330-385-2243.
Is Lead....Dead?
OUTDOOR CALENDAR
Turkey Shoots - Each Sunday, 1 p.m. at Tri-State Coonhunters Club, 2601 Irish Ridge Road, East Liverpool, OH. $2 per round, shoot 10 rounds. $5 round at end. Any gun with open sights or scopes. Up to 640 choke. Call William Dalrymple at 330-385-8822. Spring Turkey Shoots - Each Sunday (10 a.m.) at Chester-Newell Sportsmen’s Club. Signups start at 9:30 a.m. Located on Gas Valley Rd., behind Green Valley Dairy, between WV Route 8 and PA Route 18. For info. call 330-383-1886, or 304-374-5587. Ohio River Catfish Tournaments - June 24, July 8, 22 & Aug. 12. 21st year - sponsored by ChesterNewell Sportsmen’s Club. 7 p.m.-7 a.m. Entry $10. Open to all. Signups at Chaney’s Sunoco, Chester, WV or call 304-387-3982. Measuring at Chester City park marina. Boundaries are Pittsburgh to Wheeling. Shaker Woods Outdoor Expo Show - July 22, 23 at Shaker Woods Complex, 217 state Route 7, Columbiana, OH 44408. Vendor spaces available. Lots of outdoor related vendors, seminars, entertainment and food. Call 330-482-0214 for details. See ad on Page 4.
Ohio Valley
Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Larry Claypool
ODNR's NE District Park Naturalist Mike Mainhart (seated at right) offered a free Kayak Fishing Class at Middle Beaver Creek on June 6.
To Advertise CALL 330-385-2243
Outdoor Times June 2017
Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Larry Claypool
Rick Frye of Hubbard, OH caught a nice smallmouth bass during the Kayak Fishing Class, on a Jitterbug plug.
VOL. 9, NO. 6
Ohio Valley Outdoor Times
is published by Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine©
Offices located at
210 E. 4th Street, East Liverpool, OH 43920 Phone 330-385-2243, Fax 330-385-7114 ohvod@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com www.ohiovalleyoutdoors.com
Publisher/Editor, Larry Claypool lclaypool@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com
Graphics Designer, Linda McKenzie lmckenzie@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com Sales Consultant, Tracy Bissell tbissell@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com advertising@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com
Contributing Editors
Ralph Scherder, Hunting Editor Jeff Knapp, Fishing Editor Brian Miller, Field Editor
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Ohio Valley Outdoor Times is all about its readers. We’d love to hear from you. Send us something at ohvod@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com
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June 2017
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OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
Eight Indicted in Ohio’s Large Deer Poaching Enterprise
CLEVELAND, OH — Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources announce the indictment of eight individuals who are part of a white tail deer poaching enterprise that saw hundreds of animals illegally killed, resulting in nearly 3,000 pounds of deer meat, and netting of thousands of dollars in profit. A two year investigation by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) revealed that ringleader John Zayac, 70, of Broadview Heights, worked with seven others to intentionally falsify information to the state of Ohio regarding the number of deer they bagged as required by law. Co-defendants include Zayac’s wife Rebecca Gregerson, 60; Terrance Ankrom, 52, and his wife Tina, 42, of Kent; John Stofan, 52, of North Royalton; John Frost, 78, of Brecksville; Todd Neczeporenko, 46, of Jefferson; and Craig Steed, 38, of Newton Falls. The illegal hunting was conducted in Brecksville, North Royalton, and Broad-
view Heights, Richfield, and processed in Ashtabula County. “The Ohio Department of Natural Resources should be commended for their diligence,” said Prosecutor O’Malley. “This investigation took time and patience to show that these individuals were illegally and egregiously stealing natural resources from our great State.” The investigation showed that Zayac organized “deer drives” and allow the co-defendants to bring the poached deer to his property to be skinned and dressed for processing. Zayac made the arrangements with the processors and decided the form in which the meat would be processed. The large quantities of meat were produced without the proper tags, rendering it unlawful to sell. To produce more meat, they would kill multiple bucks each season and report them as does. Zayac and his wife Rebecca Gregerson, falsified online records regarding the number of deer they bagged. The Ankroms are accused of illegally overbagged deer and falsified their hunt-
ing activities, as well as the activities of their son-in-law Steed’s tags and the tags of Terrence’s father-in-law. The same activity was mirrored by John Stofan, who used John Frost’s tags to overbag and falsely report his numbers to the state. Further investigation showed that Stofan, contrary to the deer hunting laws in the state of Ohio, would lure deer to his property at night by placing corn near Jig From Page 1
working the outside edge of the weeds, pitch it up next to the cover, fishing it in a vertical manner, and then swimming it back to the boat. In clear water situations bass will often hover in the open water zone close by the deep wall of weeds. So, make the occasional cast out away from the edge, letting the bait sink down several feet before starting the swimming retrieve. You’re covering water where you might have used a deep crankbait, but without the need for picking up a rod so rigged. Keep in mind that while the heartiest weeds will likely be found in the deepest water (in which weeds grown in that lake), there will still be an inside edge. So be sure to work the growth from the
June 2017
motion-activated lights so he could easily shoot them. Neczeporenko, the owner of Smokin’ T’s in Jefferson, would accept and pay for the large quantities of deer meat without the appropriate tags brought in by Zayac and process the meat. Arraignment has not yet been scheduled.
shallow side as well. A keen eye on the sonar unit will show the presence of weeds. Whether working from the deep or shallow side of the weeds, I like to slide in and out, pulling the boat up near the edge of the cover to reestablish its location, and then backing off a bit. One final tip will add to your success with swimbaits. You can often increase the ratio of solid hookups by trimming the weedguard. Use a four-inch bladed meat-cutting scissors to make one continuous cut, starting from the free end of the weedguard and finishing at the head. Leave a couple of the inside strands intact so there is still total hook coverage. This way there are more bristles left at the head of the jig. The guard is more flexible at the free end but still firm enough to keep the weeds off.
June 2017
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
Is Lead . . . Dead?
By Cory Schmidt, Traditions Media
SALINE, MI — Fascinating fact about one of the most impressive lure materials in existence: South of the ice fishing belt, rare is the angler who’s discovered the value of fast-sinking tungsten for crappies, walleyes and many other species. It’s a remarkable truth when you consider the beneficial facets of this awesome lead alternative — a non-toxic heavy metal that plummets fast to deep water, penetrates heavy cover to reach big, sheltered bruisers and casts heavy like a lure twice its size. That’s just scratching the surface of tungsten’s talents. For all the advantages of this precious metal, you’d think anglers would be all over it — and in the bass arena, they are. Across the U.S.A., bass fans now treasure their tungsten sinkers, spinnerbaits and jigheads. Dozens of leading tackle companies offer products made with this material. And yet, other than a few ice fishing jigs, next to no one outside the big bad bass world has taken note of the trend. An elite exception, Michigan based Your Bobbers Down, Inc. — the first North American company to offer high tech tungsten lures — recently expanded its already impressive line of freshwater Wolfram jigs with the new FISKAS XL Walleye Series. Translated as “heavy stone” in Swedish, Wolfram (tungsten) is a rare earth metal known for its extreme density, conductivity and possession of the highest melting point of all metals. Tungsten is approximately 1.7 times heavier than lead, physical size being equal (weight per cubic foot in pounds: Lead 707.96; Tungsten 1204.41, pure Gold 1206.83). All these impressive traits translate to a jig or sinker that descends much faster than lead, allowing anglers to fish smaller, stealthier and heavier, simultaneously. Tungsten also yields precise presentations, exceptional lure contact and superior bite detection due to its dense, ultra-hard composition.
Lead-Free Panfish Chicago area guide and pro angler Tony Boshold, a panfish specialist who’s won gold medals in national and international ice fishing competition, has adapted FISKAS tungsten jigs to his open water fishing, with exceptional results. “In spring, when I go to water shallower than 10 feet, a tungsten jig such as a
FISKAS Fry or Epoxy Jig is a fish-seeking missile below a slip float. The jig’s small size lets you present a tiny crappie minnow or a 1-inch Little Atom Nuggie for finicky panfish, while its weight means you don’t need to add split shot to properly balance the float. I match a 4- or 5-mm FISKAS jig to the float so it’s resting at a slight angle on the surface; shows the slightest “up” or rise bites from crappies, which makes the float lay down when a fish lifts it.”
Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo courtesy of Fiskas
Nearly twice as heavy as lead, tungsten jigs such as Fiskas’ XL Walleye Series offer some surprising fish-catching benefits.
Once panfish finish spawning and move to deeper water, Boshold dips into his ice fishing bag of tricks to “tune up” his bite detection. “We use St. Croix Legend ice rods over the side of the boat, vertically jigging FISKAS Wolfram jigs and Little Atom Nuggies down in 20 to 25 feet of water. No way you could be so precise with a similar size lead jig. “A flasher lets me sight fish anywhere in the water column, watching fish react to my lure on the sonar screen. The tungsten jigs’ super-hard exterior sends back a constant sharp sonar return, so the lure stays visible on the screen. And the jig’s weight helps me stay vertical and detect the faintest of bites. “Seriously, it amazes me more crappie and perch anglers aren’t using tungsten. Not just in the Great Lakes region, either. For spider rigging on southern impoundTurn To Lead Page 15
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The Goodbye Girls OV Outdoor Times
Usually, when we talk about dispersal among whitetail deer, we talk about male dispersal, which occurs in the fall. The infatuation with male dispersion is for obvious reasons, namely our fascination with antlers – in deer hunting, bucks get all the glory. However, another type of dispersal happens among whitetails, and it doesn’t in- By Ralph Scherder volve the boys, and it doesn’t hap- Hunting Editor pen in the fall. This one is all about the girls, and it’s happening right now. The first known study of female dispersal among whitetail deer was done in Illinois in 1970. It found that approximately 13% of does relocated during the months of May, June, and July. Since that study, more extensive research has been done on this phenomenon, primarily thanks to the affordability and reliability of radio collars. In Pennsylvania, researchers at Penn State University began tracking female deer in 2005. “Between 2005 and 2011, we captured 277 8-month old females and fitted them with radio collars,” writes Duane Diefenbach in his post “Female Dispersal? Really?” on The Deer-Forest Blog (ecosystems.psu.edu/research). “The graduate student heading up this project, Clay Lutz, discovered some interesting things about female dispersal.
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
“Clay was able to monitor 229 of the 277 juvenile females during the dispersal period and found that 12% (27 females) dispersed – compared to about 75% of males that dispersal rate is low. But he found quite variable dispersal rates among WMUs. Dispersal rates ranged from 9% (WMU 2G) to 32% (WMU 2D). That 32% is almost half the rate of males!” Given these statistics, one could imply that dispersal is generally higher in agricultural areas, which also have high population densities. During Lutz’s study, population densities were estimated at 7.6 deer/square kilometer in WMU 2G, 10.8 in WMU 4B, 17.3 in WMU 3C, and 19.4 in WMU 2D (Journal of Mammology). Especially interesting is the way that females disperse compared to males. Males have a tendency to do it and get it done. They make up their minds to relocate and walk in pretty much a straight line until they find a new residence, usually one to five miles away. Not so with females. In his blog post, Diefenbach writes that “The average dispersal distance was 11.2 miles, with the longest distance being 32.8 miles. But this is where it gets interesting. Dispersal was not straight. Even though the average straight-line (“as the crow flies”) dispersal distance was 11 miles, the average path it took to go those 11 miles was 32 miles.” Not only that, but the actual time it takes for females to disperse is much longer than the males. Whereas males typically relocate in less than a couple of days, females typically take about 14.5 days to find a new Turn To Goodbye Page 7
June 2017
Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Ralph Scherder
Dispersal among whitetail deer is known to occur with males, but the author turns to a study that says 12% of female whitetails relocate each year — during the summer time.
June 2017
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
7
WV Hunters Harvest 11,539 Spring Turkeys
provided by the WV Division of Natural Resources. The harvest is the largest since 2006 when 11,735 birds were harvested, and is more than 18 percent above the 10-year average. “Weather conditions were variable across the state during this year’s spring gobbler season, so it’s nice to see hunters were able to get out and enjoy some successful hunting, which is re-
flected in the harvest numbers,” said Mike Peters, DNR game bird biologist. Five of the six DNR districts reported increased harvests over last year. District 4 was the only district in which fewer birds were harvested than in 2016. District 1 again recorded the most birds harvested this year (2,578), followed by District 6 (2,250), District 5 (2,090), District 4 (1,858), District 3 (1,733) and
District 2 (1,030). The top five counties with the largest harvests were Preston (475), which was up more than 100 birds from last year, Mason (448), Jackson (408), Wood (380), and Harrison (327). Youth hunters harvested 458 turkeys during the one-day youth season on April 15.
Goodbye From Page 6
explain why they risk their lives to find new territories. The goal of most relocating females is to find solitude while giving birth and raising their fawns. A 1982 study by John Ozoga et al. found that when a female population in an area is too high it effects maternal behavior as well as makes them more susceptible to predators (Journal of Wildlife Management). In other words, instinct tells these females to isolate themselves from the rest of the herd in order to achieve maximum fawn survival. An added benefit to isolation is a stronger mother/fawn bonding experience, which is also proven to increase offspring fitness. From a management perspective, female deer dispersal is troubling. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a hot topic
among biologists and hunters alike, and dispersing deer can carry the disease into new areas, females even more so because they travel much farther while relocating. This makes the disease much harder to contain, which is also why we see such large CWD containment areas in certain Pennsylvania WMUs. Although CWD may have only affected one small area, the containment area must allow for dispersal of deer that reside where the disease has been found. Also, because dispersal is directly related to population densities, herd reduction in those areas is often a necessary precaution. It’s also interesting to note that roads and rivers can serve as barriers to dispersal – at least temporarily. One deer in Lutz’s study retreated to its prenatal range after reaching a heavily-traveled high-
way. Three weeks later, though, she left home again and this time found a way to cross the highway unscathed. This female eventually crossed a wide river before encountering another highway which forced her to turn back yet again. This time she stopped at the river and followed its course for a long distance before reaching her final destination. The journey took 12 days. According to most research, female dispersal occurs between the first of May and early July. Occasionally, one will disperse earlier or later in the year, but the bulk relocate during those 10 weeks. So if you see a doe on the move this time of year, you might consider waving goodbye. Chances are at least some of them won’t be coming back.
SOUTH CHARLESTON, WV — Spring turkey hunters harvested 11,539 gobblers this year in West Virginia, an increase of more than 11 percent from 2016, according to preliminary numbers home. In Lutz’s study, the longest a doe took to disperse was 55 days! One would think that the longer it takes a deer to disperse, and the farther it travels, the more risky that dispersal will be. That’s certainly the case when females disperse. In Lutz’s study, 7% of dispersing females perished during their journey. That’s really high compared to males, which have a 1% mortality despite the fact that they disperse at much higher rates. Also interesting is the age bracket of females that relocate. Whereas dispersal among males is typically done as yearlings, females tend to be slightly older. Most females don’t disperse until they are ready to have their fawns. This could help
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‘Stream Stomp’
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
June 2017
Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photos by Larry Claypool
Several youths participated in a ‘Stream Stomp’ recently along Middle Beaver Creek (Columbiana County) in Beaver Creek State Park under the guidance of Ohio Department of Natural Resources NE District Park Naturalist Mike Mainhart (tan shirt) and ODNR NEO Stream Quality Monitoring Coordinator Ryan Moss (white cap). Several small aquatic organisms (macroinvertebrates) were collected from the popular stream by the ‘stream stompers’ (about a dozen children). Some of the creatures and fish found included: salamanders, crawfish, stone flies, damselflies, water penny beetles, may flies, hellgrammites, darter fish, bass and more. Middle Beaver Creek is one of Ohio’s premier scenic rivers, and is nationally known. Water quality monitoring is an ongoing project to help insure Ohio’s streams remain healthy.
June 2017
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
9
PA Agencies Partner for Troubled Game Birds
By PA Game Commission
HARRISBURG, PA — A stateagency partnership is creating more habitat for two troubled game birds and other wildlife species that rely on young forest. Since 2011, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources have teamed to restore thousands of acres of idle, difficult-to-manage habitat for ruffed grouse and woodcock on state forests. The partnership, spearheaded by DCNR’s Emily Just, an ecologist with the Bureau of Forestry, and Lisa Williams, a Game Commission game birds biologist, has been helping state forests and parks personnel write plans to remedy what ails now marginal habitats that once supported substantial populations of the ol’ ruff and timberdoodles. Both depend on young forests, which have been declining in Pennsylvania for some time. Grouse covet young upland forest – preferably with some adjacent stands of more ma-
ture trees; woodcock need young forest and shrubby thickets in soggy lowlands that offers their favorite food, worms. “Pennsylvania is currently at a 50year-low for this critical habitat,” Williams explained. “The decline of young forest has been dramatic.” Pennsylvania lost about 30 percent of its young forest between 1980 and 2005, and declines continue, Williams said. Just 5 percent of Pennsylvania forests are young – up to 19 years old, according to 2014 forest inventory data collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. Reverting farm fields and bottomland, the loss of young forestland to tree maturation and land-use changes have hurt these popular native game birds. Sinking with their populations are somewhat obscure songbirds, like golden-winged and prairie warblers, the yellow-breasted chat and brown thrasher, as well as the more recognizable whip-poor-wills, box turtles and snowshoe hares. Although grouse mortality also is tied to West Nile virus, habitat is the key to keeping the state bird abundant in
Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo courtesy of PAGC
Pennsylvania’s state bird, the ruffed grouse, is facing tough times due to mortality caused by West Nile virus. Like a variety of other wildlife species, grouse depend on young forest — about 800,000 acres of which has been lost statewide since the 1980s. But agencies like the Game Commission and DCNR are working where they can to restore young-forest habitat.
Penn’s Woods. It’s a conclusion resource managers back. “Waiting until they’re almost gone and require hefty emergency care to save is not an option,” Williams emphasized. So Williams and Just came up with an
approach that evolved into an interagency habitat prescription service that leans heavily on collaboration and cooperation. They head into the hills to work with DCNR foresters on projects for grouse and woodcock throughout the Turn To Game Birds Page 10
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Game Birds From Page 9
state. They figure their teamwork has led to about 1,000 acres of new grouse and woodcock habitat being created annually. Just said their now established campaign started from outreach to forestry staff on opportunities to begin improving poor-quality stands, carefully working in forest buffers, or targeting hard-to-manage sites for grouse and woodcock through on-site visits. This thinking-outside-the-box approach supplements the positive effects that forestmanagement activities have on wildlife. “The first year, a couple of districts were interested, and then it just took off,” Just recalled. “We started with foresters on ‘orphaned’ sites – primarily woodcock habitat. Moist-soil areas where they couldn’t do traditional work.” To get the ball rolling, Williams and Just walk sites with foresters, talk to them about their objectives and their equipment limitations. Williams and Just have a reputation among DCNR’s foresters for requesting as many targeted objectives for birds as they can – strewn trunks and treetops left on site for grouse, open clearings
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
June 2017
with shrubby thickets for woodcock, control of invasive plants and targeted promotion of beneficial trees and shrubs. Depending on the site, they also might appeal for softer, shrubbier woodland edges, tree islands and aspen or alder regeneration. “Management of natural resources is complex, so there is much discussion about silvicultural prescription essentials and the needs of the birds,” Just explained. “We work hard to combine both needs as much as we can.” “It’s really the way conservation ought to work,” stressed Williams. “The synergy in the relationships we’re building creates a lot of excitement and it’s Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo courtesy of PAGC really paying off for the birds.” Williams is quick to point out that Just Getting things done for wildlife often requires partnership. Pictured from left to right; retired Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources forester Mark Maser, makes it all work. She keeps the necesPennsylvania Game Commission game birds biologist Lisa Williams, DCNR ecologist sary paperwork going and looks for Emily Just and DCNR assistant district forester Dan Snyder discuss a collaborative habitat funding, which take a lot of pressure off initiative at Gallitzin State Forest (Cambria County). participating foresters. “The guys know that she is going to be with the project for the long haul,” strengths, so projects don’t get held up said. Even the way aspen’s leaves allow Williams explained. “We don’t just anywhere,” Williams emphasized. filtered light to pass down through the show up, say ‘do this’ or ‘do that’ and “Now we have as many requests as we canopy promotes ground-level vegetawalk away.” have time to handle.” tion beneficial to grouse. Its value is unGame Commission regional staff also Aspen is promoted where possible be- questionable. help shorthanded or equipment-light cause it is an important tree to ruffed Aspen’s distribution is now threatened forestry districts carryout their projects. grouse, providing the bird food – buds, by landowner neglect – it needs to be “Everyone is playing to their catkins, leaves – all year long, Williams Turn To Game Birds Page 11
June 2017
Game Birds From Page 10
managed actively – and by Pennsylvania’s maturing forests. A colonizing species, aspen filled in on the barren landscape after deforestation had leveled Penn’s Woods early in the 20th century and farmland reverted to forest. Grouse responded and Pennsylvania had fantastic upland hunting. Today, aspen makes up only a small portion of the state’s forestland. But for all aspen does for grouse, it’s only part of the solution. “In Pennsylvania, young forests are going to save grouse, not aspen,” reinforced Williams. The work ahead won’t be easy, because there are many other considerations that must be weighed when managing hardwood stands for grouse, such as long-term forestry objectives, deer impacts on seedlings, habitat needs of other plants and animals, invasive plants and landscape connectivity. The planning is complicated and getting the work done at a large enough scale to benefit wildlife takes many partners. Just points out that the Ruffed Grouse Society, National Wild Turkey Federation, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Partners for Wildlife, and the
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
Wildlife Management Institute all have been strong supporters of this ongoing partnership. “While Partners for Wildlife and the Wildlife Management Institute assist with their use of on-the-ground machinery and expertise, the Ruffed Grouse Society and National Wildlife Turkey Federation bring an ingredient that is in very short supply, volunteers to help get the work done,” Just said. “Both organizations also have donated money and helped on site with several of these projects.” Many hands are needed, because the effort to right the deficiencies in the Commonwealth’s grouse and woodcock habitat is no small undertaking. Williams estimates Pennsylvania is about 800,000 acres short of the young forest habitat it had in the 1980s. The lack of young forest and its wildlife consequences are hard not to notice. In 2013, the American Bird Conservancy identified early-successional forests as one of the Top 10 most-threatened bird habitats in America, Williams said. “The loss of young forest means trouble for the species that need it,” Williams said. “In addition to grouse
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and woodcock, dozens of other species are declining. Change is needed to ensure they can have healthy populations in the future.” Continued partnering among management agencies and conservation organizations will help. But Just stresses that more consistent funding is needed. . “State forests have tremendous potential for ruffed grouse and woodcocks since we already sustainably manage forests to balance age class, and especially now that we are figuring out how to work in the more difficult sites,” Just said. “We also do environmental reviews of each project to ensure we’re not impacting other species. It’s a thoroughly proven process.” The woodcock work has been especially encouraging, Williams said. “Spring surveys indicate we’re supporting eight times the number of woodcocks in managed sites than we see in unmanaged sites, where woodcock numbers remain stalled. The birds are showing us the work is making a real difference!” The Game Commission and DCNR have been producing young forest through their commercial timber operations for decades. They each cut thousands of acres annually. But with a
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Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo courtesy of PAGC
Pennsylvania’s forests are growing older, and young-forest stands like this are becoming increasingly rare. In order to provide young-forest habitat to the many wildlife species that depend on it, work must be done to open up tracts of lands to allow trees to regenerate. It’s the type of work on which the Pennsylvania Game Commission and state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources are teaming in projects across the state.
deficit of 800,000 acres, every new acre of early successional habitat matters for grouse and woodcock. That’s where the collaboration of Williams and Just with DCNR foresters is paying off. It’s an indispensable partnership.
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OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
One Big Hunting Family OV Outdoor Times
The Hepfners are a close-knit family who loves the outdoors. That passion began in 1872 when Bob Hepfner Sr.’s great grandfather bought a 40-acre farm in Clarion County, PA. The By Ralph Scherder property has been in Hunting Editor the family ever since, and that’s where Bob Sr. grew up and learned to hunt. That’s also where he taught his own kids to hunt years later. “I was 15 when I got my first deer,” says Bob Sr. “The buck I got last year was the 60th buck of my hunting career.” That buck was a dandy 11-point that was killed on the old homestead. “There used to be an old house and woods and small fields when I was growing up,” says Bob Sr., who recently turned 81. “It’s mostly wire grass now, but the deer like to travel through. There’s a creek down below that you can’t see from the stand, but they use it to cross from one hillside to another. It’s
a good area, and that’s where I got this buck.” The 11-point came in to a grunt call and worked a branch that had scent on it. “I thought he was trying to wind me,” says Bob Sr., “so I took the only shot I had, a neck shot. My grandson Jon killed a buck earlier in archery season with that shot and I thought I could do it, too. I just missed the windpipe, otherwise it would’ve been an easy tracking job. As it was, the buck ran quite a bit farther, but we still found it.” Bob Sr. relocated to Ohio many years ago and held an apprenticeship at a steel mill and then as a carpenter. He and his family are three-state hunters who enjoy deer hunting in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. “My best memories are of hunting with the boys. And I hate to admit it,” he says jokingly, “but Dan’s the best hunter of the group.” Dan owns 30 acres in Carroll County, OH, and has been hunting for 43 years. Although he didn’t get his first deer until he was 16, he has killed 50 whitetail bucks since, including one of his best,
June 2017
Ohio Valley Outdoors - Photo by Ralph Scherder
The passion for hunting in the Hepfner family began in 1872 when Bob Hepfner Sr.’s great grandfather bought a 40-acre farm in Clarion County, PA. Today seven descendants continue that passion. Last fall all seven Hepfner’s (including four generations) harvested whitetail deer in either Ohio, Pennsylvania or West Virginia. Pictured are the Hepfner’s: (from left) Dan, Jon, Bobby, Robert, Jr. (seated), Bob, Sr., Don, and Dominic (Frazzini).
also an 11-point, in 2016. “I had a history with this deer,” says Dan, 57. “I like putting out trail cameras after the Ohio muzzleloader season to see what’s left for next year, and in January 2015, I got a picture of a big 9point. There were only two days left in the late bow season when a string of nine deer were coming in to my corn
pile. The 9-point was one of them.” Instead of coming into the corn, though, the first two deer stopped short. They circled the stand, milled around awhile, but never committed to the bait. When they finally left, the 9-point went with them. “I didn’t see him the next year at all,” Turn To Hunting Family Page 13
June 2017
Hunting Family From Page 12
says Dan, “but on December 3rd, 2016, I started getting pictures of him again.” A week later, with snow on the ground, the buck came into Dan’s stand and offered a 15-yard shot. The arrow passed clear through, but there was nothing but some faint residue on the fletching and shaft, no blood. After a day or two or searching for the deer without a blood trail, Dan gave up. “All I had to do was go back farther on the property and I probably would’ve found it,” says Dan. “It ran a total of about 250 yards from where I’d hit it.” Unfortunately, coyotes and an eagle found the deer first. The neighboring landowner found it soon after and sawed off the antlers. After explaining the situation, though, the landowner gave the antlers to Dan. The Hepfner hunting crew also includes Dan’s brothers, Bob Jr. and Don, as well as Bob Jr.’s sons, Jon and Bobby. A recent addition has been Dan’s grandson Dominic, 12, who killed his first buck, an 8-point, last fall. Bobby, 31, also killed his first buck in 2016, which was his first year of hunting. “My dad and brother pressured me to hunt but I never had any interest,”
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
says Bobby. “I never cared about hunting all this time until last Easter when everyone said I should hunt with them in West Virginia. They asked my wife if I could go and she was all gung-ho about it. She’s really into organic foods, so what’s more organic than venison. That’s actually the main reason I went hunting. Once I was committed to going, though, I was really psyched up about it.” His first day, Bobby shot a doe, and his second day he killed a nice 8-point. “Now I have a freezer full of organic meat,” he says. Don Hepfner didn’t start hunting until he was 44. Now 56, he says his biggest regret is that he didn’t listen to his brothers, Bob Jr. and Dan, and start hunting earlier in life. “For me, it’s really therapeutic,” he says. “You’re out there away from the office. You don’t have to listen to the phone ring or deal with clients.” His first year, Don sat with his dad in West Virginia. “Early in the morning we saw this buck coming off the hill. It must’ve had a death wish because it came straight toward us. My gun was wavering all over the place as I tried to get it in the scope, and all I could hear was my dad in my ear saying, ‘Shoot, Don, shoot, shoot!’ We pulled the trig-
ger almost simultaneously and the deer went down. Being the consummate father, he asked, ‘Well, where were you aiming?’ I said, ‘Right behind the shoulder.’ He said, ‘Looks like that’s where you hit it. I must’ve missed.’ “We both knew he got it, although he kept telling everyone that I did. The following year I got my first real buck on my own, a 3-point. That helped me get the bug. I hope that eventually my son will come around and start hunting too.” “We always help each other putting our stands up or getting deer out of the woods,” says Dan. “Just like this year, Jon already had a deer and went to help his brother Bobby and my brother Don gut and drag their deer. We always help clear shooting lanes for each other, look at spots together. The more heads you put together the better. We always ask each other what we think of spots.” This team mentality is especially evident when it comes to helping Bob Jr. get into the woods. Bob Jr. was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005. He has endured several back surgeries and is wheelchair-bound, but that doesn’t seem to cut into his hunting time. With the help of his family, Bob Jr. still kills a buck almost every year. In fact, Bob Jr. has taken 40 whitetail bucks in
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his lifetime. “I got my son involved early, around 12 years old, and let him shoot a doe,” says Bob Jr. of his son Jon. “Deep down, I thought when he got older he’d help me. That’s what I was hoping. Nowadays, he’s the one who pushes me to go out.” Jon, 33, remembers his first really nice buck, an 11-point he killed in West Virginia. “My grandpa heard the shots and came over. When he saw the buck, he said, ‘It’s a shame you shot something so nice because you’ll probably never get another one like it.’ “Once I got into bowhunting it was laser beam focus,” says Jon. “After that I kind of got on a roll and started getting bucks every year. But honestly, I get just as much satisfaction from seeing my dad get one. He has a lot of passion to keep going.” In fact, all the Hepfners have a lot of passion to keep hunting. As the years go by and the memories continue to pile up, it’s their love for the outdoors that will always bring them together. Editor’s Note: See more photographs from the Hepfner family’s successful hunts in 2016 in the 2017 Summer issue of Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine, on newsstands now.
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
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Parker Bows Remembers Founder Bob Errett
On November 28, 2016, the archery industry lost a man that dedicated his entire adult life to the archery industry. Bob Errett, founder and CEO of Parker Bows, passed away peacefully at his home in Virginia. Bob’s life story neither begins nor ends with Parker Bows. Bob was a man of integrity, a gentle soul, a loyal friend, a mentor, and a strong leader that lived a full and blessed life. An accomplished outdoorsman, conservationist, and businessman, Bob’s life was dedicated to preserving and passing along his passion for the outdoors and more specifically, bowhunting. Born and raised in the small town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, Bob grew up hunting and fishing along the banks of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers with family and friends. It was these humble beginnings where his love of the outdoors began to grow into a way of life. After enlisting to serve a tour of duty in Vietnam, Bob returned to Marshall University and completed a degree in Accounting. After a short stint with Ashland Oil Company, Bob and his
brother-in-law, Charlie Nease, opened The Outdoorsman’s Store in Huntington, West Virginia. The store successfully served the community for several years by providing bowhunters products and services that improved their performance afield. In 1975, Bear Archery came calling, looking for a District Sales Manager for Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. Excited about the opportunity to work for an archery icon like Fred Bear, Bob and his wife, Jeannie moved to Staunton, Virginia. For nine years, Bob sold Bear Archery equipment to dealers and major retailers, serviced bows, worked promotional events, and competed in archery shoots throughout the region. At the same time, he and Jeannie started a family and opened their own local outdoor store. In 1984, Bob and Jeannie started Nationwide Archery Inc. after recognizing a need for an archery distributor in the southeast that could ship the best archery equipment within 24 hours. Bob grew Nationwide Archery on the premise of providing the best customer service in the industry.
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As an Easton Master Distributor, Nationwide Archery became one of the largest distributors and arrow manufacturers in the country. In the early 90’s, Bob and his team once again recognized another opportunity in the archery industry, creating an American made compound bow company backed by a warranty and customer service that was second to none. With the help of Guy Rowzie, in 1996, Parker Compound Bows Inc. was born. Parker quickly became a leading manufacturer of high quality compound bows for the everyday bowhunter. And in 2002, the Parker team built upon their legacy by producing their first crossbows. Whether as a hunter, a retailer, a salesman, a distributor, or a manufacturer Bob insisted that American made quality products at great prices backed by an industry leading warranty and customer service were the keys to being successful. It is on the foundation laid by Bob that Jeannie and her family along with the Parker family will continue to build upon to preserve this unique American heritage of bowhunting. Parker Bows is located in Mint Spring, VA. Find them online at: www.parkerbows.com.
June 2017
Ohio Valley Outdoors - Photo courtesy of Parker Bows
Bob Errett, founder and CEO of Parker Bows, dedicated his life to preserving and passing along his passion for the outdoors and more specifically, bowhunting. Errett died on November 28, 2016.
June 2017
Lead From Page 5
ments for those deep crappies, tungsten will eventually be huge. Has to be. Just has too many good things going for it to be ignored by crappie anglers much longer. The bass guys discovered it six or seven years ago, and now, tungsten jigs and worm weights are the real deal.
Tungsten Truth Olson adds perspective on the relative expense of tungsten versus lead. “Sure tungsten costs more per jig. But look at the bass circuits where they’ve made a big transition to tungsten weights for flippin’, dragging a Carolina rig or casting. Even though they’re paying $2 or more for a 3/4-ounce weight, price is no longer a deterrent. The advantages — such as better bite detection and improved casting precision — have simply changed the way Bassmaster anglers fish.” While much of the country still has the option to choose whether they fish lead, tungsten or other materials, several Northeastern states, including New York and Vermont, have banned the sale of lead fishing weights one half ounce and less. California now restricts use of lead tackle under 1-ounce. Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire have all
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
banned the use and sale of jigs and sinkers weighing one ounce or less. In all these areas, tungsten has been identified as the best, non-toxic lead alternative. For now, perhaps it’s useful to view tungsten versus lead the same way we perceive braided superlines versus monofilament. Superline is more expensive and certainly more effective in some situations. But not it’s necessarily a cureall. Indeed, a lot of anglers still use monofilament lines for much of their fishing. Others prefer fluorocarbon, in the right situation. A similar statement might apply to tungsten: More expensive than lead due to the cost of the raw material and its intricate production process. But tungsten is an exceptional, non-toxic metal for jigs and sinkers in many scenarios: deep water, heavy current, for long, precise casts and exceptional bite detection. A little like bobbers and bait, monofilament line and other fishing traditions, lead’s anything but dead. Then again, tungsten makes a pretty convincing case on its own behalf. Whether you’re chasing big bass, walleyes or a limit of crappies, this heavy metal is here to stay and happening now. About YourBobbersDown.com Acknowledged as the finest one-stop-
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Ohio Valley Outdoors - Photo by Technological Angler
New wave and non-toxic, tungsten walleye jigs provide superior bite detection, and work exceptionally well in river current and deep water.
shop for premium, cutting-edge ice products, YourBobbersDown.com continues to bolster its product line with elite items. Beyond FISKAS and Little-Atom lures, Olson has added popular J&S Plastics, ASSO technical fishing line, Fiskas Balances, and bi-metal tungsten jigging
spoons. Select complementary products such as Jonttu palm rods, C9 Scent Formula, Cold Snap Products, Ice-Strong Titanium Spring Bobbers and Bug Luggage jig boxes put the good stuff within the reach of all anglers.
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
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PHOTO SHOWCASE SPONSORED BY
June 2017
Lilly May, age 12 jake turkey Columbiana County, OH
Lilly May, age 12 button buck, youth season Mahoning County, OH
Brian Moore catfish, 23 lb., 38" Beaver County, PA, Ohio River
Achen Shaw, age 6 1st rainbow trout
Ava Aleksiejczyk, age 10 7-pt., crossbow Jefferson County, OH
Brandon Hill 10-pt., bow Adams County, OH
Tim Pope 9-pt., buck 128" Clermont County, OH
Derrick Sadlowski smallmouth bass, 20" Piedmont Lake, OH
June 2017
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
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PHOTO SHOWCASE SPONSORED BY
Hannah Boley 1st turkey, crossbow 20lbs., 10" beard, 1-1/4" spurs, OH
Jason Gordon Carroll County, OH
Kyle Dew 7-pt., crossbow Morgan County, OH
Taelor Grace McGraw, age 6 1st squirrel
Cody Pertuset Gross score 158 7/8, bow Adams County, OH
Send Us Your Photos
Hayden Mesler, age 10 16lb. turkey Columbiana County, OH
Hayden Mesler, age 10 15lb. turkey Columbiana County, OH
Riley Mesler, age 14 24 1/2 lb. turkey Columbiana County, OH
We’ll print your hunting, fishing or trapping photos in the next issue of OV Times or Ohio Valley Outdoors magazine. Send photos via mail, email or Facebook. Email to: ohvod@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com Mail to: Photo Showcase 210 East Fourth St., East Liverpool, OH 43920
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Calendar of Events
Old Fashion Style Turkey Shoot Each Sunday until further notice at Beaver Creek Sportsman Club, 14480 Washingtonville Road, Washingtonville, OH. Field stock guns, .680 choke max., scopes permitted, meat and money rounds, shooting 60’. $3 per round, 1 p.m. start time. For info. contact Tom Brunner 330-692-6577 or email:tbrunner1020@gmail.com. Spring Turkey Shoots - Each Sunday (10 a.m.) at Chester-Newell Sportsmen’s Club. Signups start at 9:30 a.m. Cost is $3, $30 for pack of 10 shoots.
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
$5 for money shoots. Stock & factory guns and tubes only. Paying 1st & 2nd place, cash prizes. Kids & ladies welcome. Located on Gas Valley Rd., behind Green Valley Dairy, between WV Route 8 and PA Route 18. For info. call 330-383-1886, or 304-374-5587. Trap Shoots - Regular trap shoots (open to public) held each Weds. and Sun. Sporting clays held fourth Sunday of month at Columbiana County Fish and Game Assoc. at 45716 Middle Beaver Road, Lisbon, OH 44432. For info. contact Mike Giambroni at 330383-2552 or visit www.columbianacountyfishandgame.c om.
Yellow Creek Long Rifles Shoots Every second Sunday of the month at noon, except August. Black powder, patch round ball and open iron sights only. Trail walks have 15-20 shots. For more info. call Dennis at 330-738-6002 or Gary at 330-853-4979. 3D Archery Shoots - June 24-25; July 22-23; Aug. 26-27 and Sept. 16-17 at Lake Milton Fish & Game Club. Sat. 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Sun. 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Cost $10, cubs $5. Breakfast and lunch served. Crossbows permitted, no rangefinders. Contact David Puz at 330240-8128 or Dennis Dabney at 330414-5795. Outdoor 3-D Archery - June 18;
June 2017
July 8-9, ASA Qualifier; July 1; Aug. 20; Sept. 17 at Mosquito Bowmen Archery Club, 2535 McCleary Jacoby Rd., Cortland, OH 44410. Reg. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 30 target course. Public invited. Field points only. $10, cubs free w/adult. Website: www.mosquitobowmen.com or email: info@mosquitobowmen.com. Walleye Madness Tournaments June 24 at Lake Erie-Geneva and August 19 at Lake Erie-Conneaut. 100% payback, no membership fees. $150 entry fee. Visit www.walleyemadness.net for entry deadlines and registration forms or call 580-765-2319.
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