WOMEN BOLSTER HUNTING RANKS - P.12 Small Game Season Opens Story inside page 16
Don’t Overlook Doves
EE!
Outdoor Times September 2016
OV Outdoor Times
I was still in high school the first time I hunted doves. At first, doves were a way to pass the time and a much better option than sitting at home doing nothing. Cropfields were plentiful and within walk- By Ralph Scherder ing distance of where I Hunting Editor lived. I called my buddy Dave, who was always up for adventure, and we took off with our shotguns and a box of shells and figured we’d be back in an hour or two with our 15bird limits. Doves were everywhere, after all – how hard could it be? We were back in a couple of hours, all right…for more shells! I’d fired a whole box and had only three doves in my game pouch. Dave hadn’t fared much better. After a quick sandwich, we were back out in the fields for another round. After that, we were addicted and hunted doves every chance we got. There are two ways to hunt doves. You can sit and wait for them, or, for the more impatient hunters, you can jump shoot them. I’ve always been a fan of jump shooting. A flushing bird is more unpredictable and harder to hit than one that is
Ohio Valley
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Turn To Doves Page 4
Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Larry Claypool
There are two ways to hunt doves. You can sit and wait for them, like the hunter shown along the edge of a corn field in West Virginia earlier this month, or for more impatient hunters you can jump shoot them. The author prefers the later method.
INSIDE THIS MONTH
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
14
6 Freeing Hang-ups 7
Jeff Knapp
Don’t Get Citing for Baiting in PA
16
Hunters Encouraged to Conduct Checks
8
WVDNR
PAGC
Small Game Opportunities in WV
18
WVDNR
25 Anglers Beware: The Big Boys Convicted in Ohio are Bugling
12
Grey D. Berrier II
ODNR
Women Bolster Hunting Ranks PAGC
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Doc’s Back Porch and WV Dove Opener
OUTDOOR CALENDAR
3-D Archery Shoots - Each Sunday in Sept. 18 & 25 at Chester-Newell Sportsmen Club. 30 McKenzie and Rinehart targets. Cost $10, $8 for youths, 12 & under are free. Begins at 8 a.m. to noon. For info. call 304-479-3456 or 330-383-1886. 3D Archery Shoots - Sept. 18. Hosted by Mosquito Bowmen, 2535 McCleary Jacoby Rd., Cortland, OH 44410. Cost $10, Cubs under 12 free. For info. call 330-507-1212 or see website: www.mosquitobowmen.com. Kid’s Day - Sept. 24 at Leetonia Sportsman’s Club, 41st annual event at East High Street in Leetonia, OH. Free for children ages 6-15. Each child must be accompanied by an adult. Reg. 9:30 a.m. For more information contact Tom Butch at 330-301-0536. Gun and Sporting Goods Show - Sept. 24-25 at Hidden Valley Sportsmen’s Club at the club’s facility at 268 Gilkey Road, West Middlesex (Mercer County), PA. The times are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 24 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 25. Admission is $5, with free parking. Vendor spaces available by calling 724-528-2700. *See ad on Page 10.
Ohio Valley
The Experiment!
As an experiment a few months ago I wanted to test the waters — OK the Internet — to see what our readers, and social mediaites (yes, I thought I’d invented the word but did find it online a few times, but it’s not a By Larry Claypool valid Scrabble word, Editor yet) thought about two outdoor topics — “Hunting Dogs” and “Unique Deer Mounts”. I was looking to expand our horizons for this publication and our sister magazine, Ohio Valley Outdoors. Sometimes I have to look beyond my 12’ x 20’ cubicle and search/peruse the ‘web’ for ideas. Note: your Letters to the Editor have been coming in a little slow; I don’t get phone calls unless a subscriber’s magazine cover gets eaten by a Post Office machine or I put a wrong hunting date in a story. And there was the time we put the wrong crossword puzzle answers in the magazine. Boy, did that cause a stir! Anyway, I have to search the Internet occasionally because I’m not seeing much past the three large windows in front of my desk and busy freeway (Route 30/39), river (the Ohio one) and large mountain beyond that (the hills of West Virginia). And I don’t get out of the office enough. The two topics (“Hunting Dogs” and “Unique Deer Mounts”) were posed to viewers — social mediaites — on the social network of Pinterest. I “pinned” about 20 photographs of hunting dogs and deer mounts on two different ‘boards’. Some refer to them as “bulletin boards”. And we were off. Pinning — or now they call it “Saving a Pin” — photographs are as easy as searchOV Outdoor Times
2
September 2016
ing for a photo you like and ‘tag’ it, which saves it to a board (album) on your ‘wall’, or board. You set the topics for your ‘boards’. Others can also save photos that are pinned on your boards. A photo sharing service, you might say. And you can save an entire photo album of someone you’ve never met. Like Facebook, you can also ‘Like’ a photo or album, and share them with your friends, or connections. There’s also now a video option to Pinterest, which opens up many avenues. So, from the two ‘boards’ I started, both topics caught on fast and we received several hits/impressions. I would never have imagined that the “Hunting Dogs” board would snowball like it has. As I write this column we’ve been averaging over 16,000 views (impressions) each month (for that one board) for the past three months. Find us on Pinterest at: Ohio Valley Outdoors-Magazine, and check out our boards. Play along if you wish, and share. There’s not an Internet session that goes by that I don’t learn something. While researching the “Hunting Dogs” topic I found a massive list of dogs that I’d never heard of. One that comes to mind is a Kooikerhondje. Nor can I say that name. But it seems like an awesome dog, and would make a great overall pet too. The scoop on a Kooikerhondje is; it means “little cager hound” and is a small spaniel-type breed of dog of Dutch ancestry. It was originally used as a working dog, particularly in an eendenkooi (duck cage) to lure ducks. Kooikers were popular in the 17th and 18th century and appeared in the paintings of Rembrandt and Jan Steen. The breed is rapidly gaining popularity in the United States, Canada and Scandinavia, where it is still relatively unknown. An then there’s the Plott Hound. A packhunter that was developed in North CarTurn To Experiment Page 9
To Advertise CALL 330-385-2243
Outdoor Times September 2016 VOL. 8, NO. 09 Ohio Valley Outdoor Times
is published by Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine©
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210 E. 4th Street, East Liverpool, OH 43920 Phone 330-385-2243, Fax 330-385-7114 ohvod@ohiovalleyoutdoors.com www.ohiovalleyoutdoors.com
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September 2016
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Doves From Page 1
passing through on a straight line. The flush, for me, is the most exciting part. You hear the whistle of wings and try to pick up the bird, get your feet set, mount the gun, and get on the bird before it’s out of range. Whereas pass shooting doves is a technique more similar to how you might hunt waterfowl, jump shooting provides some fine upland bird hunting action. I’m not above pass shooting doves, of course. I’m just saying that jump shooting is my preferred method. Pass shooting can be fun and effective, too, especially if you’re on a good flyway that gets lots of action. The shooting can be fast and furious. However you choose to hunt them, doves are a lot of fun. When Dave and I used to jump shoot them, one of us walked the edge of a cornfield while the other got in amongst the rows to roust them out. By the time we got to the end of one field, more doves had usually flown in behind us so that all we had to do was switch positions and head back through the field again. When we needed a break, we crouched in the shade of a treeline and waited them out. One reason I missed so many doves early in my hunting career is that my over-under shotgun had fixed chokes of improved cylinder (top barrel) and modified (bottom barrel). Eventually I switched to a different shotgun with skeet (top barrel) and improved cylinder (bottom barrel) chokes and it made all the difference on short ranges but didn’t per-
September 2016
form well at longer ranges. At long rang, the pattern opened up too much. The best way to figure out which choke is best for where you hunt is to pattern it at various distances. Be sure to factor in shot size, too. I prefer size 8 shot – the more pellets in the pattern the better, as far as I’m concerned. Doves have small bodies and wingspans and on occasion can fly right through a shotgun pattern untouched. Most doves are missed as a result of poor shooting skills. If you’re hunting from a seated position – a stool tucked in a treeline, for instance – stand when making the shot. Standing allows for better foot position and balance when shouldering your shotgun and swinging with the target. Balance issues are responsible for a lot of misses. If your body’s not solid and stable, then your gun mount isn’t either. Practice your gun mount often. You can do this in the comfort of your own living room, actually (with the gun unloaded, of course). Place a small flashlight in the barrel of your unloaded gun and position yourself as if shooting at a target located in the corner of the room where the walls meet the ceiling. Starting at one corner of the room, trace the seam between the ceiling and wall with the flashlight until you reach the other corner. As you trace the seam, slowly mount the gun. Don’t mount the gun first and then swing. Rather, swing as you’re mounting the gun so that the stock doesn’t touch your cheek until the flashlight beam reaches the far corner. Turn To Doves Page 5
Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo courtesy of Ralph Scherder
The author places decoys in small pine trees near his hunting position for dove season. “The best locations I’ve found for doves are along natural travel ways that include some sort of water source.”
September 2016
Doves From Page 4
When executed correctly, this flashlight exercise will improve your hand/eye coordination. The goal is to get your hands to work in unison and trace the seam smoothly with the flashlight beam while ending up exactly on target at the end. Practice this for 10-15 minutes every night and I guarantee it will translate into better wingshooting in the field. This exercise promotes an “economy of motion” in that it eliminates unnecessary movement and produces a steady gun mount. Better dove shooting also means paying attention to your swing. Doves are quick but tend to fly in straight lines, and anything that flies straight at a steady speed can be hit. Most doves are missed because you shoot behind them – rarely, if ever, will you miss a bird by shooting too far in front of it. It’s important to match your swing speed to their flight speed and then follow through. Imagine the bead of your shotgun moving forward from the dove’s tail feathers to its breast to its head and beak. Once it passes the beak, pull the trigger but be sure to follow through with your swing. The best locations I’ve found for doves are along natural travel ways that include some sort of water source. Dur-
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
ing the early season, standing corn and wheat fields can be great places for jump shooting doves. Later, after the corn is picked, pass shooting along a nearby treeline is a better option. Doves seem drawn to big, dead trees for roosting throughout the day or before and after feeding. Wire lines can also act as fly routes and are great places to pass shoot doves, but be extremely careful not to shoot toward the wires. As a matter of fact, no matter how you choose to hunt doves, always be aware of your surroundings and be careful not to shoot toward houses or livestock. When pass shooting doves, decoys can definitely come in handy and help pull them in for a closer shot. You don’t need a huge spread, just a few to get them curious and feel comfortable enough to head your direction. Hunting doves is fun way to kick off a new hunting season. Ohio’s dove season runs from September 1 to November 6, 2016, and from December 17, 2016 to January 8, 2017. A Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification as well as a regular hunting license are required to hunt doves. There are maps available online at wildohio.gov of dove fields at specific wildlife areas across the state.
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Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Larry Claypool
Hunting doves is a fun way to kick off the hunting season. Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia all kicked off their hunting seasons on September 1. This downed dove was harvested during Doc Bahnsen’s annual Labor Day Dove Shoot at Miller Farm near New Manchester, WV.
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OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
Freeing Hang-ups OV Outdoor Times
After popping his jig loose from a rock, I handed the rod back to my guide client. He thanked me, but a few casts later the leadhead jig was again lodged behind a subsurface rock. This time he By Jeff Knapp mimicked the Fishing Editor process I had just demonstrated and again the jig came free. With a relieved look on his face he said, “learning that tip was worth the price of the guide trip.” Late fall is a time of year when most gamefish spend the majority of their time close to the bottom. Trout eat larval stage bugs; walleyes forage on bottomoriented chubs and shiners; bass sniff out crayfish. It’s not that they don’t do the same during warmer periods. It’s just that by late fall, when the water temperature is anywhere from the mid-40s and lower, they are far less inclined to move up for a bait or lure. Which means going down to the bottom for them. Which in
turn means dealing with frequent snags. And old fishing axiom states, “if you’re not getting hung up, you’re not catching fish,” a particularly true observation when the water’s cold. If you follow a few steps getting a hung-up bait loose, especially a jig-type offering, can often be accomplished by following these simple steps. • The first objective is in determining if the resistance on your line is being causes by a fish or by an obstruction. Bites are light at this time of year, often just a spongy stoppage. I like to apply just a light degree of pressure. If it’s a fish there will be a bit of give, perhaps a light tap as the fish clamps down. If the resistance is of a solid nature, with no signs of life, chances are very good it’s a snag. • The next step is in repelling the urge to heave back on the rod to free the bait. Chances are this will only wedge the lure further. • Rather than applying the heave-ho and loading up the rod, using your wrist Turn To Hang-ups Page 7
September 2016
Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo by Jeff Knapp
Having the confidence of knowing you can free most snaps makes it easier to fish among rocky areas that hold big fish, like this 10 pound Allegheny River walleye.
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
September 2016
Hunters are Encouraged to Conduct Preseason Checks
SOUTH CHARLESTON, WV — September marks the opening of a number of hunting seasons across West Virginia, including squirrel (Sept. 10) and archery deer and bear (Sept. 24). It’s also a good time to spend in the woods scouting your favorite hunting areas, according to Ethan Barton, Division of Natural Resources (DNR) assistant District 2 wildlife biologist. “By September, you should be able to get a very good idea about mast conditions in the areas where you hunt,” Barton said. “Both hard and soft mast crops
are well-developed by this time of year. Acorns should be easily visible on oak trees and grape clusters should be easy to spot hanging from vines.” According to Barton, mast quality and quantity are important guides for hunters assessing the area for hunting potential. Archery hunters should be well into practice by this point in the year, and treestand hunters should be practicing from various stand heights and angles. If you have any doubts about your archery equipment, take it to your nearest pro shop and have it checked by a qualified
Hang-ups From Page 6
tar string. This quick release transfers energy down the line to the bait, often popping it free. Be sure not to load the rod too heavily before giving it the thumb snap. The heavy loading needs to occur when you pull the line down with the thumb. This method works with all types of line – nylon monofilament, braided line, and fluorocarbon. It takes just a bit of practice to get good at, something you get plenty of when dragging jigs across rocky bottom.
apply a series of buggy-whip snaps that really get the rod tip shaking. Holding the rod up high when doing this improves the angle, and ups the chances that the buggy whip will shake the lure free. • If the bait is still lodged load the rod up a bit, and then, using the thumb of your free hand, grab the line between the reel and the first guide, give it a quick pull and release it, like “twanging” a gui-
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professional. Improper tuning of compound bows and crossbows can hamper accuracy, and frayed strings can be dangerous for hunters. It’s also important to check your arrows and broadheads. If you hunt from a tree stand, you should also check your safety harness for damage or wear. Replacing a worn or damaged safety harness could save your life in the event of a slip or fall. Rifle hunters should get their rifles zeroed in well before the seasons open. When sighting in a rifle, be sure to shoot from a solid rest and be sure the rifle’s bore is clean. Some rifle bores, particularly 0.22 squirrel rifles with shallow rifling grooves, can suffer from lead fouling if they are not regularly cleaned.
• In addition to learning the skill of getting a jig free one should minimize getting is hung in the first place. Keep in contact with what the bait’s doing. Jigging takes concentration, something that’s tough to maintain if you’re conserving with your buddy. • One can also opt for less snaggy riggings. For instance, Winco’s Custom Lures (www.wincoscustomlures.com) offers a great jig hook with a light wire guard. The guard is designed to main-
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It’s also important to check your ammunition, particularly if you have decided to change loads. Bullets of the same weight but different ballistic profiles - for example, a pointed bullet versus a round-nose - often don’t shoot to the same point of aim, and impact points of similar loads from different manufacturers can differ by a few inches. For more information on hunting season dates and bag limits, consult your West Virginia 2016-17 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary, available from all license retailers, DNR district offices and from the DNR website www.wvdnr.gov. If you have additional questions about regulations or seasons, call your local DNR district office.
tain a 90 degree angle from the head. It provides some protection from snags, but doesn’t hinder getting a good hookset. Winco also offers a flutter head jig that couples up nicely with tube bodies. It’s a good combination that is much less snaggy that a traditional insert-style open jig hook. And many soft baits can be fished on a Texas-rig – with a sliding sinker and worm-style hook – that’s far less likely to hang-up than an open jig hook.
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OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
Beware: The Big Boys Are Bugling OV Outdoor Times
It’s getting close! If you’re like me, you’ve probably started counting down the days until the opening of archery season. However, before you start spending what By Col.(Ret.)Grey D. Berrier II may amount to FIN Pro Staff dozens, possibly hundreds, of hours up in a treestand over the next several months, you owe it to yourself and your family to experience the rut. I’m not talking the upcoming whitetail rut, but rather the elk rut that is currently ongoing in the Northern Alleghenies region of Pennsylvania. Many people are not aware PA has a free-ranging elk herd spread across Elk, Cameron, Clearfield, Clinton, McKean, and Potter Counties. Native eastern elk were unfortunately extirpated from PA by 1867. However, elk were successfully reintroduced to PA in 1913 with the transfer of 50 Rocky Mountain elk from Yellowstone National Park. This true success story in wildlife management
has evolved over the past 100+ years to where PA now has an elk population of over 800 wild bulls, cows, and calves roaming across 852 square miles of what has been labeled the PA Wilds Region. Since 2001, this population has supported a limited annual PA elk hunt with coveted licenses granted through a lottery drawing. Over 20,000 resident and non-resident hunters put in for the 2016 PA elk lottery, which recently awarded 25 antlered tags and 99 antlerless tags to the 125 lucky hunters, whose names were drawn by the PA Game Commission on August 20 during the annual PA Great Outdoors Elk Expo. This year’s PA elk hunt will take place in late October/early November with hunters assigned to designated elk hunt zones. The Elk Expo is always the third weekend in August and is already scheduled for August 19 & 20, 2017. The heart of PA elk country is centered around the little town of Benezette (population: 205) in very rural Elk County. That is the location of the Elk Country Visitors Center (ECVC), which opened in 2010. Situated on a 245-acre former
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September 2016
Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo courtesy of Grey D. Berrier II
The author poses by the magnificent bull elk statue gracing the entrance to the Elk Country Visitors Center in Benezette, PA.
Christmas tree farm, the ECVC is operated by the non-profit Keystone Elk Country Alliance, whose mission is “to conserve and enhance PA’s elk country for future generations.� Admission to the
ECVC is free and it offers numerous highly informative displays, many hands-on, covering the elk and other PA wildlife species, a kid-friendly DiscovTurn To Big Boys Page 9
September 2016
Big Boys From Page 8
ery Room, and a well-stocked elkthemed gift shop, whose proceeds support elk conservation. There is also a 4-D theatre presentation detailing the story of the PA elk herd available every 30 minutes for a minimal fee of $3.00 per person. For more information on the Elk Country Visitors Center, the Keystone Elk Country Alliance, and the annual PA Great Outdoors Elk Expo, visit: www.experienceelkcountry.com. Besides the visitors center, the property includes ample parking, the Elk Country Campus Outdoors building for programs, meetings, and educational events, well-maintained walking trails, and several viewing blinds overlooking the expansive fields and clearings, which are planted with a wide variety of preferred forage vegetation to attract elk and other wildlife. While the 2016 annual Elk Expo attracted 30,000 visitors to Benezette during the weekend of August 20-21; my wife and I avoided the crowds by spending the next day, Monday, August 22, there. We saw maybe 150 other visitors over the course of the afternoon and evening, and were thrilled to view two dozen elk, numerous white-tailed deer, several wild
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
turkeys, and an overflight by a golden eagle. The highlight of our time at the ECVC was watching a cow elk aggressively chasing 4 whitetails across an open field and through intermittent pine trees, after we presumed they fed too close to her hidden calf in the far tree line. Unfortunately, no mature bulls came out during our time there, but we were serenaded by some distinct elk bugling from back in the woods and watched a young spike bull who nonchalantly fed within 100 yards of the parking area. Elk are present throughout the region, not just at the ECVC, as the frequent prominent elk crossing signs attest along the winding two-lane roads traversing rural PA north of Interstate 80. After leaving the ECVC property, it is a short drive along Winslow Hill Road to the Winslow Hill Elk Viewing Area, the Woodring Farm Hiking Trail Vista, and the Dents Run Viewing Area. All three locations overlook broad expanses of PA State Game Lands 311, which is extensively managed for the elk. Binoculars or a spotting scope are definitely recommended for elk viewing and you’ll want a telephoto lens for your camera to ensure you can obtain quality photographs. Visitors are asked to respect private
property when viewing and photographing the elk, since elk are frequently seen on the many farms, in people’s yards, and around the numerous camps dotting the countryside. Elk typically meander throughout Benezette most evenings and the locals experience almost daily interactions with these majestic, massive beasts. If you decide to head up to the Elk Country Visitors Center, it’s approximately a 2-hour and 15-minute drive from the OH/PA line on Interstate 80. You’ll be on I-80 East most of the time, getting off at Exit 101 (DuBois). From there it’s 16 miles north of PA-255 to Weedville and then 11 miles east on PA555 to Benezette. There is ample signage to the ECVC from Weedville to your destination. (The GPS address for the ECVC is 950 Winslow Hill Road, Benezette, PA 15821.) From mid-September to mid-October is prime time for the elk rut. If you go now, you’ll have the opportunity to hear the big boys distinctly bugling to attract cows and make other bulls clearly aware of their presence. This is when bulls will be herding and guarding harems of cows and calves, and you might be fortunate enough to observe two bulls face off and fight it out by locking antlers while ag-
9
gressively pushing and shoving to establish dominance. The PA elk herd is definitely a wildlife management success story and something everyone should experience for themselves at some point. There is just something primal and exhilarating about hearing an elk bugle. Once you and your family members experience it once, you’ll want to return each year to hear that special sort of mountain music only elk can provide against a vibrant backdrop of colorful fall foliage. Experiment From Page 2
olina (yes, USA) more than 200 years ago to hunt bear and wild boar. They’re still used as hunting dogs today. The Plott Hound is known for his powerful, streamlined body, intelligence, loyalty, and eager-to-please nature. There’s so much more to learn about hunting dogs. We’ll attempt to bring our readers more stories about them in the future. If you have a special four-legged friend, or breed, in your hunting life send us a photograph or story and we’ll try to share it with our readers. It’s the experiment that keeps on going! *See Page 7 for details on contacting us.
Don’t let the summer slip away without coming to
Carroll County
Make your own tall tales by hunting & fishing on our 3,000 acres of public land & water Visit www.carrollcountyohio.com 1-877-727-0103 Follow us on Twitter, Pinterest
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OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
Doc’s Back Porch and WV Dove Opener OV Outdoor Times
Tough talk from a tough man. When retired Army Brigadier General John C. “Doc” Bahnsen speaks, you listen. That was the case earlier this month as Bahnsen sat on his By Larry Claypool back porch, with Editor several ears listening, including several local hunters, friends and a few key West Virginia state political figures named Bill Cole, Republican gubernatorial nominee and Mac Warner, Republican Secretary of State hopeful. The occasion was a pre-hunt chat to Bahnsen’s annual West Virginia Dove Hunt, which is held each year on Labor Day, on or near the season opener in West Virginia. It was the 17th annual Dove Shoot, hosted by Bahnsen and his wife, Peggy, at their 132-acre Miller Farm in New Manchester, WV. Again about 60 friends
and neighbors of the Bahnsen’s were treated to a nice lunch, camaraderie and successful hunting from a field nurtured to attract a nice stock of mourning doves. Always expect Doc Bahnsen to toss in his political views — Grand Old Party, of course — and strong endorsements of a few attending party candidates. This year those kind words were directed toward Cole and Warner, who both took part in the Dove Shoot. And as this is a key election year nationally, Bahnsen had a few choice words about the Republican presidential candidate — whom he’ll support — and a few others for the Democratic opponent. But those words were left on the back porch. The dove hunting was generally good with most hunters leaving with their limit of 15 birds. Warm temperatures, in the lower-mid 80’s, slowed incoming flights early but hungry birds attempting to feed on Bahnsen’s downed sunflower plants offered steady action throughout the afternoon. Bahnsen, a veteran dove shooter, was
September 2016
Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Larry Claypool
Doc Bahnsen (right) talks with hunters and friends on his back porch before a dove hunt on Miller Farm on Labor Day. West Virginia Republican gubernatorial nominee Bill Cole (second from right) was also on hand and participated in the annual hunt.
raised in Georgia where wing shooting is a way of life. He’s brought his keen knowledge of wildlife management and
hunting for doves and pheasants to his northern West Virginia farm. The farm is Turn To Doc’s Page 11
September 2016
Doc’s From Page 10
also located adjacent to the 1,212-acre state-run Hillcrest Wildlife Management Area (Hancock County), which also benefits from management tactics at Miller Farm. Two young hunters are very appreciative of the hunting opportunities. Alec Swiger and Zach Mynes, two local kids and college freshman this year, have participated in the last three dove hunts at Miller Farm. “I personally enjoy this similar to Christmas. It’s a gathering of people who are all interested in something similar, doing something they love to do — hunt,” said Swiger. “I think it’s absolutely amazing what Doc does. It’s like the perfect balance and collaboration of our own political figures that represent us, but when you’re hunting along side of them, you realize they’re not just a face in the government. They’re a fellow hunter, and a friend by the end of the day.” Both Swiger and Mynes were able to limit out before heading back to their college dorms; Swiger to Pittsburgh Technical College and Mynes to Alderson Broaddus University. West Virginia’s hunting season for
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
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Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Larry Claypool
Doc Bahnsen (center, front) and his army of dove hunters and helpers as they pose for the group photo before the annual Labor Day Dove Shoot at Miller Farm in New Manchester, WV. Bahnsen also welcomed WV Republican gubernatorial nominee Bill Cole (right of Bahnsen) and Mac Warner, a WV Republican Secretary of State hopeful.
doves are set in three different slots, Sept. 1 - Oct. 15, Oct. 31 - Nov.19 and
Dec. 19 – Jan. 12. Shooting hours for dove are from noon to sunset (opening
day of the first segment) and from a halfTurn To Doc’s Page 15
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OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
Women Bolster Hunter Ranks
By PA Game Commission
You might say Jillian Katchko was born to hunt. “Hunting was all around me from the time I was born – literally,” the 13-yearold from New Freedom, York County, said. “Dad shot a wide-racked nine-point buck when I was five months old, and he took a photo of the buck next to me in my baby carrier. “My Grandma Anna said my grandfather took the same kind of photos of my dad and his brothers when they were kids,” she said. Naturally enough, Jillian wanted to take part in this family tradition. When she turned 12, she became certified through a Hunter-Trapper Education course, then got her first license and headed afield with her dad. She was quick to make memories, too, taking her first squirrel with her .22 rifle at 22 yards, then encountering a fourpoint buck in deer season that didn’t quite offer a good enough shot. But she can’t wait for the new season to kick off. “Hunting is just plain fun,” Jillian
said. Each year, more and more females of all ages are finding that statement to be true. During the 2015-16 season, 96,555 females purchased Pennsylvania hunting licenses or mentored permits. That’s more than 10 percent of all license buyers, and yet another increase for this rapidly growing demographic. Since the 2009-10 license year, when 67,165 females bought licenses, participation by females has grown by more than 44 percent. It’s not all due to teens like Jillian. In fact, the fastest-growing age range among all Pennsylvania hunters is women ages 26 through 30 – a segment that’s grown by nearly 26 percent in the past three years. Danielle Miller, 29, is part of that group. A resident of Mifflin, Juniata County, Miller also grew up in a family of passionate hunters – all of them men. She loved the outdoors, but it took a while for her to realize she was a hunter at heart. Turn To Women Page 13
September 2016
Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo courtesy of PAGC
Danielle Miller, of Mifflin in Juniata County, grew up in a hunting family and always loved the outdoors, then got her first hunting license at age 22. Females continue to join the Pennsylvania’s hunter ranks in record numbers.
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
September 2016
Women From Page 12
“I guess, growing up, I assumed that hunting was just something that men did,” she said. “My brother was always my dad’s sidekick, and it was a given that he’d hunt. I don’t ever recall being asked if it was something I wanted to do,” she added. As she grew older, Miller realized what defined her as a person, and decided that hunting was something she wanted to do. At 22, she took the Hunter-Trapper Education course and got her first hunting license. Today, she enjoys hunting not only with her dad and brother, but also her boyfriend and his daughter. “I enjoy being out in the woods,” Miller said. “It’s my happy place!” Considering the growing numbers, that must be a sentiment shared not only by female hunters in Pennsylvania, but across the country. Southwick Associates, a fish and wildlife statistics firm based in Florida, says females are the fastest-growing segment among all outdoors users in the United States, and there now are about half a million female hunters nationally. The natural question is why, but it’s a difficult one to answer, said Game Commissionhuman-dimensions specialist
Coren Jagnow. Survey responses have hinted at possible explanations, Jagnow said. Females have demonstrated different reasons for wanting to hunt. They’re much more likely than men to take to the field to harvest game for meat as their No. 1 motivation. The question could be explored through further research. But there’s still no clear answer as to why the number of women hunters is growing so rapidly, Jagnow said. But there’s no mistaking they’ve taken to hunting, and not only have joined the ranks, but stayed. And the enthusiasm they’ve demonstrated is great for hunting in Pennsylvania, said Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough. “Pennsylvania hunters usually don’t have to look too far to find reasons to get excited about hunting,” Hough said. “And I couldn’t be happier for the girls and women who now are experiencing that excitement for themselves, and enjoying all the rewards that come from spending time in the field and hunting and harvesting game.” Mary Ann Zdarko, of Warren, in Warren County, wasn’t raised in a hunting family.
PA Female License Buyers 2009-10 – 67,165 2010-11 – 67,787 2011-12 – 72,714
2012-13 – 79,181 2013-14 – 87,091 2014-15 – 94,037 2015-16 – 96,555
But when she remarried at 47, her husband, Dan, encouraged her to come along and learn what hunting was all about. They often hiked in the woods together already, and she took the HunterTrapper Education course and began making frequent trips to the range to practice with her rifle. Now 69, she has taken 10 deer over several seasons. Then, six years ago, she was drawn for a bull-elk license and har-
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vested a nice bull. “The elk hunt was an amazing experience, especially because I was 63 – no spring chicken – at the time,” she said. But Zdarko said she’ll continue to hunt as long as she can walk in and out of the woods. “What I love most about hunting is spending time with my husband, son and grandson, the challenges, and being outdoors.”
Leetonia Sportsman’s Club to Host Kid’s Day
LEETONIA, OH — The Leetonia Sportsman’s Club will host its 41st annual Kid’s Day on September 24 at their facility on East High Street in Leetonia. The event is free for children ages 6-15 and includes shooting, fishing, archery and wiener roast. Each child must be accompanied by an adult. Participants can bring their own fishing rod, but it’s not required. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. The event is held in conjunction with National Hunting and Fishing Day. For more information contact Tom Butch at 330-301-0536.
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OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
Don’t Get Cited for Baiting in PA
By PA Game Commission
HARRISBURG, PA — Fifty-pound sacks of shelled corn sit stacked at the end of the aisle. On the bottom shelf, an assortment 25pound salt blocks, some of them appleflavored or advertised as high-protein varieties, are wrapped in plastic, next to gallon jugs of liquefied mineral attractants. Any or all of these products are perfectly legal to purchase. And depending on where in Pennsylvania you’re standing, and the time of year, they might or might not be lawful to use outdoors to attract deer or other wildlife. But at least 30 days prior to hunting an area where baits like these are used, all such products must be removed from it completely. Even their residues must be gone. And if the requirement isn’t met, any hunter in that area is considered to be hunting illegally over bait. Aside from a few, very narrow exceptions, hunting through the use of bait is illegal in Pennsylvania. Yet, each year, it remains one of the top violations for which Game Commission wildlife conservation officers file
September 2016
charges. And the prevalence of baiting seems to have grown in recent years. In the 2015-16 license year, which ended June 30, charges were filed for hunting over bait in 503 cases statewide. That’s up from 468 hunting-over-bait prosecutions in 2014-15 and 422 in 2013-14. While many cases investigated by the Game Commission reveal a clear intent to break the law — such as piling corn or apples or placing deer-attracting minerals on the ground in a hunting area — other times the case specifics are a little more complex. But any question about what’s legal and what isn’t always can be answered by the law.
What is Baiting? Under Pennsylvania law, it generally is unlawful to hunt in or around any area where artificial or natural bait, hay, grain, fruit, nut, salt, chemical, mineral or other food — including their residues — are used or have been used within the past 30 days as an enticement to lure game or wildlife. It doesn’t matter how much or how little of a product is being used or has been
Ohio Valley Outdoors - Photo courtesy of Realtree
Hunting whitetail deer through the use of bait is illegal in Pennsylvania. All such products must be removed at least 30 days prior to hunting an area where baits were used.
used in an area. If it’s been used there within the past 30 days, or if residue remains, hunting there is off limits. The requirement for residue to be re-
moved is deserving of deeper examination, said Thomas P. Grohol, who heads up the Game Commission’s law-enforcement bureau. Turn To Baiting Page 15
September 2016
Baiting From Page 14
Some hunters in the summertime will place apples or salt blocks in their fall hunting areas in attempt to bring deer in front of their trail cameras and inventory what lives there, Grohol said. Such a practice is lawful, as long as the bait isn’t placed within a Disease Management Area, where it’s illegal to feed deer intentionally, or it’s not attracting bears or elk, the feeding of which is prohibited statewide. But the type of bait used in an area outside of hunting season might also dictate when the area can be hunted, Grohol said. “If you’re dealing with apples, deer will eat them completely and there’s not going to be any remaining residue,” he said. “So as long as they were gone from an area at least 30 days prior to someone hunting there, no law has been broken. “But if a salt or mineral block was placed out, it undoubtedly was rained upon and that salt or mineral seeped into the soil,” Grohol said. “Evidence that residue remains might very well be obvious to investigating officers, too, because such areas often continue to draw deer and other wildlife that will root and dig for that residue in the ground. In such a case, the hunter would need excavate that ground and haul all of it out of the area, and then after 30 days, hunting could take place there.” Of course, none of that is an option on state game lands, where the feeding of wildlife is prohibited. But on private lands, it’s something hunters must consider. Less than a month remains until the start of the archery deer season. The statewide archery deer season opens Oct. 1, and in Wildlife Management Units 2B, 5C and 5D, the Sept. 17 archery opener is only weeks away. Grohol said that, under the law, it doesn’t matter if a hunter caught in a baited area placed the bait or not. Each hunter is responsible for ensuring an area has not been baited prior to hunting there. “In addition to physically inspecting their hunting areas to make sure they’re free of bait, hunters are encouraged to question the owners or caretakers of properties where they hunt to drill down deeper into the possibility the area has been baited,” Grohol said. Nothing in the law that prohibits baiting pertains to normal or accepted farming, habitat-management practices, oil-and-gas drilling, mining, forest-management activities or other legitimate commercial or industrial practices. Hunters may hunt in areas with agricultural crops or where treetops have
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
been felled by loggers. If they have permission, they can even plant their own crops, food plots and trees, and hunt there lawfully, Grohol said. “What is illegal are those baits that are brought into an area and placed out, then not cleaned up in their entirety within 30 days prior to hunting there,” he said.
Baiting Penalties Hunting over bait is a summary offense punishable by a $150 to $300 fine. But like many violations of the state’s Game and Wildlife Code, one violation might mean others are present, too, Grohol said. For instance, if someone hunting illegally through the use of bait kills a deer in that area, he or she not only would be charged with hunting over bait, but for unlawfully taking the deer - a charge punishable by up to an $800 fine and a month in jail, he said. There would also be a minimum $800 replacement cost for the deer, and if the deer was classified a trophy buck, the replacement cost would be $5,000, he said. If other violations are present, additional charges might result, as well, Grohol said. Each case is different, Grohol said. Investigating officers always strive to be fair, and in cases where it’s apparent a hunter unknowingly was hunting in an area baited by another, it’s more likely a warning would be issued, he said. But if bait is found on the ground, the law requires the area be closed to hunting for 30 days after the bait and all residue was removed. “So the illegal actions of the person who placed the bait can result in fairly long-term consequences against all hunters in that area,” Grohol said. “Even with the archery season, which at six weeks long is one of our longer deer seasons, if 30 days are taken out of it due to baiting, it’s essentially been shut down. Law-abiding hunters in that area probably aren’t going to be very happy about that.” For more information on this program, visit www.pgc.pa.gov. Coyotes Any natural or manmade nonliving bait can be used to attract coyotes for hunting or trapping. However, when trapping coyotes, the bait may not be visible from the air. In Pennsylvania, the prohibition on bait visible from the air applies to trappers of all species. It serves among other things to protect bald eagles and other birds of prey from becoming caught in traps.
Doc’s From Page 11
hour before sunrise until sunset for the remainder of season. The possession limits for doves is three times the daily bag limit. The seasons are set within the annual guidelines established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. All licensed migratory bird hunters, including lifetime license holders and senior citizens, must also have a valid Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration card. HIP cards are available at
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www.wvhunt.com, license agents and DNR offices. West Virginia’s 2016-2017 Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations brochure is available online at www.wvdnr.gov, at license agents and at DNR offices. Ohio’s dove season also began on Sept. 1. It offers two different sessions (Sept. 1 - Nov. 15 and Dec. 17 - Jan. 8, 2017). Pennsylvania opens Sept. 1 as well and offers three sessions (Sept. 1 - Oct. 10, Oct. 17 - Nov. 28 and Dec. 2 - Jan. 1, 2017).
Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Larry Claypool
College students Alec Swiger (left) and Zach Mynes limited out during the annual Labor Day Dove Shoot at Miller Farm.
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OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
Small Game Hunting Opportunities in WV
SOUTH CHARLESTON, WV — West Virginia’s various small game hunting seasons are soon to be underway, and wildlife biologists from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources are predicting good opportunities for success. The statewide squirrel season opened Sept. 10, 2016, and runs through Feb. 28, 2017, with a daily bag limit of six. This season, hunters should find good numbers of squirrels due to a 57 percent increase in beech and a 73 percent increase in hickory during the fall of 2015. That increase should result in good squirrel reproduction in 2016. Areas where beech or hickory occur are the areas to hunt early in the season because they are a favored food source. White and red oak stands may also be good choices for hunters. Cottontail rabbit numbers should be stable where there is suitable habitat. Rabbit season will run from Nov. 5, 2016, to Feb. 28, 2017, with a daily bag limit of five. Ruffed grouse season begins Oct. 15, 2016, and ends Feb. 28, 2017. Look for grouse in 5- to10-year-old timber cuts, preferably with soft mast producing trees and vines such as grape, dogwood and sassafras. The daily bag limit is four. Raccoon hunting season begins Oct. 15, 2016, and ends Feb. 28, 2017. Hunters with hounds should experience success near favored food sources. The
Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo courtesy of WV Dept. of Commerce
The West Virginia statewide squirrel season opened Sept. 10, 2016, and runs through Feb. 28, 2017, with a daily bag limit of six.
daily bag limit is four per hunter or group of hunters. Snowshoe hare, bobwhite quail, bobcat, red fox and gray fox hunting seasons will open Nov. 5, 2016. Red and gray fox night hunting season (with artificial light) begins Jan. 1, 2017, runs through Feb. 28, 2017. Hunters should check the 20162017 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulation Summary for specific opening and closing dates and bag limits for each species.
ODNR to Host Open House for Educators
AKRON, OH – Are you an educator with an interest in wildlife and who teaches pre-K through high school-aged students? If so, you are invited to visit an Annual Educator’s Open House on October 6th, 2016 from 4-7 p.m. according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The Annual Educator’s Open House will take place at the ODNR Division of Wildlife headquarters for northeast Ohio, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron. This office serves 19 northeast Ohio counties. Classroom materials such as field guides, posters, and curriculum supplements featuring Ohio’s wildlife will be distributed to visitors. ODNR Division of Wildlife education staff will also be present to discuss integrating programs into the curriculum; learn more about Ohio Project WILD, WILD School Sites, Passport to Fishing, National Archery in the
Schools Program, and more. Wildlife-related educational materials, training workshops, and informational programs are offered free to educators thanks to the sales of hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses as well as donations to ODNR Division of Wildlife. Please come and go as you please; there’s no need to pre-register. However, if you have questions, call Jamey Emmert or Ken Fry at 330-644-2293. All educators including youth group leaders, homeschool educators, informal educators, and others are welcome. Learn more about wildlife-related educational resources at wildohio.gov. ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.
September 2016
September 2016
Chuck McManu walleye, ice fishing Mosquito Lake, OH
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
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25 Anglers Convicted for Illegally Possessing Walleye
COLUMBUS, OH — Twenty-five individuals were recently charged and convicted in Ottawa County Municipal Court following an investigation of outof-state anglers exceeding the walleye daily bag limit, according to the Ohio
Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). ODNR Division of Wildlife officers had received several complaints concerning a group of anglers from Wisconsin who were fishing Lake Erie and exceeding the daily bag limit of walleye. In May, state wildlife officers and investigators along Lake Erie contacted the suspects. Officers discovered that nearly all of the walleye had been cut into chunks in an attempt to disguise how
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many fish had been kept. Because of instances like this, Ohio law states that fillets must be kept whole until anglers reach their permanent residence, or until the fish are prepared for immediate consumption. During the investigation, officers seized more than 500 pounds of walleye meat. Twenty-four individuals from Wisconsin and one individual from Ohio were issued 46 summonses for possession of cut fillets, and two summonses for keeping more than the limit of wall-
eye. The defendants were found guilty and ordered to pay $1,472 in fines and $1,856 in court costs. The ODNR Division of Wildlife encourages anyone who is aware of a possible violation of wildlife laws to call the Turn In a Poacher (TIP) line at 800POACHER (800-762-2437) or to submit information online at wildohio.gov. All information received by the TIP program will remain confidential.
September 2016
Scherder Releases Trapping DVD, Book
BUTLER, PA — Longtime Ohio Valley Outdoor Times Hunting Editor Ralph Scherder recently released an outstanding informational and educational trapping DVD titled “Boat ‘Line Bandits”. The nearly one-hour video is packed with trapping tips by boat and land from Scherder and fellow veteran Pennsylvania trapper Rich Faler. It’s great entertainment and education for anyone interested in big water trapping. The video retails for $29.95.
OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES
Trappers interested in the unique pursuit of fisher - “a fox-sized mink” - must include this new release in their library. The book is the second one from Scherder, who authored the award-winning “The Taxidermist’s Son” several years ago. The how-to book on trapping fisher will show you how to put together the puzzle pieces which make up the trapping tapestry. “It’s a challenge and a love. It’s a pursuit which will leave you wanting more days afield,” said Scherder in a release. For additional details visit Scherder’s Facebook page (Bandit Outdoors), www.BanditOutdoors.blogspot.com or www.RichFaler.com.
ber 13) and 10-Bird Meat Shoots will be held on four different Sundays; Nov. 20, Dec. 18, Jan. 15 and Feb. 19. The Iceman Trap Event will be held Jan. 29, 2017. Regular Trap Shoots, open to the public, are held each Wednesday (6-9 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m. - 4 p.m.), beginning in September. Sporting Clays, again open to the public, will be held on the fourth Sunday (9 a.m.) of each month, beginning in September. For additional information contact club secretary Mike Giambroni at 330383-2552 or visit their website at: www.columbianacountyfishandgame.co m.
CHESTER, WV — The ChesterNewell Sportsmen Club will host several 3-D Archery Shoots each Sunday in September (18 and 25). Thirty McKenzie and Rinehart targets will be used on the course. The cost is $10 per shooter, $8 for youths, 12 and under are free. The shoots begin at 8 a.m. and run through noon. The sports club is located on Gas Valley Road, behind Green Valley Dairy (behind WV state Route 8 and PA state Route 168). For additional information call 304479-3456 or 330-383-1886.
LISBON, OH — The Columbiana County Fish and Game Association will indoor pistol and rifle events until April of 2017. They are open to the public. The club is located at 45716 Middle Beaver Road, Lisbon, OH 44432, just off of state Route 7. The Indoor .22 and/or Air Rifle Shooting is slated for each Tuesday (6-9 p.m.) from October 4 to April 25, 2017. Offhand shooting, 50-foot shooting distance. Scopes are permitted. Closest to the bull, and best group win. The Indoor Pistol Shooting is scheduled for each Friday (7-10 p.m.) from Oct. 7 - April 28, 2017. Shooting distance will be 21 feet. Open to all calibers, except magnum loads. For additional information email: ccfishgame@gmail.com or visit their website at: www.columbianacountyfishandgame.co m.
3-D Archery Shoots Set in Chester
Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo courtesy of Ralph Scherder
Veteran PA trappers Ralph Scherder and Rich Faler have released a new trapping DVD, titled “Boat ‘Line Bandits”.
“Prepare to get fully immersed in the trapline experience, away from the beaten path and crowds, where you can fully enjoy the beauty of nature and the excitement of trapping,” said Scherder in a press release. “In this DVD you’ll learn how to create a simple, yet effective, system for taking raccoons, how to scout and find locations before even launching your boat, and how to choose the best boat and motor for any situation.” Scherder and Faler also have been busy producing a trapping book titled, “Fisher Trapping”, which also was recently released. The 96-page, full color book is full of key trapping information, step by step easy sets and photos on how to trap fisher. A great value at $14.95.
Gun and Sporting Goods Show Set for Sept. 24-25 WEST MIDDLESEX, PA — The Hidden Valley Sportsmen’s Club will host its annual Gun and Sporting Goods Show on September 24-25 at the club’s facility at 268 Gilkey Road, West Middlesex (Mercer County), PA. The times are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 24 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 25. Admission is $5, with free parking. Vendor spaces may be available by calling 724-528-2700.
CCFGA to Host Several Events This Fall
LISBON, OH — The Columbiana County Fish and Game Association will host several events this fall at the Lisbon, OH facility. Some events are open to the public. The club is located at 45716 Middle Beaver Road, Lisbon, OH 44432. Registered trap shoots will be held on two Sundays (October 16 and Novem-
CCFGA to Host Indoor Pistol/Rifle Events
WVTA Convention Set
GLENVILLE, WV — The West Virginia Trappers Association will hold its 48th Annual Convention on September 16-17, 2016 at the Gilmer County Recreation Center in Glenville, WV. Demos will be held both days. Vendors will be selling trapping supplies both days. A fundraising auction will be held on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and there will be events for kids and women. The public is welcome and admission is free. Registration for a free Trapper’s Education Class is set for 8:30 a.m. Saturday. For more information call Scott at 304-462-7270, Janet at 304-477-3181 or log onto www.wvtrappers.com.
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OSTA to Host Advanced Trapper’s Workshops
RADNER, OH — The Ohio State Trappers Association will host several Advanced Trapper’s Workshops in October (29-30) at different state wildlife areas. In the Ohio Valley region the following workshops are available: • Highlandtown Wildlife Area - 16760 Spring Valley Rd, Salineville, OH 43945 off SR 39 4mi east of Salineville in Columbiana Co. Contact: Vern Snyder at 330-223-1683 • Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area - 8303 N Park Ave, N Bloomfield, OH 44450 SR 87 15mi North of Warren in Trumbull Co. Contact: Randy Deiter 330-978-4278 • Salt Fork Wildlife Area - 61656 Salt Fork Wildlife Area Hdq. Rd Lore City, OH 43755 off of I-77 9mi Northeast of Cambridge, OH in Guernsey Co. Contact: Keith Jones 740-472-5459 • Berlin Lake Wildlife Area - 1806 Bonner Rd Deerfield, OH 44411 The workshop is located at Fewtown Rd Building. Contact: Jim Duckworth 330206-7161 or 330-654-2392 Do not contact the ODNR Division of Wildlife or the workshop areas. Find additional locations visit the OSTA website: www.ohiostatetrapper.org. For other trapping information related to Ohio contact OSTA president Keith Daniels at 419-365-5321 or email: arlcape@frontier.com. The OSTA business office phone number is: 330-465-8762.
NE Ohio Sportsman Show to Move in 2017
MILLERSBURG, OH — Jody Witzky of JW Promotions, of Howard, OH, has announced that the 2017 Northeast Ohio Sportsman Show will be held at the new Mount Hope Event Center in Millersburg, OH on January 19-21, 2017. The show had previously had a long-standing run at the Buckeye Event Center in Dalton, OH. It was announced after last year’s event that a new location would be needed in 2017. “We are excited about this move and look forward to many years to come in this brand new facility!,” said Witzky. The Mount Hope Event Center is located at 8076 state Route 241 in Millersburg. Witzky said the show hours will be: Thursday 2-9 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To inquire about vendor space or for additional information contact Witzky at 740-397-7788 or email him at jodywitzky@earthlink.net. The event website is: ohiosportmanshow.com.