State to host important, concurrent public Deer Management Summits January 24

A sometimes-said phrase states that the other people who should have a right to complain about politicians are those individuals who vote.

And though the courts would no doubt disagree with such a Free Speech Amendment interference such a restriction does contain a gram or even an ounce of making sense.

The same is true for sportsmen who complain the Ohio Department of Natural Resources/Division of Wildlife should A) Stock more this or that fish, B) Provide more fishing holes and hunting areas, and C) Increase the number of deer in the state, especially does.

On A and B the Wildlife Division has not set aside part of a day for sportsmen to grouse, voice their opinion and make suggestions as to how the agency should go about  (properly, of course) doing things.

That's not true for Item C. The Wildlife Division is setting aside four hours on Saturday, January 24 for deer hunters to listen, learn - and educate - the Wildlife Division as it expresses its current deer management goals and strategies. As well as what may be in store, too.

So here's the Wildlife Division's press release on the public forums, one held in each of the agency's five districts.

So if you don't attend and you don't bend your ear or chip in your two cents then you have no right to grouse when the state presents its 2015-2016 deer-hunting regulations and looks to infinity and beyond as it relates to Ohio's deer management program, goals and mission.

Your First Amendment Right to speak up whenever even if you're too lazy/too busy/too forgetful/too whatever to attend a meeting, not-withstanding, of course.

COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio hunters and others interested in the state’s white-tailed deer management programs have the opportunity to provide feedback about hunting regulations and season structures on Saturday, Jan. 24, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

The first part of each summit will offer updates from ODNR Division of Wildlife staff, including Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) surveillance efforts and results, long-term trends in deer herd condition, and the transition from counties to deer management units (DMUs). The second portion of each summit will give attendees the opportunity to provide comment regarding deer hunting in Ohio.

Hunters who wish to attend the summit should preregister by Friday, Jan. 23, as seating is limited. Summits will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following locations:

- Columbus: Wildlife District One Headquarters, 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus, 43215. Call 614-644-3925 to preregister.

- Findlay: Wildlife District Two Headquarters, 952 Lima Ave., Findlay, 45480. Call 419-424-5000 to preregister.

- Akron: Wildlife District Three Headquarters, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, 44319. Call 330-644-2293 to preregister.

- Athens: Wildlife District Four Headquarters, 360 East State Street, Athens, 45701. Call 740-589-9930 to preregister.

- Waynesville: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Caesar Creek Lake Learning Center, 4020 N. Clarksville Road, Waynesville, 45068. Call 937-372-9261 to preregister.

More information about deer hunting in Ohio is available 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. 

Jeff is the retired News-Herald reporter who  covered the earth sciences, the area's three county park systems and the outdoors for the newspaper. During his 30 years with The News-Herald Jeff was the recipient of more than 100 state, regional and national journalism awards. He also is a columnist and features writer for the Ohio Outdoor News, which is published every other week and details the outdoors happenings in the state.