The U.S. Postal Service salutes five kings of the sky with the Birds of Prey stamps: the northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), osprey (Pandion haliaetus), and northern harrier (Circus cyaneus).
These powerful birds are depicted in colorful portraits and shown from the neck up.
The artwork appears against a plain, white background.
Customers may preview the stamps on Facebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps, through Twitter @USPSstamps or on the website Beyond the Perf at beyondtheperf.com/2012-preview. Beyond the Perf is the Postal Service’s online site for the back story on upcoming stamp subjects, first-day-of-issue events and other philatelic news.
Illustrator Robert Giusti worked with art director Howard E. Paine on this issuance. Giusti painted the original designs in acrylic on canvas board.
The Birds of Prey stamps are being issued at the three-ounce rate. The stamps will be issued Jan. 20, 2012, in Washington, DC.
Visit this link to see the stamp images:
http://www.beyondtheperf.com/2012-preview/#stamp-birds-of-prey
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twiter: @Fieldkorn
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Steelheaders Ball back on track to wipe away mid-winter blues
Citizens for Lake Metroparks has revived a way to help anglers and others beat the mid-winter blahs.
After missing a year the somewhat “annual” Steelheaders Ball is back on the agenda. This year this popular event is scheduled for 6:30-10:30 p.m., Feb. 17 at Lake Metroparks’ Pine Ridge Country Club in Wickliffe.
Agreeing is Steve Madewell, Lake Metroparks’ executive director.
Profit from the fund-raiser will go toward helping the Citizens’ group fund levy efforts for the agency.
As always the fund-raising event will feature raffles, auctions, live music, an open bar, multiple food stations, and good company, says Vince Granito, long-time treasure for the Citizens group.
Both Granito and Madewell point out that the agency has done much to buy access to both the Grand and Chagrin rivers that has helped steelheaders find a place to cast a spawn sack or flick a fly at a trout.
The cost is $45 for individuals, $90 for couples, and $450 for groups. The deadline for ticket purchases is Feb. 8.
Also, the group is looking for raffle and auction items and other support.
For further information, call 440-954-4295, leave a message and your call will be returned.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
After missing a year the somewhat “annual” Steelheaders Ball is back on the agenda. This year this popular event is scheduled for 6:30-10:30 p.m., Feb. 17 at Lake Metroparks’ Pine Ridge Country Club in Wickliffe.
Agreeing is Steve Madewell, Lake Metroparks’ executive director.
Profit from the fund-raiser will go toward helping the Citizens’ group fund levy efforts for the agency.
As always the fund-raising event will feature raffles, auctions, live music, an open bar, multiple food stations, and good company, says Vince Granito, long-time treasure for the Citizens group.
Both Granito and Madewell point out that the agency has done much to buy access to both the Grand and Chagrin rivers that has helped steelheaders find a place to cast a spawn sack or flick a fly at a trout.
The cost is $45 for individuals, $90 for couples, and $450 for groups. The deadline for ticket purchases is Feb. 8.
Also, the group is looking for raffle and auction items and other support.
For further information, call 440-954-4295, leave a message and your call will be returned.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Kasich bails out Wildlife Division on deer season date mistake
A calendar goof made by the Ohio Division of Wildlife required special action today by Gov. John Kasich.
Kasich was asked by the Wildlife Division to sign an executive order allowing the agency to set January 7 through 10 as the time frame for the statewide muzzle-loading deer-hunting season.
The governor quickly agreed, allowing the up-coming season to take place as initially called for by the agency.
And while those dates were picked many months ago - and even appear in the Wildlife Division’s hunting regulations guide that is given with each sold hunting license - they actually violate state policy.
Ohio’s Administrative Code says that muzzle-loading deer-hunting season is to enfold the second weekend in January, not the first weekend as is the case with this season.
Last year’s season was the second weekend, by the way.
“Rules change so much and periodically you have to look to ensure that they don’t complicate matters even further,” said Wildlife Division official Vicki Mountz. “It happens periodically and every now and then you see a boo-boo like this.”
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twiter: @Fieldkorn
Kasich was asked by the Wildlife Division to sign an executive order allowing the agency to set January 7 through 10 as the time frame for the statewide muzzle-loading deer-hunting season.
The governor quickly agreed, allowing the up-coming season to take place as initially called for by the agency.
And while those dates were picked many months ago - and even appear in the Wildlife Division’s hunting regulations guide that is given with each sold hunting license - they actually violate state policy.
Ohio’s Administrative Code says that muzzle-loading deer-hunting season is to enfold the second weekend in January, not the first weekend as is the case with this season.
Last year’s season was the second weekend, by the way.
“Rules change so much and periodically you have to look to ensure that they don’t complicate matters even further,” said Wildlife Division official Vicki Mountz. “It happens periodically and every now and then you see a boo-boo like this.”
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twiter: @Fieldkorn
Monday, December 19, 2011
UPDATED: State pleased with on-going reduced deer kill
Ohio’s two-day “bonus” firearms deer hunting season missed the bull’s-eye as much as did the general seven-day gun season and also the first six weeks of the state’s archery season.
The two-day hunt that ran Saturday and Sunday saw a kill that dropped 19 percent from that of 2010.
On Saturday and Sunday, Ohio’s firearms deer hunters killed 16,766 animals. That compares to the 20,916 deer killed during the 2010 two-day season; a drop that is pleasing the state's deer managers.
“Well, the take is that we may have fewer deer - and that’s reason to celebrate because that’s what we’ve been trying to achieve that goal since 2007,” said Mike Tonkovich, the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s deer management administrator. “That was the entire intent of the antlerless-only permit.”
Some of the state’s most fabled deer-hunting counties experienced declines, some by substantial percentages. Ashtabula County recorded a two-day kill of 387 deer this year compared to the 579 animals for the 2010 two-day season. That is a significant 33 percent drop.
Other noteworthy examples: Guernsey County - off 28 percent with 446 deer shot compared to 620 animals in 2010; Harrison County - off 31 percent with 477 deer killed compared to 693 deer shot in 2010; Coshocton - off 36 percent with 593 deer killed on Saturday and Sunday but compared to the 931 animals taken during the 2010 two-day bonus season; Tuscarawas County - down 26 percent, reflected by a kill for this year’s two-day season of 541 deer compared to 740 deer shot during 2010’s two-day bonus hunt.
Tonkovich says also that now that the state’s deer herd continues to show declines some areas may need to see reductions in the liberal hunting regulations.
“If in fact this is an indication that the herd is being reduced then we’ll take a look at adjusting the seasons,” Tonkovich says. "In fact, I’ve all ready begun to start to look at this.”
Likely to be examined closely are Madison, Washington, Vinton, and Lawrence counties. Not on the list, however, are the big deer kill counties like Guernsey, Harrison and Coshocton.
“They aren’t on the list but there’s nothing to say they won’t be looked at,” Tonkovich says. “I don’t want to say that we’re going to see a major overhaul of the deer hunting regulations.”
Tonkovich says as well that the news is good for the deer herd since it has begun to degrade the habitat as well as started to produce bucks with small antler mass.
"We need to restore the balance," he said. "Folks need to understand that is where the rubber meets the road."
A close inspection will be made of the bow-hunter observation survey, which is actually intended more for recording fur-bearers but does double-duty with deer, Tonkovich says.
Nearly 4,000 archers participate and their results provide valuable information on regional trend data, Tonkovich says as well.
Locally, only Geauga County posted a gain: 160 deer this year for the two-day season and compared to the 133 animals shot in 2010 for a 20-percent gain.
Lake County was down 19 percent; 46 deer this year compared to 57 deer last year.
Cuyahoga County doesn’t chip in much. This year’s two-day season saw just two deer killed in Cuyahoga County compared to three deer last year.
In Trumbull County, a 26 percent drop was seen, from 329 animals shot during the 2010 two-day hunt to 242 deer for this year’s two-day bonus season.
Down as well was Lorain County - off 32 percent - with 173 animals shot this year and 255 deer shot last year; Erie County - off 62 percent with just 31 deer killed on Saturday and Sunday compared to the 82 deer shot during last year’s two-day season; Medina County - off 22 percent with 157 deer shot over this past weekend and compared to the 203 deer killed there last two-day season; Sandusky County - off 26 percent with 60 deer shot this year and 82 deer taken last year.
The two-day hunt decline follows on the heels of the general seven-day firearms season drop of 14 percent: 90,282 animals this year and 105,034 deer for the 2010 seven-day gun season.
Likewise, the general season and the two-day bonus season declines are further enhanced by the drop in the deer kill encountered during the first six weeks of Ohio’s archery deer-hunting season. That statistic was represented by the 45,836 animals taken during the first six-week period this year compared to the 51,543 deer taken during 2010’s first six weeks of the archery season.
Only Ohio’s two-day early youth-only hunt has thus far posted a gain. This two-season saw youths shoot 8,681 deer compared to the 8,445 deer taken during
2010’s two-day youth-only hunt.
Here are the county-by-county harvests for Ohio’s two-day bonus hunt with their respective 2010 figures in parentheses:
Adams - 323 (302); Allen – 122 (104); Ashland – 252 (367); Ashtabula – 387 (579); Athens – 332 (352); Auglaize – 82 (57); Belmont – 416 (529); Brown – 261 (319); Butler – 102 (96); Carroll – 442 (585); Champaign – 128 (147); Clark – 76 (77); Clermont – 226 (300); Clinton – 84 (110); Columbiana – 324 (429); Coshocton – 593 (931); Crawford – 91 (99); Cuyahoga – 2 (3); Darke – 71 (81); Defiance – 174 (182); Delaware – 143 (162); Erie – 31 (82); Fairfield – 180 (318); Fayette – 23 (29); Franklin – 47 (55); Fulton – 85 (98); Gallia – 233 (304); Geauga - 160 (133); Greene – 74 (73); Guernsey – 446 (620); Hamilton – 91 (85); Hancock – 147 (102); Hardin – 103 (116); Harrison – 477 (693); Henry – 95(70); Highland – 267 (300); Hocking – 281 (332); Holmes – 303 (466); Huron – 198 (256); Jackson – 215 (208); Jefferson – 369 (427); Knox – 373 (543); Lake – 46 (57); Lawrence – 205 (235); Licking – 483 (615); Logan – 200 (188); Lorain – 173 (255); Lucas – 30 (36); Madison – 50 (62); Mahoning – 181 (176); Marion – 80 (107); Medina – 157 (203); Meigs – 269 (358); Mercer – 57 (51); Miami – 70 (59); Monroe – 281 (367); Montgomery – 18 (23); Morgan – 242 (317); Morrow – 130 (201); Muskingum – 499 (596); Noble – 272 (430); Ottawa – 33 (51); Paulding – 124 (140); Perry – 228 (372); Pickaway – 93 (105); Pike – 161 (179); Portage – 167 (162); Preble – 72 (88); Putnam – 77 (66); Richland – 290 (403); Ross – 265 (344); Sandusky – 60 (82); Scioto – 224 (256); Seneca – 159 (200); Shelby – 97 (97); Stark – 175 (212); Summit – 44 (40); Trumbull – 242 (329); Tuscarawas – 541 (740); Union – 73 (86); Van Wert – 86 (85); Vinton – 231 (219); Warren – 110 (137); Washington – 330 (439); Wayne – 184 (204); Williams – 197 (184); Wood – 76 (71); Wyandot – 160 (163); Total – 16,766 (20,916).
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
The two-day hunt that ran Saturday and Sunday saw a kill that dropped 19 percent from that of 2010.
On Saturday and Sunday, Ohio’s firearms deer hunters killed 16,766 animals. That compares to the 20,916 deer killed during the 2010 two-day season; a drop that is pleasing the state's deer managers.
“Well, the take is that we may have fewer deer - and that’s reason to celebrate because that’s what we’ve been trying to achieve that goal since 2007,” said Mike Tonkovich, the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s deer management administrator. “That was the entire intent of the antlerless-only permit.”
Some of the state’s most fabled deer-hunting counties experienced declines, some by substantial percentages. Ashtabula County recorded a two-day kill of 387 deer this year compared to the 579 animals for the 2010 two-day season. That is a significant 33 percent drop.
Other noteworthy examples: Guernsey County - off 28 percent with 446 deer shot compared to 620 animals in 2010; Harrison County - off 31 percent with 477 deer killed compared to 693 deer shot in 2010; Coshocton - off 36 percent with 593 deer killed on Saturday and Sunday but compared to the 931 animals taken during the 2010 two-day bonus season; Tuscarawas County - down 26 percent, reflected by a kill for this year’s two-day season of 541 deer compared to 740 deer shot during 2010’s two-day bonus hunt.
Tonkovich says also that now that the state’s deer herd continues to show declines some areas may need to see reductions in the liberal hunting regulations.
“If in fact this is an indication that the herd is being reduced then we’ll take a look at adjusting the seasons,” Tonkovich says. "In fact, I’ve all ready begun to start to look at this.”
Likely to be examined closely are Madison, Washington, Vinton, and Lawrence counties. Not on the list, however, are the big deer kill counties like Guernsey, Harrison and Coshocton.
“They aren’t on the list but there’s nothing to say they won’t be looked at,” Tonkovich says. “I don’t want to say that we’re going to see a major overhaul of the deer hunting regulations.”
Tonkovich says as well that the news is good for the deer herd since it has begun to degrade the habitat as well as started to produce bucks with small antler mass.
"We need to restore the balance," he said. "Folks need to understand that is where the rubber meets the road."
A close inspection will be made of the bow-hunter observation survey, which is actually intended more for recording fur-bearers but does double-duty with deer, Tonkovich says.
Nearly 4,000 archers participate and their results provide valuable information on regional trend data, Tonkovich says as well.
Locally, only Geauga County posted a gain: 160 deer this year for the two-day season and compared to the 133 animals shot in 2010 for a 20-percent gain.
Lake County was down 19 percent; 46 deer this year compared to 57 deer last year.
Cuyahoga County doesn’t chip in much. This year’s two-day season saw just two deer killed in Cuyahoga County compared to three deer last year.
In Trumbull County, a 26 percent drop was seen, from 329 animals shot during the 2010 two-day hunt to 242 deer for this year’s two-day bonus season.
Down as well was Lorain County - off 32 percent - with 173 animals shot this year and 255 deer shot last year; Erie County - off 62 percent with just 31 deer killed on Saturday and Sunday compared to the 82 deer shot during last year’s two-day season; Medina County - off 22 percent with 157 deer shot over this past weekend and compared to the 203 deer killed there last two-day season; Sandusky County - off 26 percent with 60 deer shot this year and 82 deer taken last year.
The two-day hunt decline follows on the heels of the general seven-day firearms season drop of 14 percent: 90,282 animals this year and 105,034 deer for the 2010 seven-day gun season.
Likewise, the general season and the two-day bonus season declines are further enhanced by the drop in the deer kill encountered during the first six weeks of Ohio’s archery deer-hunting season. That statistic was represented by the 45,836 animals taken during the first six-week period this year compared to the 51,543 deer taken during 2010’s first six weeks of the archery season.
Only Ohio’s two-day early youth-only hunt has thus far posted a gain. This two-season saw youths shoot 8,681 deer compared to the 8,445 deer taken during
2010’s two-day youth-only hunt.
Here are the county-by-county harvests for Ohio’s two-day bonus hunt with their respective 2010 figures in parentheses:
Adams - 323 (302); Allen – 122 (104); Ashland – 252 (367); Ashtabula – 387 (579); Athens – 332 (352); Auglaize – 82 (57); Belmont – 416 (529); Brown – 261 (319); Butler – 102 (96); Carroll – 442 (585); Champaign – 128 (147); Clark – 76 (77); Clermont – 226 (300); Clinton – 84 (110); Columbiana – 324 (429); Coshocton – 593 (931); Crawford – 91 (99); Cuyahoga – 2 (3); Darke – 71 (81); Defiance – 174 (182); Delaware – 143 (162); Erie – 31 (82); Fairfield – 180 (318); Fayette – 23 (29); Franklin – 47 (55); Fulton – 85 (98); Gallia – 233 (304); Geauga - 160 (133); Greene – 74 (73); Guernsey – 446 (620); Hamilton – 91 (85); Hancock – 147 (102); Hardin – 103 (116); Harrison – 477 (693); Henry – 95(70); Highland – 267 (300); Hocking – 281 (332); Holmes – 303 (466); Huron – 198 (256); Jackson – 215 (208); Jefferson – 369 (427); Knox – 373 (543); Lake – 46 (57); Lawrence – 205 (235); Licking – 483 (615); Logan – 200 (188); Lorain – 173 (255); Lucas – 30 (36); Madison – 50 (62); Mahoning – 181 (176); Marion – 80 (107); Medina – 157 (203); Meigs – 269 (358); Mercer – 57 (51); Miami – 70 (59); Monroe – 281 (367); Montgomery – 18 (23); Morgan – 242 (317); Morrow – 130 (201); Muskingum – 499 (596); Noble – 272 (430); Ottawa – 33 (51); Paulding – 124 (140); Perry – 228 (372); Pickaway – 93 (105); Pike – 161 (179); Portage – 167 (162); Preble – 72 (88); Putnam – 77 (66); Richland – 290 (403); Ross – 265 (344); Sandusky – 60 (82); Scioto – 224 (256); Seneca – 159 (200); Shelby – 97 (97); Stark – 175 (212); Summit – 44 (40); Trumbull – 242 (329); Tuscarawas – 541 (740); Union – 73 (86); Van Wert – 86 (85); Vinton – 231 (219); Warren – 110 (137); Washington – 330 (439); Wayne – 184 (204); Williams – 197 (184); Wood – 76 (71); Wyandot – 160 (163); Total – 16,766 (20,916).
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Keeping it short for Christmas wish list
When a sportsman turns the corner on 60 the person begins to take a serious inventory of the accumulated goodies in his life.
And it’s not uncommon to discover that your collection includes a lot of items that you originally thought were must-haves but now upon further reflection seem more of an unnecessary luxury than a necessity.
Still, I can’t help but ask for things either impractical economically or really not needed.
A request for a four-wheel-drive ATV heads the like-to-have-but-totally-impractical column. I hope to retire in five years and I don’t want another monthly installment loan payment.
Likewise I would dearly love to have one of the new Turkish-made Stoeger Arms semi-automatic shotguns. But we’re talking about $450 here and thus that also is a good fit for impractical column.
Yet I accumulated several items this past year that had I not already owned them would still have made good Christmas gifts.
Among them are rechargeable battery-powered electric socks and gloves made under the Gerbing’s Core Heat Transfer System banner.
Used extensively last winter and just now being employed as the weather cools, both the gloves and - especially - the socks are godsends.
They really do work. Gerbing’s gloves and socks have become “must” items whenever I take to my ground blind for a late season archery deer hunt or a chilly morning of ice fishing.
They are truly remarkable instruments. See http://coreheat.net/How%20it%20Works.html.
Fellow News-Herald reporter John Kampf put me on to the next item. He swears by the Rage series of mechanical broadheads for archery deer hunting. These tools, John says, drive a wicked entry wound as well as a massive exit wound.
So convincing was John’s arguments that I went out and bought the 100-grain, three-blade model. Sure enough, John was correct about how humanely these broadheads are in delivering a fatal blow to a deer.
I used one to take an adult doe deer the Monday before Thanksgiving. Rage’s product was coupled with a new style of arrow by Horton Archery that features a shorter and wider vane than previous models as well as an illuminated nock. It was cool to see the arrow’s flight but the effectiveness of the Rage broadhead was even more impressive. http://www.ragebroadheads.com/
Thirdly, I picked up both a Thermacell “appliance” and a Thermacell Lantern.
Each tool is designed to repel nasty, biting insects. Powered by replaceable butane cartridges, both the appliance and the lantern employ a replaceable so-called “mat” that is saturated with a repellent called “allethrin,” which the company says is a copy of a repellent that naturally occurs in chrysanthemum flowers.
It repels up to 98 percent of mosquitoes, black flies, and no-see-ums within a 225-square foot area. The repellent will not harm humans or pets, Thermacell says also.
And yes, the devices work - and work amazingly well. The appliance, for example, was extensively used during the early part of the archery deer-hunting season.
Since I hunt from a ground blind I brought in the appliance and watched as mosquitoes literally flew out of the blind.
As for the lantern that can be used for when want to enjoy a quiet evening in your back yard. Say good-by to all of those irksome disease-carrying Mentor Marsh mosquitoes.
These devices are inexpensive but they are worth millions if you want to avoid slapping mosquitoes for a living.
See http://www.thermacell.com/.
Now I know three products don’t make for much of a wish list but like I said, I’ve reached a point in life when I’m starting to forget all of the things I thought I needed only to see them collect dust. None of these three suggestions fit that category.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
And it’s not uncommon to discover that your collection includes a lot of items that you originally thought were must-haves but now upon further reflection seem more of an unnecessary luxury than a necessity.
Still, I can’t help but ask for things either impractical economically or really not needed.
A request for a four-wheel-drive ATV heads the like-to-have-but-totally-impractical column. I hope to retire in five years and I don’t want another monthly installment loan payment.
Likewise I would dearly love to have one of the new Turkish-made Stoeger Arms semi-automatic shotguns. But we’re talking about $450 here and thus that also is a good fit for impractical column.
Yet I accumulated several items this past year that had I not already owned them would still have made good Christmas gifts.
Among them are rechargeable battery-powered electric socks and gloves made under the Gerbing’s Core Heat Transfer System banner.
Used extensively last winter and just now being employed as the weather cools, both the gloves and - especially - the socks are godsends.
They really do work. Gerbing’s gloves and socks have become “must” items whenever I take to my ground blind for a late season archery deer hunt or a chilly morning of ice fishing.
They are truly remarkable instruments. See http://coreheat.net/How%20it%20Works.html.
Fellow News-Herald reporter John Kampf put me on to the next item. He swears by the Rage series of mechanical broadheads for archery deer hunting. These tools, John says, drive a wicked entry wound as well as a massive exit wound.
So convincing was John’s arguments that I went out and bought the 100-grain, three-blade model. Sure enough, John was correct about how humanely these broadheads are in delivering a fatal blow to a deer.
I used one to take an adult doe deer the Monday before Thanksgiving. Rage’s product was coupled with a new style of arrow by Horton Archery that features a shorter and wider vane than previous models as well as an illuminated nock. It was cool to see the arrow’s flight but the effectiveness of the Rage broadhead was even more impressive. http://www.ragebroadheads.com/
Thirdly, I picked up both a Thermacell “appliance” and a Thermacell Lantern.
Each tool is designed to repel nasty, biting insects. Powered by replaceable butane cartridges, both the appliance and the lantern employ a replaceable so-called “mat” that is saturated with a repellent called “allethrin,” which the company says is a copy of a repellent that naturally occurs in chrysanthemum flowers.
It repels up to 98 percent of mosquitoes, black flies, and no-see-ums within a 225-square foot area. The repellent will not harm humans or pets, Thermacell says also.
And yes, the devices work - and work amazingly well. The appliance, for example, was extensively used during the early part of the archery deer-hunting season.
Since I hunt from a ground blind I brought in the appliance and watched as mosquitoes literally flew out of the blind.
As for the lantern that can be used for when want to enjoy a quiet evening in your back yard. Say good-by to all of those irksome disease-carrying Mentor Marsh mosquitoes.
These devices are inexpensive but they are worth millions if you want to avoid slapping mosquitoes for a living.
See http://www.thermacell.com/.
Now I know three products don’t make for much of a wish list but like I said, I’ve reached a point in life when I’m starting to forget all of the things I thought I needed only to see them collect dust. None of these three suggestions fit that category.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Thursday, December 15, 2011
UPDATED: Wildlife Division's new employee resident hunt/fish license policy
The Ohio Division of Wildlife has now put in stone what has been implied regarding state wildlife officers assisting non-residents to acquire resident hunting and fishing licenses.
Policy Number 51 - called the “License Purchase Policy” - spells out “guidelines” that Wildlife Division employees are to use in order “to assist in the purchasing of licenses or permits.”
These guidelines come in the form of four prohibitions and as approved Dec. 12 by newly installed Wildlife Division chief, Scott Zody.
“It just reinforces what we’ve said in the past,” said Laura Jones, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The Ohio Division of Wildlife has now put in stone what has been implied regarding state wildlife officers assisting non-residents to acquire resident hunting and fishing licenses.
Policy Number 51 - called the “License Purchase Policy” - spells out “guidelines” that Wildlife Division employees are to use in order “to assist in the purchasing of licenses or permits.”
These guidelines come in the form of four prohibitions and as approved Dec. 12 by newly installed Wildlife Division chief, Scott Zody.
“It just reinforces what we’ve said in the past,” said Laura Jones, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Agreeing is David Lane, a Wildlife Division assistant chief.
“There never was a policy in place specifically within the Wildlife Division but there had been some verbal communications and memos sent out,” Lane said. “That was one of the things in the (Ohio Inspector General’s) report that we should do so we did it. Common sense can go a long ways but if needs to be written out, so be it.”
The prohibitions are:
* Employees are not to advise or assist in the purchase (of) a license contrary to or in violation of the law.
* If an employee is aware of a person acquiring a license in violation of the law, the information is to be documented on a violation report and this report shall be given to the district law enforcement supervisor.
* Non-residents may not use an employee’s address to obtain a license nor may they use the address of any ODNR facility or office.
* Division of Wildlife employees may not purchase a license at a reduced price in other states unless a formal written agreement allowing reciprocal purchases of licenses between Ohio and the other state exists, or the law of the other state clearly allows such a purchase.
This enhanced policy position takes effect January 1, the document reads. It also notes that Ohio law requires that resident license of any kind can only be bought by a resident of the state.
Prompting the new policy directive were a number in incidents in which an out-of-state wildlife officer was assisted by an Ohio Division of Wildlife officer in obtaining a resident fishing or hunting license.
Which in turn has spiraled into a legal case that has unsnarled a number of current and retired Wildlife Division officials.
The prohibitions are:
* Employees are not to advise or assist in the purchase (of) a license contrary to or in violation of the law.
* If an employee is aware of a person acquiring a license in violation of the law, the information is to be documented on a violation report and this report shall be given to the district law enforcement supervisor.
* Non-residents may not use an employee’s address to obtain a license nor may they use the address of any ODNR facility or office.
* Division of Wildlife employees may not purchase a license at a reduced price in other states unless a formal written agreement allowing reciprocal purchases of licenses between Ohio and the other state exists, or the law of the other state clearly allows such a purchase.
This enhanced policy position takes effect January 1, the document reads. It also notes that Ohio law requires that resident license of any kind can only be bought by a resident of the state.
Prompting the new policy directive were a number in incidents in which an out-of-state wildlife officer was assisted by an Ohio Division of Wildlife officer in obtaining a resident fishing or hunting license.
Which in turn has spiraled into a legal case that has ensnared a number of current and retired Wildlife Division officials.
It is expected this story will be updated, likely to include quotes.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Policy Number 51 - called the “License Purchase Policy” - spells out “guidelines” that Wildlife Division employees are to use in order “to assist in the purchasing of licenses or permits.”
These guidelines come in the form of four prohibitions and as approved Dec. 12 by newly installed Wildlife Division chief, Scott Zody.
“It just reinforces what we’ve said in the past,” said Laura Jones, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The Ohio Division of Wildlife has now put in stone what has been implied regarding state wildlife officers assisting non-residents to acquire resident hunting and fishing licenses.
Policy Number 51 - called the “License Purchase Policy” - spells out “guidelines” that Wildlife Division employees are to use in order “to assist in the purchasing of licenses or permits.”
These guidelines come in the form of four prohibitions and as approved Dec. 12 by newly installed Wildlife Division chief, Scott Zody.
“It just reinforces what we’ve said in the past,” said Laura Jones, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Agreeing is David Lane, a Wildlife Division assistant chief.
“There never was a policy in place specifically within the Wildlife Division but there had been some verbal communications and memos sent out,” Lane said. “That was one of the things in the (Ohio Inspector General’s) report that we should do so we did it. Common sense can go a long ways but if needs to be written out, so be it.”
The prohibitions are:
* Employees are not to advise or assist in the purchase (of) a license contrary to or in violation of the law.
* If an employee is aware of a person acquiring a license in violation of the law, the information is to be documented on a violation report and this report shall be given to the district law enforcement supervisor.
* Non-residents may not use an employee’s address to obtain a license nor may they use the address of any ODNR facility or office.
* Division of Wildlife employees may not purchase a license at a reduced price in other states unless a formal written agreement allowing reciprocal purchases of licenses between Ohio and the other state exists, or the law of the other state clearly allows such a purchase.
This enhanced policy position takes effect January 1, the document reads. It also notes that Ohio law requires that resident license of any kind can only be bought by a resident of the state.
Prompting the new policy directive were a number in incidents in which an out-of-state wildlife officer was assisted by an Ohio Division of Wildlife officer in obtaining a resident fishing or hunting license.
Which in turn has spiraled into a legal case that has unsnarled a number of current and retired Wildlife Division officials.
The prohibitions are:
* Employees are not to advise or assist in the purchase (of) a license contrary to or in violation of the law.
* If an employee is aware of a person acquiring a license in violation of the law, the information is to be documented on a violation report and this report shall be given to the district law enforcement supervisor.
* Non-residents may not use an employee’s address to obtain a license nor may they use the address of any ODNR facility or office.
* Division of Wildlife employees may not purchase a license at a reduced price in other states unless a formal written agreement allowing reciprocal purchases of licenses between Ohio and the other state exists, or the law of the other state clearly allows such a purchase.
This enhanced policy position takes effect January 1, the document reads. It also notes that Ohio law requires that resident license of any kind can only be bought by a resident of the state.
Prompting the new policy directive were a number in incidents in which an out-of-state wildlife officer was assisted by an Ohio Division of Wildlife officer in obtaining a resident fishing or hunting license.
Which in turn has spiraled into a legal case that has ensnared a number of current and retired Wildlife Division officials.
It is expected this story will be updated, likely to include quotes.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Christmas Bird Count begins this weekend
Come Saturday Mary Huey of Willoughby will marshal a covey of like-minded birders for an annual bird-tallying event that stretches back more than a century.
The Burrough’s Nature Club participants will be engaged in the National Audubon Society’s 111th annual Christmas Bird Count. They have set aside for themselves a swath of western Lake County.
Meanwhile, other groups - such as the Blackbrook Audubon Society - will view and record bird sightings at different locations in Lake County and also on Sunday.
The entire program is sponsored by the National Audubon Society and is held nationwide from Dec. 14 to Jan. 5 each year.
Every participant is assigned a certain territory and designated to locate places to key in on as well as record findings and sightings.
Huey’s job is to coordinate activities with the group assembling at Lake Metroparks’ Gully Brook Park on the Willoughby-Willoughby Hills line.
“This is the first year we’ve surveyed that area in some time so I’m not sure what we’ll find,” said Huey, who has participated in the count since the early 1960s.
Previous outings have spied many common wintering birds such as tufted titmice, cardinals and bluejays.
“We hope to see some owls and kingfishers, and we would really like to have an eagle fly over us,” Huey said.
Huey says the groups tend to average small in size; numbering maybe a dozen or so participants.
“After about an hour we break off into smaller groups of two or three people,” Huey said. “If you do see something unusual it’s good to have someone else around to verify the sighting.”
Some of Huey’s more noteworthy sightings included identifying a cowbird - normally long gone by winter - as well as a mockingbird, which likewise had no business hanging around Northeast Ohio during the Christmas season.
“And I remember once seeing some snow buntings around the old Willoughby landfill,” Huey said. “That was pretty exciting. And we’re still seeing some migration, especially with ducks and geese.”
Among the count’s frequent participants and excellent birders is John Pogacnik, John, Lake Metroparks’ biologist.
“I do but not around here,” Pogacnik said. “I participate in the Lake Erie Island area count, which I organized about 25 years ago.”
Pogacnik said that because of the warming influence of Lake Erie the weather tends to be more mild and thus often allows seeing species less commonly encountered in Northeast Ohio such as the hermit thrush as well as bald eagles.
“You get some really neat stuff, which is one of the reason I put it together,” Pogacnik said.
High on Pogachik’s count list are buffleheads, a type of diving duck. Where once a count of around 100 birds was tallied now the total is up to 2,000 or more birds, he said.
“I think that’s because of the proliferation of the zebra mussel which the bufflehead like to eat,” Pogacnik said,
However, one bird species Pogacnik said he rarely sees around the islands is the common tufted titmouse, which doesn’t like to cross large expenses of open water.
“And we very seldom see pigeons anymore, either,” Pogacnik said. “Whether they like
the big city habitat or what I just don’t know.”
Asked to note the difference between the Christmas bird count and February’s Great Backyard Bird Count, Huey said the former has a much richer history and is more technical in its execution.
“The Christmas count has been going on a lot longer and also does more field counting of birds and less bird feeder counting; which we do too but not as much,”
Huey said who noted that by noon most every counter is tuckered out and ready to gather to mull over the findings.
“We usually have the tally done by then so we can stop and eat lunch somewhere in downtown Willoughby,” Huey said.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter:@Fieldkorn
The Burrough’s Nature Club participants will be engaged in the National Audubon Society’s 111th annual Christmas Bird Count. They have set aside for themselves a swath of western Lake County.
Meanwhile, other groups - such as the Blackbrook Audubon Society - will view and record bird sightings at different locations in Lake County and also on Sunday.
The entire program is sponsored by the National Audubon Society and is held nationwide from Dec. 14 to Jan. 5 each year.
Every participant is assigned a certain territory and designated to locate places to key in on as well as record findings and sightings.
Huey’s job is to coordinate activities with the group assembling at Lake Metroparks’ Gully Brook Park on the Willoughby-Willoughby Hills line.
“This is the first year we’ve surveyed that area in some time so I’m not sure what we’ll find,” said Huey, who has participated in the count since the early 1960s.
Previous outings have spied many common wintering birds such as tufted titmice, cardinals and bluejays.
“We hope to see some owls and kingfishers, and we would really like to have an eagle fly over us,” Huey said.
Huey says the groups tend to average small in size; numbering maybe a dozen or so participants.
“After about an hour we break off into smaller groups of two or three people,” Huey said. “If you do see something unusual it’s good to have someone else around to verify the sighting.”
Some of Huey’s more noteworthy sightings included identifying a cowbird - normally long gone by winter - as well as a mockingbird, which likewise had no business hanging around Northeast Ohio during the Christmas season.
“And I remember once seeing some snow buntings around the old Willoughby landfill,” Huey said. “That was pretty exciting. And we’re still seeing some migration, especially with ducks and geese.”
Among the count’s frequent participants and excellent birders is John Pogacnik, John, Lake Metroparks’ biologist.
“I do but not around here,” Pogacnik said. “I participate in the Lake Erie Island area count, which I organized about 25 years ago.”
Pogacnik said that because of the warming influence of Lake Erie the weather tends to be more mild and thus often allows seeing species less commonly encountered in Northeast Ohio such as the hermit thrush as well as bald eagles.
“You get some really neat stuff, which is one of the reason I put it together,” Pogacnik said.
High on Pogachik’s count list are buffleheads, a type of diving duck. Where once a count of around 100 birds was tallied now the total is up to 2,000 or more birds, he said.
“I think that’s because of the proliferation of the zebra mussel which the bufflehead like to eat,” Pogacnik said,
However, one bird species Pogacnik said he rarely sees around the islands is the common tufted titmouse, which doesn’t like to cross large expenses of open water.
“And we very seldom see pigeons anymore, either,” Pogacnik said. “Whether they like
the big city habitat or what I just don’t know.”
Asked to note the difference between the Christmas bird count and February’s Great Backyard Bird Count, Huey said the former has a much richer history and is more technical in its execution.
“The Christmas count has been going on a lot longer and also does more field counting of birds and less bird feeder counting; which we do too but not as much,”
Huey said who noted that by noon most every counter is tuckered out and ready to gather to mull over the findings.
“We usually have the tally done by then so we can stop and eat lunch somewhere in downtown Willoughby,” Huey said.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter:@Fieldkorn
Monday, December 12, 2011
State blames sea lampreys for steelhead losses
While Northeast Ohio steelhead anglers are grumbling about a seemingly lack of trout the Ohio Division of Wildlife maintains that the stocking rate remains at goal levels.
However, once the stocked fish are released and enter Lake Erie they are facing a life-threatening gauntlet by the flesh-eating, invasive sea lamprey.
In terms of stocking trout, though, only this past spring was the Wildlife Division unable to reach its targeted goal of 400,000 fish. These fish are released into the Huron, Rocky, Chagrin and Grand rivers along with Conneaut Creek.
“So the only thing that anglers might not be see are more ‘skippers,’” said Kevin
Kayle, manager of the Wildlife Division’s Fairport Harbor Fisheries Research Station and also the agency’s steelhead program administrator.
In fact, Kayle says, the agency stocked 433,000 trout in 2010, 458,000 steelhead in 2009, and 465,000 fish in 2008.
Of chief concern for trout mortality, says Kayle, is the high population of adult sea lampreys that call Lake Erie home.
This invasive fish species prefers such soft-rayed fish as trout. A lamprey has a round mouth with a series of curved teeth that are used to attach the pest to the side of a fish. The lamprey then feasts on its host’s flesh.
“We have been seeing a higher incidence of lamprey-wounding rates on both our steelhead and also lake trout,” “Before anyone goes and starts trashing our Little Manistee-strain of steelhead this is really a regional issue, too Our counterparts in Pennsylvania and New York are seeing the same thing.”
Asked if there are any answers or solutions to the problem, Kayle said that intensive sea lamprey control is a must.
“We just can’t let up and continue to be diligent,” Kayle said.
In this regards Kayle said he’s unsure about possible 2012 treatments since that work is performed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“And we’ll be meeting with them later this winter,” he said.
Kayle said also that Canadian commercial fishermen can’t sell what steelhead they do catch and thus have to go out of their way to avoid this species.
Other contributors to the generally lack of stellar steelhead fishing this year has been - and continues to be - the weather.
“Certainly this year’s poor weather conditions factored into the equation,” Kayle said. “It was just miserable last spring.”
The massive appearance of green algae blooms in Lake Erie may “have some influence on distribution of the steelhead” but likely did not contribute to any die-off of fish,” Kayle says.
“We’re continuing to monitor where it pops up in the summer but right now we don’t believe that it has any impact on steelhead morality,” he said.
Kayle did say that the agency’s creel clerks have been seeing a “lot of big fish; steelhead in the 12- to 15-pound class.”
“These fish have probably been swimming around Lake Erie for the past three or four years,” Kayle said.
As for the future of the state’s steelhead stocking and management program, the $5 million to $7 million improvements at the Wildlife Division’s Castalia coldwater hatchery are nearly complete, Kayle says also
“These improvements will allow us to have better quality control over the steelhead that we do raise and will also allow us to raise all of our steelhead eggs instead of relying on Michigan where we once got both eggs and advanced fry,” Kayle said.
“They were of variable size and that complicated matters.”
Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
However, once the stocked fish are released and enter Lake Erie they are facing a life-threatening gauntlet by the flesh-eating, invasive sea lamprey.
In terms of stocking trout, though, only this past spring was the Wildlife Division unable to reach its targeted goal of 400,000 fish. These fish are released into the Huron, Rocky, Chagrin and Grand rivers along with Conneaut Creek.
“So the only thing that anglers might not be see are more ‘skippers,’” said Kevin
Kayle, manager of the Wildlife Division’s Fairport Harbor Fisheries Research Station and also the agency’s steelhead program administrator.
In fact, Kayle says, the agency stocked 433,000 trout in 2010, 458,000 steelhead in 2009, and 465,000 fish in 2008.
Of chief concern for trout mortality, says Kayle, is the high population of adult sea lampreys that call Lake Erie home.
This invasive fish species prefers such soft-rayed fish as trout. A lamprey has a round mouth with a series of curved teeth that are used to attach the pest to the side of a fish. The lamprey then feasts on its host’s flesh.
“We have been seeing a higher incidence of lamprey-wounding rates on both our steelhead and also lake trout,” “Before anyone goes and starts trashing our Little Manistee-strain of steelhead this is really a regional issue, too Our counterparts in Pennsylvania and New York are seeing the same thing.”
Asked if there are any answers or solutions to the problem, Kayle said that intensive sea lamprey control is a must.
“We just can’t let up and continue to be diligent,” Kayle said.
In this regards Kayle said he’s unsure about possible 2012 treatments since that work is performed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“And we’ll be meeting with them later this winter,” he said.
Kayle said also that Canadian commercial fishermen can’t sell what steelhead they do catch and thus have to go out of their way to avoid this species.
Other contributors to the generally lack of stellar steelhead fishing this year has been - and continues to be - the weather.
“Certainly this year’s poor weather conditions factored into the equation,” Kayle said. “It was just miserable last spring.”
The massive appearance of green algae blooms in Lake Erie may “have some influence on distribution of the steelhead” but likely did not contribute to any die-off of fish,” Kayle says.
“We’re continuing to monitor where it pops up in the summer but right now we don’t believe that it has any impact on steelhead morality,” he said.
Kayle did say that the agency’s creel clerks have been seeing a “lot of big fish; steelhead in the 12- to 15-pound class.”
“These fish have probably been swimming around Lake Erie for the past three or four years,” Kayle said.
As for the future of the state’s steelhead stocking and management program, the $5 million to $7 million improvements at the Wildlife Division’s Castalia coldwater hatchery are nearly complete, Kayle says also
“These improvements will allow us to have better quality control over the steelhead that we do raise and will also allow us to raise all of our steelhead eggs instead of relying on Michigan where we once got both eggs and advanced fry,” Kayle said.
“They were of variable size and that complicated matters.”
Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Wildlife Division kept busy with citations during gun deer week
With the Ohio’s seven-day general firearms deer-hunting season under its belt the state’s wildlife officers can reflect on how participants behaved themselves.
Or misbehaved as once again commissioned officers with the Ohio Division of Wildlife spent some of their time issuing citations.
Not that these law enforcement agents had a quota to meet. It’s just that sometimes people do bad things that warrant a ticket, says Jim Lehman, the agency’s law enforcement administrator.
And even though the first few days of this year’s gun season was wet, windy and miserable the number of citations issued was on par with previous seasons, Lehman said.
In all, the state’s commissioned wildlife officers performed 7,951 contacts and made 909 arrests, up only two percent, Lehman said.
Count trespassing without written permission as the top ticket item with the state’s wildlife officers issuing 133 citations.
“It is a high priority for us, given the amount of private property in the state,” Lehman said.
Other frequently encountered violations included unplugged guns (Number Two at 131 citations), and failure to properly tag a deer (Number Three with 122 citations), no deer permit (Number Four with 102 citations) and not wearing blaze orange (Number Five with 62 citations).
The failure to wear an orange garment is typically written when another violation occurs as the hunter is often trying to avoid detection, Lehman said.
“Obviously someone who is hunting with a rifle or else hunting without a deer tag likely won’t be wearing hunter orange,” Lehman said.
Yet concerns about using the new deer check-in system would result in unintended violations did not crop up as much as Wildlife Division officials first thought, Lehman said.
Calls to the Wildlife Division inquiring about the new check-in process and other matters were up 44 percent, Lehman said.
“Many people called to inquire if they were filling out the tags properly, and that was encouraging,” Lehman said.
Lehman said also that it appears the bulk of successful hunter employed the telephone to check in their animals, though Lehman believes using the Internet is even easier.
As for hunters not properly caring for their paper document while dragging out a deer, that issue will be looked at during the officers’ debriefing procedure, Lehman says.
Lehman did say that many hunters employed some rather unique tools to weather-proof their filled-in deer tags. This effort included using a zipper-style of plastic holder given away by wildlife officers that featured a clear side and an orange side along with a hole for attaching with a string or plastic cable tie.
Importantly, Lehman says, it is not the object of the wildlife officers to see who can write the most tickets. If an agent determines that nothing is deliberate and the hunter makes a good faith effort he more often than not is given a pass, Lehman says.
Carelessness or intentionally trying to evade the law is a different matter all together, Lehman says also.
“That’s what is nice with this system; it allows you to have (the information) right at the officer’s fingertips and can be dealt with right in the field or shortly thereafter,” Lehman said. “We don’t want to issue citations when they’re not necessary but this new system is a great tool.”
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Or misbehaved as once again commissioned officers with the Ohio Division of Wildlife spent some of their time issuing citations.
Not that these law enforcement agents had a quota to meet. It’s just that sometimes people do bad things that warrant a ticket, says Jim Lehman, the agency’s law enforcement administrator.
And even though the first few days of this year’s gun season was wet, windy and miserable the number of citations issued was on par with previous seasons, Lehman said.
In all, the state’s commissioned wildlife officers performed 7,951 contacts and made 909 arrests, up only two percent, Lehman said.
Count trespassing without written permission as the top ticket item with the state’s wildlife officers issuing 133 citations.
“It is a high priority for us, given the amount of private property in the state,” Lehman said.
Other frequently encountered violations included unplugged guns (Number Two at 131 citations), and failure to properly tag a deer (Number Three with 122 citations), no deer permit (Number Four with 102 citations) and not wearing blaze orange (Number Five with 62 citations).
The failure to wear an orange garment is typically written when another violation occurs as the hunter is often trying to avoid detection, Lehman said.
“Obviously someone who is hunting with a rifle or else hunting without a deer tag likely won’t be wearing hunter orange,” Lehman said.
Yet concerns about using the new deer check-in system would result in unintended violations did not crop up as much as Wildlife Division officials first thought, Lehman said.
Calls to the Wildlife Division inquiring about the new check-in process and other matters were up 44 percent, Lehman said.
“Many people called to inquire if they were filling out the tags properly, and that was encouraging,” Lehman said.
Lehman said also that it appears the bulk of successful hunter employed the telephone to check in their animals, though Lehman believes using the Internet is even easier.
As for hunters not properly caring for their paper document while dragging out a deer, that issue will be looked at during the officers’ debriefing procedure, Lehman says.
Lehman did say that many hunters employed some rather unique tools to weather-proof their filled-in deer tags. This effort included using a zipper-style of plastic holder given away by wildlife officers that featured a clear side and an orange side along with a hole for attaching with a string or plastic cable tie.
Importantly, Lehman says, it is not the object of the wildlife officers to see who can write the most tickets. If an agent determines that nothing is deliberate and the hunter makes a good faith effort he more often than not is given a pass, Lehman says.
Carelessness or intentionally trying to evade the law is a different matter all together, Lehman says also.
“That’s what is nice with this system; it allows you to have (the information) right at the officer’s fingertips and can be dealt with right in the field or shortly thereafter,” Lehman said. “We don’t want to issue citations when they’re not necessary but this new system is a great tool.”
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Wildlife Division: Farmers Not Interested In Hosting Deer Hunters
Well, so much for THAT idea.
The notion that Ohio's farmers would welcome hunters with open arms in order to help control the state's deer herd has crashed and burned.
Ohio's Division of Wildlife is reporting that the HuntOhioFarms.com Web site will be discontinued due to lower than anticipated participation from Ohio’s farming community.
In its press release the Wildlife Division says:
"The HuntOhioFarms.com Web site was launched in August 2009 in order to educate Ohioans on crop damage by deer, while at the same time increasing awareness of hunting opportunities. This was a joint effort between the Ohio Farm Bureau (OFB) and the ODNR Division of Wildlife.
"After the first year, more than 9,000 hunters had enrolled with 83 landowners signing on in the four-county test area. The OFB and the Division of Wildlife agreed to expand the program to 38 counties across southeast Ohio in 2010. Despite direct mailings by the Division of Wildlife and marketing efforts by the OFB, an insufficient number of landowners signed up for the program. At the end of year two, an additional 5,000 hunters had enrolled with only 40 additional farms.
"Access to private lands for hunting is integral to managing local deer populations and minimizing agricultural damage. The Division of Wildlife will continue to work with the OFB, as in the past, to find practical solutions to deer crop damage using deer hunting and other means as needed."
Obviously it is past time for Ohio's farmers and their powerful lobbying groups to stop whining about the state's large deer herd. They had an opportunity to contribute to a meaningful control method and chose not to do so.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: Fieldkorn.
The notion that Ohio's farmers would welcome hunters with open arms in order to help control the state's deer herd has crashed and burned.
Ohio's Division of Wildlife is reporting that the HuntOhioFarms.com Web site will be discontinued due to lower than anticipated participation from Ohio’s farming community.
In its press release the Wildlife Division says:
"The HuntOhioFarms.com Web site was launched in August 2009 in order to educate Ohioans on crop damage by deer, while at the same time increasing awareness of hunting opportunities. This was a joint effort between the Ohio Farm Bureau (OFB) and the ODNR Division of Wildlife.
"After the first year, more than 9,000 hunters had enrolled with 83 landowners signing on in the four-county test area. The OFB and the Division of Wildlife agreed to expand the program to 38 counties across southeast Ohio in 2010. Despite direct mailings by the Division of Wildlife and marketing efforts by the OFB, an insufficient number of landowners signed up for the program. At the end of year two, an additional 5,000 hunters had enrolled with only 40 additional farms.
"Access to private lands for hunting is integral to managing local deer populations and minimizing agricultural damage. The Division of Wildlife will continue to work with the OFB, as in the past, to find practical solutions to deer crop damage using deer hunting and other means as needed."
Obviously it is past time for Ohio's farmers and their powerful lobbying groups to stop whining about the state's large deer herd. They had an opportunity to contribute to a meaningful control method and chose not to do so.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: Fieldkorn.
Monday, December 5, 2011
UPDATED Ohio's firearms deer hunters see 14 percent kill decline
Even with the best of hunting weather on Saturday, Ohio’s 420,000 deer chasers couldn’t make up for all of the ground lost during the gun season’s first four weather-miserable days.
However, the deficit shrank from 39 percent on Opening Day, Nov. 28, to 17 percent on Friday, Dec. 2, to “only” 14 percent when the seven-day season concluded on Sunday.
In all, the state’s deer herd was trimmed by 90,282 animals. For the 2010, seven-day firearms deer-hunting season, sportsmen killed 105,034 deer.
Hunters “clearly took advantage of the weather” as the week progressed, though the total deer killed numbers don’t reflect significant gains when compared to Saturday, 2010, said Mike Tonkovich, the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s deer management administrator.
On Saturday, Ohio’s deer hunters checked in 16,677 animals compared 16,463 deer taken on the gun season’s lone Saturday in 2010.
“While other factors may have been at work, it is clear that extreme weather – good or bad – on key harvest days can have a significant impact on the bottom line,” Tonkovich said. “I do have to say - on speculation only - that more hunters were out on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday than usual; likely people who were hunting locally and not traveling to a deer camp. With tags in their pocket, guys are going to find a way to fill them.”
Hunters still have a weekend of firearms deer hunting season left; Dec. 17 and 18. Weather-determining this hunt could yield a kill of around 20,000 animals.
However, Tonkovich says that before eliminating this season the state would trim bag limits or place further antlerless permit restrictions.
“Based on way the season has gone so far I don’t see making this recommendation,” Tonkovich says.
The statewide muzzle-loader deer-hunting season will be held January 7 through 10, 2012. Participants in this season also typically shoot about 20,000 deer.
Meanwhile, the state’s archery hunters have until Feb. 5, 2012 to fill their remaining deer tags. For the late season archery hunters can be called on to kill an additional 20,000 deer as well.
“The big picture has to be the major goal and we won’t know that until all of the dust settles at the end of the hunting year,” Tonkovich said.
As far as implement type used during this year’s firearms deer-hunting season, the breakdown was: 75,896 deer taken with shotguns, 405 with crossbows, 213 with longbows, 12,150 with muzzle-loaders, 1,050 with handguns, and remainder were killed by unknown implement type, Tonkovich said as well.
Also, says Matt Ortman, the Wildlife Division administrator in charge of the state’s hunter education program, reports that the seven-day season saw only six non-fatal hunting accidents, officially called “incidents.” Last year that figure was eight.
O
hio’s last fatal firearms deer-hunting incident was in 2009, Ortman said also.
Here is the county-by-county 2011 seven-day firearms deer-hunting season kill with their respective 2010 figures in parenthesis:
Adams – 1,727 (1,639); Allen – 293 (440); Ashland – 1,096 (1,350); Ashtabula – 1,777 (2,400); Athens – 2,059 (2,147); Auglaize – 192 (245); Belmont – 2,431 (2,736); Brown – 1,229 (1,423); Butler – 345 (401); Carroll – 2,252 (2,952); Champaign – 554 (613); Clark – 276 (295); Clermont – 980 (1,215); Clinton – 373 (391); Columbiana – 1,738 (2,391); Coshocton – 3,690 (4,288); Crawford – 441 (568); Cuyahoga – 37 (38); Darke – 223 (265); Defiance – 725 (910); Delaware – 594 (696); Erie – 137 (157); Fairfield – 1,152 (1,258); Fayette – 104 (114); Franklin – 170 (142); Fulton – 302 (438); Gallia – 1,844 (1,899); Geauga – 623 (738); Greene – 287 (293); Guernsey – 2,982 (3,309); Hamilton – 298 (306); Hancock – 402 (576); Hardin – 354(567); Harrison – 2,772 (3,547); Henry –279 (505); Highland – 1,432 (1,527); Hocking – 2,184 (2,138); Holmes – 2,013 (2,529); Huron – 925 (1,007); Jackson – 1,515 (1,742); Jefferson – 2,044 (2,564); Knox – 2,480 (3,141); Lake – 185 (178); Lawrence – 1,574 (1,449); Licking – 2,678 (3,003); Logan – 760 (845); Lorain – 739 (863); Lucas – 129 (164); Madison – 167 (185); Mahoning – 563 (672); Marion – 320 (428); Medina – 556 (633); Meigs – 1,974 (1,941); Mercer – 203 (248); Miami – 194 (212); Monroe – 1,960 (2,180); Montgomery – 144 (117); Morgan – 1,804 (1,962); Morrow – 851 (1,007); Muskingum – 3,223 (3,683); Noble – 2,028 (2,229); Ottawa – 81 (88); Paulding – 416 (610); Perry – 1,832 (2,126); Pickaway – 466 (570); Pike – 1,077 (1,102); Portage – 644 (740); Preble – 267 (253); Putnam – 238 (364); Richland – 1,714 (2,169); Ross – 1,723 (1,792); Sandusky – 195 (214); Scioto – 1,224 (1,250); Seneca – 603 (849); Shelby – 305(376); Stark – 661 (744); Summit – 151 (198); Trumbull – 1,060 (1,305); Tuscarawas – 3,180 (4,038), Union – 354 (391); Van Wert – 194 (358); Vinton – 1,577 (1,579); Warren – 412 (451); Washington – 2,225 (2,555); Wayne – 644 (869); Williams –787 (1,001); Wood – 208 (305); Wyandot – 661 (838); Total – 90,282 (105,034).
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twiter: @Fieldkorn
However, the deficit shrank from 39 percent on Opening Day, Nov. 28, to 17 percent on Friday, Dec. 2, to “only” 14 percent when the seven-day season concluded on Sunday.
In all, the state’s deer herd was trimmed by 90,282 animals. For the 2010, seven-day firearms deer-hunting season, sportsmen killed 105,034 deer.
Hunters “clearly took advantage of the weather” as the week progressed, though the total deer killed numbers don’t reflect significant gains when compared to Saturday, 2010, said Mike Tonkovich, the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s deer management administrator.
On Saturday, Ohio’s deer hunters checked in 16,677 animals compared 16,463 deer taken on the gun season’s lone Saturday in 2010.
“While other factors may have been at work, it is clear that extreme weather – good or bad – on key harvest days can have a significant impact on the bottom line,” Tonkovich said. “I do have to say - on speculation only - that more hunters were out on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday than usual; likely people who were hunting locally and not traveling to a deer camp. With tags in their pocket, guys are going to find a way to fill them.”
Hunters still have a weekend of firearms deer hunting season left; Dec. 17 and 18. Weather-determining this hunt could yield a kill of around 20,000 animals.
However, Tonkovich says that before eliminating this season the state would trim bag limits or place further antlerless permit restrictions.
“Based on way the season has gone so far I don’t see making this recommendation,” Tonkovich says.
The statewide muzzle-loader deer-hunting season will be held January 7 through 10, 2012. Participants in this season also typically shoot about 20,000 deer.
Meanwhile, the state’s archery hunters have until Feb. 5, 2012 to fill their remaining deer tags. For the late season archery hunters can be called on to kill an additional 20,000 deer as well.
“The big picture has to be the major goal and we won’t know that until all of the dust settles at the end of the hunting year,” Tonkovich said.
As far as implement type used during this year’s firearms deer-hunting season, the breakdown was: 75,896 deer taken with shotguns, 405 with crossbows, 213 with longbows, 12,150 with muzzle-loaders, 1,050 with handguns, and remainder were killed by unknown implement type, Tonkovich said as well.
Also, says Matt Ortman, the Wildlife Division administrator in charge of the state’s hunter education program, reports that the seven-day season saw only six non-fatal hunting accidents, officially called “incidents.” Last year that figure was eight.
O
hio’s last fatal firearms deer-hunting incident was in 2009, Ortman said also.
Here is the county-by-county 2011 seven-day firearms deer-hunting season kill with their respective 2010 figures in parenthesis:
Adams – 1,727 (1,639); Allen – 293 (440); Ashland – 1,096 (1,350); Ashtabula – 1,777 (2,400); Athens – 2,059 (2,147); Auglaize – 192 (245); Belmont – 2,431 (2,736); Brown – 1,229 (1,423); Butler – 345 (401); Carroll – 2,252 (2,952); Champaign – 554 (613); Clark – 276 (295); Clermont – 980 (1,215); Clinton – 373 (391); Columbiana – 1,738 (2,391); Coshocton – 3,690 (4,288); Crawford – 441 (568); Cuyahoga – 37 (38); Darke – 223 (265); Defiance – 725 (910); Delaware – 594 (696); Erie – 137 (157); Fairfield – 1,152 (1,258); Fayette – 104 (114); Franklin – 170 (142); Fulton – 302 (438); Gallia – 1,844 (1,899); Geauga – 623 (738); Greene – 287 (293); Guernsey – 2,982 (3,309); Hamilton – 298 (306); Hancock – 402 (576); Hardin – 354(567); Harrison – 2,772 (3,547); Henry –279 (505); Highland – 1,432 (1,527); Hocking – 2,184 (2,138); Holmes – 2,013 (2,529); Huron – 925 (1,007); Jackson – 1,515 (1,742); Jefferson – 2,044 (2,564); Knox – 2,480 (3,141); Lake – 185 (178); Lawrence – 1,574 (1,449); Licking – 2,678 (3,003); Logan – 760 (845); Lorain – 739 (863); Lucas – 129 (164); Madison – 167 (185); Mahoning – 563 (672); Marion – 320 (428); Medina – 556 (633); Meigs – 1,974 (1,941); Mercer – 203 (248); Miami – 194 (212); Monroe – 1,960 (2,180); Montgomery – 144 (117); Morgan – 1,804 (1,962); Morrow – 851 (1,007); Muskingum – 3,223 (3,683); Noble – 2,028 (2,229); Ottawa – 81 (88); Paulding – 416 (610); Perry – 1,832 (2,126); Pickaway – 466 (570); Pike – 1,077 (1,102); Portage – 644 (740); Preble – 267 (253); Putnam – 238 (364); Richland – 1,714 (2,169); Ross – 1,723 (1,792); Sandusky – 195 (214); Scioto – 1,224 (1,250); Seneca – 603 (849); Shelby – 305(376); Stark – 661 (744); Summit – 151 (198); Trumbull – 1,060 (1,305); Tuscarawas – 3,180 (4,038), Union – 354 (391); Van Wert – 194 (358); Vinton – 1,577 (1,579); Warren – 412 (451); Washington – 2,225 (2,555); Wayne – 644 (869); Williams –787 (1,001); Wood – 208 (305); Wyandot – 661 (838); Total – 90,282 (105,034).
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twiter: @Fieldkorn
Wildlife Division Fiscal Status In Fine Shape
While fisheries management carves out a large slice of the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s fiscal pie the state’s hunters still contribute more apples.
For Fiscal Year 2011 - which ran July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011 - the Wildlife Division receipts from fishing license sales totaled $14.04 million while sales of general hunting licenses was worth $10.88 million.
However, in many instances hunters are required to purchase a special permit of one form or another in order to pursue select game. That is unlike fishing where anglers need only to buy a single license in order to catch everything from bullheads to walleye.
Besides the sales of general hunting licenses the Wildlife Division collected another $10.51 million from the sale of the state’s various deer tags, $2.47 million from the sale of both spring and fall turkey tags, and $341,186 for revenue from sales of the state waterfowl hunting stamp, which is required of both adult duck and goose hunters.
Along with all of these revenue sources was an important $12.23 million from the federal government’s aid to restoration projects program. This kitty supplies dollars for both fish and game management projects.
The state is reimbursed money from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for performing this work, the income derived from special excise taxes on various kinds of shooting, hunting, archery and fishing gear.
Another $2.21 million was collected from that portion of the state motor fuel tax as it relates to boating/fishing activity, $933,136 from sales of the voluntary wildlife diversity and endangered species fund program, and $3.3 million from other sources.
Money collected from fish and wildlife fines amounted to only one percent of the agency’s revenue stream; or $374,186.
On the expenditure side the agency spent $11.81 million for wildlife management projects, $11,046,659 for fisheries management work, $9.79 million for operating the Wildlife Division’s five district offices, $7.6 million in capital expenses, $7.3 million for wildlife officer pay and benefits, $6.2 million for law enforcement, $1.1 million for administration, and $4.1 for information and education.
Pull everything together and for fiscal 2011 and the Wildlife Division collected $56.3 million in revenue but spent $59.02 million in expenditures.
And while it looks like the Wildlife Division is operating with a deficit it really isn’t, says the agency’s fiscal administrator, Susan Howard.
“This all has something to do with how we get our federal reimbursement,” Howard said. “In Fiscal 2012 we’ll actually get $3.2 million that we thought we were going to get in Fiscal 2011.”
By far the greatest expense for the Wildlife Division goes for employee wages, salaries and benefits. These items account for between 55 and 60 percent of the Wildlife Division’s annual expenditures and are spread throughout the entire budgeting mechanism, Howard said.
Asked if such money movement complicates book keeping, Howard said “not really,” though she would like to see the application of just one annual accounting system.
Presently the Wildlife Division is forced to work with three different “calendars:” the state’s fiscal year, the actual calendar year as well as the license sales year, each of which start and end at different times.
“That would help,” Howard said.
But the agency’s accounting and management profile is such that the on-going process allows for mid-course corrections to accommodate both cash flow as well as expenses, Howard explained.
“That’s the way we’ve been doing things, at least ever since I’ve been here,” Howard said.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
For Fiscal Year 2011 - which ran July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011 - the Wildlife Division receipts from fishing license sales totaled $14.04 million while sales of general hunting licenses was worth $10.88 million.
However, in many instances hunters are required to purchase a special permit of one form or another in order to pursue select game. That is unlike fishing where anglers need only to buy a single license in order to catch everything from bullheads to walleye.
Besides the sales of general hunting licenses the Wildlife Division collected another $10.51 million from the sale of the state’s various deer tags, $2.47 million from the sale of both spring and fall turkey tags, and $341,186 for revenue from sales of the state waterfowl hunting stamp, which is required of both adult duck and goose hunters.
Along with all of these revenue sources was an important $12.23 million from the federal government’s aid to restoration projects program. This kitty supplies dollars for both fish and game management projects.
The state is reimbursed money from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for performing this work, the income derived from special excise taxes on various kinds of shooting, hunting, archery and fishing gear.
Another $2.21 million was collected from that portion of the state motor fuel tax as it relates to boating/fishing activity, $933,136 from sales of the voluntary wildlife diversity and endangered species fund program, and $3.3 million from other sources.
Money collected from fish and wildlife fines amounted to only one percent of the agency’s revenue stream; or $374,186.
On the expenditure side the agency spent $11.81 million for wildlife management projects, $11,046,659 for fisheries management work, $9.79 million for operating the Wildlife Division’s five district offices, $7.6 million in capital expenses, $7.3 million for wildlife officer pay and benefits, $6.2 million for law enforcement, $1.1 million for administration, and $4.1 for information and education.
Pull everything together and for fiscal 2011 and the Wildlife Division collected $56.3 million in revenue but spent $59.02 million in expenditures.
And while it looks like the Wildlife Division is operating with a deficit it really isn’t, says the agency’s fiscal administrator, Susan Howard.
“This all has something to do with how we get our federal reimbursement,” Howard said. “In Fiscal 2012 we’ll actually get $3.2 million that we thought we were going to get in Fiscal 2011.”
By far the greatest expense for the Wildlife Division goes for employee wages, salaries and benefits. These items account for between 55 and 60 percent of the Wildlife Division’s annual expenditures and are spread throughout the entire budgeting mechanism, Howard said.
Asked if such money movement complicates book keeping, Howard said “not really,” though she would like to see the application of just one annual accounting system.
Presently the Wildlife Division is forced to work with three different “calendars:” the state’s fiscal year, the actual calendar year as well as the license sales year, each of which start and end at different times.
“That would help,” Howard said.
But the agency’s accounting and management profile is such that the on-going process allows for mid-course corrections to accommodate both cash flow as well as expenses, Howard explained.
“That’s the way we’ve been doing things, at least ever since I’ve been here,” Howard said.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
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