ohio valley outdoor times 5-2015

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Turkeys are fickle birds. You never know when or what is going to turn them on enough to come to the call. Even the old boss gobblers behave errati- cally at times. One thing I’ve learned, though, is that late season can be a really good time to bag one of these tricky toms. By the last week of turkey season, most of the hens have been bred and are on the nest. That alone can result in some lonely, love struck toms still out there searching for a willing hen. And when he’s in the mood, I’ve found that he’ll come to a call even better later in the sea- son than he might have earlier. Harvesting a bird this late in the season usually requires a little reflection on the events of the previous weeks of hunting. Consider all the places where you’ve heard gobblers the past few weeks. Chances are those birds are still there and still roosting in the same general areas. Earlier in the season, when there were fewer leaves on the trees, it may have been impossible to get anywhere close to those spots without busting birds. Now, in mid-May, the forest is leafed up and you can sneak within 50 or 60 yards of a roosting bird without it even knowing you’re there. The closer you can get to a bird, the better your chances of pulling it into shotgun range when it flies down off the roost. Truth be told, gobblers just don’t gob- ble as much this late in the season. They’ve been pressured, perhaps even had an encounter or two with another hunter, or simply aren’t as eager to make their presence known. You’re more likely to have a bird come in silent now than back in April, so it’s imperative to be pa- tient and wait at least 20 or 30 minutes after your last calls before moving to a new spot. I’ve read articles and heard some hunters say that during the final week of the season they abandon the standard box calls, pot calls, and mouth calls in favor of wingbone calls that produce a differ- ent pitch that turkeys may not have heard. While I don’t disagree, I know that when a gobbler is in the mood, he’ll come in no matter what call you use as long as you use it effectively. A couple years ago, I was after one big tom in particular, and I had encounters with him on two different occasions ear- lier in the season. The first time, I moved Outdoor Beware Of Ticks Story inside page 15 May 2015 FREE! Ohio Valley STUDENT ANGLER LEAGUE OPENER - P.9 Tricky Toms Turn To Toms Page 4 Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo courtesy of Ralph Scherder The author poses with a nice late-season Pennsylvania turkey. “A season is a season, and that includes the last day.” Times By Ralph Scherder Hunting Editor OV Outdoor Times

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Page 1: Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 5-2015

Turkeys are fickle birds. You never knowwhen or what isgoing to turnthem on enoughto come to thecall. Even theold boss gobblersbehave errati-cally at times.One thing I’velearned, though,is that late seasoncan be a reallygood time to bagone of these tricky toms.By the last week of turkey season, most

of the hens have been bred and are on thenest. That alone can result in somelonely, love struck toms still out theresearching for a willing hen. And whenhe’s in the mood, I’ve found that he’llcome to a call even better later in the sea-son than he might have earlier.Harvesting a bird this late in the season

usually requires a little reflection on theevents of the previous weeks of hunting.Consider all the places where you’veheard gobblers the past few weeks.Chances are those birds are still there andstill roosting in the same general areas.Earlier in the season, when there werefewer leaves on the trees, it may have

been impossible to get anywhere close tothose spots without busting birds. Now,in mid-May, the forest is leafed up andyou can sneak within 50 or 60 yards of aroosting bird without it even knowingyou’re there. The closer you can get to abird, the better your chances of pulling itinto shotgun range when it flies down offthe roost.Truth be told, gobblers just don’t gob-

ble as much this late in the season.They’ve been pressured, perhaps evenhad an encounter or two with anotherhunter, or simply aren’t as eager to maketheir presence known. You’re more likelyto have a bird come in silent now thanback in April, so it’s imperative to be pa-tient and wait at least 20 or 30 minutesafter your last calls before moving to anew spot.I’ve read articles and heard some

hunters say that during the final week ofthe season they abandon the standard boxcalls, pot calls, and mouth calls in favorof wingbone calls that produce a differ-ent pitch that turkeys may not have heard.While I don’t disagree, I know that whena gobbler is in the mood, he’ll come in nomatter what call you use as long as youuse it effectively.A couple years ago, I was after one big

tom in particular, and I had encounterswith him on two different occasions ear-lier in the season. The first time, I moved

OutdoorBewareOf TicksStory inside page 15 May 2015

FREE!Ohio ValleySTUDENT ANGLER LEAGUE OPENER - P.9

Tricky Toms

Turn To Toms Page 4Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo courtesy of Ralph Scherder

The author poses with a nice late-season Pennsylvania turkey.“A season is a season, and that includes the last day.”

Times

By Ralph ScherderHunting Editor

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Page 2: Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 5-2015

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES2 May 2015

We need another inter-scholastic sport for highschool students these days.As long as it’s somethingthat’ll pull them away fromvideo games. Yes, I knowit’s nice having a nine-year-old help you fix agadget on your iPhone, butwe’ve got to get kids out-side.High schools in my area

started sanctioning highschool bowling teams a fewyears back. That was good. It opened up the sportsscene to a few more kids. Maybe the sportinggoods stores are selling a few more ‘varsity’ jack-ets now. Do the kids still do that? I still have myvarsity ‘B’ jacket from high school (BeaverLocal). It doesn’t fit now. I couldn’t throw it away— it was the only wool jacket I’d ever owned. It’sin the basement collecting dust I assume.There’s a lot of other sports high schools in

Ohio could add. Currently some different sportsare sanctioned — I’m thinking of ice hockey —but not many schools participate because of thecost. A low-cost sport, I would think, that couldbe added is fishing. Currently team fishing at thehigh school (and middle school) level is gainingpopularity, but at this time is considered a clubsport and not sanctioned by the Ohio High SchoolAthletic Association.That may come soon. Hopefully.I understand the states of Illinois, New Hamp-

shire, Missouri and Kentucky have sanctioned thesport of fishing for high schoolers. Illinois has 200high schools involved. That’s good, and is proba-bly growing.In this region a few dedicated bass tournament

fisherman have helped organize the first highschool fishing league — Upper Ohio Valley Stu-dent Angler League (see my article on their inau-gural event on Page 9). It operates like a club butthe students represent their high schools by schoolcolored jerseys, and by name, but the school dis-tricts themselves are not sanctioning the members.

Currently that affiliation comes through a well-know national bass fishing group, Fishing LeagueWorldwide (FLW). There’s also a nationalB.A.S.S. organization that hosts high school teamfishing events.Last year, in Ohio, a state championship was

held for FLW-sanctioned umbrella. Twenty teamsqualified out of 50-100 teams statewide. Mostother states host state championships also.Upper Ohio Valley Student Angler League or-

ganizer Harry Emmerling said he hopes the stateof Ohio will soon sanction team fishing. “I read astatistic that 61% of student anglers don’t partic-ipate in other school sports. I think that it’s impor-tant that kids get involved In school-relatedactivities, so it seems like it would connect with alot of students who are currently not involved asmuch,” said Emmerling.What may help cast a lighter line for states to

sanction fishing at the high school level is thesurge and popularity of college fishing recently.And there’s a professional FLW tournament cir-cuit. It’s quickly becoming a cool sport for col-lege-age young people. Probably the exposure oftelevision and the Internet has helped fuel that.And big corporate sponsors are now getting onboard. Now we’re talking about MONEY, andeveryone’s listening.Possible sponsorships at the high school level

will fuel sanctioning, I’m sure. But having a fewgood core national groups like FLW and B.A.S.S.should help the cause.And tournament fishing canbe a good, clean and fun sport.Athletes—male orfemale— don’t have to be the biggest or strongestkids in school either.Emmerling said the local UOV club stresses

safety to its members, and teach them about bassbiology, environmental concerns, fishing eti-quette, and rules and regulations. “They have todo a mandatory three hours of classroom time be-fore they’re allowed on a boat. We also makethem organize into a club,” said Emmerling.Fish on!We have some great inland fishing wa-

ters for bass and those would make for great loca-tions for state championships. I hope they get thisdone soon.

State-sanctioned High SchoolFishing: Will Ohio Join?

4 Ohio Deer HuntersDonate Venison

6 Spend a Night, Gain aLifetime of Confidence

COL (Ret.) Grey D. Berrier II

8 Ohio Youth HuntersCheck 1500+ Turkeys

ODNR

10 A Few TackleManagement Tips

Jeff Knapp

12 Lake Erie AnglersShould Expect Good Year

ODNR

13 Fly Fishing Clinic atCass Scenic Railroad

15 Ticks in OhioODNR

19 Ohio WildlifeCouncil Gets Proposals

ODNR

INSIDE THIS MONTH

09 New Student Angler League Casts First Line

3-D Archery Shoots -May 23-24, 30-31, June 27-28 (Schedule runs through Sept.) at Lake MiltonFish & Game Club. Sat. 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost $10, cubs $5. Contact Dennis Dab-ney at 330-414-5795.3-D Archery Shoots - June 7, July 5, Aug. 7, Sept. 6 at Beaver Creek Sportsman Club, Washing-tonville, OH. Cost $10 (12&up), $5 (11&under). All welcome. For info. call Chuck York at 330-978-3253 or 330-716-3964.Walleye Madness Tournaments - June 6 at Lake Erie Cleveland, June 27 at Lake Erie Geneva.100% payout. 40 boat limit. Register at: www.walleyemadness.net.Outdoor Archery Shoots - June 14, (second Sunday of each month thru Sept) 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.) atTrumbull County Rod and Gun Club. The club is located at 6565 Phillips Rice Rd., Cortland, OH44410. Call John Chegar at 330-727-7634. 30 Target 3-D course. Adults are $10.00 and Cubs 12 andunder are $5. See website: http://www.tcrg.us/activities/archery/eb.

By Larry ClaypoolEditor

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OUTDOOR CALENDAR

Publisher/Editor, Larry [email protected]

Graphics Designer, Linda [email protected]

Sales Consultant, Tracy [email protected]

[email protected] Valley Outdoor Times

is published by Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine©Offices located at

210 E. 4th Street, East Liverpool, OH 43920Phone 330-385-2243, Fax 330-385-7114ohvod@ohiovalleyoutdoors.comwww.ohiovalleyoutdoors.com

To Advertise CALL 330-385-2243

OutdoorOhio Valley

TimesMay 2015 VOL. 7, NO. 05

Contributing EditorsRalph Scherder, Hunting EditorJeff Knapp, Fishing EditorBrian Miller, Field Editor

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS

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OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES 3May 2015

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OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES4 May 2015

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohio huntersdonated 1,017 harvested white-taileddeer to local food banks to benefitOhioans in need during the 2014-2015season that ended February 1. TheODNR Division of Wildlife works to-gether with Farmers and Hunters Feed-ing the Hungry (FHFH) to assist with theprocessing costs associated with donat-ing venison to a food bank. The programallows for subsidy grants to be providedin allotments that are matched with fundsgenerated or collected by local OhioFHFH chapters.Food banks received approximately

50,850 pounds of venison and 203,400meals for needy Ohioans. One processeddeer amounts to approximately 50pounds of venison and 200 meals. Go tofhfh.org to find a local Ohio deer dona-tion program.

• Venison donated to participating foodbanks must be processed by a federal,state, or locally inspected and insuredmeat processor. Hunters wishing to do-nate their deer are not required to pay forthe processing of the venison as long asthe program has available funds.• Ohio ranks fifth nationally in hunter-

donated venison, according to the Na-tional Shooting Sports Foundation.Nationally, hunters provided more than11 million meals to people in need.• Ohio has 64 participating meat

processors and 34 FHFH local chapters.Anyone interested in becoming a localprogram coordinator or a participatingmeat processor can find more informa-tion at fhfh.org.• Hunters can also donate venison

through Safari Club International’sSportsmen Against Hunger program.

Ohio Deer Hunters Donate Venisonto Local Food Banks

too quickly and he busted me. The sec-ond time, I flat out missed him at 35yards. The third time, though, which wasthe last week of the season, I finally gothim. All three times I called in that birdwith the same slate call.Common advice to turkey hunters is to

not call too much. That’s good advice,to an extent. Better advice is to matchthe intensity of the gobbler’s calls. If abird is hot and one particular soundyou’re making seems to fire him up thatmuch more, keep making that sound. Inmy experience, nothing spooks a trickytommore than when I suddenly stop call-ing because I think he’s on his way in.Bottom line, if the bird is responding toyour calls, keep calling until he comesinto view.Traditionally, turkey hunting has al-

ways been associated with early morn-ings. Yes, first light is a great chance tokill a gobbler. Like fishing, though, thereare usually several “biting sprees”throughout the day. One of those times,for me, has been late morning, between10 and noon. Back before the conven-ience of all day hunting, I killed severalbirds just minutes before quitting time.Now that we can hunt all day during

the second half of the season, late after-noon can also be a great time to bag agobbler. Many times I’ve seen them outin a clover field or food plot the last hourof light. Even if you don’t have the am-bition to sneak into position to make anattempt to get an opportunity, eveningdrives can be a great way to locate birds.

After all, if you see a gobbler in a fieldan hour before dark, then there’s a prettygood chance he’ll be somewhere nearthat location the next morning.Birds can be wary later in the season,

and they may not come in as close asthey might early on, so longer shots are adefinite possibility. Fifteen to 20-yardshots can happen, but 40-yard shots aremore likely. The most common turkeygun is a 12-gauge with 3-inch magnums,which will certainly do the job. How-ever, practicing at longer ranges willmake you more deadly in the late season.Any weapon is only as good as the hunterusing it.Another thing to keep in mind is that,

because there are more leaves andground cover in the late season, you’llprobably be aiming at a smaller target.The last two gobblers I’ve killed, in fact,all I’ve had for aiming points were thetops of their heads. Once I caughtglimpses of their beards through the fo-liage, I didn’t wait for a fully body viewto shoot. This time of year, any hesita-tion can mean the difference between adead bird and a running away bird. Assoon as I identify the bird as a beardedtom and he’s within range, I take theshot.Turkey season is winding down, but

that doesn’t mean it’s time to quit. Evenwith just a week or a few days remain-ing, bagging a trophy tom is still possi-ble. A season is a season, and thatincludes the last day. As the great YogiBerra once said, “It ain’t over til it’sover.”

Toms From Page 1

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Here’s the scenario. You’ve dreamt oftaking your first elkout west all your life.After saving up andmaking plans for sev-eral years, the piecesfinally fall into placeand you are out inColorado on the semi-guided hunt you’vealways hoped for.The outfitter packsyou and three of your friends on horse-back back in the wilderness to his remotespike camp, eight miles from the trail-head. The first morning you split up andyou head off by yourself. Things lookpromising in the next drainage and youbegin to see abundant elk sign. Late inthe afternoon, you see a very respectableherd bull and several cows about 800yards ahead and you attempt to close thedistance. The elk continue to meanderand you doggedly follow in anticipationof a shot.After playing the cat-and-mouse game

for a few hours, you realize that you’re

rapidly running out of daylight and thereare over three miles of rugged terrain be-tween you and camp. Not wanting to at-tempt to hike out in the darkness anddetermined to stay on this bull elk, youdecide that your best option is to remainright where you are overnight. Youplanned for the possibility of bivouack-ing in the wilderness and brought alonga few essentials in your daypack: a smalltarp and a lightweight sleeping bag. Itsounds like you’re prepared, but are youreally ready to spend the night in thewoods alone? Have you honestly everspent a single night in the woods allalone at some point in your life?If you ever want to get an interesting

conversation going amongst a group ofoutdoorsmen and women, bring up thesubject of spending a night truly alone inthe woods. I’m not talking about sleep-ing in a tent by yourself in the backyard,at Scout camp, in a campground, in thefield on a military training exercise, oreven along a major hiking trail; any cir-

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES6 May 2015

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paradise - Leesville & Atwood Lakes

Low-horse power lakes 28 miles of shoreline and more than 1,000 acres of water at each lake Public boat launch ramps Two marinas with boat rentals at both lakes Find bluegill, bullheads, channel catfish, crappie, northern pike, saugeye and yellow perch Leesville Lake is known for its muskies

Turn To Night Page 7

Spend a Night, Gain a Lifetime of Confidence

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

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Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Grey D. Berrier IIA simple bivouac site, consisting of a poncho lean-to,

ground cloth, and sleeping bag makes for a comfortable night alone in the woods.

Page 7: Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 5-2015

cumstances where other campers, orpeople in general, are in close proximity.I’m focusing on being outdoors,overnight, all alone, at least a mile ormore from the nearest person or occu-pied structure. Through my informal re-search, I’ve learned that less than 10% ofseasoned outdoorsmen and women, herein Ohio, Pennsylvania, andWest Virginiahave ever spent a single night alone inthe woods. When I broaden my ques-tioning to the overall population in ourarea, I’ve quickly realized that only 1%has ever accomplished this task.Even though I had camped out well

over a hundred nights growing up, I haveto admit that I didn’t spend my first nightalone in the woods until I was 23. As ayoung U.S. Army Field Artillery Lieu-tenant, I had the privilege of being as-signed to Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks,Alaska from 1985-89. For an enthusias-tic outdoorsman with a BS in WildlifeScience from Penn State, it was mydream come true. I quickly learned thatI had to get away from town, the roadnetwork, and other people to find gameand the pristine outdoor experience Icraved. This meant driving well outsideFairbanks and then hiking back into re-

mote drainages where I was the onlyhuman being for miles. I realized that Ihad to develop a “western mentality” ex-pecting to spend nights alone in the vastwilderness based on the distances andthat required confronting any fear ofbeing alone in the woods and dealingwith the unknown in the darkness. I notonly survived those experiences, butthrived on those opportunities to honemy woodsmanship skills and self-confi-dence.Let me share some of the lessons I

learned from my experiences in “TheLast Frontier”. There are both mentaland logistical preparations required. Youneed to steel your resolve that you cando this and do it well, while pushingback the unsettling messages from mod-ern media that something lurks in theshadows. Fear of the unknown is prob-ably the biggest reason keeping mostpeople out of the woods alone at night.After conquering your phobias, the lo-gistical preparations are quite logical.Realize that your biggest threat is hy-pothermia, an uncontrollable drop inbody temperature. Having the properclothing and gear to stay warm and dry isessential. Some form of shelter andsleeping gear is necessary, whether thatis a tent/tarp and sleeping bag when you

anticipate spending the night afield, oran oversized contractor’s garbage bagand emergency space blanket that weighnext to nothing, when the odds are muchless.Your body will need some form of

caloric intake, since food and snacks arethe fuel that keeps you going. Addition-ally, a simple water purifier, or somemeans of water purification, and a waterstorage container are necessary to ac-quire potable water wherever you maybe. Finally, always carry at least twomeans of starting a fire. I pack matchesor a lighter, and also my magnesium firestarter as a back-up. A simple fire pro-vides light and warmth, while offering ameans of food preparation, and is a wel-come source of companionship and pro-tection from the unknown for the solitarytraveler. With a little planning and aminimal amount of equipment, you toocan spend a safe, comfortable night inthe woods.We have all read with significant inter-

est the historical exploits of solitary fron-tiersmen and mountain men, legendaryhermits in remote regions, and huntersand trappers in Alaska, the Canadianwilderness, or the vast expanses of theWestern United States; and we admiretheir independent, rugged individualism.

When you start to think about it, mostpeople in our area, including outdoors-men and women, have never spent anight alone in the woods because we re-ally don’t have any reason to, the over-whelming majority of the time. But whatif the circumstances arise that force youto do so?As hunters, fishermen, hikers,

campers, and canoeists, we are drawn toplaces less traveled and the potential ad-venture that is associated with goingthere. None of us have a crystal ball orare blessed with the ability to foresee thefuture. A natural disaster, medical emer-gency, widespread crisis, transportationproblem, unpredictable circumstances,or geographical remoteness could forceyou to spend to spend a night alone in thewoods. Don’t you think that it is impor-tant to be prepared and have undergone a“test run” on your own terms before asituation arises. I would like to encour-age you to complete the challenging taskof spending a night alone in the woodssometime this summer. You will be sur-prised at the confidence it inspires withinyou when you know you possess thecompetence to go it alone in the woodsovernight.

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES 7May 2015

How to Contact US

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR• E-mail: [email protected]• Write: “Dear OVTimes” at Ohio Valley Outdoor Times: 210 E. 4th Street,East Liverpool, Ohio 43920

• Please include your full name, address and phone number. Letters may beedited for clarity and space.

ADVERTISING• E-mail: [email protected]• Phone: 330-385-2243• Fax: 330-385-7114• Write: advertising at Ohio Valley Outdoor Times:210 E. 4th Street, East Liverpool, Ohio 43920

Night From Page 6

Page 8: Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 5-2015

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohio youthhunters checked 1,589 wild turkeys dur-ing the 2015 spring youth hunting sea-son, April 18-19.• Last year’s youth hunters killed

1,480 wild turkeys.• Ohio’s spring wild turkey season

opened April 20 and runs through May17.• Hunters are required to have a hunt-

ing license and a spring turkey huntingpermit. The spring season bag limit istwo bearded turkeys. Hunters can har-vest one bearded turkey per day, and asecond spring turkey permit can be pur-chased at any time throughout the springturkey season. Turkeys must be checkedby 11:30 p.m. the day of harvest.• All hunters must report their turkey

harvest using the automated game-checksystem. Hunters have three options tocomplete the game check:ohiogamecheck.com; call 877-TAG-ITOH (824-4864); or visit a licenseagent. A list of agents can be found atwildohio.gov or by calling 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543).• Hunting hours are 30 minutes before

sunrise until noon fromApril 20-May 3.Hunting hours fromMay 4-17 will be 30minutes before sunrise to sunset.• Hunters may use shotguns or archery

equipment to hunt wild turkeys. It is un-lawful to hunt turkeys using bait, live de-coys or electronic calling devices or toshoot a wild turkey while it is in a tree.The Ohio Department of Natural Re-sources (ODNR) Division of Wildlifeadvises turkey hunters to wear hunter or-ange clothing when entering, leaving ormoving through hunting areas in orderto remain visible to others.•Wild turkeys were extirpated in Ohio

by 1904 and were reintroduced in the1950s by the ODNR Division ofWildlife. Ohio’s first modern day wildturkey season opened in 1966 in ninecounties, and hunters checked 12 birds.The wild turkey harvest topped 1,000 forthe first time in 1984. Spring turkeyhunting opened statewide in 2000, andOhio hunters checked more than 20,000wild turkeys for the first time that year.

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES8 May 2015

Ohio Youth HuntersCheck 1,500+ Wild Turkeys

Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo courtesy of Bill Hall, Jr.Chase Stradwick (left front), age 14, and Brayden Gibboney (right front), age 8,

harvested wild turkeys during the recent 2015 youth turkey hunting season in Ohio.The birds were killed in Guernsey County, OH.

Chase’s bird weighed in at 23lb, with a 10’ beard. Brayden’s bird sported a 5’ beard. Assist-ing on the hunt was (back, from left) Bill Hall, Deonte Stradwick and Clint Gibboney.

Page 9: Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 5-2015

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES 9May 2015

The first everUpper Ohio ValleyStudent AnglerLeague event washeld April 26 atBibbee’s Lake nearGlenmoor, OH.Eight regional an-glers, from threedifferent school dis-tricts, participatedin the inaugural fish-ing tournament. Hopewell High Schoolwon the event, followed by BeaverLocal High School, UOV High School,East Liverpool High School Blue andEast Liverpool White.Individually the top angler award

went to Hopewell’s Curt Jenna, 4.24lbs;followed by Justin Flowers of BeaverLocal, 3.48lb; Danny Gentile ofHopewell, 3.45lb and Stephanie Em-merling of East Liverpool Blue, 3.15lb.Jenna also claimed the J & J Tire BigBass Award with a 2.11lb fish.The Upper Ohio Valley (UOV) Stu-

dent Angler League is the first of it’skind in the area. Harry Emmerling hasbeen the driving force behind startingthe league, which operates like a club.He hopes it will grow. They are cur-rently talking with a few other schoolsto participate next season. “I could see atime when there could be divisions upand down the Ohio Valley, much like theOVAC is in football,” said Emmerling.The group has started out small

though. Currently there are eight stu-dents from three different school dis-tricts. They follow rules and regulationsset by the Fishing League Worldwide(FLW) and Student Angler Federation.There were about 20 high school teamsthat participated in the Ohio state cham-pions last year. Emmerling estimatesthat there are 50-100 high schools rep-resented with clubs in the state. A fewstates have sanctioned fishing teams intotheir state athletic associations, just likefootball, basketball and the others.The FLW College Fishing circuit is

growing rapidly with many schools of -

fering scholarships for top anglers. Re-gionally Kent State, Akron, West Vir-ginia andYoungstown State universitieshave very active fishing teams. There

are many key regional and national col-lege fishing tournaments and teams

New Student Angler LeagueCasts First Line

Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo by Larry ClaypoolThe top three placers in the inaugural Upper Ohio Valley Student Angler League event was:(from left) Curt Jenna of Hopewell, Justin Flowers of Beaver Local and Danny Gentile of

Hopewell. Jenna also won the Big Bass award.

By Larry ClaypoolEditor

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Turn To Angler Page 18

Page 10: Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 5-2015

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES10 May 2015

Regardless of thespecies you fish for,managing your tacklein a manner that pro-tects it and keeps itorganized will do alot to increase yourlevel of enjoyment.Here are a few tipsand observationsalong this line.O N - B O A R D

TACKLE STORAGE—This is one I’vestruggled with for years: the best way tokeep lures, soft baits, terminal tackle andmiscellaneous items not only organizedbut also dry. This evolutionary processhas included hard tackle boxes and soft-sided tackle bags of several configura-tions.Since I fish for a variety of species the

tackle bag, which accepts utility boxes,worked out best. By categorizing andstoring lures by type – spinnerbaits,crankbaits, soft-bodied baits, hard jerk-baits, etc. – it was a simple matter ofswitching out boxes for the fish speciesbeing targeted that particular outing. The

problem was the bags were not water-proof; water resistant perhaps, but luresstill got wet, and you know what thatmeans.Tired of drying out gear and replacing

rusty hooks, my next strategy was tostore things in a commercial grade plas-tic storage tub. In went the utility boxes,along with zip-lock style bags for softbaits and accessories. It wasn’t a badsystem – it kept things dry – but itseemed like all the small items madetheir way to the bottom of the tub. It wasa hassle locating items like spools ofmonofilament for leaders, the scale toweight fish, or that small box with hooksand sinkers.So, last spring when I saw Plano’s new

Hydro-Flo line of tackle bags, I thought,“this is the answer to my problems.”Having for a full season used the bag –more specifically the model 4845 – I canconfirm that it is. No more searching forgear; no more wet rusty hooks.The Hydro-Flo bag features a spacious

main compartment that holds individualutility boxes. I continue to use the com-bination of boxes (for hard baits) and zip-

lock bags for soft baits. A zippered lidtops off the bag’s main area, along with awaterproof cover that buckles down overeverything, including the tops of the zip-pered side compartments. These sidecompartments are perfect for segregatingsmaller items. A storage area in the backof the bag, formed by bungee-style net-

ting, is great for holding individual bagsof soft baits — like tubes or plasticworms — being fished with that day.They are easy to get to, and don’t try fly-ing out of the boat when you run to yournext stop. The bag sits on a rigid hard

A Few Tackle Management Tips

Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Jeff KnappPlano’s Hydro-Flo tackle bag is a great tool for organizing gear and keeping it dry.

Turn To Tackle Page 11

By Jeff KnappFishing Editor

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HARRISBURG, PA—Hunters are knownfor putting on drives. And drivers now canmake known the pride they take in beingPennsylvania hunters.Pennsylvania’s new Hunting Heritage li-

cense plate – an official plate issued by thestate Department of Transportation – is avail-able to order from the Pennsylvania GameCommission.Each plate costs $56, of which $25 goes to

the Game Commission to be used for conser-vation initiatives.Commemorative patches and decals fea-

turing the Hunting Heritage logo also arebeing sold, for $5.66 and $2.83, respectively.Those looking to order a license plate can

most easily do so by visiting the Game Com-mission’s website, www.pgc.state.pa.us.Order forms for license plates, patches and

decals, as well as the PennDOT applicationform that’s needed to get a plate, all can beprinted from the website. To find these forms,simply click on the Hunting Heritage LicensePlate icon pictured on the website’s home-page.

New PA License PlateCelebrates

Hunting Heritage

HARRISBURG, PA — From the start of2014 through the present, six additional casesof chronic wasting disease have been docu-mented in Pennsylvania, the PennsylvaniaGame Commission announced recently.All six deer to test positive were killed on

highways within Disease Management Area2 (DMA 2), the only area of the state wherechronic wasting disease (CWD) has been de-tected in free-ranging deer.None of the samples collected from deer or

elk harvested by hunters anywhere in thestate during the 2014-15 hunting seasonstested positive for CWD, and no road-killeddeer or elk from outside DMA 2 tested posi-tive.Additionally, no new cases have been de-

tected in captive deer or elk outside the bor-ders of an established Disease ManagementArea (DMA).However, the boundary of DMA 2 again

has been expanded because CWD-positivedeer detected within DMA 2 or in Marylandwere near previous boundaries. Pennsylva-nia’s CWDResponse Plan requires a 10-milebuffer around sites associated with positivetests.

CWD Update: DiseaseDetected in Six More

PA Deer

Page 11: Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 5-2015

plastic base that elevates the storageareas — if rain water is sloshing aroundthe floor of the boat it won’t reach yourgear — unless you forgot to put in theboat’s drain plug, in which case you havebigger problems.Having used this bag for over a year—

during with it’s been exposed to all sortsof weather during the course of 100-plustrips — I’ve yet to have a single issuewith moisture from rain or snow meltreaching my stuff.THE TOOL DILEMMA — You’d

thing that finding fishing pliers, line nip-pers and hook removers within the con-fines of a boat wouldn’t be that difficult.After all, a boat, even a big bass boat, isonly so big, right? I can attest that the18-foot interior of my boat is great forhiding these tools, and I bet your craft istoo.Here are a couple things you can do.

Most “fishing tool” kits come with anylon holster that has pockets for the pli-ers, scissors, maybe even a hook sharp-ener. The holster has a belt loop, and cancertainly be worn in its intended manner.Personally I don’t care for having thismuch hardware hanging off my hip, orthe need to find the right slot for the right

tool every time I use an item. But theholsters are great for attaching to thepedestal of a boat seat. Use a couplenylon wire-ties to secure them. I haveones lashed to pedestals on both the frontand rear decks. They hold pliers, scissorsfor braided line and a small Baker hookremover.Another option I’ve used the past year

is a Dr. Slick fishing pliers with built-incutters. It comes with a coiled lanyard,which not only protects it from goingoverboard but ensures you’ll return it toits holster rather than setting it down,where it will inevitably become hidden.And since it’s a single tool, this act soonbecomes second nature. The cutters do agood job on braid as well as nylon andfluorocarbon monofilaments.FLYCONTROL—No, not an embar-

rassing moment with your trousers zip-per; or keeping pesky mosquitos at bay.Rather, doing away with those timeswhen you open a fly box and have a fewitems of fur and feather, ones that workedtheir way free, fall into the creek.Fly boxes come in several designs.

One of the more popular ones employsfoam with a series of tiny slits that holdthe fly hook. They work pretty well, butit’s still common for a fly or two to shakefree, providing potential for an unwel-

come surprise upon opening. Thisquandary is all but eliminated with the“Tacky Fly Box,” which uses soft sili-cone rather than foam. The slits actuallyhold the flies; and the rows of slits areoffset, utilizing the space much better(and aiding in storing and retrievingflies).Currently the Tacky Fly Box comes in

a 7.5 x 3 inch version, as well as a 5 x 3inch “Day Pack” model. Both are 3/4inch thick. I’ve used the standard modelfor about a month to hold nymphs, and itpreforms as advertised. Due to its thin

profile it might not be well-suited for dryflies – especially larger ones – as delicatewings could be crushed.Tacky Fly Boxes aren’t cheap, but if

they save you a few flies (and hand dipsinto ice-cold water to attempt rescue ofuntethered flies) you might consider theinvestment.

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES 11May 2015

Tackle From Page 10

Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Ralph ScherderDr. Slick fishing pliers

Liberty Adds .45Long Colt

BRADENTON, FL— LibertyAmmu-nition, the global leader in high perform-ance, lead-free ammunition for military,law enforcement and civilian markets,has added the .45 Long Colt caliber totheir growing line of Civil Defense per-sonal defense rounds.The popularity of the .45 Long Colt

started in 1872 when it was designedspecifically for one of the finest guns inall of America’s history: the Colt SingleActionArmy revolver. The powerful car-tridge was an effective negotiator duringour country’s push west and was used forprotection and hunting by many Ameri-cans. Check out the entire line of highperformance, lead-free LibertyAmmuni-tion at www.libertyammunition.com.

Page 12: Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 5-2015

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES12 May 2015

COLUMBUS, OH—Anglers in pur-suit of Lake Erie’s sport fish should ex-perience another successful year as theypursue a variety of fishing opportunitiesin 2015, according to Ohio Departmentof Natural Resources (ODNR).“Similar to 2014, we expect fishing to

be good again this year, especially whenyou consider the mix of species andsizes that are seasonally available toOhio anglers on Lake Erie,” said JeffTyson, Lake Erie fisheries programmanager for the ODNR Division ofWildlife. “While fishing success willvary among species and seasons, thelake’s population of walleye, yellowperch, black bass, white bass and steel-head are all stable, with a very broad dis-tribution of sizes for each species.”As a result of the 2015 quota alloca-

tion, the walleye daily bag limit is fourand the yellow perch daily bag limit is30 per angler in Ohio waters of LakeErie until April 30, 2015. The daily baglimit will be six walleye from May 1through Feb. 28, 2016. From March 1through April 30, 2016, the daily wall-eye bag limit will be four. A 15-inch

minimum size limit is in effect duringthe entire season for walleye. The yel-low perch daily bag limit is 30 fromMay 1 through April 30, 2016, with nominimum size limit. Lake Erie anglerscan find walleye and yellow perch baglimit information at ODNR offices, inspecial publications at bait and tackleshops and at wildohio.gov.Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch

fisheries are managed through an inter-agency quota system that involves On-tario, Michigan, Pennsylvania, NewYork and Ohio jurisdictions. Each juris-diction regulates their catches to complywith quotas and minimize the risk ofover-fishing these species. Quotas forthe upcoming fishing season are deter-mined through consensus agreement bythese jurisdictions through the Lake ErieCommittee of the Great Lakes FisheryCommission, which were just recentlyannounced for 2015.WalleyeOhio walleye anglers in 2015 will

catch fish mostly from the 2011, 2010,2009, 2007 and 2003 hatches, with somefish from the 2008 and 2012 year

classes. Walleye from the moderate2010 hatch will range from 18 to 23inches, while walleye from the 2007hatch will be more than 20 inches. The2003 and 2007 hatches are likely tocarry most of the Central Basin fisheries.These walleye will contribute to thepopulation that has a good number offish over the 26-inch range. Large wall-eye from the strong hatch in 2003 willcontinue to provide “Fish Ohio” oppor-tunities (greater than 28 inches), withthis year class nearing the size that maygive Ohio a new state record walleye.Yellow PerchExpect good perch fishing in 2015,

with the largest fish in the eastern areasof the Central Basin. Perch anglersshould encounter fish ranging from 7 to13 inches from the 2012 through 2007hatches in this year’s fishery, with majorcontributions from the 2012, 2010, and2008 year classes. Fish from the aver-age-to-better hatch in 2007 will con-tribute fish in the greater than 10-inchrange.Black BassSmallmouth bass fishing in 2015 is

expected to be fair but improving.Smallmouth bass catch rates increasedin 2014 compared to 2013 and were thehighest observed since the mid-1990s.

Smallmouth bass caught should be ex-cellent size (14 to 22 inches, weighingup to 6 pounds). The best fishing forsmallmouth bass will continue to occurin areas with good bottom structure,which is the available habitat acrossmuch of the entire Ohio nearshore areaand islands areas. Continuing the trendfrom previous years, largemouth bassfishing should be excellent in 2015. Thisemerging fishery is producing highcatch rates and some large fish innearshore areas and harbors acrossOhio’s Lake Erie. All black bass (small-mouth and largemouth) must be imme-diately released from May 1 throughJune 26, 2015. Beginning June 27, 2015,the daily bag limit for bass will be five,with a 14-inch minimum length limit.SteelheadSteelhead anglers should enjoy an-

other year of great fishing in 2015 inOhio’s Lake Erie open waters and intributaries. Peak summer steelhead ac-tion on Lake Erie can be found offshorefrom June throughAugust between Ver-milion and Conneaut, with catchesmeasuring 17 to 29 inches. Most LakeErie anglers troll for steelhead in deepwaters using spoons with divers ordownriggers until fish move close to

Lake Erie Anglers Should Expect GoodFishing Again in 2015

Turn To Lake Erie Page 13

Page 13: Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 5-2015

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES 13May 2015

Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo by Larry ClaypoolOhio walleye anglers in 2015 will catch fish mostlyfrom the 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007 and 2003 hatches.

Shown is outdoor writer Steve Sorensen with a nice Lake Erie walleye.

shore in the fall. The daily bag limit re-mains at five fish per angler from May16 through Aug. 31, 2015, and two fishper angler between Sept. 1, 2015, andMay 15, 2016. A 12-inch minimum sizelimit is in effect throughout the year.White BassWhite bass continue to provide excel-

lent seasonal fishing opportunities in theMaumee and Sandusky rivers and in theopen lake. The 2015 catch will be dom-inated by fish from the 2012, 2011 and2010 year classes. Fish from 2007 couldbe as large as 16 inches. Anglers shouldfocus on major Western Basin tributar-ies during May and June and nearshoreareas of the open lake during the sum-mer. There is no white bass daily baglimit or size limit.Other SpeciesBays, harbors and main lake shore-

lines offer excellent fishing for panfish,as well as occasional northern pike andmuskellunge in vegetated areas.Anglers are reminded that fishing con-

ditions on Lake Erie can change hourly,and adjustments are often necessary toimprove success. Anglers should takeinto account factors such as water tem-perature, cloud cover, water clarity, boat

traffic, wave action, structure, currentsand the amount of baitfish in the area.Anglers are also reminded to carefullymonitor Lake Erie weather and to seeksafe harbor before storms approach.Updated Lake Erie fishing reports are

available at wildohio.gov or by calling888-HOOKFISH (888-466-5347). Infor-mation is available from ODNR Divi-sion of Wildlife staff from 8 a.m. to 5p.m. weekdays at the Fairport Harborstation (440-352-4199) for the CentralBasin and at the Sandusky station (419-625-8062) for the Western Basin.Information on the ODNR Division of

Wildlife’s Lake Erie research and man-agement programs, fisheries resources,fishing reports, and maps and links toother Lake Erie web resources are avail-able at wildohio.gov.ODNR ensures a balance between

wise use and protection of our natural re-sources for the benefit of all. Visit theODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.

Lake Erie From Page 12

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOORS

Page 14: Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 5-2015

CASS, WV —An introduction to flyfishing, equipment and materials used infly tying and common knots used in flyfishing is the weekend focus at CassScenic Railroad State Park May 29-31.“Most importantly, there is stream fish-ing for trout as part of the experience,”said Monica Fleming, activities coordi-nator at Cass.The workshop/fly fishing excursion is

limited to 12 participants, includes allequipment and materials needed to tiefour different fly types, discussion onterms and short introduction to steamentomology, an afternoon of fishing inthe area of Spruce and the Shaver’s Forkof the Cheat River and two boxedlunches.Instructors are Biff Healy, Jeffery

Steltzer, Alan Stansbury and JamesRainey (certified FFF fly casting in-structor). Participants must have a WestVirginia fishing license with trout andnational forest stamps.Advance reserva-tions are required. The clinic cost is$260, which covers the fly-tying equip-ment and written materials, instructionand train ride to remote a fishing stream

or $200 if you bring your own tyingequipment. Two-story company houserentals are available for overnight rentaland are not included in the workshopfee.For more information about or to reg-

ister for Fly Fishing Weekend at CassScenic Railroad State Park, call 304-456-4300 or email [email protected] the Instructors

C. Biff HealyAn avid fly fisherman, fly tier and rod

builder, Biff has pursued trout for morethan 40 years and is an instructor of theart and a member of Trout Unlimited,Cumberland Valley Chapter. Healy is agraduate ofWest Virginia University andButler County Community College. Heworked as a seasonal naturalist at HollyRiver State Park after his retirement as alaw enforcement office from Pennsylva-nia.

Jim RaineyIn his “second career,” Jim Rainey has

been executive director of the OutdoorWriters Association of America(OWAA) and executive director of the

International Federation of Fly Fishers(IFFF). He is an IFFF Certified Fly Cast-ing Instructor. Jim is a 33-year memberof Trout Unlimited (TU) and has servedon the boards of three TU chapters. Jimis a 25-year retired army veteran whospent the past 20 years working in thenonprofit world as a fundraiser and asso-ciation executive.

Jeff SteltzerRetired after 40 years of steel-making,

coal mining and benefaction, Steltzerhas 50+ years of fly fishing experience.He’s a small stream specialist and mas-ter of the bow and arrow cast. Jeff is agraduate of Colgate University.Alan StansburyStansbury started fly tying and fishing

in elementary school in Pennsylvaniaand grew up learning to fish the streamsof the Cumberland Valley. Fly fishing,fly tying and rod making has been hislifelong passion grade school. He wasactive in the Forbes Trail TU Chapterand was on the board of directors of theCumberland Valley Trout Unlimitedfrom 2006 to 2009 including serving aschapter vice president. Stansbury hasbeen the coordinator of the CVTU win-ter fly tying course since 2008. He en-joys fishing primarily in central andwestern Pennsylvania and has also

fished in Maine and various locations inMontana and Wyoming. A toolmakerand engineer by education, Alan heldvarious positions with Comsat, UnitedTechnologies, E.I. DuPont and Fram-atome and most recently worked in thefactory automation industry. Alan re-sides in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES14 May 2015

Ohio Valley Outdoors - Photo by Larry ClaypoolWorkshop includes all equipment and mate-

rials needed to tie four different fly types.

Fly Fishing Clinicat Cass Scenic Railroad May 29-31

Page 15: Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 5-2015

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES 15May 2015

COLUMBUS, OH—American dog ticks,blacklegged ticks, and lone star ticks can allpose a threat to outdoorsmen and women dur-ing much of the year in the region.Unlike pets and humans, wild animals such

as deer are not affected by the blackleggedtick and suffer no ill effects from Lyme dis-ease. Additionally, Lyme disease cannot betransmitted by the consumption of venison.Hunters should keep in mind, however, thathunting and dressing deer may bring theminto close contact with infected ticks.Take the time to learn about Ohio’s tick

species and how to protect yourself. You maybe able to identify a tick you found using thediagram below. If you believe the tick is alone star or blacklegged tick, or if you are un-able to identify the tick, you may send the tickto your local health department for identifica-tion.To have the tick identified, it should be

saved in a hard container such as a pill bottleor film canister. Place a few blades of grass inthe container with the tick. Containers shouldbe mailed as soon as possible. If needed, theticks may be safely refrigerated for several

days until mailed. Be sure to include the fol-lowing contact information: name, addressand phone number; date tick was collected;Ohio county where it was collected, and indi-cate whether or not the tick was attached to aperson or animal.

Tick Bite PreventionA few simple measures can decrease your

chances of being bitten by a harmful tickwhile out in the field:• Know when and where to expect ticks.

(Blacklegged ticks are found in the woods;dog ticks are in grassy areas and road edges.)• Use repellents according to labels.• Tuck your pants into your socks and boots

and tuck your shirt into your pants.• Check yourself, family, and pets regularly

and remove ticks immediately.• Use anti-tick products on pets.• Ask your veterinarian about Lyme vac-

cines for pets where blacklegged ticks arefound.• Create a tick-safe zone in your yard.To use tick repellent properly follow these

steps:1. First, purchase an insect repellent con-

taining permethrin.

2. Apply the permethrin to your pants andboots and allow them to dry.3. When heading to the field, tuck your

pants into your boots to prevent tick access toyour skin.Once the permethrin is dry, it has no odor

and leaves no stain. The repellent should re-main effective throughout the hunting season,even with exposure to moisture or hot-waterwashing.

Tick RemovalIf you are bitten by a tick, do not panic.

Carefully remove the tick, including its mouthparts, from your skin using tweezers . Moni-tor your health the following days. While theCDC recognizes a 36-48 hr. window isneeded for disease transmission, there is evi-dence that transmission can occur sooner.

Ticks in Ohio

Ohio Valley Outdoors - Graph courtesy of ODNR

Page 16: Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 5-2015

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES16 May 2015

Lillian May1st turkey, 20 lbs., 9-1/2" beard

Mahoning County, OH

Brandon Cerritelli22-1/2 lbs., 9-1/2" beardMahoning County, OH

Joe Ludovici & Gus Weekleyboth 19 lbs., jakes

Hancock County, WV

Terry Dear1st turkey, jake

Jefferson County, OH

Keith Cummings24.5 lbs., 1-1/4 " spurs, 10-1/4" beard

Mahoning County, OH

Will Grodhaus20 lbs., 9" beard, 1" spursColumbiana County, OH

Chase Stradwick, age 14; 23lb 10" beardBrayden Gibboney, age 8; 5" beard

Guersney County, OH

Send Us Your PhotosWe’ll print your hunting, fishing or trap-

ping photos in the next issue of OV Times orOhio Valley Outdoors magazine. Send pho-tos via mail, email or Facebook.Email to: [email protected] to: Photo Showcase210 East Fourth St., East Liverpool, OH 43920

Mike Ludovici6x6 elk

Craig, CO

Page 17: Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 5-2015

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES 17May 2015

Ian McIntosh, age 17crossbow

Harrison County, OH

Justin Masters42", 50+lbs.Wellsville, OH

Mike Stevenson6.8lbd., 26 1/4" walleye

Ohio River

Tim Bakerspring gobblerMathews bow

Dave WeekleyPrivate Pond, WV

Kendon AlexanderBrooke County, WV

David Stock Sr.15 lbs., jake, 4" beard, button spurs

Columbiana County, OH

Conner Hedrick16-lbs., turkey

Columbiana County, OH

Ralph Valentino9"-beard, 3/4"-spurs, 19.5lbsColumbiana County, OH

Larry Zarlengo22lb., 10" beard, 7/8" spurs

OH

Cody Flynt1st turkey, crossbow

Delaware County, OH

Page 18: Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 5-2015

work toward qualifying for the nationaltournament, which most recently waswon by South Carolina.Emmerling said the league offers

more than fishing to the anglers. “I thinkit helps the kids in a variety of ways.Wejust don’t show up and go fishing. Theyhave to do a mandatory three hours ofclassroom time before they’re allowedin the boat. We cover areas such as bassbiology, environmental concerns, and ofcourse, above all, safety,” said Emmer-ling. “We also made them organize into

a club. The student anglers make all therules, and bylaws. I also think it allowsa lot of students who enjoy the outdoorsmore than traditional sports a chance torepresent their school and be involved ina group of like-minded students.”Emmerling said many local volunteers

and businesses have helped build theStudent Angler League. The local bassclubs have offered their assistance, andeven bass fishing boats, which are obvi-ously a key component for the anglers.“Wayne Wells of Wayne Wells Flooringis my tournament partner, he’s been atevery meeting and every event. He’s

been an important part of getting thisstarted. Also Dave Jenna and DannyGentile have donated a lot of time to thekids. They’ve brought bait and donateditems to the league,” said Emmerling.“Also Chuck Smith of Smith andThompson Tree Service allowed us touse his lake for our first event, and hiswife and daughter put out food andmade it a great experience for the kids.Pat George of Floors by George has do-nated equipment; Mark Emmerling al-lows us to use his boat, and some otherarea tournament anglers have helped;Mark Wilkinson, Chris Joseph, DickThayer and others.”The UOV’s second event was held

May 10 at Highlandtown Lake inColumbiana County. Results were notavailable before presstime.For information about the Upper Ohio

Valley (UOV) Student Angler League,contact Harry Emmerling at:[email protected].

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES18 May 2015

Ohio Valley Outdoorswww.ohiovalleyoutdoors.com

Angler From Page 9

Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo by Larry ClaypoolEast Liverpool’s Stephanie Emmerling

poses with two of her bass caught duringthe UOV Student Angler League

opener on Bibbee’s Lake.Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo by Larry Claypool

Page 19: Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 5-2015

OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES 19May 2015

www.boltconstruction.cc

CONSTRUCTION, INC.

Headquarters 10422 South Avenue Youngstown, Ohio 44514

Phone 330-549-0349 Fax 330-549-0344Email [email protected]

The Petroleum IndustryJet Fueling SystemsGas Compressor Stations

Over 30 Years of Doing Things Right

COLUMBUS, OH — A reduction inbag limits and antlerless permit use, aswell as a shift in the youth season duringthe 2015-2016 hunting seasons, wereamong regulations proposed to the OhioWildlife Council at its regularly sched-uled meeting on February 11, accordingto the Ohio Department of Natural Re-sources (ODNR).Among the proposals:• Reduce bag limits in the majority of

counties, and remove antlerless permitsin all but 10 counties. No county has aproposed bag limit increase.• Reduce the statewide bag limit of

deer from nine to six.• Suspend the antlerless-only muzzle-

loader weekend.• Offer two days of deer-gun hunting

Dec. 26-27, 2015.• Move youth-gun hunting to the Satur-

day and Sunday formerly occupied bythe antlerless-only muzzleloader week-end.• Add one straight-walled cartridge

rifle, the .450 Marlin, to the existing listof legal hunting rifles during the deer-gun and youth deer-gun seasons.Deer regulations have been trending

toward reduced bag limits and restricteduse of antlerless permits in recent years.Proposals to reduce bag limits and adjusthunting seasons work to stabilize deerpopulations.Deer population goals will be revised

this summer through a random survey ofhunters and landowners. Participants inthe survey will have the opportunity toprovide input about the future of deermanagement in Ohio.Overview of proposed hunting seasons

for 2015-2016:• Deer archery: Sept. 26, 2015-Feb. 7,

2016• Youth deer gun: Oct. 10-11, 2015• Deer gun: Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2015; Dec.

26-27, 2015• Deer muzzleloader: Jan. 2-5, 2016Proposed county bag limits:No more than two either-sex deer per-

mits: Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Butler,Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clinton,Coshocton, Darke, Erie, Fairfield,Fayette, Gallia, Geauga, Greene,Guernsey, Hancock, Harrison, Hocking,Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Madison,Meigs, Mercer, Miami, Monroe, Mont-gomery, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum,

Noble, Ottawa, Perry, Pickaway, Preble,Sandusky, Shelby, Tuscarawas, VanWert,Vinton, Warren, Washington and Wood.It was proposed that antlerless permitsare not valid in these counties.No more than three either-sex deer per-

mits: Adams, Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula,Brown, Clermont, Columbiana, Craw-ford, Defiance, Fulton, Hardin, Henry,Highland, Holmes, Huron, Knox, Lick-ing, Logan, Mahoning, Marion, Medina,Paulding, Pike, Putnam, Richland, Ross,Scioto, Seneca, Trumbull, Union,Wayne,Williams and Wyandot. It was proposedthat antlerless permits are not valid inthese counties.No more than three either-sex permits,

or two either-sex permits and one antler-less permit: Lake, Lorain, Portage andStark.No more than four either-sex permits,

or three either-sex permits and one antler-less permit: Cuyahoga, Delaware,Franklin, Hamilton, Lucas and Summit.The statewide bag limit was proposed

to be six deer, a reduction from thestatewide limit of nine deer last season.Only one deer may be antlered, and ahunter cannot exceed a county bag limit.Antlerless permits may be used fromSept. 26 through Nov. 29, 2015.It was proposed that small game hunt-

ing seasons will continue during the sec-ond gun weekend, Dec. 26-27, 2015.Also on Wednesday, the ringed-neckpheasant and chukar hunting seasonswere proposed to be extended one weekto Jan. 10, 2016.The OhioWildlife Council will vote on

all the proposals after receiving publicinput during open houses, held the firstweek of this month. Open houses will beheld at the ODNR Division of WildlifeDistrict One, District Two, District Threeand District Four offices and the GreeneCounty Fish and GameAssociation club-house in Xenia. Directions to the openhouses can be found at wildohio.gov orby calling 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543).A statewide hearing on all of the pro-

posed rules will be held at the ODNRDi-vision ofWildlife’s District One office onMarch 19, at 9 a.m. The office is locatedat 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio43215.The OhioWildlife Council is an eight-

member board that approves all of theODNR Division of Wildlife proposedrules and regulations. The council willvote on the proposed rules and seasondates during its meeting on April 8, afterconsidering public input.Visit the ODNR website at

ohiodnr.gov.

Ohio Wildlife CouncilReceives Latest Proposals

Page 20: Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 5-2015