MIKE BRAUN Official: Dumped deer were likely road kills

The dozen deer carcasses that were recently cleared out of the Little Shenango River near Greenville, Pa., were likely not the victims of hunters, a state game officer said.
Pennsylvania Wildlife Conservation Officer Don Chaybin said the probable source of the deer carcasses was road kills and that someone dumped the dead animals there in a "misguided effort to help clear the road of dead deer."
Chaybin discounted reports claiming one of the deer had a bullet hole. He said that the deer were in the water so long and were so decomposed that anything in the river, such as a branch or hard object, could have caused a wound similar to a bullet.
Mostly intact: Chaybin added that the intact nature of the deer, with none missing hindquarters or other prime areas of meat, were indications that the animals were not poached.
"They were probably just tossed off the bridge," he said.
Chaybin said the Pennsylvania Game Commission lent a truck to cleanup efforts Friday and that a PGC employee later collected the truck and took the carcasses to a local state game land were they were dumped, as are many other road-killed deer.
Chaybin said the first reports of deer in the creek came shortly after Christmas, but it wasn't until the snow cleared that the other carcasses were seen. The officer said the PGC did investigate the matter and talked to numerous people about the carcasses. "We are concerned about it," he said, but there are no leads to pursue at this time.
Turkey time: With the advent of spring turkey season Monday, a 24th consecutive record spring turkey harvest is being predicted by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
The season runs through May 13.
This is the second year that hunters will be allowed to harvest turkey in all 88 Ohio counties. Hunters may try their luck at spring gobblers 30 minutes before sunrise until noon.
Other requirements include possession of a turkey hunting permit. The limit for hunters is two bearded wild turkeys if they also have purchased a special bonus turkey permit. Hunters are not allowed to harvest a hen turkey in the spring.
Big Pa. fish: The Pennsylvania Fish Commission reports the catching of a 20-lb., 3-oz. steelhead trout, which will be a Pennsylvania state record for the species.
The 36-inch fish was caught April 1 by Corey T. Brown, 26, of Osterburg while fly-fishing in Walnut Creek, Erie County.
The previous record-holder was a 19-pound, 2-ounce fish set in 1992.
Boat info: A listing of boating opportunities in Ohio is not available from the ODNR.
The first of its kind on a statewide basis, the guide lists public boat launch ramps and other boating facilities and related amenities (camping, phones, bathrooms) for all 88 Ohio counties.
Titled "Ohio's Public Boating Facilities," the booklet is available free from the ODNR Division of Watercraft or at the ODNR Web site at www.dnr.state.oh.us/.
The guide can also be obtained by calling (877) 4BOATER.