OHIO

OHIO
Concealed carry lawto be in committee
Ohioans For Concealed Carry, a non-profit, non-partisan, education and activist organization comprised of volunteers from all across Ohio, is reporting that the Senate Judicial Committee on Civil Justice has scheduled hearings Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with House Bill 274 -- the Ohio concealed carry bill -- being the only item on the agenda at this time.
Hearings will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Senate Hearing Room 110, proponent and opponent testimony Wednesday at 11 a.m. in North Hearing Room and consideration of amendments and possible vote out of committee on Thursday at 9 a.m. in the South Hearing Room.
The OFCC is urging its membership to attend the hearings. The organization's focus is reforming Ohio laws regarding lawful possession and use of firearms in self-defense.
In 2001 OFCC became a party in a lawsuit headed by The Second Amendment Foundation seeking to declare certain portions of Ohio law unconstitutional. The Ohio Supreme Court has yet to hear the appeal.
Info, TIP line use urged
Ohioans wishing to contact the 1-800-WILDLIFE or Turn-In-A-Poacher (TIP) hotlines during the busy deer-gun season -- Dec. 2 through 8 -- can take advantage of increased call center hours being offered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
Staff answering the 1-800-WILDLIFE (800-945-3543) will be available to give general information about hunting and trapping season regulations.
Ohioans are encouraged to help enforce state wildlife laws by reporting alleged or known wildlife violations through the TIP program.
Anonymous callers can contact 1-800-POACHER (800-762-2437) and are encouraged to leave a message during closed hours with as much information about the suspected violation as possible. Callers who identify themselves may be eligible for a cash award for information.
Early deer archeryseason numbers up
Bowhunters took 36,073 deer during the first six weeks of the statewide archery deer hunting season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife. This preliminary figure represents nearly an 11 percent increase -- or 3,527 more deer -- than were taken during the same period last year when hunters bagged 32,546 deer.
Counties reporting the highest numbers of deer brought to check stations during the early season included Licking (1,510), Coshocton (1,247), Tuscarawas (1,156), and Holmes (1,105).
The statewide deer population is estimated to be 575,000. Approximately 210,000 bowhunters are expected to participate in the statewide archery deer-hunting season that began Oct. 5 and remains open statewide through Jan. 31, including Sundays and during the deer-gun season that runs Dec. 2 through 8.
Last year, bowhunters harvested a total of 41,526 deer during the four-month Ohio archery season.
Area counties with 2002 archery numbers and 2001 numbers in parenthesis: Ashtabula - 428 (450); Carroll - 354 (315); Columbiana - 440 (463); Coshocton - 1,247 (968); Jefferson - 634 (582); Mahoning - 295 (405); Portage - 579 (676); Stark - 585 (542); Summit - 453 (446); Trumbull - 711 (680).
PENNSYLVANIA
Elk harvest report
The state's second elk season since 1932 produced the largest bull harvest the state has seen since before the Civil War, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The season ran Nov. 18-23.
The 70 licensed hunters selected took 32 antlered and 29 antlerless elk. Two elk were taken by hunters using muzzleloaders -- one by flintlock, one by in-line -- and another was taken with a bow. The remainder was taken with centerfire rifles. Last year, the 30 licensed hunters took 14 antlered and 13 antlerless elk in the state's first modern-day elk hunt.
Special at Kinzua
Deer hunters who hunt on the Kinzua Quality Deer Cooperative area and stop at official check stations will be entered into a raffle for valuable prizes. Hunters who harvest does will receive an additional raffle entry for each doe checked at an official check station.
The KQDC is an area bordered on the north by New York, on the west by Pennsylvania routes 346 and 321, on the south by Forest Road 321, and on the east by Forest Roads 188 and 455, state routes 59and 770, and the residential area of Bradford.
Check stations will be in operation Monday and Tuesday, Saturday, and Dec. 14, at Slaven's Country Cupboard on state Route 346 near the northern boundary, the Warehouse Restaurant on state Route 59 at Marshburg near the western boundary, and the Westline Inn at Westline near the southern boundary.