MIKE BRAUN Assorted gems found in Outdoors mailbag

You never know what you're gonna find on your desk when you take off for an extended vacation.
After a nearly two-week hiatus from the Outdoors beat, the following tidbits surfaced from the detritus that welcomed my return last week:
The Ohio Insurance Institute released figures showing that deer-vehicle accidents across Ohio declined by 4 percent in 2002. The stats were compiled by the OII, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Actual figures showed that, in 2002, there were 30,306 deer-vehicle crashes reported, compared with 31,586 in 2001. Among the numbers, there were five fatalities and 898 injuries reported in 2002 resulting from deer-vehicle collisions. Four fatalities and 937 injuries were reported in 2001.
The same counties that had the highest number of reported deer-vehicle collisions in 2002 -- Hamilton (731), Richland (699), Summit (674), Muskingum (637) and Knox (632) -- were also the same counties that reported the highest number of such collisions in 2001.
One reason, according to state wildlife biologists, is that deer densities tend to be heavier in the east-central and southeastern parts of the state.
According to the OII report, Ohio is among the top states for the number of registered motor vehicles, licensed drivers and miles driven, all contributing factors for deer-vehicle collisions. Additionally, the number of registered vehicles in Ohio increased by nearly 176,000 last year to about 12.1 million registered vehicles.
So, despite the drop in accidents, drivers should remain alert for whitetail activity along Ohio's roads, especially during the annual deer "rut" -- the peak of the deer breeding season, usually October to December.
Trout summit
The Trout Club of The Cleveland Museum of Natural History will be hosting its annual fly fishing and fly tying summit this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The three-day event will offer demonstrations, workshops, and seminars with a number of noted fly experts.
Some of the instructors scheduled to be on hand and their areas of expertise include Charlie Chute and the Green Highlander; John McLain and the Durham Ranger; Chuck Moxley and the Christmas Candy; Roger Plourde and the America; Paul Ptalis and the Emerald Peacock; Mike Radencich and the Dusty Miller; Paul Rossman and the Green Satyr; and John Shewey and the Tri-Color.
There will be a streamside workshop available on Sunday as well as an all-day session with an instructor of the participant's choice, wherever possible, with classes limited in size.
The summit can be attended in hole or in parts; tickets are $195 for all three days, or $75 Saturday, $75 Sunday, or $50 for the Friday dinner and entertainment.
For more information or to register, call (216) 231-4600 or (800) 317-9155, ext. 278, or e-mail kmenn@cmnh.org.
The club was founded in 1978 to promote public knowledge of cold-water fishing and habitats, conservation and stream ecology. The museum is located in the University Circle area of Cleveland.
Shooting Sports Pioneers
The Trumbull County 4H Shooting Sports Pioneers will hold two organizational meetings for 2004 at the Fish and Game Club of Vienna, state Route 193 in Vienna.
Those interested in archery should meet at 5 p.m. on Friday and Nov. 7 while those interested in firearms have meetings scheduled at 6:30 p.m. on the same two days at the Vienna club's grounds, across from the Youngstown Municipal Airport.
Future meetings for this club will be held on the second and fourth Fridays of January and the first and third Fridays of February through May 2004.
The meetings are open to children age 9 through 18 and their parents. The club will emphasize the safe use of firearms and archery equipment as well as development of self-esteem, ethical behavior and related activities.
For more information call Larry Beardsley, (330) 898-4486.
braun@vindy.com