HUNTING

HUNTING
Ohio's archery deerseason starts Oct. 4
Approximately 200,000 bowhunters are expected to participate in the statewide archery deer hunting season, which opens on Oct. 4.
During last year's four-month archery season, bowhunters took a record 48,904 deer, up 18 percent from the previous season's record harvest of 41,526.
Both longbow and crossbow kill totals set records last year. Crossbow hunters totaled 28,352 deer, and longbow hunters took 20,552 deer. Overall, archers accounted for 24 percent of the 204,652 deer taken during Ohio's combined 2002 archery, primitive and gun seasons.
This year's statewide archery season is open through Jan. 31 , 2004 including the week of deer-gun season, which is Dec. 1 through 7.
Wildlife biologists estimate Ohio's deer herd at 681,000 prior to the start of hunting season.
Archery hunters may hunt one half-hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, except during the statewide gun and primitive seasons when they are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
During the statewide gun and primitive seasons, archery hunters are reminded that they must meet the hunter orange requirements of those seasons.
A detailed listing of deer hunting rules is contained in the 2003-2004 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest that is available where licenses are sold, or may be viewed on-line at ohiodnr.com.
Fall turkey opens Oct. 26
The 16-day fall wild turkey hunting season in Ohio begins Oct. 11 and runs through Oct. 26. The fall archery-only wild turkey season opens Oct. 27 and ends Nov. 30. Additionally, Highland County will be open for the first time, bringing to 36 the total number of counties open for fall turkey hunting.
"Although the breeding success for Ohio turkeys was below average for the third consecutive year, Ohio supports an abundant and widespread wild turkey population," said Dave Swanson, ODNR Division of Wildlife turkey management leader. "Hunters should have no problem locating a flock of wild turkeys in any of the open counties."
Swanson said Ohio's statewide wild turkey flock now numbers more than 200,000 birds.
Fall wild turkey season hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset during the 16-day regular fall turkey season and one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset during the archery only season. The bag limit is one turkey of either sex per hunter per season. A fall turkey permit is required in addition to a current Ohio hunting license. All harvested turkeys must be taken to an official turkey check station by 8 p.m. the day of harvest.
Dogs may be used to assist in taking wild turkeys during the fall hunting season, but not during the spring season.
Hunters should be aware that because of the increased number of turkey hunting days, the season will partially overlap the Special Area Primitive Season (Oct. 20-25) deer hunt on three state-owned areas: Wildcat Hollow and Salt Fork state wildlife areas, and Shawnee State Forest. Turkey hunting will not be allowed on these areas during those dates.
More than 27,000 hunters pursued wild turkeys in the state last fall, harvesting 2,394 turkeys. The first fall wild turkey hunting season in Ohio was in 1996.
TRAP
Knox Twp. Sportsman Club registered shoot results
Event: doubles, high score -- John Sayle, 96 Fred Baker, Tony Girard, 95; Event, singles, high score -- Fred Baker, Talmadge Rose, John Sayle, 99, Duane Bates, Al Cope, Tony Girard, Don Hynst, Bill Wheeler, 98 ; Event, handicap, high score -- Tony Girard, 96, Bret Fiddler, Ray Houyouse, Dave Mackey, 95; Event, high over all, high score -- Tony Girard, 289 Fred Baker, 28; Event, Junior Shooters, 16 yards, Tom Baker, 93, Cody Oldfield, 91, Richie Corns, 89, handicap, Josh Sanders, 95
FISHING
Steelhead seminar
Jerry Darkes, a top Ohio steelhead guide, will be featured at a steelhead trout fly fishing seminar Oct. 4 at the Backpacker's Shop, 5128 Colorado Ave, Sheffield Village.
For information call (440) 934-5345 or (440) 835-0861.
Lakes Trail resultsat Portage Lakes
159 bass were weighed for a total weight of 237.36 pounds and an average size of 1.49 pounds. There were 15 limits of 6 bass out of 58 teams.
The winning pattern involved throwing crankbaits on deeper weed edges in the Turkeyfoot section of Portage Lakes. Others contenders caught bass on crankbaits as well in East reservoir. Some dock fish were reported but most involved deep weeds with crankbaits or some sort of plastic bait fished Texas or Carolina rigged.
It was the last qualifier for the end of season championship to be fished at Portage in October. 35 teams qualified to fish the championship.
1. Ron Kotch, Ron Goodwin from Canal Fulton, Wadsworth, 13.37, $610.
2., Bob Kotch, Matt Amedeo from Akron, 2.77, $460.
3., Russ Lebo, Jeff Weisent from Massillon, 11.22, $380.
4., Ronny Sword, Bill Bucy from Rittman, 10.87, $342.
5., Marty Salchak, Dale Corley from Akron, 10.62, $300.
6., Lance and Tom Gunter from Clinton, , 0.54, $270.
7., Andy Berger, Craig Troup from Clinton, 0.07, $230.
8., Ron and Phil Berish from Akron, 9.87, $200.
9., Mike Schmeltzer, Don Merritt from Akron, 9.10, $152.
*Big Bass, Ronny Sword (Rittman), 5.62 pound Largemouth, $380
2nd Big Bass Terry Squire (Medina), 4.33 pound Largemouth, $228.
* This bass was the largest caught for the 2003 season on the trail. A special award will be presented for this at Championship.
Complete results and photos available at: www.geocities.com /lakestrail.
PENNSYLVANIA
Boat rule clarified
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has taken action to clarify existing regulations on the types of watercraft required to carry approved fire extinguishers on board. The amended regulation stops short of requiring all motorboats to carry extinguishers. Instead it closely follows federal regulations on fire extinguishers for motorboats and clarifies specific instances where motorboats are required to have such devices.
The new regulation was adopted during the PFBC's fall quarterly meeting Sept. 21-22 in Harrisburg.