MIKE BRAUN Youth turkey hunt expanded

There will be expanded opportunities for young Buckeye State hunters to bag a gobbler during Ohio's spring youth turkey season April 24-25.
Two of what the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife term as "big changes" for the 2004 spring season are additional areas for youths 17 and under to hunt and longer hours.
Every square inch of Ohio that is available for hunting turkey is now open for youths to pursue Ohio's largest game bird -- both private and public land. Hunting in those areas is now allowed from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset each day.
Past rules
In previous years, only public lands were open to young hunters, and they could hunt only until noon. Private lands were added this year to create further chances for youths to get a turkey. It is important for young hunters to note that they, as well as hunters of any age, are required to obtain written permission to hunt on private lands.
Youngsters can be heartened by the fact that the state sliced the cost of a turkey permit for both resident and nonresident youth hunters to $12, while a youth hunting license is a mere $10 for both Ohioans and nonresidents.
This price break for young hunters is significant. Before this year, a nonresident hunting license -- for all ages -- was $91, and turkey permits were $20 for all comers.
In Pennsylvania, the spring youth turkey hunt runs statewide April 24 only. Pa's spring gobbler season runs May 1-29 with a one-bird limit.
Drawing held Saturday
A drawing for 50 youth turkey hunt permits was held Saturday at the Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area headquarters in North Bloomfield. The permits -- five per day for the April 24-25 hunt and five per day for each of the four Saturdays and Sundays during the regular turkey season -- will allow the youths selected a chance to hunt on the wildlife area.
A similar drawing for 30 permits was held Saturday at the Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area in Wayne and Holmes counties.
In addition to the drawing, the National Wild Turkey Federation sponsored a JAKES Day event at both sites. JAKES stands for Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship. The NWTF-sponsored program is geared toward the youth turkey hunter.
Local events
A flock of young turkey hunters swarmed the site, keeping a keen eye on the information offered.
Jamie Wrightsman, 14, of Bazetta Township, registered for one of the 50 spots at Mosquito and then zeroed in on a table displaying calls from the Windy Hill Call Co.
Jamie, an eighth-grader at Lakeview Middle School, said he hopes to be selected for one of the spots.
"I've been deer hunting, and I got a rabbit," he said. However, he has never been turkey hunting, and a friend of his father's, Bruce Murphy also of Bazetta, promised to go with him if he won a spot.
Another prospective hunter, Danielle Oberthaler, 12, of Twinsburg, seemed very good with a gun on the DOW's shooting simulator.
Her father, Dave, said she'd been hunting before and, in fact, a deer she bagged at last year's youth deer hunt at Mosquito is what made her excited about the turkey hunt.
"It's really fun," Danielle said. Her father said she's been practicing with calls, especially a mouth call. Danielle added that some day she hopes to be able to show her 18-month-old brother how to hunt turkey.
The local events were organized by the Thundering Toms Chapter of Trumbull County of the NWTF and the DOW and provided information to the youngsters on shotgun safety and patterning, turkey calling and a turkey trapping demonstration.
More Information
More information for youth turkey hunting can also be found at Ohiodnr.com or www.nwtf.org.
UOther Ohio rules and regulations governing youth turkey hunting include: Only hunters 15 and younger are eligible for youth permits; young hunters need to have a nonhunting adult go with them; they can bag two bearded birds during the spring season (both the special youth hunt and the regular April 26-May 23 statewide season); turkeys killed during the youth hunt must be checked by 6 p.m. the following day; shotguns using shot, crossbows and longbows are permitted.
braun@vindy.com