MIKE BRAUN This, that and Christmas, too

You might want to mark down a few upcoming dates on the 2005 calendars that were undoubtedly among all the other gifts you opened this morning.
Dates for upcoming open houses, wildlife council meetings and game law hearings for 2005 have been set by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
Wildlife council meetings get started at 7 p.m. Jan. 5 at the Wildlife District One Office, 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus. Following up will be meetings at 7 p.m. at the same site on Feb. 9, March 9 and April 6.
According to the ODNR, "These meetings are open to public attendance, but there is no opportunity for public comment. Questions will be allowed and responded to once the meeting has adjourned."
On the other hand, wildlife council meetings are open, and public participation is encouraged.
"Anyone interested in providing input and participating in Ohio's professional wildlife management process is welcome. Fish and wildlife biologists along with law enforcement officers will be on hand to answer questions and receive comments," according to the ODNR.
Wildlife council meetings will be held March 6 from noon to 3 p.m. at the following locations:
Central Ohio, Wildlife District One Office, 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus (614) 644-3925; Northwest Ohio, Wildlife District Two Office, 952 Lima Ave., Findlay, (419) 424-5000; Northeast Ohio, Wildlife District Three Office, 912 Portage Lakes Dr., Akron, (330) 644-2293; Southeast Ohio, Wildlife District Four Office, 360 E State St., Athens; (740) 589-9930; Southwest Ohio, Greene County Fish and Game Club, Union Road, Xenia, (937) 372-9261.
The main state fish and wildlife hearing will be at 9 a.m. March 10 at the Wildlife District One office in Columbus. The public is allowed to come and observe as well as make comments at this meeting.
Doc's back on his own
Keith "Doc" Ainsley, owner-operator of Doc's Deer Farm and Scents in Cortland, is back on his own.
About a year ago, Doc hooked up with Browning Firearms for marketing and increased visibility.
Doc's makes the very popular Doc's Double Doe deer scent. His facility on state Route 46 is likely the largest such collection and bottling operation in the world.
Doc said he thought he could do better marketing his own products and was looking forward to having some fun getting the word out about his very effective scents, attractants cover-ups and related products.
To check out his line of products, log on to www.docsdeerscent.com.
Aside from a great product, you will also be supporting a good local company as well.
Eagle survey help
The ODNR Division of Wildlife is requesting help for state wildlife biologists with the annual mid-winter eagle survey.
Residents are urged to report any bald or golden eagle activities observed from now through Jan. 15. Information should be reported to the Crane Creek Wildlife Research Station at (419) 898-0960.
With a number of eagle nests in our area, such observations could be important to state biologists.
The survey is conducted annually as part of a nationwide count to determine the scope of the wintering eagle populations in North America.
According to the ODNR, last year a record 372 bald eagles were reported across Ohio, including 282 adults and 90 immature ones.
State biologists also take to the air as well as make ground observations on their own.
It is important to note that observers should not approach a nest because human interference before and during the nesting season may prompt an eagle pair to abandon a nest or discourage them from using it in the future.
Additionally, it is a violation of state and federal law to disturb an eagle nest.
Fish advisory
A fish consumption advisory has been issued by the State of Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for Berlin Reservoir, among other Ohio waters.
The Berlin advisory adds the common carp to those fish with a one-a-month fish consumption advisory because of mercury contamination. Channel catfish were already on the advisory list for Berlin because of PCB contamination.
More information on fish advisories is available at www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/fishadvisory/index.html.
Happy holidays
Here's hoping you all had a very Merry Christmas today. If you'd like to tell me about that special outdoors item you received today, why not drop me a line via e-mail. I'd really like to hear from you.
braun@vindy.com