MIKE BRAUN Outdoor shows herald the coming of spring

The arrival of March will bring the promise of good weather and enjoyable outdoor pursuits.
But even if winter's icy grip isn't loosening as fast as some would like, there are still plenty of activities -- inside and out -- to enjoy.
Next weekend, the annual Northeast Ohio Outdoor Show at the Eastwood Expo Center opens with a variety of displays, information and equipment to buy or just plain gawk at.
Expanded by an additional 30 displays this year, the show will offer a little something for everyone, including a live trout pond and a new action archery range.
There is information on hunting and fishing, including live demonstrations by fly-tying experts Chris Helm and Dr. Chuck Moxley; Capt. Deb Padey's seminars for female anglers; and demonstrations of fish cooking, walleye, bass and salmon fishing and deer hunting.
Additionally, the National Wild Turkey Federation will host a sanctioned turkey-calling championship next Sunday.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife will bring in its "Birds of Prey" display, including a huge eagle's next.
This is a great place to whet your appetite for the coming hunting and fishing seasons.
Hours for the show are 3 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children 5-12, and free for children under 5.
For more information call (330) 544-8951.
Grandfather of outdoor shows
Hot on the heels of the Eastwood show comes what some consider to be the largest of all outdoor shows, the annual Cleveland Sport, Travel and Outdoor Show at the huge IX Center next to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
This show will run March 13-21 and features more than 700 exhibits, seminars, demonstrations and related information.
On the show schedule is a large exhibit by Gander Mountain and a Professional Walleye Trail area to promote the first Lake Erie Central Basin tournament in July.
There will be hunting and fishing seminars by the likes of Dave Csanda, editor of In-Fisherman Magazine and recipient of the Walleyes Unlimited Man of the Year award; Alex Vedrinski, one of the most recognized turkey callers in the United States; and Chuck Adams, one of the world's most famous bowhunters.
For the dog lovers in the area, a treat will be the seminars and demonstrations put on by the Purebred Dog Breeders Association of Northeast Ohio.
This group will be showcasing sporting and other breeds, including German shepherd, Treasure Lake Chesapeake Bay retrievers, Siberian huskies and Pembroke Welsh corgis.
For more information on this show, including hours, ticket prices and how to get there, log on to www.sportandtravel.com and click on the link to the show.
Ohio wildlife issues
The rules that will affect those who would like to hunt and fish in Ohio for the coming year will be addressed at a series of open houses next Sunday throughout the state.
Meetings at the state's Division of Wildlife headquarters in each region -- Columbus, Akron, Findlay, Xenia and Athens -- will be from noon to 3 p.m.
The Akron headquarters, which oversees our little corner of the state, is at 912 Portage Lakes Drive, about an hour from Youngstown.
Information gathered at each of these open houses will be forwarded to the main DOW office in Columbus. A statewide hearing on the proposed rules for 2004-05 will be March 11 in Columbus. A vote on the proposed rules will be held by the Ohio Wildlife Council on April 7.
For more information or directions to the Akron office, call (330) 644-2293.
Bird dog event
One of the first activities to be scheduled outdoors comes with the Berlin Bird Dog Club's Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America trial March 14.
The event, held at the club's Berlin bird dog training grounds, will start at 8 a.m. Those looking to register a dog should call Rich Barnes at (330) 654-2345.
The club is also looking for volunteers to help with grooming the training grounds March 20. The grooming is important to keep the area in shape for future dog training activities. Assistance from the Division of Wildlife is also expected.
Those with ATVs, chain saws, axes and related equipment are invited to lend a hand, starting at 9 a.m. The grounds are at the Berlin Wildlife Area, Fewton Road off U.S. Route 225, south of the U.S. routes 224 and 225 intersection.
For more information, call Paul Richards, (330) 499-1001, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
braun@vindy.com