MIKE BRAUN Area clubs will raffle off firearms

The third annual Trumbull County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs' 50-Plus Gun Raffle will be held today at the Yankee Lake Ballroom, state Route 7 in Yankee Lake.
The raffle will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Proceeds will go to the federation's education fund.
There will be a drawing for a gun every six minutes for five hours. Gun chance tickets are $20 and include a lunch of roast beef sandwiches and unlimited drinks.
There also will be 18 local clubs from Trumbull and Mahoning counties holding side raffles for ATVs, trips and prize packets.
Ed Wolfinger, president of the federation, said some of the areas helped by the event's proceeds the past two years included classes for youth hunting, turkey hunting, archery deer hunting and a catfish tournament at Mosquito Reservoir.
"The idea behind this was that a lot of clubs were in need of generating funds," he said. "That's why we got this started to help support the clubs themselves."
Firearms include pistol, shotguns and rifles. Wolfinger noted that all state, local and federal laws apply to all the guns raffled off. Those participating today must be 18 to buy a ticket and 16 to be admitted.
One shot turkey event May 6-8
The Ohio One Shot Turkey Hunt, will be Tuesday through Saturday.
"One Shot" means the only turkey participants can check in is the first bird they pull the trigger on.
The first 100 who submit a completed registration and full fee will be admitted to the contest. Those who harvest a bird must have it at hunt headquarters, the Ashtabula County Fairgrounds, by 2 p.m. on day of harvest.
Registration of $125 for adults, and $50 for hunters 17 and under grants access to all three evening events, special event shirts, caps, and other items. Awards will be given out in several categories. An unused spring turkey tag is necessary to participate.
For information and complete rules list call (440) 293-5283.
Birding events
There are a slew of birding-related events in May across Ohio.
First up are wildflower and bird hikes Saturday at the Eagle Creek State Nature Preserve.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife said the Portage County preserve will host Wildflower Rambles from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with guided hikes at 7:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon.
A 7:30 a.m. hike along the preserve's Beaver Run Trail focuses on the birds of Eagle Creek in a rarely-visited area of the preserve. The 10 a.m. and noon hikes will highlight a variety of spring blooms seen along the preserve's trails. The 10 a.m. walk will be longer and visitors are encouraged to bring water and a snack.
The preserve is two miles northeast of Garrettsville on Center Road.
A Lake Erie birding cruise May 13 will take participants from Port Clinton to Point Pelee National Park in Leamington, Ontario, Canada.
The $70 Jet Express excursion will focus on the spring bird migration at the Canadian park including species such as warblers, vireos thrushes and flycatchers.
For information, call (800) 245-1JET. Reservations are due by Wednesday.
The Audubon Society Mahoning Valley and Mill Creek MetroParks will present Wings Over Mill Creek May 15 at the Newport Wetlands.
The 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. event will include bird walks, children's nature walks, live birds of prey on display, a real eagle's nest and more.
Stream classes
If you'd like to learn more about Ohio's scenic rivers and how they can be preserved, you can attend workshops set in four areas this month.
The first workshop will focus on the Chagrin River Thursday from 5-7 p.m. at Old River Farm Picnic Area, S.R. 174-N, Chagrin Reservation.
Other workshops include May 11, 5-7 p.m., Little Beaver Creek, Beaver Creek State Park, Columbiana County; May 13, 5-7 p.m., Grand River, Hidden Valley picnic area, S.R. 528, Madison, Lake County; and May 19, 5-7 p.m., Upper Cuyahoga River, Mantua Village Park, High Street, Mantua.
For information, contact Billie Jagers, SQM coordinator, (330) 527-2961, or the Scenic Rivers office, (330) 527-4184.
braun@vindy.com