ENVIRONMENT

ENVIRONMENT
GL deadline Monday
Opportunities for the public to comment on proposed agreements to manage and protect waters of the Great Lakes basin will end Monday.
Since mid-July, governors of the eight Great Lakes states and the premiers of Ontario and Quebec have sought public input on draft provisions to implement Annex 2001, a supplementary agreement to the Great Lakes Charter.
Comments may be submitted by e-mail to annexcomments@dnr. state. oh.us. The draft implementing agreements are the result of three years of effort by a state/provincial working group to address Great Lakes basin protection issues ranging from water consumption to diversion. Documents are available on the Internet at www.ohiodnr.com and www.cglg.org.
OHIO
2 Ala. men charged
Two men from Coleman, Ala., Bradley L. Johnson, 19, and Craig R. Edwards, 21, were recently charged with jacklighting deer.
The men were arrested shortly before midnight on Saturday in Carroll County. The men, who served three days in jail and were arraigned Tuesday in Carroll County Municipal Court, Carrollton, before County Judge Charles A. Johnston, were fined $500 and $55 court costs and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 27 days suspended.
They also received two years probation and Johnson was forced to forfeit a compound bow.
"Ohio hunting laws state that it is illegal to shine a spotlight or other artificial light while in possession of a firearm, bow or crossbow," said Doug Miller, law enforcement supervisor for district three, ODNR Division of Wildlife. "Judge Johnston should be commended for sending a strong message that this type of illegal behavior will not be tolerated in Ohio," adds Miller.
The DOW encourages anyone who is aware of a possible wildlife violation to call the confidential Turn In a Poacher line, 1-800-POACHER .
PENNSYLVANIA
Deer seasons
The state's popular early antlerless deer muzzleloader season opens today and runs through Saturday. To participate in this season, hunters must have an antlerless deer license, a muzzleloader stamp and general hunting license.
Also opening in the coming week, the state's special firearms antlerless deer season will run Thursday through Saturday and hunters must have a general hunting license and an antlerless deer license and qualify in one of the following license categories:Resident junior and senior license holders; people who hold a disabled person permit to use a vehicle as a blind; residents who are serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces; those who qualify for license and fee exceptions under section 2706; and nonresident juniors and those 65 years of age or older.
Hunters may use in-line, percussion and flintlock muzzleloaders during the early muzzleloader season. They also may use scopes, peep-sights and other lawful sighting devices on muzzleloaders during the October hunt.
Hunters may purchase muzzleloader licenses through Nov. 13. The license entitles them to hunt in both the fall antlerless muzzleloader season and the traditional flintlock season (Dec. 27-Jan. 15). Regulations for the after-Christmas muzzleloader season remain unchanged: Hunters may use only primitive muzzle-loading long guns 44-caliber or larger with flintlock ignition systems and primitive sighting devices. Fiber-optic inserts are permitted in sighting devices.
Grouse forecast
Pennsylvania Game Commission biologists and field officers are somewhat undecided about what hunters will encounter when they head afield for today's start of the statewide ruffed grouse season. Grouse season runs through Nov. 27, Dec. 13-23 and Dec. 17-Jan. 15.
On the heels of a season that set one of the worst grouse flushing rates in almost 40 years -- and followed by another rainy and cold spring -- many field officers see fair prospects for the coming season.
Grouse hunters are reminded to wear at least 250 square inches of fluorescent orange clothing on head, chest and back combined at all times; limit hunting parties to six or fewer individuals; and plug shotguns to three-shell capacity (magazine and chamber combined).
Squirrel numbers strong
Pennsylvania Game Commission officials noted that, in most places, squirrel populations are strong, and with the continuing expansion of fox squirrels into eastern and northern counties, squirrels hunters even have more variety when they go afield for the opening day of squirrel season today. The season runs through Nov. 27, Dec. 13-23 and Dec. 27-Jan. 15.
Squirrels are one of the most abundant game animals and they can be found near oak trees yielding acorns or unharvested cornfield near wooded areas; or by slowly moving along woods trails or sitting near a food source and waiting for squirrels to approach or leave it. Hunters use shotguns with light loads (size six-shot) or .22-caliber rifles with or without scopes.
Woodcock outlook
Pennsylvania Game Commission biologist Bill Palmer reported that he expects hunters to encounter woodcock numbers similar those of the past two seasons when they head afield for the season, which opens today and runs through Nov. 13. The daily bag limit remains three birds.
"In 2003, woodcock hunting cooperators posted the best flushing rate in three years," Palmer said. "But because Pennsylvania woodcock hunters may see a combination of local birds and migrants from the north, hunting success depends somewhat on chance.
SHOOTING
Trap event results
Results of the recent Knox Township Sportsmans Club Champions Shoot:
High overall club champion was Francis Girard with a 50, runner-up was Kyle Farber with 49; singles champ was John Sayle with a 25, runnerup was Bev Mowry with a 25; handicap champion was Ray Houyouse with 25 and the runnerup was Harry Hancock with a 24; doubles champ was Fed Baker with 49; junior champion was Cody Oldfied with a 42; sub-junior champ was Mason Dow with 47; veteran champ was Joe Diloreto with 45 and runnerup was Talmadge Rose with 44.