LOCAL

LOCAL
Annual fall fish sale
The Trumbull Soil and Water Conservation District is conducting its annual fall fish sale.
White amurs (grass carp), used for pond vegetation control, are for sale for $11 each and will be ready for pickup Sept. 29 at the Mosquito Lake parking area. Orders will be taken until Sept. 23.
To request and order form or for more information, call the district office at (330) 637-2056, Ext. 3.
OHIO
Dates approved forearly migratory season
COLUMBUS -- The Ohio Wildlife Council has approved the state's early migratory bird hunting seasons for this fall, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
Sept. 1 will kick off the state's hunting seasons with the opening of dove, Canada goose and rail, moorhen and snipe. Squirrel hunting season also starts that day.
Ohio's dove hunting season runs Sept. 1 through Oct. 16 and Nov. 13 through Nov. 26, with a daily limit of 15 birds and possession limit of 30 birds.
Controlled dove hunts will be available on Fallsville, Spring Valley, Rush Run, Bott and Indian Creek state wildlife areas Sept. 1-3 from noon to sunset. Information on these controlled hunts is available by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.
Canada geese may be hunted statewide Sept. 1-15 during the special early season, with a daily limit of three birds and possession limit of six birds after the first day. The daily bag limit is two Canada geese for birds taken in the Crane Creek/Ottawa, Mosquito Creek and Killdeer Plains mandatory reporting zones. The Mercer goose-reporting zone will not be open during the early Canada goose season.
The early teal hunting season will be open Sept. 3 and run through Sept. 11 with a daily bag limit of four birds and possession limit of eight after the first day.
Waterfowl hunters must have a valid hunting license in addition to a state wetlands habitat stamp endorsement, a federal duck stamp, and a Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification. Everyone who intends to hunt migratory game birds must obtain a new Harvest Information Program certification.
Sora rails, Virginia rails and moorhens may be hunted Sept. 1 through Nov. 9, with a daily limit of 25 rails and 15 moorhens. Hunting season for snipe will be Sept. 1 through Nov. 27 and Dec. 5-23, with a daily bag limit of eight.
The woodcock-hunting season is open Oct. 14 through Nov. 27, with a daily bag limit of three birds and a possession limit of six birds.
Hunting hours during the seasons for rails, moorhens, snipe, woodcock, teal, doves and Canada geese are sunrise to sunset. The only exceptions will be on wildlife areas that have special posted hunting times for dove hunting.
The 2005 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons brochure will be available by mid-August at license outlets, Division of Wildlife district offices or by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.
Natural Resources Parkat Ohio State Fair
COLUMBUS -- Tucked away from the carnival rides, Dumbo ears and livestock exhibits at the Ohio State Fair lies the Natural Resources Park, a cool, green oasis that offers visitors shade trees, waterfalls, picnic groves and a variety of educational and recreational activities.
A favorite tradition for fairgoing families, the 8-acre park is managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources throughout the 12-day fair, which runs Aug. 3-14 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus.
Popular attractions at the Natural Resources Park include a walk-through butterfly garden, youth fishing pond, authentic tall-grass prairie, Ohio wildlife display, log-rolling lumberjacks and a 15-foot animated Smokey Bear who greets visitors by name.
New this year is a fully furnished Conestoga camper cabin, on display at the park's main entrance. A popular Getaway rental in Ohio State Parks, these cabins appeal to families who want to experience nature without investing in camping equipment.
While at the fair, visitors can reserve a campsite or cottage in an Ohio State Park via the online reservation system at the ODNR Information Center.
Seeking help on mines
COLUMBUS -- In an effort to expand the existing database of abandoned underground coal mines in eastern and southeastern Ohio, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is seeking help from former miners and others in locating previously unrecorded mines.
Anyone having old underground coal mine maps they would be willing to lend may contact Elizabeth Reeb at (614) 265-1016. The abandoned underground mine locator Web site can be found at ohiodnr.com/geosurvey, then click on "Interactive Maps."