LOCAL

LOCAL
Membership banquet setfor Ducks Unlimited
YOUNGSTOWN -- The annual membership banquet for the Mahoning Valley Chapter of Ducks Unlimited will be Sept. 23 at Assumption Social Center, 356 South Belle Vista.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Cocktails will be served at 6, followed by dinner at 7 and an auction at 8:30.
Ticket prices are $60 (individual), $95 (couple), $40 (Greenwing), $300 (sponsor) and $340 (sponsor couple).
Pre-banquet raffle tickets for a Benelli Nova 12-gauge pump-action shotgun are available (one for $5, three for $10).
For reservations, call Dave Brown at (330) 533-2455 or Greg D'Angelo at 533-9766 or Walt Ibele at 533-6638 or Dan Donoghue at 726-0626.
Hunter education courses
BROOKFIELD -- The Brookfield Tri-District Conservation Club will sponsor a hunter education course at its clubhouse on Sharon-Hogue Road on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m.
Students must attend all three sessions. Ohio requires training for all first-time hunters.
The free course is conducted by instructors certified by the state.
For preregistration and more information, call Ed Wolfinger at (330) 550-2400 or Frank Bayer at (330) 448-2825.
CANFIELD -- The Mahoning County Coon Hunters Protective Association will sponsor a hunter education course from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 17 and 18 at the club grounds, Route 224 west of Canfield.
Reservations can be made by calling Bill Meier at (330) 536-6730.
Lowellville fish fry
LOWELLVILLE -- The Lowellville Rod & amp; Gun Club will have a fish fry Friday.
Carry-out only will be available from 3 to 5:30 p.m., and dining will occur from 6:30 to 9.
A donation of $10 covers fish, fries and a beverage. Profits are used to help further the club's conservation and youth programs.
The club is on Quarry Road, off Route 224 just east of Poland.
Annual fall fish sale
CORTLAND -- The Trumbull Soil and Water Conservation District is conducting its annual fall fish sale.
White amurs (grass carp), which are used for pond vegetation control, are available for $11 each.
Pickup will be Sept. 29 at the Mosquito Lake parking area off West Main Street.
To request an order form, call (330) 637-2056, Ext. 3. Orders will be taken till Sept. 23.
OHIO
Tour of Headlands Dunes
COLUMBUS -- A tour of Ohio's best coastal dunes will be held next Saturday as part of the Natural Areas Discovery Series, sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Natural Areas & amp; Preserves.
The 25-acre preserve is situated along the coast of Lake Erie in Lake County, and features an array of plants found in the Atlantic Plains region.
The first of three naturalist-led hikes begins at 7:30 a.m. This hike explores a variety of birds, including shore birds that can be seen resting along the preserve's beach. Additional hikes will be conducted at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., focusing on the unique vegetation of the dunes.
"This is the time of year when a wide variety of birds begin returning from Canada to their southern homes," said Charlotte McCurdy, preserve manager. "Headlands Dunes is a great place to see them as they stop to rest and refuel after the long journey across Lake Erie."
Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve is located west of Fairport Harbor at the north end of State Route 44 and the east end of Headlands Beach State Park. Parking and restrooms are available in the state park.
For more information about the Headlands event, call (440) 632-3010.
Sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, the Natural Areas Discovery Series features scheduled hikes, interpretive activities and an opportunity for visitors to meet preserve and scenic river staff. The next event will be Oct. 8 at Fowler Woods State Nature Preserve in Richland County.
PENNSYLVANIA
Mandatory certification forcable restraint trapping
HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania trappers looking to participate in the upcoming cable restraint trapping season (Jan. 1-Feb. 18) can begin signing up to take the mandatory certification courses being offered by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Developed by the Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Trappers Association, course listings have been posted on the agency's Web site (www.pgc.state.pa.us) under the "Calendar of Events" section in the left-hand column of the home page.
On Jan. 25, the Board of Game Commissioners gave final approval to permit certified trappers to use specific cable restraint devices for coyotes and foxes from Jan. 1 until the end of the annually established trapping season. Cable restraints of one form or another are legal in 41 states and all 12 Canadian provinces.
Under the new trapping option, licensed trappers will be required to complete a certification course to use cable restraints. Agency-certified trapper instructors will conduct the four-hour course. The cost of the course is $15.
Students will receive various education materials and one legal cable restraint, and a permanent certification card will be mailed after completion of the class.