Sportsman show

Sportsman show
NILES -- The Sportsman's Super Show and Sale will return to the Eastwood Expo Center, Route 422, Niles, on Friday through March 5. More than 150 exhibitors will feature name-brand merchandise at lower prices. Free rods or reels will be given to the first 100 children accompanied by an adult March 4 and 5. There also will be other giveaways along with raffles for a wide variety of items. Live entertainment also will be featured from noon to 4 p.m. March 4 and 5. Hours are 3 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. March 4 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 5. Admission is $5, and children under 12 will be admitted free. For information call (330) 544-8951 or visit www.fishnfieldreport.com.
Deer, turkey expo
COLUMBUS -- The fragrant aroma of spicy venison, wild duck or morel mushrooms sizzling in a frying pan or wok will add another level of enjoyment and education to the 2006 Ohio Deer & amp; Turkey Expo to be held March 17-19 in the Bricker Building at the Ohio Expo Center, State Fairgrounds. "From Kitchen to Camp," new wild-game cooking demonstrations, have been added to the myriad educational seminars and venison butchering and processing demonstrations that are popular mainstays of the event. An added attraction of the cooking demonstrations is that the recipes and menus used will be ideal for a deer or elk hunting camp as well as in the kitchen at home. The event also will highlight exhibits of hunting products and accessories, guides and outfitters from throughout North America, book-magazine-video producers and a trophy whitetail deer contest. There also will be several hands-on shooting opportunities, a live wild animal display and an outdoor photo contest. Seminars will be conducted by Judy Helgeland, Tom Nauman and Chris Miller. Byron Ferguson, internationally known trick archery shot and accomplished bowhunter, will perform March 18 and 19. Show hours are 2 to 9 p.m. March 17, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 18 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 19. Tickets are $10 one-day for adults, $17 two-day for adults; $7 for hunter-education graduates age 12-18 who completed a course before January 2005 and show proof of completion at the ticket window, otherwise they will pay adult price. Children 6-11 will be admitted for $3, and children under 6 will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Admission will be free for qualified first-year hunters of any age. Any first-year hunter who received a hunter education certificate between Jan. 1, 2005, and March 16, 2006, will be admitted free when showing proof of course completion at the designated ticket window. March 17 will be family night, and all children 11 and under will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult. For information call (800) 324-3337 or visit www.deerinfo.com.
Trout release
COLUMBUS -- Public fishing opportunities will be enhanced this spring when more than 80,000 rainbow trout measuring 10-13 inches long are released into 45 Ohio lakes and ponds from mid-March through mid-May, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife. Anglers are reminded that the daily catch limit for inland lakes is five trout per angler. Some of the trout locations will feature special, youth-only angler events the day of the scheduled release. Anglers 16 and older must have an Ohio fishing license to fish the state's public waters. The 2006-07 fishing license can be purchased now and is required by Wednesday. An annual resident fishing license is $19 and is valid through Feb. 28, 2007. A one-day fishing license may also be redeemed for credit toward the purchase of an annual fishing license. Resident anglers born on or before Dec. 31, 1937, may obtain a free fishing license where licenses are sold. People age 66 and older who were born on or after Jan. 1, 1938, and have lived in Ohio for the past six months are eligible to buy a reduced-cost Resident Senior License for $10. Area lakes and dates they will be stocked are: Glacier Lake, Mill Creek Park, Mahoning County, April 28; Punderson Lake, Geauga County, April 15; Lock 4, Ohio Canal, Stark County, April 29; and Little Turtle Pond, Summit County, May 13. For additional information about the releases call (800) WILDLIFE.
Camping reservations
COLUMBUS -- Outdoor enthusiasts are surely pining for warmer days. And while it may be too early to wish away the snow and frigid conditions, it's not too early to start planning your warm-weather camping trip to an Ohio state park. Reservations at all 57 state park campgrounds can be made up to six months in advance, allowing campers to lock in their ideal camping spot at the park of their choice. Campers are encouraged to especially plan ahead for holiday weekends such as Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, which book up quickly. "Nearly 2 million campers enjoyed Ohio's state park campgrounds last year," said Dan West, chief of Ohio State Parks. "Our parks are a popular and affordable family destination during any season, with activities for everyone including hiking, boating and fishing." Reservations can be made easily online at ohiodnr.com or by calling (866) 644-6727. Reservations are not required to camp in a state park, but are encouraged, and stays as long as two weeks can be booked ahead of time. Camping rates range from $14 for a nonelectric site to $35 per night for full-service camping sites, which feature electric, sewer and water hook-ups. Family campgrounds accommodate all types of tents and trailers and provide, at a minimum: drinking water, restrooms or latrines, pads for parking a car or trailer, picnic tables and fire rings. Many campgrounds offer much more, including electrical hookups, showers, laundry facilities, camp stores and playgrounds, as well as special campers' beaches, boat launch ramps and boat docks or tie-ups.