LOCAL

LOCAL

Parks patrol blitz

CORTLAND — Officers at Mosquito Lake, Lake Milton and West Branch State Parks will conduct a traffic enforcement blitz this weekend as a reminder to motorists to observe safety laws when driving in the parks. The program will feature increased patrol activity today and Sunday.

Gun safety for kids

Girls and boys between 12 and 17 years old are invited to participate in a 10-week course on safe gun handling and position rifle shooting. The classes will be held at the Fish and Game Club of Vienna across from Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. Instruction will be provided by NRA certified instructors. The first meeting will be at 6 p.m. Sept. 10 and continue until Nov. 12. All equipment will be provided, and the cost is $10 the first week and $5 per week for the remainder of the course. At the first meeting, copies of “The Junior Shooting Handbook,” which costs $6, will be given out to new shooters. Each child must have an adult sponsor with them for the first meeting. Reservations are required. For more information, call Russ Evans at (330) 534-5344 or e-mail rvevans1@juno.com.

Bids for trapping

The Division of Wildlife will be accepting bids for the right to trap furbearers on six trapping units in the Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area Waterfowl Refuge in Trumbull County. Trapping units range in size from 165 to 800 acres and include both wetland and upland habitats. Trapping dates vary per unit from Nov. 10 to Feb. 29. Trappers must submit sealed bids to either the Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area (8303 North Park Avenue, North Bloomfield, OH 44450 before 9 a.m.) or the Wildlife District Three office (912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, OH 44319 by 3 p.m.) on or before Sept. 20. Bid forms and information (including exact trapping dates for each unit) can be obtained by contacting the Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area Office at (440) 685-4776 or the Wildlife District Three Office at (330) 644-2293. Trappers submitting the highest bids will be selected (each trapper is limited to a maximum of two trapping units and one assistant) and allowed to trap furbearers (including river otter and beaver) during the 2007-08 furbearer trapping seasons (Nov. 10 through Feb. 29). Bids will be opened at the Wildlife District Three office at 3 p.m. on Sept. 20.

Mahoning gun show

HILLSVILLE, Pa. — The Mahoning Sportsman Association will present a gun show Sept. 15-16 at 3839 West Main St. Admission is $4; children under 12 will be admitted free. More than 40 tables are planned. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 16. Dealers will be charged $15 per 8-foot table; outside setup is $10 per table. Call Rob Romano at (724) 651-2074.

Early goose season

PORTERSVILLE, Pa. — Early goose season at Moraine State Park will open today and continue through Sept. 25. Bag limits remain eight daily, with a possession of 16. Hunting maps are available at the park office.

OHIO

Fall hunting season

Today marks the opening day of the fall hunting season, with Ohio hunters taking to forests, fields and waters in pursuit of some of the state’s most popular game, including squirrel, mourning dove and Canada goose.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife predicts hunting for doves and Canada geese will be excellent this year. Squirrel hunting should be good, but is not expected to match last year’s excellent season. Hunters should still see good numbers of gray squirrels. They should be most abundant in the forested hills of eastern and southern Ohio. The outlook for fox squirrels is expected to be above average, with small woodlots adjacent to crop fields and trees near rivers and streams the best locales.

Rail, moorhen and snipe seasons also open today. Teal season runs through Sept. 16.

Hunting is one of the state’s best recreational bargains, with a one-year license for Ohio residents costing just $19. Those hunting waterfowl must also purchase a federal Duck Stamp, along with an Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp, at a cost of $15 each. Federal Duck Stamps are available at many post offices. Ohio licenses and permits can be purchased at any of more than 1,200 license vendors in the state, or online at wildohio.com.