REGION

REGION

Gun show planned

LOWELLVILLE — The Mahoning Valley Gun Collectors will have their fall gun show Oct. 20-21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lowellville Rod & Gun Club. Admission is $4. Public is invited, and parking is free. Food will be available. For information, call (330) 506-9194.

Ducks Unlimited

WARREN — Trumbull County Ducks Unlimited is having its 16th annual banquet Oct. 19 at G’s Golden Gate, Parkman Road. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. (Singles, $45; couples, $65). For information, call Jim at (330) 766-2193.

Fall tractor ride

WARREN — The Antique Tractor Club of Trumbull County will have its third annual Fall Foliage Tractor Ride on Oct. 13. The trip will cover approximately 30 miles through the corners of Trumbull, Geauga and Ashtabula counties. Monthly meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Ali Baba Grotto in Warren. More (330) 394-4871.

Autumn walk planned

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — Revel in the beauty of the fall season on a guided walk at the Jennings Environmental Education Center, 2951 Prospect Road, at 2 p.m. Oct. 14. Jennings is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and on weekends as scheduled. The trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset for hiking and other environmentally related activities. If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, contact the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks, (888) 727-2757. With at least three days’ notice, interpreters for people who are deaf or hard of hearing are available for educational programs.

Hunter safety course

NILES — The Western Reserve Fish And Game Association will have a hunter education course Oct. 12 from 6 to 10 p.m. and Oct. 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the club at 1058 West Third St. Students must attend both sessions to get credit for the course. To register, call Dave Ruby at (330) 302-3924 or (330) 793-3260.

OHIO

Biologists predict
good fowl season

COLUMBUS — Ohio waterfowl hunters should have good opportunities to take some of the most popular species of waterfowl, based on the findings of biologists at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.

The spring pond index for the prairie pothole region of North America (Kansas to central Saskatchewan) and breeding duck surveys indicate an above average reproduction year for most duck species. Ponds are housing near-record numbers and good production has been noted from most of the primary breeding range.

Closer to home, the Upper Great Lakes states showed above average conditions and good production of mallards this year. The Upper Great Lakes are the primary breeding range for mallards harvested in Ohio. Mallards are Ohio’s number one harvested duck and can be found throughout the state.

Wood ducks, the second most important duck to Ohio hunters and the state’s number one breeding duck, also appear to have had a good production year. Late summer rains have dispersed the birds and should provide a variety of hunting locations for Ohio hunters.

Canada geese are the most harvested waterfowl in Ohio and can be found in good numbers everywhere. Locally raised giant Canada geese had the second highest population estimate this spring and all indications are there was excellent production across Ohio. Migrant interior populations (Southern James Bay and Mississippi Valley) of Canada geese have also had good production. With proper weather, the hunting outlook is good to very good.

With good habitat conditions, Ohio hunters will enjoy a liberal 60-day hunting season once again this year. Pintail and scaup showed slight population increases that are permitting full seasons for pintail and a continued two-bird bag for scaup. The record population estimate for canvasbacks has allowed the first two-bird bag in recent history for this species.

The success of Ohio waterfowl hunters has more to do with weather conditions and choice of hunting location than available ducks. Hunters should be scouting their territories now and securing landowner permission where needed. State wildlife areas are in good condition with excellent fall food potential. An extended summer drought early in the season caused moist-soil plants to occupy many traditional wetlands.

Details of the waterfowl and all other hunting seasons can be found in the Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations and in Ohio Waterfowl Hunting Seasons. Hunters can also review seasons and regulations online at http://wildohio.com/.