Steel Valley Outdoors

LUCAS, OH- Discover the history of maple syrup making in Ohio at Malabar Farm State Park during the first two weekends in March (March 6-7 and March 13-14) from noon to 4 p.m. Sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), the 33^rd Annual Maple Syrup Family Festival is free and features sugaring demonstrations, historic tours, horse-drawn rides and sweet maple treats.

Learn how maple sap is transformed into maple syrup. A self-guided tour of the sugar camp and sugarhouse will reveal the evolution of sugaring to visitors. Ohio State Parks staff will lead demonstrations and offer free samples of maple syrup.

Peek inside the summer bell house, behind the nearby Pugh Log Cabin, and transport yourself back in time. Presented by the Richland County Museum, the summer bell house is now set up as a pioneer cabin, where kids and adults can take part in daily pioneer chores like washing clothes, making candles, cooking and tending to the fire. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the horse-drawn wagon rides to the sugar camp provided by the Central Ohio Draft Horse Association.

Pure Ohio maple syrup, homemade maple walnut fudge and maple cotton candy as well as other maple products will be on sale in the Malabar Farm gift shop throughout the season.

Live musical entertainment will be provided along with light refreshments and snacks during the festival in the Pugh Log Cabin. Additionally, Bromfield’s historical 32-room mansion at Malabar will be open for self-guided tours. Tickets may be purchased at the Visitor’s Center gift shop.

Located near the state park, the Malabar Farm Restaurant will offer lunch and dinner specials featuring Malabar Farm products and maple foods during both weekends—kids menu available. For reservations, call (419) 938-5205.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com

COLUMBUS, OH – The Ohio Wildlife Council is considering a proposal for a 15-inch minimum size limit on walleye, sauger and saugeye on 16 inland waterways according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife.

The 16 lakes or reservoirs that are being proposed include Acton (Butler and Preble counties), Alum Creek (Delaware County), Atwood (Carroll and Tuscarawas counties), Buckeye (Fairfield, Licking and Perry counties), Caesar Creek (Clinton, Greene and Warren counties), Ferguson (Allen County), Findlay 1 & 2 (Hancock County), Indian (Logan County), Lake Snowden (Athens County), Metzger (Allen County), Piedmont (Belmont, Guernsey and Harrison counties), Pleasant Hill (Ashland and Richland counties), Rocky Fork (Highland County), Seneca (Guernsey and Noble counties), Tappan (Harrison County) and West Branch (Portage County).

This regulation is designed to improve the age and size structure of walleye, sauger and saugeye populations on these lakes, which means better fishing for Ohio’s anglers. This proposal would not go into effect until March 1, 2011.

A number of rules concerning the taking, possession and propagation of native Ohio amphibians and reptiles have been proposed. Two Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) sections that now deal with these species would be combined into one OAC section for ease of understanding.

In 2000, rules were implemented dealing with native Ohio amphibians and reptiles. Since that time, Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) Tag technology has changed and the laws need to be updated to reflect the new technology and record keeping.

Rules dealing with certain turtles and frogs were also proposed. The daily bag limit for bullfrogs and green frogs would be raised to 15. There will be no possession limit on these frogs. Those pursuing frogs would still have to have a valid fishing license.

Snapping and softshell turtles would have a minimum shell size limit of 13 inches imposed for harvest. The closed season for these turtles would be extended from May 1 through June 30. Currently, the closed season for these turtles is May 1 through the second Friday in June. The proposal allows continued turtle harvest for food while restricting the take of the most viable breeding-age female turtles.

All lands owned, controlled, administered or under agreement with the Division of Wildlife would be closed to collection of reptiles and amphibians, with the exception of bullfrogs, green frogs, snapping and softshell turtles. This rule would take a holistic approach to the management of amphibians and reptiles, ensuring sustainable populations continue to persist on state lands.

Open houses will be held on Saturday, March 6 in each of the state’s five wildlife districts to provide the public an opportunity to view and discuss proposed hunting and trapping regulations with state wildlife officials. For directions to the open houses, please call 1-800-WILDLIFE or visit wildohio.com on the Internet.

A statewide hearing on all the proposed rules will be held at 9 a.m., Thursday, March 4 at the Division of Wildlife’s District One Office, located at 1500 Dublin Road in Columbus. After considering public input, the Ohio Wildlife Council will vote on the proposed rules and season dates during its April 7 meeting.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at ohiodnr.com

COLUMBUS, OH – Hunters in seven northwest Ohio counties will be given a higher deer bag limit if the proposed regulation is accepted by the Ohio Wildlife Council in April, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife.

A proposed change to the deer zones includes moving seven northwest Ohio counties from Deer Zone A to Zone B. The counties are Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Paulding, Van Wert and Williams.

A proposal to eliminate the requirement that hunters must purchase a regular deer permit before purchasing antlerless deer permits was heard. The sale of reduced priced antlerless permits would cease after November 28, so hunters need to commit early to buying and using the extra reduced-cost permits to take full advantage of this opportunity.

Under the proposal, hunters could again buy antlerless deer permits at reduced prices for hunting in an urban zone, participating in a Division of Wildlife-authorized controlled hunt or hunting during the September 25 to November 28 portion of the deer season. The division is again proposing the deadline for using the antlerless permit be extended to December 5 for those hunting in Deer Zone C. Cost of the antlerless deer permit remains $15.

The maximum number of deer that a hunter may take in Deer Zone A is two. Prior to November 29, hunters may take up to two deer in Zone A, one of which may be on a $15 antlerless deer permit. Beginning November 29, hunters may take only one deer in Zone A and antlerless permits may not be used.

The maximum number of deer that a hunter may take in Deer Zone B is four. Prior to November 29, hunters may take up to four deer in Zone B, two of which may be on $15 antlerless deer permits. Beginning November 29, hunters may take only two deer in Zone B and antlerless permits may not be used.

The maximum number of deer that a hunter may take in Deer Zone C is six. Prior to December 6, hunters may take up to six deer in Zone C, three of which may be on $15 antlerless deer permits. Beginning December 6, hunters may take only three deer in Zone C and antlerless permits may not be used.

Those hunting in urban zones and at Division of Wildlife-authorized controlled hunts would again have a six-deer bag limit, and those deer would not count against the hunter’s zone bag limit.

Either a $15 antlerless deer permit or $24 deer permit and a valid hunting license are required to hunt deer in Ohio. A hunter may take only one buck in Ohio, regardless of zone, hunting method or season.

Seasons and Dates

* Archery season – September 25 through February 6, 2011
* Special area muzzleloader hunts – October 18-23
* Youth deer-gun season – November 20-21
* Statewide deer-gun season – November 29 through December 5 and December 18-19
* Statewide muzzleloader season – January 8-11, 2011

A proposed change during the December 18-19 portion of the deer-gun season would allow other legal game species in season to be pursued by hunters meeting specified requirements, such as the hunter orange requirement for deer-gun season.

During the 2009-2010 season, which concludes February 7, hunters are expected to bag a record total of about 260,000 deer. Approximately 475,000 people hunted white-tailed deer in Ohio this year.

Open houses will be held on Saturday, March 6 in each of the state’s five wildlife districts to provide the public an opportunity to view and discuss proposed hunting and trapping regulations with state wildlife officials. For directions to the open houses, please call 1-800-WILDLIFE or visit wildohio.com on the Internet.

A statewide hearing on all the proposed rules will be held at 9 a.m., Thursday, March 4 at the Division of Wildlife’s District One Office, located at 1500 Dublin Road in Columbus. After considering public input, the Ohio Wildlife Council will vote on the proposed rules and season dates during its April 7 meeting.

Proposed Deer Hunting Zones
(FOR THE 2010-11 SEASON: Those counties proposed to move from Deer Zone A to Zone B are bolded)

Zone A — The zone includes 13 counties: Allen, Auglaize, Darke, Erie, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Ottawa, Preble, Putnam, Sandusky, Shelby and Wood.

Zone B — The zone includes 37 counties: Ashland, Ashtabula, Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Defiance, Fayette, Fulton, Geauga, Greene, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Huron, Lake, Logan, Lorain, Lucas, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Paulding, Portage, Seneca, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Union, Van Wert, Warren, Wayne, Williams and Wyandot.

Zone C — The zone includes 38 counties: Adams, Athens, Belmont, Brown, Carroll, Clermont, Columbiana, Coshocton, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Hamilton, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lawrence, Licking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Richland, Ross, Scioto, Tuscarawas, Vinton and Washington.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at ohiodnr.com

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HARRISBURG — Sportsmen’s organizations with approved propagation facilities can augment local ring-necked pheasant stockings and increase localized recreational hunting opportunities by raising day‑old pheasant chicks supplied free-of-charge by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Applications to participate can be downloaded from the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), by clicking on “Self Help,” then “Forms & Programs” and then selecting “Pheasant Chick & Egg Program.” In order for Game Farm superintendents to plan and set hatches to accommodate requests, the Bureau of Wildlife Management must receive completed applications by March 31.
“To restore self-sustaining and huntable pheasant populations, the Game Commission is committed to creating Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas, as outlined in our pheasant management plan,” said Calvin W. DuBrock, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management director. “While we strive to create these areas, we continue to urge interested clubs to participate in our pheasant chick and egg programs, which provide wonderful opportunities to get young people involved in raising birds. In addition to learning about the food and habitat requirements of pheasants, they’ll have the chance to see the chicks mature into adult game birds, and to help increase hunting opportunities.”
In 1929, the Game Commission began the propagation of pheasants on an extensive scale with the establishment of two game farms. Over the next six decades, to off‑set the increasing demand for pheasants from hunters, three other farms were placed into operation, and the day‑old pheasant chick program was implemented and made available to sportsmen’s organizations, 4‑H clubs, farmers, and other cooperators for rearing and releasing on areas open to public hunting.
In 1959, the number of pheasant chicks distributed to cooperators reached 229,685, an all-time high, in addition to the more than 88,500 pheasants raised and released by the agency at its four game farms. Unfortunately, cooperator participation has dwindled significantly over the last few decades. In recent years, only a dozen or so clubs have participated; raising and releasing 3,000-4,000 birds.
Because of budgetary constraints, the Game Commission was forced, in 2005, to reduce its annual pheasant stocking allocation from 200,000 to 100,000. The Game Commission released 100,000 adult birds again this past season, and expects to keep pheasant production at 100,000 until additional financial resources are made available. However, as part of the agency’s pheasant management plan, the agency intends to increase that stocking effort to 250,000 birds, should increased funding become available.
DuBrock said that the agency provides, free of charge, day-old pheasant chicks to clubs entering into an agreement with the Game Commission to raise birds and promote recreational hunting on lands open to public hunting. Gender is not determined as the chicks are boxed for distribution, but are generally at a one-to-one male/female ratio. The number of chicks received depends on the size of the club’s facility. The agency will provide enrolled clubs with plans for a brooder building, covered pen, and guidelines for rearing pheasants.
“The agency also offers enrolled organizations technical assistance and advice at the club’s facility, and a training session and overview of agency game farm operations can be scheduled during the off‑season from January through March to assist in development of the club’s program,” DuBrock said.
To be eligible to receive pheasant chicks, a sportsmen’s club is required to have a minimum of 25 square feet of covered pen space available per bird. In addition, 72 square inches of floor space per chick is recommended in the brooder building. All feed and expenses incurred in the work of constructing covered pens and raising pheasants will be the responsibility of the club. All pheasants propagated by organizations must be released on lands open to public hunting.
Pheasant chicks can be raised at the cooperator’s facility or by a designated caretaker with the proper facilities.
“Youth who participate in raising birds can help release hen pheasants in early September in areas where hens are protected from hunting and where habitat is sufficient to provide food and cover,” DuBrock said. “These birds can provide good dog training opportunities and releasing hens early also provides additional room in the pen to finish growing out the males for the hunting season.
“Maximum recreational opportunities can be attained by releasing male pheasants as close to the opening of small game season as possible, and no later than the end of the second week of the season.”
Game Commission pheasant hatches come off once a week during the month of May, and the chicks for clubs will be scheduled into those hatches. Game farm superintendents will send notification to approved organizations when chicks will be ready for pick‑up.
The Game Commission requires a complete report of the production and release results. Renewal applications will not be processed unless a complete report has been filed for the prior year.
In addition to the cooperating sportsmen’s club program, the agency also sells surplus day-old hen pheasant chicks and eggs in lots of 100 chicks for $60, or 300 eggs for $180. Early requests receive top priority and orders are processed until the last scheduled hatch, which usually is the first week of June. While day-old hen pheasant chicks may be purchased by anyone, pheasant eggs will be sold only to licensed game propagators. Both eggs and chicks must be picked up at the supplying Game Commission game farm.
The pheasant is native to Asia. Recorded attempts to establish pheasants in North America date back to the mid 1700s. These early attempts were unsuccessful; it wasn’t until 1881, in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, that pheasants first became established.
During the early 1890s, Pennsylvania citizens purchased pheasants from English gamekeepers and released them in Lehigh and Northampton counties. For several decades, many other small releases were made across the Commonwealth to establish pheasants for sport hunting.
In the early 1900s, the Game Commission set aside a special appropriation of funds to purchase and propagate game. Pheasant eggs were purchased and given to agency refuge keepers, sportsmen’s organizations and private individuals interested in raising pheasants. The first stocking of pheasants by the Game Commission occurred by 1915.
For more information on pheasants and the history of the agency’s pheasant management plan and propagation program, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), select “Hunting Home” from the “Recreation” drop-down menu then click on the pheasant photograph.

DAYTON, OHIO – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife announced that another record setting deer has been harvested in southwestern Ohio. On Saturday, January 30, 2010, the 18-point nontypical (nonsymmetrical antlered) deer taken by Brian Stephens on November 30, 2009 with a muzzleloader in Highland County was officially scored.

Brian Stephens with friends and family by his side excitedly awaited the official score Saturday morning in Xenia. The buck was scored by Mike Wendel, David Haney and Ron Perrine; certified scorers with Buckeye Big Bucks Club (BBBC). Gary Trent, BBBC President, announced the score as 232 5/8 certifying it as the new state record. It’s the largest non-typical rack ever taken with a muzzleloader in Ohio history beating out the 2004 record of 225. The 35 1/8 inch left main beam is a Boone and Crockett largest ever recorded and the right main bean measured an impressive 34 1/8 inches. Marty Murphy of National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association said the score will be recognized as the largest ever in Ohio according to the Associations Longhunter Big Game Record Book. This magnificent animal will also be a record for World Classics in the mens muzzleloading category according to Dan Stapleton. The World Classics scoring system does not include deductions and the main beam outside spread measurement is added. Under these scoring criteria the Stephens Buck scores 252 0/8.

“Deer hunting in Ohio continues to prove itself as world-class,” said Todd Haines, Wildlife District Five Manager. “We are seeing the benefits of a successful whitetail deer management program.”Brian Stephens’ deer is one more record to add to the books in Ohio. In the last decade southwest Ohio has been the setting for numerous records. The Beatty Buck, harvested in Greene County in the fall of 2000 by Mike Beatty, holds the record for nontypical at 304 6/8 and currently ranks as the number one nontypical buck in Ohio, the largest nontypical whitetail deer ever taken by a bow hunter. A typical white-tailed deer killed by Brad Jerman in 2004 in Warren County, known as the Jerman Buck, became an Ohio record with a score of 201 1/8. In 2006 a world-class buck was harvested by Jonathan Schmucker in Adams County. The deer was scored at 34-point nontypical, 291 2/8 Boone and Crockett and 305 7/8 World Classics. Also that year the Metzner Buck, harvested by Justin Metzner scored 196 6/8 which positioned it to be the second largest deer harvest with a compound bow in Ohio; the fifth largest typical deer taken in the world in the Pope and Young record book; and Buckmaster’s seventh all time typical white-tailed deer harvested with a compound bow.

“When we are continually in the record books with large nontypical and typical whitetails harvested Ohio, we attract the attention of hunters that might have hunted in another state,” said Haines. “The hunters staying and coming into Ohio create a boost in our economy. Each year, hunting has an 859 million dollar economic impact in Ohio through the sale of equipment, fuel, food and lodging as well as supporting thousands of jobs.”

Ohio’s first modern day deer-gun season opened in 1943 in three counties, where hunters harvested 168 deer. In 1956, deer hunting was allowed in all 88 counties and hunters killed 3,911 deer during that one-week season.

A detailed listing of deer-hunting rules is contained in the 2009-2010 Ohio Hunting Regulations, available where licenses are sold. It may also be viewed online at www.wildohio.com . Hunters who wish to share their success can submit a photo of themselves and their deer at this website also.