Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 1-2016

The 2015-2016season has been agut-check for trap-pers. For three yearswe enjoyed prettygood fur prices, top-ping out, for me, in2013 when I aver-aged about $17 forraccoons from mylocal fur buyer. Thatyear, my top gradedraccoon fetched a whopping $30, whichactually paled in comparison to reportsfrommajor auction houses such as NorthAmerican Fur Auctions and Fur Har-vesters of America.Higher prices brought an influx of new

people to the sport, most of whom werejust looking to make some quick money.Honestly, though, how much moneycould one expect to make with gas in the$3-4 per gallon range? Not to mentionthat quality lures sell for approximately$6 per ounce, and you could spend asmall fortune getting set up with the righttraps and equipment – I know this frompersonal experience because, in my life-time, I have spent a small fortune onthose things. Most years, if I can catchenough fur and sell it at a decent price, Ican break even, and I’m more than okay

with that.Quite frankly, there are easier ways to

make money than by trapping. Trappingis work, and there’s no way around it. Ifyou want to catch a lot of fur, you haveto be willing to bust your butt and putforth the effort. Also, trapping isn’t likehunting or fishing where you can go oneday and not the next. Traps needchecked on a daily basis, if not for thefact that the law says so, then at the veryleast because we trappers know it’s un-ethical not to. Trapping is a commit-ment, a way of life, and an opportunityto fully immerse yourself in nature andlearn about animal behavior and habits.Last year, fur prices dropped drasti-

cally and many of the money-seekersfound out the hard way that the fur mar-ket can be fickle. An increase in supplyquickly overloaded the market. Demanddropped and so did prices. At a fur salelast March, I watched a guy grumble asa buyer offered him only $4 per raccoon.The trapper had about 20 raccoons butthey were all smaller in size. Still, he re-fused the money and said he’d take themelsewhere. I’ll bet he wished hewould’ve taken that $4 average, though,because only a few weeks later the bot-tom dropped out completely and rac-coons that size were bringing only $1-2.Out of the 75 raccoons I sold at a local

auction last year, 22 of them wereXXXL or bigger. Another 18 were XXLand another 23 were XL. I had about adozen in the large/medium category. All

OutdoorRIVERMONSTERSStory inside page 8 January 2016

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It’s Not Aboutthe Money

Turn To Money Page 4Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo courtesy of Ralph Scherder

The author with a nice PA raccoon, trapped along the shores of theShenango River Lake on opening day of the 2015-16 season.

Times

By Ralph ScherderHunting Editor

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OHIO VALLEY OUTDOOR TIMES2 January 2016

Welcome to a newyear, and new outdoorseasons. You may notknow it’s winteraround here due to thewacky weather we’veexperienced so far; butnasty, cold and snowydays are looming. Theweather plays such akey part in our outdooractivities — cold or hot, wet or dry. Planaccordingly, or not. The strange weatherdoes require some short-term planning.Some long-term planning can be done

though, when it comes to attending one ofthe many annual outdoor sports shows inthe region. There are many to choosefrom. Here’s the dirt on some of the mostpopular shows:The largest sports show in the eastern

United States continues to be the GreatAmerican Outdoor Show in Harrisburg,PA (February 6-14). The nine-day eventwas snatched up (saved) by the NationalRifle Association a few years ago. Theshow is held at the Farm Show Complexand Expo Center (2300 N Cameron St,Harrisburg, PA 17110).The GAOS event features over 1,100 ex-

hibitors ranging from shooting manufac-turers to outfitters to fishing boats andRVs, and archery to art, covering 650,000square feet of exhibit hall space. There’salso country concerts, fundraising dinners,speaking events, archery competitions,celebrity appearances, seminars, demon-strations and more.Ohio Valley Outdoor Times contributing

writer Bill Waugaman will be covering theevent again this year.Admission is $13 for adults; $11 for sen-

iors. Group discounts are available. Visittheir website at:

www.greatamericanoutdoorshow.org.More locally the Northeast Ohio Sports-

man Show, in Dalton, OH, is slated for Jan.21-23. The expanded three-day event willbe staged at the Buckeye Event Center, lo-cated at 624 Henry Street, Dalton, OH,along state Route 30 near Massillon. Deerantler scoring will be done, on Saturdayonly, by members of the Buckeye BigBuck Club. Admission is $10 for adults.Visit their website at:www.ohiosportsmanshow.com.The 57th Mid-American Boat Show, in

Cleveland, is slated for the Jan. 14-18.That event will be held at the I-X Conven-tion Center, near the Cleveland Airport.Admission is $13. Visit their website:www.clevelandboatshow.com.During the same weekend, and at the

same location, (Jan. 15-17 at the I-X Cen-ter) the Cleveland Outdoor AdventureShow will feature archery trick artistByron Ferguson, the Dock Dogs, Tim Mi-randa of Adventure Bowhunter, Tim Her-ald of Magnum TV and Dave Carraro of“Wicked Tuna”. That show will set youback $12 for adults. Parking is $10. Seetheir website: www.eriepromotions.com.In southern Ohio the biggest outdoor

show of the season is the CincinnatiTravel, Sports and Boat Show. That long-time event will be Jan. 15-17. It’s held atthe Duke Energy Cincinnati ConventionCenter. Admission is: $12. Visit their web-site: www.cincinnatiboatshow.com.The same sponsors, Hart Productions,

will host the Cincinnati Hunting and Fish-ing Show the following week (Jan. 20-24)at the Duke Energy Center. ClevelandBrowns outdoorsman Joe Thomas will befeatured (Jan. 23-24). Admission is: $12.See the above website for more informa-tion.

5 Ohio Hunters Check9,400 Deer inTwo-Day Season

ODNR

6 Handling Muskie 101Jeff Knapp

6 Ohio TaxidermistFound Guilty

ODNR

7 PA OpensRegistration for ArcheryTourney

8 River Monsters, Myths& Destinations

Capt. Scott Manning

11 32K Acres of LandAcquired to Restore Elk

11 NRA Donates $50Kto PA Organizations

12 Tips on Ice Fishingin Ohio

INSIDE THIS MONTH

Public Trap Shoot - Each Sunday (11-4 p.m.) and Wednesday (6-9 p.m.) at Columbiana CountyFish and GameAssociation; 45716Middle Beaver Rd, Lisbon, OH 44432. Visit website: columbiana-countyfishandgame.com.Indoor 3-DArchery Shoots - Each Sunday through Feb. 28 atWyandot Bowmen, 1039 Tope Road,New Cumberland, WV. Fee is $10. For info. call Don at 304-564-5110 or Doug at 304-564-3862.Indoor .22/Air Rifle Shooting - Range open to public eachWeds. thruApril 26, 2016. (6 p.m., Sun.11 am.) and Indoor Pistol Shooting - each Fri. (7-10 p.m.) thru April 29, 2016. At ColumbianaCounty Fish and Game Association; 45716 Middle Beaver Rd, Lisbon, OH 44432.Old Fashion Style Turkey Shoot - Each Sunday thru March 2016 at Beaver Creek Sportsman Club,14480 Washingtonville Road, Washingtonville, OH. Field stock guns, .680 choke max., scopes per-mitted, meat and money rounds, $3 per round, 1 p.m. start time. For info. contact Tom Brunner 330-692-6577 or email:[email protected].*See more Calendar of Events on Page 14.

By Larry ClaypoolEditor

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OUTDOOR CALENDAR

Publisher/Editor, Larry [email protected]

Graphics Designer, Linda [email protected] Consultant, Tracy [email protected]

[email protected] Valley Outdoor Times

is published by Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine©Offices located at

210 E. 4th Street, East Liverpool, OH 43920Phone 330-385-2243, Fax 330-385-7114

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To Advertise CALL 330-385-2243

OutdoorOhio Valley

TimesJanuary 2016 VOL. 8, NO. 1

Contributing EditorsRalph Scherder, Hunting EditorJeff Knapp, Fishing EditorBrian Miller, Field Editor

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of my furs were fleshed and stretchedand I averaged $7.50. I took the moneyand felt lucky to get even that much.This year I’m not feeling so lucky.Right now we’re in the middle of what

could be classified a perfect storm.China, Russia, Greece, and Germanyhave always been the major buyers ofAmerican-produced wild fur. When itcomes to raccoons, China and Russia, inparticular, have dominated the market.Unfortunately, the economies in both ofthose countries have basically crashed.In Russia, the main culprit is low oilprices. Many factors have contributedto that drop – more production here inthe U.S., for instance, has decreased ourdependency on foreign oil, but there arealso other political reasons involved,such as sanctions following the Ukrainecrisis. As a result, it’s estimated that furauction houses worldwide currentlyhave an inventory of over one millionunsold raccoon pelts. It’s going to takesome time to get those pelts movedthrough the system and into the hands ofconsumers. In other words, we can ex-pect a slow market for the foreseeablefuture.Things can turn around quickly,

though, just as they did four or five yearsago. In 2011, I averaged only $7 for rac-coons. Two years later, I averaged $17and trappers were ecstatic over the up-coming “fur boom” that everyoneclaimed would rival that of the late1970s and early 80s. Now, two yearslater, here we are facing a tough marketagain.There are things you can do to help.

First of all, buy more fur garments asgifts – gloves, hats, coats, blankets. Furgarments can be very glamorous, not tomention they’re a renewable resourceand the ultimate in terms of “goinggreen.” And second, for all you trappersout there, harvest only the biggest andbest animals and let the little ones go, es-pecially raccoons. This year I plan tohave a number of pelts tanned so I cangive them away as gifts – kids, in partic-ular, always seem happy to get a pelt fortheir wall.On the bright side, in terms of making

money, lower gas prices here in the U.S.have made running the trapline moreeconomical this year. Also, less compe-tition means higher catch rates. Thisyear, I’ve caught twice as many rac-coons as two years ago in only half thetime and effort. So, despite low furprices, it all seems to balance out.

For me, trapping has never been aboutthe money anyway. I know guys whospend way more on the latest top-of-the-line crossbow and hunting gear everyyear than I’ll ever spend on trappingsupplies, yet I never hear anyone everask how much a whitetail is bringing

this year. And nobody ever asks howmuch a pheasant or squirrel is worth, ei-ther. That’s because those endeavorscan’t be qualified with a price tag.Every outdoor adventure and experienceis priceless if it’s your passion and youenjoy doing it. Trapping is no different.

Money From Page 1

Show Time From Page 2

Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Larry ClaypoolLast year, fur prices dropped drastically and many of the money-seekers found out the hard way

that the fur market can be fickle. An increase in supply quickly overloaded the market.

AKRON, OH— StateWildlife OfficerField Supervisor Peter Novotny has beennamed the district manager for WildlifeDistrict Three in Akron, Ohio, accordingto the Ohio Department of Natural Re-sources (ODNR).Wildlife District Threeserves 19 northeast Ohio counties.“Pete’s work experience has prepared

him to meet the demands of this leader-ship role as a district manager for theODNR Division of Wildlife,” saidODNR Division of Wildlife AssistantChief Sue Howard.Novotny replaces Doug Miller who re-

tired at the end of May. Novotny assumedhis new position December 27.Novotny earned a Bachelor of Arts de-

gree from Wittenberg University. A na-tive of Cleveland and a 1990 graduate ofSt. Ignatius High School, Novotnystarted his career with ODNRDivision ofWildlife in 1995 as a phone operator atthe District One Headquarters in Colum-bus. After graduating from the WildlifeOfficer Academy in 1996, Novotnyserved an At-large position in centralOhio until he was placed in HarrisonCounty later that year. In 2002, he waspromoted to Field Supervisor.

ODNR Picks NewDistrict 3 Manager

Three shows in western Pennsylvaniawill highlight February and early March.The Erie RV Show with Powersports andCamping added will be held Feb. 11-14at the Bayfront Convention Center, inErie, PA. The cost for adult tickets is $6.The same promoter will also host the ErieSport & Travel Expo at Bayfront CC onMarch 4-6. Admission is $8.The 31th Annual Allegheny Sport,

Travel and Outdoor Show will be held onFeb. 17-21 at the Monroeville (PA) Con-vention Center.Admission is $12.ASub-way coupon, after Feb. 6, will save you$3.Also in March, mark your calendars for

the Ohio Deer and Turkey Expo, heldeach year at the Ohio Expo Center (statefairgrounds) in Columbus, OH. Thatevent is slated for March 11-13. Featuredat this show is the Big Buck Contest,sponsored by the Buckeye Big BuckClub. Admission is $14. Visit their web-site: www.deerinfo.com.The 14th Annual West Virginia Hunt-

ing and Fishing Show will be held onMarch 5-6 at Mylan Park in Morgan-town, WV. Admission is $7. Visit theirwebsite: www.outdoorsportsshow.comfor more information.


COLUMBUS, OH — Hunterschecked 9,447 white-tailed deer duringOhio’s 2015 two-day deer-gun huntingseason, Dec. 28-29, according to theOhio Department of Natural Resources(ODNR). The last time Ohio held a two-day December deer-gun season was in2012 with 14,365 deer harvested. Thatyear, the season was held on a weekendand accounted for just more than 6 per-cent of the entire deer harvest. Thisyear’s two-day season total is projectedto account for slightly more than 5 per-cent of all deer harvested.Hunters still have opportunities to pur-

sue deer this winter. Muzzleloader sea-son is Jan. 9-12, 2016, and archeryseason remains open through Feb. 7,2016.

Deer Management GoalsThe ODNR Division of Wildlife re-

mains committed to properly managingOhio’s deer populations. The goal ofOhio’s Deer Management Program is toprovide a deer population that maxi-mizes recreational opportunities, whileminimizing conflicts with landownersand motorists.Until recently, deer populations in

nearly all of Ohio’s counties were wellabove goal. In the last few years,through increased antlerless harvests,most counties are now at or near goal.Therefore, to help stabilize deer popula-tions, bag limits were reduced, andantlerless permit use has been elimi-nated in most counties for the 2015-2016 season.The ODNR Division of Wildlife is in

the process of revising Ohio’s popula-tion goals and is asking hunters that re-ceive the survey to help by completingand returning their survey as soon aspossible. Hunters for this year’s surveywere randomly selected from the list ofhunters who purchased a license anddeer permit by Nov. 16. Landowner sur-veys have already been completed, andhunter surveys were mailed in early De-cember. Public input is an important partof Ohio’s deer management program,and survey participants are asked tocomplete and return their surveys to en-sure that hunters have a clear voice inhelping to decide the direction of deermanagement in Ohio.

Hunting PopularityHunting is the best and most effective

management tool for maintaining Ohio’shealthy deer population. Ohio ranks fifthnationally in resident hunters and 11thin the number of jobs associated withhunting-related industries. Hunting hasa more than $853 million economic im-pact in Ohio through the sale of equip-ment, fuel, food, lodging and more,according to the National ShootingSports Foundation’s Hunting in Amer-ica: An Economic Force for Conserva-tion publication.Find more information about deer

hunting in the Ohio 2015-2016 Huntingand Trapping Regulations or at wildo-hio.gov. An updated deer harvest reportis posted online each Wednesday atwildohio.gov/deerharvest.Visit the ODNR website at

ohiodnr.gov.Editor’s Note:A list of all white-tailed

deer checked by hunters using firearmsduring the 2015 two-day deer-gun hunt-ing season is shown below. The firstnumber following the county’s nameshows the harvest numbers for 2015,and the 2012 numbers are in parenthe-ses—Adams: 209 (267);Allen: 21 (78);Ashland: 142 (234); Ashtabula: 305(372); Athens: 212 (279); Auglaize: 38(90); Belmont: 216 (387); Brown: 162(220); Butler: 51 (101); Carroll: 211

(375); Champaign: 41 (77); Clark:21(63); Clermont: 95 (182); Clinton: 37(63); Columbiana: 196 (320); Coshoc-ton: 349 (489); Crawford: 59 (102);Cuyahoga: 1 (6); Darke: 19 (66); Defi-ance: 74 (142); Delaware: 60 (102);Erie: 21 (41); Fairfield: 85 (169);Fayette: 10 (16); Franklin: 24 (26); Ful-ton: 16 (58); Gallia: 165 (230); Geauga:77 (106); Greene: 21 (60); Guernsey:263 (382); Hamilton: 21 (47); Hancock:34 (77); Hardin: 53 (89); Harrison: 228(390); Henry: 25 (64); Highland: 147(239); Hocking: 203 (213); Holmes: 209(286); Huron: 107 (195); Jackson: 194(235); Jefferson: 169 (312); Knox: 236(356); Lake: 21 (27); Lawrence: 147(176); Licking: 236 (444); Logan: 86(143); Lorain: 98 (181); Lucas: 10 (20);Madison: 26 (45); Mahoning: 107 (102);Marion: 55 (75); Medina: 83 (135);Meigs: 229 (259); Mercer: 18 (61);Miami: 37 (49); Monroe: 156 (203);Montgomery: 14 (23); Morgan: 181(226); Morrow: 71 (133); Muskingum:284 (474); Noble: 202 (235); Ottawa: 7(9); Paulding: 34 (99); Perry: 181 (238);Pickaway: 38 (78); Pike: 140 (154);Portage: 88 (90); Preble: 29 (86); Put-nam: 19 (47); Richland: 150 (194).

Hunters Check 9,400+ DeerDuring Two-Day Season

The muskie is adifficult fish tocatch. And like adog chasing a car,when you finally doget a hold of one,what to do? With amouthful of dagger-like teeth and a typi-cally bad attitude, ahooked muskie pres-ents a danger to the an-gler not prepared to deal with thesituation.Over the past three decades a strong

catch-and-release ethic has evolved inregard to muskies, the reflection of amore enlightened attitude that places awell-deserved respect on the species.Most legal muskies were killed 30 yearsago. Today, the release mentality cou-pled with higher minimum length limitssees most muskies being let go. Anglersproperly outfitted to handle muskies cando so with minimum on stress to thefish, while maximizing their own safety.Probably the best thing to come along

in years has been the over-sized landingnets specifically designed for large pred-ators like muskies. Huge nets like Fra-bill’s Big Kahuna and Beckman’s PenFin-Saver allow muskies to be held inthe water at boat-side after being landed.The special netting on such devices isdesigned to be easy on the fish’s fins;their impressive diameter allows even a50-plus-inch muskie to stretch out. An-other good option is a muskie cradle,such as the one Frabill makes, but onlywhen there’s at least one other angler inthe boat, as “cradling” a muskie is a twoperson operation.Keeping the muskie boat-side allows

its head to remain underwater, where itcan recuperate from the struggle that putit in the net. It also gives the angler(s)time to calm down and to prepare for theunhooking process.Unhooking a muskie is the event

which poses the greatest threat to bothangler and fish. Tools to accomplish thetask include long-handled pliers of acouple designs, as well as quality hookcutters. Unhooking is done while the

muskie remains in the net, with its headunderwater as much as possible.How the muskie is hooked, as well as

with what, will help determine how toget it free. Muskies are often caught onlures that feature two or three razor-sharp treble hooks. If the fish is onlyhooked with one of the trebles, it willsometimes unhook itself in the net, asthe “free” treble(s) grab the net, and thefish trashes, working itself loose of theone hook. When this fortunate occur-rence happens it’s usually within sec-onds of the fish being netted. Moretypically, though, hooks entangled in thenet are a bad thing, only complicatingthe process.Long-handled needle-nose pliers (es-

pecially ones with angled tips) and“channel lock-style” pliers are bothgood unhooking tools. 10-inch handleskeep the angler’s hands a safe distancefrom fish’s mouth, reducing the chanceof getting impaled on a hook or rakedwith a tooth. They also furnish the grip-ping power and leverage to lock on tothe shank of the hook and twist or pull itfree. Tools like the large sized BakerHook-Out, made specifically for freeinghooks, are also useful.The act of pulling one hook free can

sometimes bury another one in the fish.

If a partner is present, having him/herhold the lure away from the fish (with a

Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Jeff KnappDoug Pavick admires a muskie safely landed

with the help of a muskie cradle.

Handling Muskie 101

Turn To Muskie Page 7


By Jeff KnappFishing Editor

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AKRON, OH – A two-year long jointinvestigation between two state wildlifeagencies brought a Columbiana Countywildlife violator to justice and curtailedpoaching across state borders accordingto the Ohio Department of Natural Re-sources (ODNR).ODNR Division of Wildlife and the

Pennsylvania Game Commissionworked together for over two years tocollect and investigate tips of wildlifecrimes submitted to the agencies by con-cerned citizens. These tips lead to theconviction of Kenneth Kelm, 67 of Lee-tonia, Ohio. There is a subsequent arrestwarrant for an accomplice from Pennsyl-vania.Kelm was found guilty in Columbiana

County Municipal Court on 38 counts ofrecords violations (failure to keep accu-rate records required of taxidermists),and one count of buying and sellingwildlife. He was fined $2,000, orderedto serve 10 days in jail, received a two-year hunting privilege suspension, wasordered to forfeit all illegally possessedtaxidermy mounts and wildlife partswhich were seized by ODNR Divisionof Wildlife, and was ordered to serve a

two-year probation. While serving pro-bation, Kelm is not permitted to acceptany new taxidermy business.“Mr. Kelm was warned on several oc-

casions for records violations despite aconviction for violations in the past. Hechose to ignore these warnings, how-ever,” said Brett Barnes, lead investiga-tor with the ODNR Division of Wildlifelaw enforcement section. “The ODNRDivision of Wildlife truly appreciatesJudge Amato for taking this case seri-ously and issuing a strong statement towould-be violators,” said Barnes.The ODNR Division of Wildlife en-

courages anyone who is aware of a pos-sible violation of wildlife laws to call theTurn In a Poacher (TIP) line at 1-800-POACHER or to submit information on-line.

Ohio Taxidermist Found Guilty

Enjoy the outdoors....Take a kid hunting or fishing

Join your local Sportsman’s Club,You’ll be glad you did!


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ADVERTISING• E-mail: [email protected]• Phone: 330-385-2243• Fax: 330-385-7114• Write: advertising at Ohio Valley Outdoor Times:210 E. 4th Street, East Liverpool, Ohio 43920

HARRISBURG, PA — A huge opportu-nity is “nocking” for Pennsylvania’s studentarchers.The 2016 NationalArchery in the Schools

Program State Tournament is set to be heldMarch 11 in State College, PA. It’s shapingup to be the biggest student archery tourna-ment ever in Pennsylvania.And the Pennsyl-vania Game Commission is encouraging allschools participating in the program, com-monly referred to as NASP, to register tocompete.There is an $11 fee per archer to register,

and the first day for registration is February1. Registration remains open through Feb.19.The NASP state tournament has been

growing each year since its inception in2011, and the March 11 tournament to beheld at the Penn State Multi-Sport Facilityfigures to include close to 1,100 participantsfrom more than 45 schools across Pennsyl-vania.The program has been growing in Penn-

sylvania and worldwide.

NASP, which started in Kentucky in 2002,came to Pennsylvania in 2005. The GameCommission began coordinating the pro-gram in 2010 and, so far, the program has ex-panded to 210 schools.The tournament always is a sight to see.

Ninety-five lanes, each with two archers,will be operating at once. About 9,000 ar-rows will fly each hour.And somewhere near46,000 arrows will be fired on the day.This year, more than $5,000 in scholar-

ships will be handed out to the state’s topperforming student archers, helping thempay for college.Registration can be completed online

through the Game Commission’s website,www.pgc.state.pa.us, or directly through theNASP Tournament website,http://nasptournaments.org. To use the GameCommission’s website to register, place yourcursor over the “Education” tab, then click“National Archery in the Schools Program.”Registration is just a few more clicks away.Teams are encouraged to register early this

year as space is limited.NASP helps school districts in Pennsylva-

nia meet physical-education curriculum re-quirements set by the state Department ofEducation, and at the same time introducesstudents to the world of competitive archery.Tournaments are held at the state, national

and international levels, and Pennsylvania

sent over 100 students to the 2015 nationalcompetition, which was held in Louisville,Ky.To get NASP started in a Pennsylvania

school, contact Todd Holmes, at the GameCommission headquarters, at 717-787-4250,ext. 3330.Also, “PANASP” can be found onFacebook atwww.facebook.com/PennNASP.

Camp Perry Closed toIce Fishing

PORT CLINTON, OH – Due to facilitydamage incurred as a result of excessive useduring the 2014-15 ice fishing season, CampPerry officials have determined it necessaryto prohibit public use of the area for ice fish-ing from this date forward.Should conditions become feasible for ice

fishing, parking access will be granted toguests staying overnight in a Camp PerryLodging facility ONLY. Parking in desig-nated areas will be authorized by display offacility-issued parking permits only.All oth-ers will be towed at the owner’s expense.For additional information about Camp

Perry Lodging contact Debbie Paul at: 614-336-6215 or email [email protected]. The website is:http://cplcc.com/.

PA Opens Registration forStudent Archery Tourneysecond pliers) will help prevent this.

Lures like single-hook spinnerbaits andjigs are much easier to unpin a muskiefrom. Usually it’s just a case of grabbingthe hook at the bend and twisting in thedirection that backs it out.Often muskies are hooked in such a

manner where it’s more feasible to cut thehooks. The criterion is this: If the un-hook job doesn’t appear simple, it’s timeto start cutting. The average pair of sidecutters isn’t going to shear a muskiehook, especially the shank of a heavy tre-ble hook. The tool that will is a Knipexcutter. There are cheaper small bolt-cut-ter style tools that do a fair job, but theKnipex is so superior you’ll probably endup buying one eventually. Put a wristlanyard on it to keep from accidentallylosing it overboard.Once the lure if free from the fish it’s

usually a fairly simple chore to pull outthe remaining hook pieces. Carry a sup-ply of hooks onboard to replace any youhad to cut. Good split ring pliers willmake the chore easier.While it might be awhile before it’s

time to launch the boat in quest ofmuskies, now’s the perfect occasion toput together the items needed for theirsafe release.

Turn To Muskie Page 6

By Captain Scott ManningFor over 100 years, myths and legends

have flourished along the banks of theTennessee River of monstrous creaturesthat live in their muddy depths. In the1800s, tales of river monsters aboundedthroughout the river system, including alegend in which anyone spotting the crea-ture was cursed. In the mid-1900s, themost popular legendary river creature be-came “catzilla,” a species of catfish thatreportedly grew to the size of Volkswa-gen Beetles at several dams along theTennessee River. There are some re-ported photos of monster catfish over 500pounds during the 1900’s that seem toback up these claims.What lurks beneath the placid surface

of the Tennessee River? Are there mon-sters in our midst? Newspaper accountsindicate divers, while cleaning out the in-take to a local power plant, had to be res-cued from the murky depths by EMScrews. Found floating and unconscious,they reported catfish so large that one ofthe divers was sucked into the giant bot-tom-feeders mouth, only to be spat out.The most common bait shop story statesthat a dam repair man goes down tocheck for cracks in the dam. He sees a gi-gantic catfish that could swallow a Volk-

swagen Bug whole. He comes up fromthe murky depths of the lake and never isa dam repair man again.However, the largest catfish in North

America are blue cats, and the worldrecord blue catfish caught in in 2011weighed 143 pounds. While many of theworld’s largest freshwater fish are locatedoutside of North America, several largespecies can be found in area rivers, in-cluding blue catfish and flathead catfish.An angler better have stout tackle whendoing battle with these beast. A OkumaBattle cat rod teamed with Okuma Cold-water reel will do the job just fine.The Tennessee River, covering more

than 650 miles in the south ranks at thetop of most catfish & striper anglers“Bucket List”. The Tennessee River isformed at the confluence of the Holstonand French Broad rivers on the east sideof Knoxville, Tennessee. FromKnoxville, it flows southwest throughEast Tennessee toward Chattanooga be-fore crossing into Alabama. Watts BarLake is a reservoir on the TennesseeRiver created by Watts Bar Dam as partof the Tennessee Valley Authority sys-tem. Even today, it remains one of the topcatfish destinations in the US. Cabela’sKing Tournament Trail holds a annual 2


Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo courtesy of WV Dept. of CommerceAuston Hoffman of Milton, WV, holds the state record blue catfish he caught April 26, 2014, in

the Ohio River. Tennessee also holds legendary catfish like this one.

Turn To Monster Page 9

Beyond the Ohio ValleyTennessee: River Monsters,

Myths & Destinations

COLUMBUS, OH — The bi-weeklyaerial waterfowl survey is used to moni-tor waterfowl abundance duringfall/winter migration throughout thenorthern portion of Ohio. This surveyalso helps identify habitat types criticalto waterfowl and helps document water-fowl use of restored wetland projectsover time.Procedure:The survey is flown weekly during

September and bi-weekly from Octoberthrough January. The survey is flownover selected water areas distributed inthe Lake Erie marsh region in northwest-ern Ohio, and will once again includeWildlifeAreas throughout northern Ohioincluding Big Island, Killdeer Plains,Grand Lake St. Mary’s/Mercer, KillbuckMarsh, Funk Bottoms, and MosquitoCreek. This survey is conducted on ornear the 1st and 15th of each month,weather permitting. The survey crewidentifies and estimates the number ofeach species of waterfowl encounteredon the survey sites. Survey transects areflown at an altitude and route to optimize

waterfowl identification and minimizedisturbance.Survey Sites: Sandusky Bay Marshes,Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area, ToussaintMarshArea, Magee MarshWildlifeArea,Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area, MaumeeBay, Ottawa Wildlife Area NationalWildlife Refuge, Cedar Point NationalWildlife Refuge, Navarre Marsh NationalWildlife Refuge, Darby NationalWildlifeRefuge, Grand Lake St Mary’s, Big Is-land Wildlife Area, Killdeer PlainsWildlife Area, Mosquito Creek WildlifeArea, Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area andFunk Bottoms Wildlife Area.


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day super event here each spring. Lo-cated about midway between Chat-tanooga and Knoxville, the lake beginsas the Tennessee River below FortLoudon Dam in Lenoir City, Tennesseeand stretches 72.4 miles to Watts BarDam near Spring City, Tennessee. TheClinch River connects to the main chan-nel of the lake at mile 568 near South-west Point in Kingston, Tennessee. Thepartially navigable Emory River con-nects with the Clinch near the TVA’sKingston Steam Plant just upriver fromthe meeting with the Tennessee. Includ-ing the Clinch and Emory arms, WattsBar has 722 miles of shoreline and over39,000 acres of water surface. Minortributaries include Poplar Creek, CaneyCreek, andWhite’s Creek. The lake con-tains several large islands, most notablyThief Neck Island, Long Island, andSand Island.Fort Loudon Reservoir, located on the

Tennessee River at Knoxville, is the up-permost in the chain of nine TVA reser-voirs that form a continuous navigablechannel from there to Paducah, Ken-tucky, 652 miles away. Fort Loudon is apopular recreation destination, known forboating and monster catfish. The tailwa-

ter area immediately below the dam is anexcellent site for viewing a variety of wa-terbirds, including herons, cormorants,gulls, osprey and bald eagles.The reservoir is connected by a short

canal to Tellico Reservoir on the nearbyLittle Tennessee River. Water is divertedthrough the canal to Fort Loudon forpower production. The canal also offerscommercial barges access to Tellicowithout the need for a lock. Barges pass-ing through the Fort Loudon lock carryabout half a million tons of cargo a year.Area attractions include the Oak Ridge

Atomic Museum of Science & Energy,Dollywood Theme Park and Gatlinburg.In May of 2014, The Animal Planet TVShow filmed Season 7 episode 1 of Find-ing Bigfoot. That particular episode isstill one of the highest rated watchedshows in the world. World-famous BigEd’s Pizza in Oak Ridge is a must-eat lo-cation as well as Calhoun’s BBQ on theriver. I recommend Oak Ridge, LenoirCity, Kingston and Harriman as moteldestinations with plenty of places to eatand not far from numerous boat ramps;such as Caney Creek Marina, LaddLanding, Concord Marina and TomWheeler Park.So if chasing legends or real world

monster catfish is on your “Bucket List”;

then East Tennessee and the TennesseeRiver system is a Can’t-Miss destination.Feel free to call Captain Scott Manning(865) 680-7672 for information rangingfrom area sites to guided fishing opportu-nities. Bring the kids; this is one of the

most beautiful places in the world.Captain Scott Manning is a profes-

sional guide and outdoor writer fromTennessee. Visit his website at:www.tennesseestriperfishinguide.com.

Monster From Page 8

Bi-Weekly Aerial Waterfowl SurveyContinues

HARRISBURG, PA — Those of uswho rely on public tracts for hunting andother recreation generally cherish thatland we use. With more than 1.5 millionacres of state game lands and nearly 3million acres of state park, state forestand federal ground open to hunting, trap-ping and other uses by the public – op-portunities to enjoy the outdoors existalmost everywhere in Pennsylvania.But through partnership and hard work,

millions of acres of the state’s privatelands are open to the public, as well.The Pennsylvania Game Commis-

sion’s Hunter Access program opens topublic hunting and trapping opportunitieson about 2.6 million privately ownedacres.And the program recently was recog-

nized by Outdoor Life magazine, whichnamed the Game Commission recipientof the Outdoor Life Open Country to be

presented during the 2016 Shooting,Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in LasVegas, Nev.The award recognizes parties that ac-

tively help outdoorsmen face one of theirtoughest challenges: access to places toshoot, hunt and fish.Hunter Access ProgramThe Game Commission’s Hunter Ac-

cess Program was started in 1936 and isthe oldest in the country.It focuses on providing hunters and

trappers with access to land, especiallynear populated areas, because close-to-home places to hunt with ample game areseen as keys to recruiting and retaininghunters.The innovations in the Hunter Access

Program are made possible through part-nerships with the USDA-Farm ServicesAgency and USDA-Natural ResourcesConservation Service.

PAGC Recognized forProviding Hunter Access


REYNOLDSBURG, OH – With noconfirmed cases in Ohio and no immedi-ate threat of a Highly Pathogenic AvianInfluenza (avian flu) outbreak, OhioAgriculture Director David T. Danielsand State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Forsheyrescinded the order prohibiting birdshows in Ohio. That order came down onDecember 17.Officials urge poultry and bird owners,

however, to remain vigilant and cautiousin order to protect the health of theirflocks during migration seasons. See thedepartment’s fact sheet on precautionsthat can be done to prevent the spread ofavian flu(www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/ai/docs/Fact%20Sheet%20?%20Avian%20Influenza%20and%20Bird%20Exhibitions.pdf).The order, issued on June 2, 2015, was

originally intended to remain in placeuntil April 2016. The ban includedcounty and independent fairs, the OhioState Fair, and all other gatherings ofbirds for show or for sale, including auc-tions and swap meets. Throughout thenationwide outbreak, the departmentworked closely with Ohio’s poultry pro-ducers and the United States Department

of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal andPlant Health Inspection Service to pro-vide training and to closely monitor thehealth of poultry in the state.The ban also affected falconers and all

of their birds of prey. For Martins Ferry,OHmaster falconer Mick Brown the banhalted all of his activities with his Har-ris’s hawks — except hunting in Ohio.Brown said falconers were allowed tohunt in Ohio during the ban, but couldn’tleave the state. They were also not per-mitted to show or display their birds inOhio or take them across state lines dur-ing the ban. That has now been lifted.“We used to go to Michigan for 10

days (hunting) in October and spendmost of November in Kansas and wecouldn’t do that. We’ve done that foryears and couldn’t do that this year(2015),” said Brown.“It’s good that they lifted it. Now we

can take birds out of state. We can do theshows and programs we usually do,”added Brown.Bird rehab (rescue) organizations re-

ally took a big hit by the state ban.Brown said many of the “rehabbers” hadto shut down because of the loss of

funds. “They make their money fromdoing the shows, and they couldn’t dothem,” said Brown.The avian flu is an extremely conta-

gious virus that primarily affects domes-tic poultry and is likely spread by wild,migrating birds. The USDA first con-firmed the virus in the U.S. beginning inlate 2014. While there were no con-firmed cases of the disease in Ohio,throughout the spring and summer of2015 more than 48 million birds nation-ally were affected. On November 18, theWorld Organization for Animal Health(known as the OIE) issued its final reporton the deadly avian flu outbreaks whichdeclared that the outbreaks in all affectedstates are now final, closed, and resolved.This now makes the United States free ofavian influenza for the time being.One of the ways avian influenza

spreads is by direct contact with contam-inated materials coming from other in-fected birds. Exhibitions, auctions andswap meets where birds are co-minglingpose a high risk of unintentionallyspreading disease. While the intention isto allow bird exhibitions to be held nextyear, an outbreak in Ohio or nearby statesmay require the reinstatement or even anextension of the ban.“I would like to extend a sincere thank

you to OSU Extension and the youth ex-hibitors for their understanding and totheir advisors for turning this unfortunateoutbreak into an important educationalmoment.

Department of AG Lifts Bird Exhibition Ban

Ohio Valley Outdoors– Photo by Larry ClaypoolMaster falconer Mick Brown is shownwith his Harris’s hawk, Zippy, during awinter hunt near East Liverpool, OH

in early 2015.

COLUMBUS, OH — We can helpwith your New Year’s resolutions to getmore exercise, spend more time out-doors or to enjoy more quality time withyour family. Join us at one of the winterhikes offered by the Ohio Department ofNatural Resources (ODNR) at stateparks and state nature preserves acrossOhio this month.ODNR is also excited to launch our

OhioWinter16 photo challenge. Uploadyour photos to Instagram, Facebook orTwitter using the hashtag OhioWinter16to potentially win an overnight stay in acabin at one of our 74 Ohio State Parks.• 51st Annual Winter Hike at Hocking

Hills State Park - This self-guided hikewill be held on Saturday, Jan. 16, withcontinuous starts from 9-11 a.m. Thisrugged hike offers a 3-mile or 6-miletrek, allowing hikers to see noteworthysights such as Old Man’s Cave, CedarFalls and Ash Cave. This remains themost popular winter hike in the OhioState Parks system, and millions of hik-ers visit this nationally recognized parkthroughout the year. Hikers are encour-aged to wear layers and appropriate

footwear for wintry conditions. Refresh-ments are available at Cedar Falls, anddonations are appreciated. Shuttle busesreturn hikers to Old Man’s Cave. Call740-385-6841 for more information.• Winter Birding Hike at Stage’s Pond

State Nature Preserve - Join staff on Jan.16, for a winter hike to learn more aboutthe birds wintering at Stage’s Pond.Dominated by glacial geology, the 3.5-mile trail system is mostly flat for easyhiking. Please dress appropriately forwinter weather. Some areas of the trailwill be wet; waterproof or water-resist-ant footwear are recommended. Meet atthe large parking lot in front of the of-fice. We will have refreshments after thehike; please bring your favorite hotchocolate mug and spoon. Call 740-380-8918 for more details.• Winter Hike at Lake Loramie State

Park - Meet at the camp store at 1 p.m.on Jan. 16, for a winter hike along LakeView Trail. After the hike, refreshmentswill be served, and kids will be treatedto a take-home craft.

Start 2016 by Exploring Ohio’s Parksand Nature Preserves

Turn To 2016 Page 15


CHARLESTON,W.V.—The Conser-vation Fund recently announced its pur-chase of 32,396 acres of workingforestland in southern West Virginia thatwill eventually create the state’s largest,conserved block of prime habitat for elkrestoration. In partnership with the WestVirginia Division of Natural Resources(DNR), the Fund’s historic conservationpurchase will establish a vast protectedlandscape of sustainably managed land,supporting working forests and forestry-based jobs and increasing tourism oppor-tunities for public hunting and otherforms of wildlife-associated recreation.“This purchase and the first-of-its-kind

elk restoration program in West Virginiais an investment in the economic devel-opment and future vitality of the state,”said Joe Hankins, Vice President for TheConservation Fund. “We’re proud to be apartner with the DNR in this effort toconserve an important and promisinglandscape, create new opportunities onland that once supported the statethrough it resources, and redefine conser-vation to provide multiple tangible eco-

nomic and environmental benefits forlocal communities. This is a win-winproposition for all West Virginians.”The Conservation Fund purchased the

property through its Working ForestFund®, with support from the RichardKing Mellon Foundation. Under TheConservation Fund’s ownership, theproperty will be sustainably managed asworking forestland. Over the next fewyears, the Fund will convey the land tothe DNR in phases, starting in the springof 2016. These lands will provide public,wildlife-associated recreation, and theywill be managed for a variety of conser-vation benefits, including elk restoration.“As tourism continues to grow inWest

Virginia, this will be a wonderful newopportunity for outdoor recreation thatboth our residents and visitors canenjoy,” Governor Earl Ray Tomblin said.“I appreciate the cooperative efforts ofeveryone who helped make this projectpossible.”With this conservation effort, West

Virginia joins a multi-state landscapelevel effort to restore elk to the Ap-

palachian region.“We are humbled and gratified by The

Conservation Fund’s tireless efforts andcoordination of this legacy project,” saidBob Fala, Director of the WV Divisionof Natural Resources. “It represents thelargest single conservation acquisition inState history at a most opportune time forthe local and State economy. The bulk of

this acreage adjoins the recently acquiredTomblinWildlife ManagementArea andwill be critical to the State’s fledgling elkrestoration project.”The reclaimed mine lands associated

with this acquisition effort are located inLincoln, Logan and Mingo counties.They provide ideal grassland and foresthabitat for a variety of wildlife species,including elk, deer, wild turkey, goldenwinged warbler and grassland birds. Thepurchase conserves more than 10,000acres of currently leased lands at LaurelLake Wildlife Management Area(WMA) and Big Ugly WMA, ensuring

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Through itsfundraising efforts at the enormouslypopular Great American Outdoor Show,the National Rifle Association has do-nated $50,000 to several central Pennsyl-vania organizations who promote theoutdoor lifestyle through educational andrecreational activities.Donations were made through The

NRA Foundation, America’s leadingcharitable organization in support of theshooting sports. The National Civil WarMuseum, one of the four recipients, wasselected for its educational contributions.In association with the Smithsonian In-stitution, the museum showcases a com-prehensive portrayal of the AmericanCivil War through a collection of morethan 24,000 artifacts. The National CivilWar Museum will be using funds fromThe NRAFoundation to construct a newexhibit recognizing firearm manufactur-ers of the Civil War era that are still inoperation today as well as highlightinggun safety programs and firearm educa-tion and training offered through the

NRA.“The Civil War was one of the most

turbulent eras in our nation’s history andwe pride ourselves in our museum’s ubi-ased look at its people, events, and tech-nology,” said The National CivilMuseums Board Chairman MichaelLove. “Thanks to this generous donationby the NRA, we look forward to enhanc-ing a number of our exhibits.”The three other groups benefiting from

the NRA’s donations are All 4 KidsHunting, dedicated to inspiring and edu-cating youth on wildlife conservationthrough a safe introduction to hunting;LEEK Hunting & Mountain Preserve,which facilitates outdoor recreational op-portunities for wounded veterans; andCamo Cares, an annual recreationalevent that raises funds to send childrenwith life-threatening illnesses andwounded veterans on hunts.“Providing dream hunts for children

and veterans who have faced tremendoushardships is an incredibly fulfilling act,”

said Camo Cares co-founder Jason Say.“The NRA’s donation will go a long waytoward increasing the number of huntswe will arrange this coming year.”“We are grateful for the role these or-

ganizations play in continuing our coun-try’s great shooting traditions,” saidNRA General Operations Executive Di-rector Kyle Weaver. “The success of theGreatAmerican Outdoor Show grants usthe opportunity to give back to the com-munity that sustains it and we look for-ward to assisting programs who supportthe outdoor lifestyle for years to come.”The nine day celebration of outdoor

traditions is the largest consumer sportsand outdoor show in the world and re-turns to Harrisburf, February 6-14, 2016.Learn more about the Great AmericanOutdoor Show atwww.greatamericanoutdoorshow.org.About the National Rifle AssociationEstablished in 1871, the National Rifle

Association is America’s oldest civilrights and sportsmen’s group. Five mil-

lion members strong, NRA continues itsmission to uphold Second Amendmentrights and is the leader in forearm educa-tion and training for law-abiding gunowners, law enforcement and the mili-tary. Visit http://nra.org.About The NRA FoundationEstablished in 1990, The NRA Foun-

dation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt or-ganization that raises tax-deductiblecontributions in support of a wide rangeof firearm-related public interest activi-ties of the National Rifle Association ofAmerica and other organizations that de-fend and foster the Second Amendmentrights of all law-abiding Americans.These activities are designed to promotefirearm and hunting safety, to enhancemarksmanship skills of those participat-ing in the shootings sports, and to edu-cate the general public about firearms intheir historic, technological, and artisticcontext. More information about TheNRA Foundation can be found online atwww.nrafoundation.org.

Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo by Larry ClaypoolThe Conservation Club recently purchased landin southern West Virginia to help create primehabitat for elk restoration in the state; similar

to what neighboring states Pennsylvaniaand Kentucky have done.

Donates $50,000 to PA Organizations

32K Acres of LandAcquired to Restore Elk in WV

Turn To 32K Page 12

permanent public access and enhancingconnectivity with other important conser-vation lands in the region.West Virginia’s United States Congres-

sional Delegation strongly supports thisconservation and economic effort, whichwill be completed in part utilizing“Pittman-Robertson” funds through thecongressionally authorized WildlifeRestoration Program, a $250,000 grantfrom Walmart and the National Fish andWildlife Foundations’Acres forAmericaprogram and a $250,000 grant from theKnobloch Family Foundation.“It is great news that The Conservation

Fund has decided to invest in elk restora-tion in Southern West Virginia,” U.S.Senator Joe Manchin said. “Our neigh-boring states, Pennsylvania and Ken-tucky, have experienced success throughreintroducing elk into their wildlife, andthis project will similarly benefit ourSouthern region by bringing substantialeconomic growth through tourism andnew hunting and outdoor recreation op-portunities. I thank all those who havebeen working collectively to make thisprogram a reality in our state.”The Conservation Fund’sWorking For-

est Fund uses conservation-focused for-

est management strategies to enhanceforest health and productivity, wildlifehabitat and water quality, while support-ing the economic well being of surround-ing communities. With more than half ofAmerica’s 751 million acres of forestsvulnerable to fragmentation and conver-sion to other uses, the Working ForestFund is a dedicated source of conserva-tion capital and timberland expertise de-signed to quickly acquire threatenedforests with high conservation value.Over the last three decades, The Conser-vation Fund has protected more than twomillion acres of forestland nationwide.About The Conservation FundAt The Conservation Fund, we make

conservation work forAmerica. By creat-ing solutions that make environmentaland economic sense, we are redefiningconservation to demonstrate its essentialrole in our future prosperity. Top-rankedfor efficiency and effectiveness, we haveworked in all 50 states since 1985 to pro-tect more than 7.5 million acres of land,including more than 69,000 acres of im-portant natural resources, wildlife habitatand recreational lands inWest Virginia aticonic places like Cheat Canyon andCanaan Valley NationalWildlife Refuge,which supports local economies andbusinesses. www.conservationfund.org

COLUMBUS, OH — Ice fishing op-portunities can be found in a variety of in-land lakes and ponds, and Lake Erie aswell, but the “Big Lake” warrants specialconsiderations. For a variety of reasons,including safety, many anglers hire a li-censed ice fishing guide who can set themup in the protective shelter of a shantyand help them locate fish. For those tar-geting walleye, use minnows on jigginglures or blade baits. Yellow perch can becaught with a spreader or crappie rigtipped with shiners.Other things to remember before going

ice fishing:• No ice is safe ice• Have a valid Ohio fishing license• Know the size and daily limits for

the fish that you hope to catch• Learn the ice fishing regulations for

where you are fishing• Make a checklist of things you will

need to have fun and be safeConsider leaving a “float plan” with

someone who knows that you will be outon the ice, indicating where you plan tofish, where you plan to park your vehicle,and when you plan to return home. Forboaters, this is common practice, and forice anglers, it’s not a bad idea either.

Here are a few other pointers to keep inmind. Try to fish around other ice anglersso if you do fall through, someone mightbe there to help you get out. Rememberto dress appropriately to prevent hy-pothermia and wear a life jacket or flota-tion suit when walking around on ice.Many anglers also bring along an extrachange of dry clothes just in case of anemergency. Keep your cell phone avail-able, but protected from the elements.One of the great things about ice fish-

ing is that tackle can be very simple andinexpensive. Short rods, light gear, lightline, and small baits are the ticket. Someanglers also like to use small bobbers asstrike indicators since strikes can be sub-tle. Tip-ups are a common addition tomany ice anglers’ tackle, too. They comein a variety of designs, but essentially in-volve a spool of line hanging in the waterwith bait attached. Most store-bought ver-sions feature a signaling device, such as aflag, that pops up when a fish takes thebait. In Ohio, anglers can have up to sixtip-ups going at one time, and each mustbe labeled with the owner’s name and ad-dress.Because fish don’t strike as aggres-

sively in the winter, you’ll want to use

lighter tackle – 10 pound test or less – andsmaller baits. You can increase your oddsby tipping artificial lures with live bait.Sluggish fish are much more likely to hiton a minnow-tipped jig as opposed to onewith a plastic worm.Tip-ups are another common method of

ice fishing and come in a wide variety ofdesigns. Essentially, they involve a spoolof line hanging in the water with bait at-tached. Most store bought versions fea-ture a signaling device, such as a flag, thatpops up when a fish takes the bait. InOhio, anglers can have up to six tip-upsgoing at one time.What’s biting down below? Petering

says you can catch the same species whenice fishing as you hooked during the sum-mer months, including crappie, bluegill,bass and catfish, as well as perch, wall-eye and saugeye.In fact, some of the most sought after

ice fish are saugeyes (a cross between thesauger and a walleye), because they areso active in the winter. Two of the bestplaces for saugeye – and ice fishing ingeneral – are Buckeye Lake in Fairfieldand Licking counties, and Indian Lake inLogan County, which generally freezequickly due to their shallowness.At theselakes, consider using a jig or spoon tippedwith minnows.Drop your line through an ice hole on a


Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo courtesy of Frabill/NPAAYellow perch can be caught with a spreader or

crappie rig tipped with shiners while ice fishing.

Tips on Ice Fishing in Ohio

Turn To Ice Fishing Page 13

32K From Page 11

farm pond and you’ll likely be pulling upsome tasty panfish, such as bluegill andcrappie. For bait, Petering suggests usinga tiny ice jig or fly and tipping it with waxworms.Lake Erie ice fishing is definitely a dif-ferent “kettle of fish.” For a variety of rea-sons – including safety – many anglershire a guide who sets them up in the pro-tective shelter of a shanty and helps themlocate the fish. The area between Greenand Rattlesnake islands, just west ofSouth Bass Island, usually offers some ofthe safest ice on the lake.For those targeting walleye, use min-nows on jigging spoons, blade baits andjigging Rapalas. Yellow perch can becaught with a spreader or crappie rigtipped with shiners. Some anglers includea bobber as a strike indicator.Once the freeze is on, check the mostrecent ice fishing reports, or make a quickstop at the local bait shop to find outwhat’s biting and where. As always, besafe when you head out on the ice and formore information, please call 1-800-WILDLIFE or contact your localWildlifeDistrict Office.

Safety Tips:• Find an Ice Fishing Guide• Always fish with a partner or in an

area with several other anglers present• Let others know exactly where youare going and when you plan to return• Place a cell phone in a plastic bag toprotect it from moisture in case you getwet• Sprinkle sand around your feet forbetter traction on the ice•Always take along a PFD seat cushionor more importantly, wear a life vest incase of an emergency• Avoid areas where feeder streams,springs, bridge pilings, docks, and damstructures since ice is usually very thinthereIf you fall into the water, remain calm.• Slip your loose boots off to bettertread water• Use ice awls to pull yourself out of thewater• If no ice awls are available, call forhelp and try “swimming out” by lettingyour body rise up to firm ice and crawlout• Stay flat, distributing your weight onthe ice• Keep your clothes on once out of thewater. This will keep you insulated.If someone else falls in the water:• REACH using a stick or fishing pole.• THROW a rope or PFD.• ROW or push a boat.• GO call for help.


Ice Fishing From Page 12

Which is safer, clear iceor cloudy ice?

This is actually a trick question- NOICE IS SAFE ICE! Regardless of howthe ice looks, always proceed with cautionsince there are always thin spots on lakesand ponds. But, as far as which ice is bet-ter, clear ice is better than cloudy ice. It isvery intimidating if you step out onto alake or pond and can see clearly to the bot-tom. But with the way ice forms, theclearer it is, the less impurities and irreg-ularities is has. So, inch for inch, clear iceis stronger since it’s purer.There is no one on the lake and I hear

weird noises. Is that the sound of the icecracking?Probably not. The ice on a lake is in a

difficult position: cold air above, warmwater below, and only so much room toexpand. So when ice forms, it will actu-ally “sing.”True or False- Speaking of water tem-

peratures, the warmest water will benear the top since the sun can still warmthe water.False! Believe it or not, water can have

different density depending on the temper-ature. Water is MOST dense when it is at4°C (39°F). Instead of warm water at the

top and cool water at the bottom in sum-mer, the warmest water in the winter willbe at the bottom while the coolest waterwill be at the top. This cool water willeventually freeze first and become the firstlayer of ice. So when you start your dayice fishing, try putting your lures near thebottom first since that is where it is thewarmest.True or False- Why go ice fishing?

The fish are “turned off,” so they won’tbite.False! Just like everything else, fish

need to eat to survive. Now granted, theydo eat less when the waters get cold sincetheir activity level decreases. But they doneed to eat enough to maintain their bodycondition, and make it to the spring whenthey will reproduce.

True or False- During the winter,aquatic vegetation dies off, and the

lake bottoms are flat with no featuresor cover for fish.

False! Aquatic vegetation can lastthroughout the winter as long as sunlightcan penetrate the ice. If you ever reel upsome vegetation in the winter, and it isgreen, it is probably alive. However, if theice is cloudy or there is an excess amountof snow on the ice.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ice Fishing

ATHENS, OH –A training academy forindividuals interested in becoming huntereducation instructors will be offered inAthens, Ohio on March 11-12, accordingto the Ohio Department of Natural Re-sources (ODNR).Training will be held at the ODNRDivi-

sion ofWildlife District Four office locatedat 360 East State Street in Athens (March11 5-9 p.m. and March 12 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.).There is no cost to participate in the huntereducation instructor academy, but all par-ticipants are required to complete a back-ground check prior to the start of theacademy so registration must be submitted

at least a month in advance. Forms mustbe postmarked by February 11.Participants must attend both days of

training, be at least 18 years of age andhave successfully completed a hunter edu-cation course. Ohio currently has 1,700volunteer instructors who train thousandsof hunters each year to be safe and respon-sible in the field.For more information on becoming a

hunter education instructor visit the huntereducation pages at wildohio.gov.ODNR ensures a balance between wise

use and protection of our natural resourcesfor the benefit of all. Visit the ODNRweb-site at ohiodnr.gov.

AKRON, OH— Sportsmen and womeninterested in pursuing coyotes are encour-aged to attend a free, informational work-shop provided by Ohio Department ofNatural Resources (ODNR) Division ofWildlife on January 27, 2016 in Akron.ODNR Division of Wildlife biologists

will cover very basic topics such as lifehistory, calling techniques (call types andsetups), appropriate firearms and ammuni-tion, field sets, and scouting.The workshop will be from 6-9 p.m. at

Wildlife District Three, 912 Portage LakesDrive, Akron. Pre-registration is requiredas seating is limited. Call Joe Ferrara at330-644-2293 or [email protected] learn more about hunting and trap-

ping in Ohio visit wildohio.gov.ODNR ensures a balance between wise

use and protection of our natural resourcesfor the benefit of all. Visit the ODNRweb-site at ohiodnr.gov.

Become a Hunter Education Instructor

Free “Basics of Coyote Hunting/Trapping”Workshop in Akron

About the club:The Lowellville Rod and Gun Club

was formed in 1938 (in 2016 they willcelebrate their 80th anniversary) and isone of the premier sporting clubs in thestate of Ohio. The club has approxi-mately 100 acres adjacent to the club-house as well as several leased farmlandsfor hunting. It’s located near the easternOhio border and western Pennsylvania.It includes a 10-acre lake, trap range,rifle range, archery range and an indoorshooting range.

In an effort to learn more about theLowellville Rod and Gun Club, the OhioValley Outdoor Times’ staff asked thefollowing questions about the sportsclub.OVOT: Is your club accepting new

members?LRGC: Yes, from January 1 through

August 31 we accept new members.OVOT: Is there a membership cap? Is

there a waiting list?LRGC: There is a membership cap of

500. At this time there is not a waitinglist.OVOT: What costs are involved in

joining your club, and what are the an-nual dues?LRGC:Annual dues are currently $65

per year; initiation fee $100; key fee $3;electronic key fee $10; land pledge $375when a new member first joins (with 3payment plans available).OVOT: Are there working hours re-

quired of members?LRGC:Yes, regular members need to

work 20 hours per year. A new memberneeds to work 20 hours from the timethey join the club through year end. Thisis why we close new memberships eachyear onAugust 31 so they have a chanceto work their 20 hours that year.OVOT: Are there other requirements

of members?

LRGC: A new member must fill outan application and then be interviewedby the Executive Board and voted on be-fore a new member can be sworn in at a

General Meeting.OVOT: Is there a family membership?LRGC: No - memberships are for in-


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CONSTRUCTION, INC.

Headquarters 10422 South Avenue Youngstown, Ohio 44514

Phone 330-549-0349 Fax 330-549-0344Email [email protected]

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Over 30 Years of Doing Things Right

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Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo courtesy of LRGCThe Lowellville Rod and Gun Club is located at: 6225 Quarry Road in Lowellville, Ohio,Mahoning County. It features a 10-acre lake, trap range, rifle range, archery range and

an indoor shooting range.

Sportsman’s Club FeatureLowellville Rod and Gun ClubLowellville, Ohio (Mahoning County)

West Virginia Trappers Association FurAuction - Jan. 8-10, 2016 at Gilmer CountyRecreation Center, Glenville, WV. Several ven-dors. Auction is 1 p.m. Sunday. Fur HandlingClinic on Jan. 9. For info. call Scott Schimmelat 304-462-7270, email Janet Hodge [email protected] or visit website at:www.wvtrappers.com.Ohio State TrappersAssociation FurAuc-

tion - Jan. 16, 2016 at Crawford County Con-servation League, 3477 St. Rt. 98, Bucyrus,OH. Starts at 9 a.m. Call-ins for lot numbers(for all three auctions) will be taken on Jan. 2only from noon - 9 p.m. Call Steve Hiller at937-206-1934. For info. contact Hiller, OSTAFur Auction Coordinator via email:[email protected]. Visit the OSTA website at:www.ohiostatetrapper.org.Northeast Ohio Sportsman Show - Jan 21-

23, 2016 at Buckeye Event Center, 624 HenrySt., Dalton, OH 44618. Now three days; Thurs.2-8 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m. -9 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. -5 p.m.Vendors, demonstrations, seminars, deer scor-ing (Sat. only).Admission $10, kids 12 & underfree. Parking free. Visitwww.ohiosportsmanshow.com. For info. 740-397-7788. See ad on Page 2.Ohio State TrappersAssociation FurAuc-

tion - Feb. 13, 2016 at 50 Boyer Lane (just offRt. 41) in Jeffersonville, OH. Starts at 9 a.m.Call-ins for lot numbers (for all three auctions)

will be taken on Jan. 2 only from noon - 9 p.m.Call Steve Hiller at 937-206-1934. For info.contact Hiller, OSTA Fur Auction Coordinatorvia email: [email protected]. Visit the OSTAwebsite at: www.ohiostatetrapper.org.West Virginia Trappers Association

Spring Rendezvous and FurAuction - March4-6, 2016 at Gilmer County Recreation Center,Glenville, WV. Several vendors. For info. callScott Schimmel at 304-462-7270, email JanetHodge at [email protected] or visitwebsite at: www.wvtrappers.com.Ohio State TrappersAssociation FurAuc-

tion - March 12, 2016 at Wallicks AuctionHouse, 965 N. Wooster Ave., Strasburg, OH,44680. Starts at 9 a.m. Call-ins for lot numbers(for all three auctions) will be taken on Jan. 2only from noon - 9 p.m. Call Steve Hiller at937-206-1934. For info. contact Hiller, OSTAFur Auction Coordinator via email:[email protected]. Visit the OSTA website at:www.ohiostatetrapper.org.PA Trappers Association Rendezvous -

June 23-25, 2016 atWest End Fairgrounds, 570Fairgrounds Rd., Gilbert, PA, 18331. Auctionis Fri. 6:30 p.m. On Sat. Cable Restraint Cert.Class. Demos, dealers, contests, auction. $5 ad-mission, $10 for three days. Tailgate space $50.Camping available. Contact Bob Counterman610-759-9203 or Scot Mucha 610-863-9759.Website: www.patrappers.com.

Calendar of Events

• Big Woods Hike at Hueston WoodsState Park - Meet at the nature center at2 p.m. on Jan. 16, to hike to an oldgrowth forest within the park. Wear ap-propriate footwear and bring your vehi-cle; we will drive to the trailhead. Allowtwo hours for the hike.• Full Moon Hike at Eagle Creek State

Nature Preserve - Meet on Jan. 23, at8:45 p.m. to walk the preserve at nightby the light of a full moon (contingentupon sky conditions). Registration is re-quired for this free event. Please dressaccording to the weather and wear ap-propriate shoes, the event will last until10 p.m. To register or for more informa-tion, call 330-527-5118.

• Afternoon Hike at HuestonWoods State Park - Meet on Jan. 24, at 2p.m. at the nature center to hike throughthe scenery of Hueston Woods. Pleasewear apparopriate footwear. Bring yourvehicle; we will drive to the trailhead.This program is longer than an hour.

• Section Hike at Shawnee StatePark - Meet at the lodge lobby on Jan.30, at noon for a brisk hike on theShawnee Backpack Trail from noon to 4p.m.We will be walking on rough terrainso bring your walking sticks, wear com-

fortable hiking shoes and dress in layers.Bring snacks and water. Everyone wel-come including pets. Hiking distancewill be based on skill levels attending.No hike will exceed 7 miles.

• Big Woods Hike at HuestonWoods State Park - Journey to an oldgrowth forest on Jan. 30. Meet at the na-ture center and wear appropriatefootwear. Bring your vehicle; we willdrive to the trailhead. Allow two hoursfor the hike.• For more information on these hikes,

plus other recreational opportunities atstate parks, forests, nature preserves andwildlife areas, go to ohiodnr.gov/winter.Visit the ODNR website at

ohiodnr.gov.


Dove From Page 10

dividuals. However we allow membersto bring family members and guests.OVOT:What facilities does your club

feature?LRGC: Indoor Range, Outdoor

Ranges, Trapshooting, Archery, Fishing(10 acre lake), Hunting, Clubhouse/MainHall (kitchen) – can be rented out, Trap-shooting Clubhouse.OVOT:Any events your club hosts?LRGC: Family Day, Teach a Kid to

Fish Day, Gun Shows, Shooting tourna-

ments (Trap, Pistol, Rifle, CMP), Christ-mas Party, Fish Fry, (*View Facebookpage to see monthly schedule.)OVOT: Host other activities?LRGC: Hunter Safety Class, Youth

Program, Women’s Shooting, PistolSafety Class, CCWClasses (A local gunstore rents out our hall and indoor rangefor CCW classes throughout the year.)OVOT:What is the current member-

ship of your club? Is that up or downfrom five years ago?LRGC: We raised our total member-

ship cap from 400 to 500 in order toallow our club to accept new membersand meet the demand.The Lowellville Rod and Gun Club is

located at: 6225 Quarry Road, Low-ellville, OH 44436. Contact the club at:330-536-8143 or see their Facebookpage.

Editor’s Note: Information about yoursports club can be featured on this page

by contacting the OVOT staff by phoneat: 330-385-2243 or email:[email protected]. Thereis no cost involved. It’s a free serviceprovided by Ohio Valley Outdoor Timesand Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine forour readers, local sportsmen and womenand sports clubs. Information must beprovided and approved by a club officeror board of directors.

Lowellville From Page 14

Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo courtesy of LRGCLowellville Rod and Gun Club hosts many events at the club, including a fishing day on their lake.

Ohio Valley Outdoors–Photo courtesy of LRGCThe lake at the Lowellville Rod and Gun Club affords some beautiful scenery, including this re-

cent sunrise.

Ohio Valley Outdoors


Elton Frauenknecht12-pt.

Warren County, OH

Allen Beerman14-pt.

Pickaway County, OH

Eugene Dailey8-pt., buck

WV

Jansen McCloy10-pt., buckGreat, WV

Jaren McCloy7-pt., buck

WV

Emily Byler8pt., crossbow

Monroe County, OH

Anthony Price11-pt., bow

Van Wert County, OH

Send Us Your PhotosWe’ll print your hunting, fishing or trap-

ping photos in the next issue of OV Times orOhio Valley Outdoors magazine. Send pho-tos via mail, email or Facebook.Email to: [email protected] to: Photo Showcase210 East Fourth St., East Liverpool, OH 43920

Luke Sheets10-pts., bow

Fairfield County, OH


Josh Enlow9pt., 128.5"

Warren County, OH

Joshua Toms10-pt., 180 green score, bow

Fairfield County, OH

Chris Green, OVO Pro StaffDecember bowfishing

Ohio River

Danika Freeman, Age 98-pt., crossbow

Columbiana County, OH

Joe Justinger, age 11Fall 2015 Jake

Lake County, OH

Eric Sauers9-pt., bow

Medina County, OH

Jonathan Barlett8-pt.

Butler County, OH

Fred Ormanis10pt., shotgun

OH

Frank Aleksiejczykcrossbow

Jefferson County, OH

Gary Crable10-pt.

Carroll County, OH

Jacklyn Hajnosz, age 101st buck

Westmoreland County, PA

Travis Hunt, OVO Pro-Staff8pt., crossbow

Jefferson County, OH


Ohio Valley Outdoorswww.ohiovalleyoutdoors.com

You need morecustomers!YOUR CARD HEREContact Sales Consultant

Tracy Bissell at330-385-2243

• Fun for beginners and seasoned shooters alike

• One of the top rated facilities in the country

• Safe, family friendly environment

• Heated shooting stations

• Fully stocked pro shop

• Restaurant featuring a full menu and deckoverlooking Pigeon Pond for outdoor dining

• Rental equipment and instruction available

WHAT IS SPORTING CLAYS?PATIENCE. PRECISION. EXHILARATION!

Open year round. Call today for reservations.

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Ohio Valley Outdoor Times 1-2016

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