Fall Turkey Season Concludes in Ohio
December 6, 2008
COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio’s fall wild turkey season ended November 30 with 1,692, birds killed during the seven-week season. Ashtabula County led the state with 130 birds taken, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife.
Fall turkey hunters enjoyed expanded opportunities this year. They were able to hunt the entire season, from October 11 through November 30, with a shotgun, muzzleloading shotgun, bow or crossbow. This new rule adds 35 days to the previous season for fall turkey gun hunting. Hunters had 46 counties in which to pursue a wild turkey of either sex, which included nine additional northeast Ohio counties.
“We saw a relativity minor change in harvest when compared to the significant changes in opportunities for hunters,” said Dave Risley, who oversees wildlife management and research for the division. “We are still well below the acceptable level of harvest for the fall season.”
The top 10 counties for fall turkey harvest were: Ashtabula-130, Tuscarawas-112, Harrison-96, Brown-91, Clermont and Coshocton-83, Trumbull-82, Highland-79, and Adams and Washington-67.
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
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Llist of wild turkeys checked and tagged through November 30 by county.
Adams -67 (42); Ashland -50 (23); Ashtabula -130 (97); Athens -20 (21); Belmont -31 (23); Brown -91 (45); Carroll -21 (33); Clermont -83 (42); Columbiana -62 (29); Coshocton -83 (52); Cuyahoga -12 (NA); Gallia -37 (41); Geauga -22 (32); Guernsey -60 (56); Harrison -96 (31); Highland -79 (29); Hocking -23 (21); Holmes -25 (30); Jackson -52 (43); Jefferson -32 (23); Knox - 57 (46); Lake -17 (NA); Lawrence -31 (24); Licking -53 (35); Lorain -34 (NA); Mahoning -17 (NA); Medina -33 (NA); Meigs -26 (30); Monroe -28 (33); Morgan -14 (9); Morrow - 25 (27); Muskingum -13 (34); Noble -11 (30); Perry -30 (24); Pike -20 (17); Portage -21 (NA); Richland -54 (23); Ross -47 (20); Scioto -51 (12); Stark -35 (NA); Summit -17 (NA); Trumbull -82 (46); Tuscarawas -112 (36); Vinton -35 (33); Washington -67 (24); and Wayne -6 (NA). Preliminary totals -1,692 (1,216).
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Ohio DNR Director Designates Ashtabula as State’s 14th State Scenic River
November 6, 2008
ASHTABULA, OH - The Ashtabula River in Ashtabula County was designated as Ohio’s newest State Scenic River today at a ceremony led by Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Sean Logan. The designation makes the Ashtabula River the county’s third State Scenic River and provides additional state protection to three stream segments totaling 46 miles.
“The scenic river designation of the Ashtabula protects a unique natural resource, but there is more to it than that,” said ODNR Director Sean Logan. “We are protecting this river, and Ohio’s 13 other scenic rivers, because we know that our economic and social health cannot, for long, be separated from the health of our air, water and soil.”
Ashtabula becomes the 14th Ohio waterway to achieve State Scenic River status and the second in three years for Ashtabula County. The ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves administers the Ohio State Scenic Rivers Program.
The Ashtabula River watershed supports an exceptionally beautiful river system. High quality natural features include an outstanding wooded riparian corridor and diverse populations of wildlife and plants.
The exceptional aquatic habitat found in the river’s main stem and East and West branches supports 88 species of fish. The Ashtabula is a popular steelhead fishing area in northeast Ohio and 4 miles of public fishing access in Ashtabula Township.
Using a federal Coastal Management grant, the division produced a comprehensive designation study after the entire stream was evaluated in 2007. The Ashtabula was recommended for state designation in September 2008.
Efforts to designate Ashtabula as a state scenic river began in 2006. Local communities and organizations have worked toward that goal, including the Ashtabula Board of County Commissioners, the City of Ashtabula and the townships of Ashtabula, Denmark, Kingsville, Monroe, Pierpont, Plymouth, Richmond and Sheffield.
A strong local supporter of the designation process was the Ashtabula River Watershed Committee, which is comprised of local residents and public officials. It, along with the Ashtabula Township Park Commission, sponsored today’s designation ceremony. Other local sponsors include: Ohio American Water Company, the James L. Smith Estate, Ashtabula County Parks Foundation and Kelley’s Gardens. Each of these partners joins ODNR in seeking a balance between development and conservation.
Ohio passed the nation’s first scenic river protection legislation in 1968, providing for wild, scenic and recreational classifications for rivers. Criteria used to evaluate a river’s status include the stream’s length, adjacent forest cover, biological characteristics, water quality, present use and natural conditions.
The Ohio Scenic Rivers Program identifies and helps preserve those rivers and streams possessing important natural or historic characteristics of state significance. Scenic river designation provides increased protection and stream quality monitoring for the waterway. It is a locally driven process that relies on the support and participation of government and landowners.
The latest designation brings the number of state scenic rivers to 14 encompassing 800 miles. Other state scenic rivers include: the Big and Little Darby Creek, Chagrin River, Grand River, Kokosing River, Little Miami River, Little Beaver Creek, Maumee River, Mohican River, Olentangy River, Sandusky River, Stillwater River/Greenville Creek and Upper Cuyahoga River. The Little Beaver Creek, Big and Little Darby Creek and Little Miami River have also been recognized as National Scenic Rivers.
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.gov.
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Ohio’s 2008 Fall Wild Turkey Hunting Season Underway
October 20, 2008
547 birds harvested during first five days of season; tops last year’s number
COLUMBUS, OH - Hunters harvested 547 wild turkeys during the first five days of Ohio’s fall wild turkey hunting season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The season opened on October 11 and will run through November 30.
Last year, hunters killed 504 birds in the same time period. The top 10 counties for wild turkeys killed to date are: Ashtabula - 39, Noble and Tuscarawas - 21, Harrison and Washington - 20, Coshocton - 19, Columbiana and Holmes - 18, and Jackson and Trumbull - 17.
Wild turkeys can be hunted in 46 counties during the fall season with the addition of nine additional counties: Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit and Wayne. Also new this year, shotguns have been added to the list of legal implements that can be used throughout the season. More than 19,000 hunters pursued wild turkeys in Ohio last fall.
Fall wild turkey hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise to sunset. The bag limit is one turkey of either sex per hunter, per season. A fall turkey permit is required in addition to a current Ohio hunting license. All turkeys killed must be taken to an official turkey check station by 8 p.m. on the day of harvest.
The Division of Wildlife reminds hunters that turkey season will partially overlap the Early Muzzleloader Deer Hunting Season (October 20-25) on three state-owned areas: Wildcat Hollow in Perry and Morgan counties, Salt Fork Wildlife Area in Guernsey County and Shawnee State Forest in Scioto County. Turkey hunting will not be allowed on these areas during the muzzleloader deer hunting season.
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.gov.
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Horsepower Limit Raised on Pymatuning Lake in Ashtabula County
June 17, 2008
COLUMBUS, OH - Governor Ted Strickland signed legislation last week that increased the horsepower limit on Pymatuning Lake in Ashtabula County from 9.9 to 20 horsepower. The new rule was part of a comprehensive package of boater safety laws that went into effect on June 13.
Pymatuning Lake’s 14,000 acres of water lie mostly within Pennsylvania, but partially within Ohio. Passage of the new horsepower law ensures continued cooperation between the two states in maintaining the uniform safety and enforcement standards laid out in the Pymatuning Lake Compact. Pennsylvania increased the horsepower limit on its portion of the lake several years ago.
State Representative Deborah Newcomb of Conneaut was a sponsor of the new legislation, saying it will benefit not only the safety of boaters on the lake, but also the economy of far northeast Ohio by increasing the amount of tourist dollars flowing into the area.
“Working with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, I concluded that raising the horsepower limit was the best way to increase boater safety and enhance enforcement efforts for watercraft officers on the lake,” Newcomb said.
Pymatuning Lake is a feature of Pymatuning State Park, which is located on the western shoreline. The park offers fishing, camping, hiking, swimming and picnicking in northeast Ohio. The 3,500-acre park is home to 60 standard and family cottages and a campground with more than 700 electric and non-electric campsites. More than 440,000 people visited the park in 2007.
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2008 Ohio Spring Turkey Harvest Tops 18,500 Birds
May 20, 2008
Ashtabula County again leads the harvest
COLUMBUS, OH - Hunters checked 18,556 wild turkeys during Ohio’s four-week, statewide spring turkey-hunting season that ended May 18, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The preliminary total represents a 9 percent increase over last year’s preliminary harvest number of 17,005.
Ashtabula County again led the state in the number of turkeys killed with 835. Counties with additional high harvest numbers were: Guernsey and Tuscarawas- 573 each, Harrison-547, Clermont-510, Trumbull-507, Washington-495, Coshocton- 485, Jackson- 471 and Columbiana-462.
In addition to the turkeys taken during the regular season, young hunters harvested another 1,838 birds during a special hunt for ages 17 and younger held April 19-20.
The Division of Wildlife estimates that more than 85,000 people hunted turkeys during the season. Prior to the start of the spring hunting season, state wildlife biologists estimated the wild turkey population in Ohio to be more than 185,000 birds.
This was the ninth spring that turkey hunting was open in every Ohio county. Only 57 of the state’s 88 counties were open to spring turkey hunting in 1999.
Wild turkeys were nearly extinct in Ohio before being reintroduced in the mid-1950s by the Division of Wildlife. The first spring turkey-hunting season opened in 1966. Wild turkeys are now present in all 88 counties.
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