On the weekend of July 17, 18 and 19, Ashtabula Rod and Gun Club held its annual Outdoor Education Weekend. Led by club member Skip Crane and co-chaired by Paul Callendar, this year’s event was attended by 52 young hunters and outdoors persons. “This was one of our best turnouts in a long time” Skip said. “I was very pleased.”



Skip’s Posse

During the weekend-long campout, the potential conservationists took part in several hands-on activities which were led by experienced outdoors men and women that Crane said are unsurpassed in their enthusiasm and desire to pass along the outdoor traditions to the young folks that attended.

On the archery range were Skip, Marty and Ed, while John Wright and Bob Allen took care of the pistol range. Rifle was led by Ron Tusai with assistance from Vic Thomas and Don Hancock. Black powder was manned by Dave Salecki with help from Tedo Sircelji and Troy, while shotgun classes were presented by Rick Piper and Randy Smith.

Skip wanted me to give due recognition to John Dougherty, who runs the kitchen and keeps everyone fed and happy. Also, his lovely wife Brenda, who helps throughout the weekend anywhere there’s a need and then some.



Great seminars

Jim Bidell, a member of the local Ducks Unlimited Chapter, also took part in the event on Saturday and provided a watercraft safety seminar as well as giving a demonstration of waterfowl retrieving with his black lab.

Along with this, there was also a grandiose turkey seminar given by Lanny Swigger that always provides plenty of fun and entertainment as well as turkey-hunting expertise.



Friendly competition

After all of the educational material is taken care of, the Saturday night schedule of events is always the best part of the whole weekend. The kids get to participate in a little friendly competition using the knowledge they’ve learned thus far. The young outdoors persons can choose one of several events to partake in — archery, and shotgun or rifle competition.

Archery is scored on a bull’s-eye target with the highest total score being the winner. Rifle consists of knockdown targets and whoever knocks down the most taking the prize. Shotgun is done in a turkey-shoot manner with the closest to the center being the winner.



The winners are!

This year’s prize takers were Emery Colvin in archery, Toran Trbovich in shotgun and Derek VanNorman in rifle. Their reward was a Zebco Ugly Stick rod and reel combination with a whole bunch of goodies thrown in.



Thanks to all

In closing, Skip wanted to mention that this was Ashtabula Rod and Guns Club’s 25th year of doing this for young folks, with probably 15 of the last years being on their own with the help of The Ashtabula County Wildlife Conservation League and several other sponsors.

“We couldn’t do this without help from all our sponsors, especially the ACWCL, not to mention the volunteers who give up an entire weekend to make sure these kids have a great time and learn all they can about the outdoors,” he said.



Early migratory bird dates

The Ohio Wildlife Council has approved the state’s early migratory bird hunting seasons for this fall, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.



Get ready, GO!

Sept. 1 will kick off the state’s hunting seasons with the opening of dove, Canada goose, rail, moorhen and snipe. Squirrel hunting season also starts that day.



Dove

Ohio’s dove hunting season runs Sept. 1 through Oct. 25 and Dec. 7 through Dec. 21, with a daily limit of 15 birds and a possession limit of 30 birds.

Controlled dove hunts will be offered at Fallsville, Rush Run, Spring Valley, Indian Creek and Bott state wildlife areas and St. Mary’s Fish Hatchery. These controlled hunts will take place Tuesday, Sept. 1 and Wednesday, Sept. 2. Hunting hours will be noon to sunset. Youth-priority controlled dove hunts will be held at St. Mary’s Fish Hatchery on Sept. 1, 5, 6, 13, 19 and 20.

Drawings for all of these hunts will take place at noon, Saturday, Aug. 22, at the respective public area headquarters. Maps and details are available at wildohio.com. Questions about any one of these hunts should be directed to the southwest ODNR Division of Wildlife district office at 937-372-9261.



Honkers

Canada geese may be hunted statewide Sept. 1-15, during the special early season, with a daily limit of four birds and possession limit of eight birds after the first day. The Mercer Goose Zone will not be open during the early Canada goose season.



Teal

The early teal hunting season will be open Sept. 5 and end Sept. 20, with a daily bag limit of four birds and possession limit of eight after the first day.



You need?

Waterfowl hunters must have a valid hunting license in addition to a state wetlands habitat stamp endorsement, a federal duck stamp and a Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification. Anyone who intends to hunt migratory game birds must obtain a new HIP certification each year.



Rails, snipe & woodcock

Sora rails, Virginia rails and moorhens can be hunted Sept. 1 through Nov. 9, with a daily limit of 25 rails and 15 moorhens. Hunting season for snipe will be Sept. 1 through Nov. 29 and December 7-23, with a daily bag limit of eight. The woodcock hunting season is open Oct. 10 through Nov. 23, with a daily bag limit of three birds and a possession limit of six birds.



Times

Hunting hours during the seasons for rails, moorhens, snipe, woodcock, teal, doves and Canada geese are sunrise to sunset. The only exceptions will be on wildlife areas that have specially posted hunting times for doves.

The 2009-10 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations and the 2009 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons brochure can be found on line at wildohio.com. The 2009 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons brochure will be available by late August at license outlets, Division of Wildlife district offices, or by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.



Lake Erie fish report, Central Basin

Walleye fishing has been good in 25-30 feet of water from Huron to Lorain, 12-18 miles out in 65-73 feet north-northwest out of Edgewater State Park and north-northeast out of Wildwood State Park, 10-12 miles north out of Geneva and north-northwest out of Ashtabula at 70-74 feet. Trollers are using watermelon, green, yellow jacket, perch, orange, or pink worm harnesses and spoons off of dipsy divers or jet divers and planer boards. Anglers are fishing down 45-60 feet.

Yellow perch fishing has been very good in 40-45 feet north-northeast of Gordon Park and north-northwest of Edgewater Park, and 53-62 feet north-northeast of Ashtabula and north-northwest of Conneaut. Perch spreaders or perch and crappie rigs with shiners fished as far up as six feet off the bottom have been producing the most fish.

Steelhead are being caught by anglers trolling for walleye. The best location has been offshore of Fairport and in the Cleveland Hole in 70-78 feet while trolling using black and purple or silver and blue spoons.

Based on the nearshore marine forecast the water temperature is 70 degrees off Toledo and 71 degrees off of Cleveland.

And remember, pass it on or it will surely pass on.



Sunderlin is a freelance writer from Geneva. Reach him at djss@roadrunner.com.



DATEBOOK:



Conneaut Fish & Game 3D Archery Schedule

n The club is having its 3D shots. The dates are as follows: Aug. 15-16 and Sept. 12-13. All shoots start at 7 a.m. and last shooters out at 1 p.m. Donation is $8 per adult and $5 per child 13 and under. $$$ 50/50 shoots available, crossbows welcome, 30 Rinehart targets at each shoot, “hunting scenario set up.” Food and beverages available. Please, absolutely no Broadheads. FMI, call Darin Harper at 813-6042.



Monroe Sportsman’s Trap shooting

n The club will be hosting several ATA & OSTA trap shooting events this summer. It will also be having several Wednesday evening ATA. The registered shoot is Aug. 5. FMI, call Adam Berrier at 858-2104 or 223-5947 or Sara Dean at 576-0877. You can also go online at www.monroesportsmansclub.com or email at sara@monroesportsmansclub.com.



NWTF Women in the Outdoors

n The Grand River Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will be having its annual Women in the Outdoors event on Saturday, Aug. 8 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. at The Crooked Creek Conservation Club located at 4323 SR 534, Hartsgrove 44085. The Women in the Outdoors program is dedicated to providing interactive educational outdoor opportunities for women ages 14 and older. This event will present outdoor learning experiences featuring hands-on activities. Some of them being Antler Jewelry, Archery 1-2-3, Deer Hunting from alpaca to afghan, Handgun, Herb Gardening, Outdoor Gourmet, Power Tool Safety, Shotgun-Beginner, Skeet-Advanced, Wheat Weaving, Wildlife in your landscape and Yoga and the Mind and Body Connection. Your paid registration fee of $50 includes: Use of all equipment, program material, instruction, light breakfast, lunch and one-year subscription to the Women in the Outdoors Magazine. Each participant will get to participate in four courses. FMI, contact Leesa Lafferre-Thomas at 968-0150 or at Leesa@gotoadventure.com or Terri Herbert at 298-1636 or Terriherbert@hotmail.com