Next weekend (May 5-6) will be the annual Free Fishing Days. For these two days only, Ohio anglers may fish in any of the state’s public waters without having to buy a fishing license.
With that in mind, it’s also a great time to take a youngster on his or her first fishing excursion.
The intent of the Ohio Division of Wildlife, which sets and enforces all Ohio fishing regulations, is to encourage more people to go fishing. With fishing license sales falling in recent years, the idea is to get as many Ohioans as possible out on a lake or stream, figuring they will like it so much that they will eventually buy a license and/or get a young person interested in fishing for, perhaps, a lifetime.
Ohio’s Free Fishing Days were established in 1993. The offer is open to all Ohio residents and extends to all of Ohio’s public waters including Lake Erie and the Ohio River.
For more information, visit wildohio.com or call (800) WILDLIFE.
Turkey season starts
Ohio’s spring wild turkey season got off to a good start on April 23, despite windy conditions. Ohio hunters killed 2,227 bearded wild turkeys. Last year the opening day total was 2,646.
The season will remain open through May 20.
On the weekend prior to the opening of the season, Ohio held its annual youth turkey hunting season. Hunters age 17 and under harvested 1,632 wild turkeys during the special two-day season, compared to 1,490 last year.
The Division of Wildlife estimates that more than 70,000 people will hunt turkeys during the four-week season. Ohio’s wild turkey population was estimated at 180,000 prior to last weekend.
Donations help needy
Ohio deer hunters donated more than 104,400 pounds of venison to food banks across the state during the 2011-2012 season.
According to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, approximately 417,600 meals were created from the donations.
For more information, visit wildohio.com or fhfh.org.
Dayton hosts conference
Registration is open for the fourth annual Midwest Native Plant Conference at Dayton’s Bergamo Center and its 150-acre nature preserve on July 27-29.
Field trip sites include natural areas: Cedar Bog, Beavercreek Wildlife Area’s Siebenthaler Fen, and Caesar Creek Gorge Nature Preserve.
Space is limited so early registration is suggested. Registration material and conference details can be found at midwestnativeplants.org or (937) 477-1131.
Outdoors columnist Jim Morris can be reached by email at sports@daytondailynews.com.
About the Author