News Briefs March - April 2007

Ohio taxidermists join forces

Recently the Professional Taxidermists of Ohio and the Ohio Association of Taxidermists joined forces and created a single, new, larger, stronger and more effective taxidermy organization. This new organization, the “Ohio Taxidermists Association”(O.T.A.) is dedicated to the promotion of better taxidermy through education, seminars, new and improved methods and techniques and through competition at their convention and shows. The new organization is also committed to wildlife conservation and to upholding the laws and regulations of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The OTA has scheduled a convention and show to be held March 30, 31 and April 1 2007 at the Holiday Inn On The Lane in Columbus Ohio. This event will typically be held annually and will feature artistic taxidermy displays of mammals, birds, waterfowl, game heads, fish and reptiles. Members can attend a variety of taxidermy seminars covering the latest techniques, procedures and materials. A trade show and auction are part of the show, affording members the opportunity to purchase equipment and supplies at a discount. The competition event features various divisions including youth division, amateur, professional, masters, and commercial.

Anyone who is currently engaged in taxidermy, either as a business professional, hobbyist, or beginner can benefit greatly by becoming a member of OTA. For those with an interest in taxidermy, or just starting out, joining OTA and attending the upcoming convention and show is by far the quickest way to jumpstart your taxidermy skills.
For information on joining the Ohio Taxidermists Association log on to www.ohtaxidermists.proboard102.com or call President Jim Tucker at 330-878-7405.

Big business as usual at SHOT Show

ORLANDO, Fla.—If the past four days of business at the annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show are any indicator, the shooting, hunting and outdoor industry is poised for a big year, industry officials say.
The 2007 SHOT Show, held Jan. 11-14 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, was the largest in the colossal trade show's 29-year history.

"SHOT Show is the Super Bowl of trade shows for our industry," said Doug Painter, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, owner and sponsor of the show. "Orlando proved to be a winning venue for us. The show was well attended and vibrant, featuring thousands of innovative and quality products that consumers can expect to see on retailers' shelves later this year."
This year's SHOT Show encompassed 656,100 net square feet of exhibit space, a gain of 40,000 over last year, with 1,870 exhibiting companies, up from last year's 1,846.
According to preliminary figures, the show attracted 20,390 buyers, 1,342 members of the press, 19,990 exhibiting personnel and 494 guests for a record total attendance of 42,216.
Next year's show in Las Vegas will be even larger, Painter said. Exhibitors have already booked 654,000 net square feet of space for the 2008 show, he said.

MAYFIELD MAN OVERBAGS STEELHEAD
Tips from concerned anglers lead to arrest

AKRON, OH –Tips from concerned anglers to Geauga County Wildlife Officer Scott Denamen led to the conviction of a Cuyahoga County man for poaching steelhead trout, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
Lev Goldin, 51, of Mayfield, was arrested recently for overbagging the popular Ohio game fish. According to Denamen, Goldin was catching his daily limit of two trout from the Chagrin River near Gates Mills. After handing off the fish to an accomplice, he would return to the river for more. Denamen said he observed Goldin harvest a total of five fish from the river before making the arrest.
The Lyndhurst Municipal Court sentenced Goldin to 30 days in jail and fined him $250. The jail time and $100 of the fine were suspended, pending no additional wildlife violations in the next two years.
The Division of Wildlife’s Turn-In-A-Poacher (TIP) program encourages individuals to anonymously report violations by calling 1-800-POACHER (800-762-2437).
Since the program began in 1982, more than $126,000 has been awarded to callers who provided vital information about state wildlife violations. Those calls helped lead to the arrest and conviction of 1,594 poachers and the collection of $543,919 in fines.

TIME TO PURCHASE OHIO HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES
Licenses available statewide at more than 1,300 outlets

            COLUMBUS, OH - Anglers and hunters are reminded that it’s time to purchase their 2007-2008 fishing and hunting licenses, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The 2006-07 licenses expire February 28. Licenses can be purchased at vendor outlets across the state and at ohiodnr.com/wildlife on the Internet.
            New licenses are valid March 1, 2007 through February 29, 2008. Hunters, especially those gearing up for the popular spring wild turkey season, are reminded that licenses purchased now are also valid during the 2007 fall hunting season.
            Resident hunting and fishing licenses cost $19 each; deer and turkey permits are an additional $24 each. Hunters age 17 and under and some Ohio senior citizens are eligible for discounted licenses. A one-day Ohio fishing license costs $11, an amount that can later be applied to the purchase of an annual license. For a complete listing of license prices, please obtain a current copy of the Ohio Hunting Regulations, the Ohio Fishing Regulations or visit ohiodnr.com/wildlife.

THREE CONVICTED OF POACHING IN MUSKINGUM COUNTY
All plead guilty to 31 charges related to the illegal harvest of deer

ZANESVILLE, OH – Three Muskingum County residents were convicted last week of 31 charges related to the poaching of white-tailed deer, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The three were ordered to pay a total of $3,250 in fines. In addition, their hunting privileges were suspended and they were ordered to forfeit rifles and crossbows used in the illegal activities. All venison was forfeited and will be donated to Christ Table in Zanesville.
The investigation dated from the fall hunting season when State Wildlife Officer Mike Reed received several complaints about the individuals. A subsequent search of their residences by Reed and State Wildlife Officer Roby Williams turned up evidence of illegally harvested deer. The three were arrested and appeared last week in Muskingum County Court before Judge Jay Vinsel.

Michael J. White, 20, of Frazeysburg, pled guilty to 20 charges: eight counts of possession of illegally taken deer, two counts of providing false information to a check station, seven counts of spotlighting deer, two counts of providing false information to a check station, two counts of shooting deer from a motor vehicle and hunting deer with a rifle. White was fined $2,000, with all hunting equipment ordered forfeited. His hunting privileges were suspended for five years. A 170-day jail sentence was suspended and he was placed on two years of probation. White was ordered to successfully complete a hunter education course.

Sean R. Wise, 20, of Zanesville, pled guilty to nine charges: assisting another in the illegal taking of deer, possession of an illegally taken deer, three counts of shooting deer from a motor vehicle, three counts of spotlighting and hunting deer with a rifle. Wise was fined $1,000 with all hunting equipment ordered forfeited. His hunting privileges were also suspended for five years. A170-day jail sentence was suspended and he was placed on two years of probation. Wise was also ordered to successfully complete a hunter education course.
Amanda M. Suggett, 20, of Frazeysburg, pled guilty to two charges: purchasing a hunting license without first completing a hunter education course and assisting in the possession and processing of illegally taken deer. Suggett was fined $250. Her hunting privileges were suspended for one year and she was ordered to successfully complete a hunter education course.

GRAY RECIPIENT OF “CONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR” AWARD

COLUMBUS, OH - Steven A. Gray, chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, has been named Conservationist of the Year by the League of Ohio Sportsmen. Gray received the award on Saturday at the league’s annual meeting in Fairborn.
   “Steve Gray has spent most of his career educating people - especially youngsters- about wildlife and conservation. He supported youth-only hunting seasons, half-priced youth hunting licenses, and the establishment of an apprentice hunting license program for Ohio as ways of getting more kids involved in the outdoors,” said Larry Mitchell, president of the League of Ohio Sportsmen.

The apprentice license program, implemented in 2006, was developed as part of the nationwide “Families Afield” effort. Families Afield projects were designed to remove barriers that prevent hunters from passing along the hunting heritage. Ohio’s apprentice license allows new hunters, adults or children, to sample hunting under the mentorship of a licensed adult, prior to completing a hunter or trapper education course.
   There have been a host of achievements for the Division of Wildlife during Gray’s tenure as chief. In 2005, the division was the recipient of the Ernest Thompson Seton Award from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for its “determined and progressive promotion of sound resource management.”

Gray also felt it was the wildlife agency’s responsibility to provide hunters, anglers and other wildlife enthusiasts access to quality public fishing and hunting areas. While he served as assistant chief and chief, division-owned public hunting lands increased 100 percent from 95,000 acres in 1991 to 190,000 acres in 2006. During the last year alone, Gray led the drive to purchase 20 acres adjacent to the City of Huron on Lake Erie as a public boat ramp and fishing access point. An additional 5,000 acres of former Mead Corporation lands in southeast Ohio were purchased as state wildlife areas.
   Gray, who plans to retire from ODNR on March 31, began his career in 1976 as a wildlife officer. He has been chief of the Division of Wildlife since 2003. Prior to assuming this position, he was assistant chief for 12 years.