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Youngstown Peace Race Designated State Championship

2008-2009 Waterfowl Hunting Regulations:

• As a result, Ohio hunters can take one scaup ( North Zone from October 18 - November 17 and December 20 - December 28; South Zone from October 18 - November 2 and December 26 - January 18), or two scaup (North Zone from November 18 - December 7; South Zone from December 6 - December 25). Possession limits after the first day are twice the daily bag limit. Hunting season for canvasbacks will be closed.

• The daily bag limit for mergansers is five, of which only two may be hooded. The daily bag limit for coots is 15. Possession limits after the first day are twice the daily bag limit.

• In the Lake Erie Canada Goose Zone, the goose season is October 18 through November 30 with a second season opening December 3 and running through December 28.  The goose season for the remainder of the North Zone is October 18 through November 30, with a second season December 17 through January 11, 2009. In the South Zone, goose season is October 18 through November 5 with a second season December 6 through January 25, 2009.

• The daily bag limit for Canada geese is two.  Light geese (snows, blues, Ross’) have a daily bag limit of 10, and white-fronted geese and brant have a daily bag limit of two.  The possession limit for brant and geese is twice the daily bag limit after the first day. The Late Canada Goose Season will not be offered this year.

• People planning to hunt waterfowl are required to answer several questions for the Harvest Information Program (HIP) survey when purchasing their hunting licenses.  A state wetland habitat stamp endorsement and a valid and signed federal duck stamp are required when hunting waterfowl, in addition to an Ohio hunting license.  The 2008-2009 hunting licenses and wetland stamps are on sale now and remain valid through February 28, 2009.

Copies of this season’s waterfowl hunting regulations, which include maps of the zones (Publication 295, Waterfowl Hunting Regulations), will be available in mid-September to hunters at all license vendors, online at wildohio.com and at Division of Wildlife district offices in Akron, Athens, Columbus, Findlay and Xenia, or by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.

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Ohio Waterfowl Hunting Regulations

Activities will include workshops, various green displays (energy, food, work, transportation), demonstrations, musical entertainment, food, farmer’s market, and “green” merchandise vendors. The central theme of the festival will emphasize sustainable practices—minimal energy and resource consumption with maximum recycling and waste reduction.

The Grey to Green Festival organizing coalition’s shared belief and vision is that a collaboration of citizens, agencies, organizations and government can mobilize communities to address important issues and solve problems in new ways by moving from problem-driven solutions to vision-driven solutions in a post-industrial era of transition where many areas such as Youngstown struggle to cope with such change.

The Grey to Green Festival organizing and sponsorship coalition includes the office of U.S. Congressman Tim Ryan, The Raymond John Wean Foundation, The Green Team, Youngstown Litter Control, Defend Youngstown, CityScape, ReCreate, Treez Please, Grow Youngstown, First Book Mahoning Valley, the Oakland Center for the Arts, Green Energy TV, Art Youngstown, the Wick Park Revitalization Committee, The City of Youngstown’s Planning (Youngstown 2010) and Park Departments, Youngstown State University’s Environmental Studies Society, faculty and staff from YSU, as well as concerned citizens, block watches, and youth groups.

For further event information, please contact Atty. Deb Weaver at 330.207.0994.

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Youngstown Grey to Green Festival Sept. 13th

WCOs perform specialized work in fish conservation and watercraft safety under the jurisdiction of the Commission, blending law enforcement and public relations duties [PFBC Brochure - What is a WCO? ]. Typical duties include patrolling by foot, car and boat to detect violations of fishing and boating laws; apprehending violators; issuing warnings and or citations; serving warrants; presenting evidence at hearings and court proceedings; investigating water pollution incidents; investigating boating accidents; and stocking fish. Appearing in public to conduct classes or provide information to groups are also highlights of the WCOs duties. WCOs work demanding schedules including holidays and weekends, to perform their vital public safety and conservation duties. Additional information about a career as a WCO is available on the Commission’s Careers page.

All WCOs begin their career as a WCO Trainee. Before candidates are assigned the highly independent duties of Waterways Conservation Officer, they must complete an extensive 52-week specialized training program beginning with approximately 20 weeks of instruction in law enforcement principles and practices that meet the standards of the Municipal Police Training Act. An additional 32-week period follows with 20 weeks of classroom training by the Commission at the H. R. Stackhouse School of Fisheries Conservation and Watercraft Safety in Centre County, Pennsylvania and 12 weeks of supervised field training. The program is conducted under close supervision, according to stringent rules. Those who successfully complete the training program will be promoted to a Waterways Conservation Officer position.

Applications for WCO Trainee positions will be accepted between August 13, 2008 and October 1, 2008. All written testing must be completed with the Civil Service Commission by November 22, 2008.

Applicants must be at least 21 years of age at date of hire and possess a current valid Pennsylvania driver’s license. Applicants must be residents of Pennsylvania, of good moral fiber and be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Successful candidates must pass written, oral, and physical evaluations.

During the application period, application forms and further information on the application process can be obtained from the State Civil Service Commission website at www.scsc.state.pa.us. Information may also be obtained from State Civil Service Commission offices in Harrisburg at 717-783-3058 (Text Telephone: 717-772-2685), Philadelphia at 215-560-2253 (Text Telephone: 215-560-4367), or Pittsburgh at 412-565-7666 (Text Telephone: 412-565-2484.) Information may also be obtained by contacting the PFBC’s Human Resource Office at 717-705-7820 or by visiting the website at www.fish.state.pa.us.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is the sole state agency, charged by law, to manage the fisheries and to regulate fishing and pleasure boating in the Commonwealth. The Commission also has a vital, mandated interest in the enhancement and preservation of the state’s aquatic environment. These responsibilities have been in place for nearly 140 years, growing steadily in scope, complexity and the number of people served. The Commission’s mission is to conserve, protect and enhance the Commonwealth’s aquatic resources and provide fishing and boating opportunities.

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Pennsylvania’s Looking for Officer

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Gustav Threatens New Orleans

A $100,000 subsidy grant has been awarded to FHFH to help pay the processing fee on donated venison.  The grant money is being provided in two $50,000 allotments that are to be matched with funds generated or collected by FHFH. The Division is subsidizing this year’s FHFH operation as an additional deer management tool, helping wildlife managers encourage hunters to kill more does.

“In establishing a dedicated fund, the division hopes to provide hunters with an option to donate excess venison to food banks throughout Ohio,” stated James Marshall, assistant chief of the Division of Wildlife.  “By providing hunters with an affordable outlet for donating extra venison, the division hopes to ultimately encourage hunters to kill more does.”

Finding ways to kill more does will help wildlife managers keep Ohio’s deer population management plan on track. Deer hunters can again buy additional antlerless deer permits at reduced prices for the 2008-09 deer-hunting season. Cost of the antlerless deer permit remains at $15.

FHFH began in Maryland in 1997 after founder Rick Wilson encountered a woman along a Virginia highway looking for help loading a road-killed deer into her car to feed her children. Inspired to give hunters the opportunity to help feed the hungry, Wilson formed a program that would raise money to pay the butchering bills for hunters that donate deer.

Now over a decade old, FHFH has grown to include 120 local coordinators in 26 different states. Annual meat donation totals have topped 300,000 pounds-enough to provide meat for over 1.2 million meals-and are expected to increase even further in the coming years.

“Our partnership with Ohio is an exciting opportunity to jump-start our work in the state. We’ve always had strong interest in Ohio with regard to the number of FHFH coordinators that have signed on to work with us. Now we have this financial support from the Division of Wildlife to help us build on that foundation,” said Josh Wilson, FHFH operations director.

Anyone interested in becoming a local FHFH coordinator or a participating meat processor should visit the “Local FHFH” page at www.fhfh.org. The current list of coordinators along with their program names and the counties they are serving can be found there.

Venison that is donated to food banks must be processed by a state inspected and insured meat processor that is participating with FHFH. Hunters wishing to donate their deer to a food bank are not required to pay for the processing of the venison as long as the program has funds available to cover the cost. The grant from the Division of Wildlife to FHFH is intended to help with the costs of venison processing.

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Ohio Grants Support Farmers and Hunters Feeding Hungry

COLUMBUS, OH–The Labor Day holiday weekend, August 30-September 1, is an excellent time to enjoy boating recreation close to home, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Watercraft. Selecting among a diversity of boating destinations and special events, the final summer holiday weekend is a great time to enjoy a quick getaway boating vacation.

Here are some suggested getaway destinations that Ohioans can enjoy while boating during the Labor Day weekend:

• Dillon Family Fest (740-453-4377); One of the largest community family festivals in the Buckeye State attracts thousands of visitors, boaters and campers to Dillon State Park near Zanesville each Labor Day weekend. Activities include boating, camping, hiking, swimming, live music, booths, crafts, games and fireworks on the beach. Parking and admission are free. Events begin at 11 a.m. August 30-31.
• Lorain Lighthouse Tour (440-245-2563); Guided tours of the lighthouse, built in 1908, will be held from 12:30-7:30 p.m. on August 30 at the Black River landing. Admission is $20, parking is free.
• Perch, Peach, Polka & Pierogi Festival (419-732-0941); The 4th annual festival is being held along the shores of Lake Erie on Madison Street in Port Clinton August 30 (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.) and August 31 (Noon to 9 p.m.). The event features live polka music, a community bake sale, a special youth carnival and the Rotary Perch Wagon. Port Clinton also is the gateway to other Lake Erie destinations such as Kelleys Island and Put-In-Bay on South Bass Island.
• Torch Light Canoe Trip (800-686-0386); The Hocking Valley Canoe Livery in Logan is hosting a unique nighttime paddling experience on the Hocking River on August 30 that features lighted torches mounted on the bows of canoes. The two-hour paddling experience is followed by a nighttime campfire, cookout and live entertainment. Cost is $35 per canoe, advance reservations are required.
• Ohio Water Trails (877-4BOATER); Designated Ohio Water Trails are found along the eastern portion of Sandusky Bay in northwest Ohio, on the Muskingum River in southeast Ohio and on the Kokosing River in north-central Ohio. Labor Day weekend is an excellent time to enjoy a one-day or multi-day paddling experience. Try spending the entire weekend enjoying all three of Ohio’s Water Trails.
• Ohio State Parks (www.ohiodnr.com/parks); Ohio’s award-winning state park system offers excellent opportunities to enjoy recreational boating, fishing, camping, hiking and much more. While many state parks offer camping and cottage rentals, there also are nine state park lodge resorts that include Deer Creek, Hueston Woods, Maumee Bay, Geneva, Punderson, Deer Creek, and Shawnee, Salt Fork and Burr Oak.

Recreational boating is a fun, family-oriented activity enjoyed each year by an estimated 3 million Ohioans. Boating safety begins with the choices boaters make before leaving the dock. To ensure your boating experience remains a safe one on state waterways, please follow these and other boating safety tips that can be found online at http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/watercraft/safety/tabid/2878/default.aspx.

Always wear a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket or vest while boating.
Avoid alcohol consumption while boating.
Keep a proper lookout for persons and objects in the water.
Properly follow the navigation “rules of the road” to ensure boating safety.
Be familiar with waterways and water conditions before getting underway.

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Ohio Boating Events this Labor Day