INDIANA STATE PARK DEER REDUCTION DRAW HUNT

• Applications accepted online 7/1/2015 – 8/24/2015.
• Applicants must possess any valid license to take a deer in Indiana at the time of application.
• Applicants are allowed to apply for themselves and as many as two hunting partners.
• If applicants wish to apply with (a) hunting partner(s), the primary applicant must have his or her partners’ hunting license number and date of birth when applying. Applicants must be Indiana residents (or possess a valid lifetime license to take deer in Indiana), be 18 years of age by the date of the first hunt, and must possess the proper licenses to hunt deer in order to apply. Once you have submitted your application online, you cannot change your information.
• Each applicant may appear on only one application per hunt (i.e., you cannot be listed as a primary applicant AND a partner for the same hunt).
• Preference will be given to those who have successfully completed a Hunter Education course. Either a Hunter Education or International Bowhunter Education course will suffice for preference for archery hunts (Clifty Falls and Fort Harrison).
• Firearm hunts include any firearm legal to take deer in Indiana. Archery hunts include any archery equipment legal to take deer in Indiana.
• For successful applicants, deer harvested at a State Park Reduction Hunt are in addition to regular deer-season bag limits. You do not need to purchase additional licenses to harvest deer if participating in the reduction hunt. For questions regarding State Park Deer Reduction Hunts, please contact DNR State Parks & Reservoirs at (317) 232-4200.
• Available 2015 state parks: Clifty Falls, Fort Harrison, Harmonie, Lincoln, McCormick's Creek, Ouabache, Pokagon, Potato Creek, Prophetstown, Shades, Shakamak, Tippecanoe River, Turkey Run and Versailles.
• Early Hunt: Nov. 16-17, 2015; Late Hunt: Nov. 30-Dec. 1, 2015.

Related articles

• Tippecanoe River flooding worsens and could reach streets and homes (wndu.com)
• Video: Grizzly Bear Charges Hunters in Raft (outdoorhub.com)
• Comprehensive Hunting License was a great idea but now its dead (georgesoutdoornews.bangordailynews.com)

White-tail deer rutting activity nearing peak in some areas; Northwoods receives 2 to 6 inches of snow

The Horicon Marsh in Wisconsin. Taken by User:Wonder al. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Temperatures have dropped and that has continued to trigger rutting activity, which is now reaching peak in some areas. White-tail bucks are running pretty hard with their noses to the ground. More bucks have been seen chasing does as the rut gets into full swing, and archers have reported some very good success in the last week.

In the Northwoods it went from autumn gold to winter white in just two weeks' time, with anywhere from 2-6-plus inches of snow falling Oct. 31. The fresh snow had many hunters excited for the upcoming deer season as it was much easier to see deer standing out against the white background.

The cooler weather also brought large flocks of ducks to south central Wisconsin, with one duck hunter noting thousands of scaup, or bluebills, coming into a Columbia County marsh he was hunting, flocks the size of which he hadn't seen in 40 years. Canada geese also continue to be abundant, offering waterfowl hunters some ample opportunities to harvest a bird. Goose numbers have now reached 30,000 at Horicon Marsh.

Very large numbers of pheasant hunters have been out on state wildlife areas throughout southern Wisconsin in recent weeks. Grouse hunters are reporting good success with observed bird numbers similar to last year in the Northwoods. While there are still some woodcock being seen in central Wisconsin, the season is now closed.

Trappers are reporting success catching coyote, fox, beaver and muskrats, though fur does not quite appear to be prime. Raccoon hunters have reported successful harvests over the last several weeks.

Overall, fishing has slowed down across the state. Inland some walleye and musky anglers continue to report some success. Along Lake Michigan, the chinook salmon are done with their run and the coho salmon are almost done as well. Numbers of brown trout were increasing as the salmon taper off. Pier and shore anglers were reporting some success for brown and rainbow trout.

People may be noticing smoke rising from some state wildlife areas as wildlife crews are taking advantage of the beautiful fall weather to conduct prescribed burning on select properties throughout the state.

Common loons are staging on the Great Lakes and large inland water bodies, with smaller numbers of red-throated loons reported. Tens of thousands of canvasbacks, gadwall, wigeon, ring-necked ducks, mallards, and coots can be seen from various vantages along the Mississippi River. Numbers of tundra swans are building but have not yet reached peak. More than 21,000 sandhill cranes were counted near Crex Meadows Wildlife Area in Burnett County this past week. The first snowy owls of the season were reported from northeast Wisconsin near Green Bay this week but it's too early to tell if that means another influx of the arctic visitors this winter.

There is still plenty of time to enjoy a fall hike on any of the state trails, with prairies still showing late fall colors of some asters, woodland sunflowers and fall grasses such as big bluestem. Hikers, bikers, skiers and even canoeists and kayakers are being encouraged to provide feedback on Wisconsin's nonmotorized and water trails to the Wisconsin Nonmotorized Recreation and Transportation Trails Council through a new online survey available through the DNR website.

Related articles

• October Brings Big Bucks to Michigan Bowhunters (outdoorhub.com)
• Learn more about Horicon Marsh deer (host.madison.com)
• Rut Secrets, Legendary Buck Highlight November Issue of North American Whitetail (ammoland.com)

Michigan conservation officers share tips for safe bowhunting

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Michigan’s bowhunting season opens today, Oct. 1, and Department of Natural Resources conservation officers are sharing tips for a safe bowhunting experience.

“Bowhunting is a popular pastime in Michigan and we want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable hunting season,” said Sgt. Tom Wanless, supervisor of the DNR's hunter education program. “There are some common-sense safety tips every hunter should review before heading to the woods.”

The top safety tips for bowhunting are:

• Before you go out, inspect equipment, including your tree stand. If anything is worn, frayed, cracked or peeling, replace it or get it fixed. If using a compound bow or crossbow, make sure the cables and pulleys are in good working order.
• When sharpening broadheads, be careful and take your time.
• Practice tree-stand safety. Nearly every year, a Michigan hunter is killed or seriously injured because he or she fell out of a tree stand. The DNR recommends using a full-body safety harness to get into and out of your tree stand.
• If using a tree stand, always use a haul line to raise and lower your gear.
• Keep arrows in the quiver until you are ready to use them. A common injury is to stab or injure yourself or a hunting companion while carrying arrows in your hand or nocked on your bow.
• Obtain permission from a landowner before hunting on his or her land, or using their land to access public land.
• Never take a shot at a deer that is beyond the maximum effective range at which you are comfortable shooting.
• If you are successful, field dress your deer and cool its meat immediately. Michigan’s unpredictable weather means we sometimes have warm October days. Warm temperatures can cause the meat to spoil quickly.
• When heading out to the woods, make sure you tell someone reliable where you are going and what time to expect you back. This information is valuable in helping conservation officers or sheriff's deputies to find you if you are lost.
• Also, think about carrying a cell phone, a compass, a flashlight and other small safety items when in the woods

Clarification on firearm use during archery season

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission recently adopted several changes to the Deer Management Assistance Permit (DMAP) program, in order to provide additional assistance

to landowners on an individual basis.

A DMAP is a permit that allows for the take of an antlerless deer and may only be utilized during an open season for deer. In order for a landowner to receive DMAPs, one of the following four criteria needs to be met:

• Significant agricultural or horticultural damage.
• Documented serious disease outbreak that threatens humans, livestock or deer health.
• Significant safety hazard caused by deer.
• Current antlerless deer regulations insufficient to achieve landowner deer-management objectives.

In the past, individuals possessing a DMAP were able to utilize only the legal equipment for that particular hunting season (e.g., only archery equipment could be utilized during archery season). However, in some cases archery equipment has proven to be ineffective, and damage incurred by deer has continued through the season as a result.

The new change to the DMAP program will allow a DMAP holder, on a case-by-case basis, to seek additional signed permission to harvest deer using a firearm during select time periods of the archery season. DMAP holders will be required to have hunted their property during the archery season for the last two years and be in good standing with the DMAP program, meaning they have reported all DMAPs requested, issued and utilized on an annual basis.

The changes recommended to the Natural Resources Commission were developed collaboratively between Michigan Farm Bureau and special-interest groups, including Michigan United Conservation Club and the Michigan Bow Hunters Association.

“We understand when several special-interest groups come together to come up with a solution, compromise on all sides is important but can be difficult,” said DNR deer biologist Ashley Autenrieth. “These changes to the DMAP program will have a sunset in three years, at which time we will evaluate the changes and determine whether they are having the desired impact.”

Statewide, DMAP holders can seek additional signed permission to harvest deer from Oct. 1-14with a firearm. Within a pilot area of the northern Lower Peninsula (Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties), DMAP holders can seek additional signed permission to harvest deer with a firearm during the majority of the archery season. Firearm use will be prohibited Oct. 1-4 and Nov. 10-14 in the new pilot program area. In all cases, the use of a firearm during archery season will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and DMAP holders must have signed permission in order to utilize firearms during any portion of the archery season.

Related articles

• Nuisance antlerless deer hunting tags will be made available for public use in a select area within Florence County
• Landowners Seek Doe Hunters

TREESTAND SAFETY

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bow hunters preparing for the upcoming season should check all their gear to make sure it is in proper working order, especially treestands and safety harnesses, before heading to the timber.

“Falls associated with tree stand use are the most common hunting incidents during the bow season,” said Megan Wisecup, hunter education administrator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “Hunters should always wear a safety harness and use caution when climbing.”

Wisecup said there are a number of tips hunters can use to prevent injury when using a treestand.

“Make sure to select a tree that fits the tree stand recommended limits and follow the three point rule of tree stand safety – always have three points of contact to the steps or ladder before moving,” she said.

“That could be two arms and one leg holding and stepping on the ladder or one arm and two legs in contact with the ladder before moving. And remember the elements – the rain, frost, ice or snow can cause steps to become slippery so check the security of the step before placing your weight on it.”

Other safety tips include using a haul line to pull gear and the unloaded firearm or bow to the stand and hunters should never climb with anything in their hands or on their back.  When exiting the stand, use the haul line to lower the gear on the opposite side of the tree.

“Get familiar with the safety harness. Read the instructions for it and for the tree stand itself so you know how to use it properly and know its limitations,” Wisecup said. 

Falls from tree stands are required to be reported to the DNR if a person seeks medical attention for an injury received while entering, exiting or sitting in a stand.

“The basic rules of tree stand safety don’t apply to just bow hunters, but to firearm hunters using an elevated device or stand,” she said.  “We want everyone to be safe out there. The goal at the end of every hunt is to arrive home safely.”

BOWHUNTER ED OFFERS NEW IOWA ONLINE-ONLY BOWHUNTER EDUCATION COURSE

bowhunting (Photo credit: birdtrouble)

A new online bowhunter education course is designed to help Iowa bowhunters improve their skills and stay safe in the woods.

Bowhunter Ed, which is an official course of the National Bowhunter Education Foundation, teaches safe in-the-field practices, bow shooting basics, different methods of bowhunting, and shot placement and recovery techniques. By completing this Bowhunter Ed course, students satisfy bowhunter educational requirements for the state of Iowa, with no field day required.

“The bowhunter-ed.com course is Iowa’s official online bowhunter education course. The training is a great idea for new or experienced bowhunters because they learn safe practices and study information that will truly help them in the field,” said Megan Wisecup, hunter education administrator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

The new online bowhunter education course allows students to study for free, paying only when they pass the course. The course is mobile friendly so students can take the course on a smartphone, tablet, laptop or other device. It features easy-to-understand information, instructional videos, plus detailed illustrations and animations to help students become better, more prepared bowhunters.

To take the Iowa-approved bowhunter education course, visit http://www.bowhunter-ed.com/iowa/.

Students must be at least 18 years of age to register for and complete the online course.  While bowhunter education isn’t required in some states, several states and provinces do require bowhunter education.

The Iowa Bowhunter Ed course will satisfy the bowhunter education requirements mandated by Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and Nova Scotia and Quebec Canada.

“Bowhunting seasons will be here before you know it so there’s no better time than now to complete your education,” said Marilyn Bentz, executive director of the National Bowhunter Education Foundation.

For more information regarding the NBEF or becoming an instructor, contact the National Bowhunter Education Foundation atinfo@nbef.org or visit http://www.nbef.org/. To take an online bowhunter education course, visit http://www.bowhunter-ed.com/.

IOWA BOW HUNTERS GEARING UP FOR DEER SEASON

Leading up to the Oct. 1 start to their season, Iowa bow hunters have been busy hanging

stands, trimming shooting lanes and checking trail cameras. There has been some activity in the woods and field edges, with youth hunters and disabled hunters getting an early start in the pursuit of Iowa’s whitetails. Some urban and park management hunts are also underway now.

However, most of the 60,000 deer hunters expected to buy bow season tags climb into their stands, or blinds, in early October. Dealing again with another dry summer, there will be some adjustments in the early days.  Deer will key in green food such as clover early as well as acorns as they begin to fall. Hunting food sources and along trails to them are very good early season strategies.

Scouting is helpful, especially as hunters pin down food sources. Some soybean fields were planted late, due to spring flooding and may still show a lot of “green.” With a bone-dry summer, many acres of corn were chopped for sileage. That has left fields bare that might otherwise have offered food and cover for deer and other wildlife. Fields planted to cover crops of rye or radishes might be a surprise bonus.

Acorns are also a primary source of food for fall whitetails.  There are mixed reports on oaks this year in portions of Iowa. If white oak acorns are on the ground, they are most preferred by deer.

Most early season deer activity is tied to food. Bucks are more sedentary, feeding and putting on winter weight. Warm temperatures would keep them lying low until rut activities escalate. Towards late October, however, deer movement increases, building to the peak of the breeding season in mid-November.

Stay Safe Up There!

Ahead of the season, hunters should check their gear, as well as their stands. Falls associated with tree stand use are the most common hunting accident during the bow season. Stands and ladders should be tested to ensure they are solidly in place. Straps on stands and restraints on hunting harnesses should be solid and free of fraying or other wear and tear. With the solitary nature of bow hunting, it is important to let someone know where you are and when you expect to return.

Report that Harvest…

Any deer taken must be reported through Iowa’s harvest reporting system by midnight the day after the deer is tagged. The process takes only a couple minutes. Log on to the DNR website; www.iowadnr.gov or call the toll free reporting number at 800-771-4692. You can also file that report at any license vendor in Iowa. Accurate reports of deer harvested play a vital role in managing deer numbers and future hunting opportunities.

Other Prospects?

More than 50 deer management zone hunts have been established across Iowa. Hunting is underway in some of them. They range from urban areas, county and state parks and rural perimeters around cities where deer numbers have been too high in recent years. The hunts target antlerless deer, to help reduce doe numbers. Most are bow hunting only. Some offer the chance for a mentored hunt, pairing an inexperienced hunter with one who can pass along his or her experience.

EHD potential?

The potential effect of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in local areas may also come into consideration. About 235 EHD reports have been received in the past weeks by DNR officials across 30 counties in southern and eastern Iowa. The deer were found dead, frequently near water. More reports could come as more hunters and others head into the fields and woods. A wider outbreak of the drought-driven disease was noted last year. The suspected EHD cases are a concern, though they are just a fraction of those reported last year in Iowa.

Related articles

• Iowa's First Deer Hunting Seasons Begin Sept. 21 (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Michigan Deer hunters may now place ground blinds on public land earlier (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin Archers can take up the deer hunt beginning Saturday, Sept. 14 (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Deer Season Debuts With Archery and Muzzleloader (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Indiana Deer Seasons (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)

Oct. 1 marks big opening day for Oklahoma archery hunters

 October 1 marks the opening day of archery hunting opportunities in Oklahoma. 

     Most popular and widely available is the deer archery season, which runs throughJan. 15 and offers the Oct. 1. 

opportunity to harvest up to six deer. Adventurous archers also have the opportunity to hunt for turkeys, antelope and black bears beginning

     "Oklahoma really is a land of opportunity for archery hunters," said Erik Bartholomew, big game biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "Not only do we have several archery seasons opening Oct. 1, but they each provide ample time and opportunity for diligent hunters to go afield and harvest an animal." 

     Last year, more than 89,000 hunters took to the outdoors during deer archery season, according to the Game Harvest Survey conducted by the Wildlife Department. 

     "That's the third highest ever," Bartholomew said. 

     Bartholomew has advice for archery hunters headed to the field this year. 

     "Hunters may not find deer in their normal feeding patterns during the early archery season this year because of the increased rainfall we've had in parts of the state," Barthomew said. "There's so many more natural food sources available to deer this year than in recent years when drought had deer concentrating around limited food and water sources. Hunters are going to have to get out there and scout a little more."

     Bartholomew also said the increased rainfall has resulted in heavier vegetation, which could also mean visibility could be lower for hunters. 

     "You may not be able to see deer as well this year as you could in recent years when drought has pretty much dried up much of the vegetation," he said. 

     Even with the challenges, the rain is welcomed by hunters and biologists, and wildlife is benefiting tremendously. 

     "Deer will be going into the winter in good shape this year," Bartholomew said. 

     With plenty of food and vegetation, deer stand a better chance of eating well and preparing for colder months ahead than they do when food is limited. 

     "I expect we'll have a great deer archery season this year as usual," Bartholomew said. 

     Deer archery hunters harvested over 23,000 deer during the 2012-13 hunting season, helping reach a total of 107,848 deer harvested last year across all methods. 

     While deer archery season is open statewide, antelope hunters must hunt in Cimarron Co. and that portion of Texas Co. west of state highway 136. Black bear season is open only in Latimer, LeFlore, McCurtain and Pushmataha counties.

     Archery hunters harvested 16 antelope and 66 black bears last season. Antelope populations are down this year from last year. Still, a greater availability of food and water sources should benefit antelope going into the winter while challenging hunters to look beyond limited watering holes and feeding locations that have proven successful in the past. 

     "The prepared archery hunter will have scouted, talked to several landowners, secured the required written landowner permission they need to hunt, and will be ready for action Oct. 1," Bartholomew said.

     Antelope archery season runs Oct. 1-14.

     Bear hunters in southeast Oklahoma should be prepared to hunt this year in areas with plenty of natural food sources as well. 

     According to Jeff Ford, southeast region wildlife biologist for the Wildlife Department, the region has a great mast crop this year, which could lead to good opportunities on public lands as well as private lands. 

     Ford suggests hunters should not rule out hunting on wildlife management areas simply because baiting is prohibited on those lands. About 25 percent of the total bear harvest last year was reported harvested from public lands. 

     The upcoming fifth annual black bear archery season will continue to offer ample hunting time and opportunity to sportsmen. Archery season will run Oct. 1-20 with no set quota (a muzzleloader season with a 20-bear quota will start Oct. 26 and run throughNov. 3). 

     Ford says the structure of the bear season secures better opportunities for hunters compared to the first few years when quotas caused bear season to end in a matter of days or less. 

     "You'll have at least two full weekends and 20 days to hunt," Ford said. "You won't feel the need to rush out and getting your hunting done the first day." 

     More time to hunt also allows hunters to be more selective about which bears they harvest, since they won't feel the pressure to harvest a bear before a season quota is reached. 

     Fall turkey archery season runs Oct. 1 through Jan. 15, 2014, and hunters may harvest one turkey of either sex, statewide. It's common for deer hunters to head to the field with the proper fall turkey license in case they get an opportunity to harvest a turkey while deer hunting. 

     Seasons on public lands may vary from statewide season dates. Complete details and regulations for each season - including hunter education and apprentice-designated license requirements - can be found in the current "Oklahoma Hunting Guide," available free online or in print anywhere hunting licenses are sold. 

     To learn more about archery hunting in Oklahoma, log on to wildlifedepartment.com. 

Wisconsin Archers can take up the deer hunt beginning Saturday, Sept. 14

MADISON – Cooler evening temperatures are a signal to many bow hunters that the Sept. 14 opening of Wisconsin’s archery deer season is just around the corner.

“For those of us who love to bow hunt, it’s an exciting time of the year and anticipation runs high,” said Kevin Wallenfang, the big game ecologist for the state Department of Natural Resources and an ardent, enthusiastic bow hunter.

With good conditions hunters can hope to see plenty of deer in most areas of the state, said Wallenfang. Archers set an all-time record buck harvest last year, he said, including yet another new state record trophy deer shot in Fond du lac County.

“In general, during the past couple of years we’ve had conservative antlerless quotas in the north to allow herds to increase,” Wallenfang said. “As a result, I’m hearing from a lot of folks that they are seeing more deer across the north than in recent years. In addition, we continue to have good numbers of deer in most farmland areas.”

Many archers in the chronic wasting disease management zone will be pleased to see the absence of a four-day October gun hunt, which has been the norm in recent years. The only interruption of the archery season will be a two-day statewide youth hunt Oct. 5-6.

Hunters understand, Wallenfang said, that all properties are not created equal when it comes to deer abundance. Deer change their movements in response to weather, food availability and other factors and are not evenly distributed through a deer management unit. Aerial surveys often show a large number of deer in one square mile of habitat with very few deer in one of the neighboring square-mile blocks.

As always, there is no substitute for scouting and pre-season contacts with neighboring land owners, Wallenfang said.

The 2013 archery deer season runs from Saturday, Sept. 14, through Thursday, Nov. 21 and then from Saturday, Nov. 23, the start of the gun season, through Jan. 5, a Sunday. As always, there is no deer hunting of any kind on the Friday preceding the gun deer hunt. This single day separates the early and late bow deer seasons.

Archery deer hunters will again be allowed to hunt during the regular nine-day gun deer hunt in November and for the second year will be able to fill a gun license deer tag with a bow or crossbow during the gun deer seasons. During the gun deer season, bow hunters are required to follow the same blaze orange clothing regulations as gun hunters.

There were 263,852 licensed archery hunters in 2012 who harvested a total of 94,267 deer, up from 255,426 archery hunters who harvested 90,200 deer in 2011.

Wallenfang urged bow hunters to be especially careful when climbing into and out of deer stands. This is when most injuries occur.

“Things are shaping up to be another excellent year. Be safe in your stand, wear a harness, and enjoy the fall woods.”

More information is available by searching for “deer hunting” on the DNR website.

Related articles

• Deer Hunting News - Kansas (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Minnesota Deer Hunting News Roundup (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• South Dakota and Michigan Deer Hunting Information and Deadlines (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)

Indiana Deer Hunting Related News

Indiana's Department of Natural Resources Spearheading 2 Important Efforts

DNR partners with Ball State to study fawns

Fish & Wildlife biologists are partnering with Ball State biologists to determine how white-tailed deer fawns move in urban areas compared to rural areas.

The study kicked off this spring with more than 30 fawns being collared with lightweight radio transmitters to track their movement. The collars aren't easily seen and will not make it easier for predators to spot the deer in the wild.

More fawns are needed for this research in rural Monroe County or western Brown County. If you live in these areas and see a fawn, contact the Ball State research team at deerstudy@bsu.edu or (812) 822-3308. 

Explore Bowhunting

Explore Bowhunting is an outdoor conservation education program focusing on interaction with people and wildlife. It teaches students how to interact with the natural world by developing basic skills used to bowhunt which focus on getting close to animals. 

Explore Bowhunting's audience is formal educators of middle and high school

students and informal educator's of students 11-17.

Educators will be required to attend a one day instructor workshop prior to program implementation. It's designed to teach students how to feel comfortable in the outdoors whether the goal is to bowhunt, photograph wildlife or interact with nature for any purpose.

Training workshop dates

June 20 at Atterbury FWA from 1 to 6 p.m.

July 11 at Kankakee FWA from 1 to 6 p.m.

July 18 at Gene Stratton Porter State Historic Site from 1 to 6 p.m.

Contact Amanda Wuestefeld or Diane Day at (317) 234-8442 or awuestefeld@dnr.in.gov or (317) 234-8440 or dfwed@dnr.in.gov.

Related articles

• Adjustments Proposed to Ohio Deer Hunting Opportunities for 2013-2014 Season (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Conservation Action April 2013 (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)

Wildlife Officer in Ross County Named Ohio Bowhunters Association Officer of the Year

 Bob Nelson, State Wildlife Officer assigned to Ross County, has been named Wildlife Officer of the Year by the Ohio Bowhunters Association, according to the Ohio Department of Natural

Courtesy ODNR

Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The Ohio Bowhunters Association honored Officer Nelson for his tireless work implementing the City of Chillicothe’s archery deer hunt, and for his overall dedication to the sportsmen of Ross County.  This is the second time that Nelson has been recognized by the group, as he was also named Wildlife Officer of the Year in 2009.

“Bob does an outstanding job in Ross County,” said Bud James, representative of the Ross County Bowhunters Club who nominated Officer Nelson.  “He attends meetings throughout the county and provides information to everyone.  He always returns phone calls, and we just think he goes above and beyond what is expected of him as an officer.”

Nelson has been a State Wildlife Officer for eight years, and prior to that, he worked at the Division of Wildlife’s Woodbury Wildlife Area at the shooting range.  He is a native of New Lexington and a graduate of Hocking College with an associate’s degree in fish and wildlife management.

“Officer Nelson is a dedicated officer, a team player, and an asset to Ross County and the Division of Wildlife,” said Lee Van Allen, Field Supervisor in the Division of Wildlife’s southeast Ohio district.  “He goes the extra mile to investigate a poaching case, and follows through to the end.  He is always willing and available to help a fellow officer, wildlife or fish management, or another law enforcement officer in Ross County.”

The purpose of the Ohio Bowhunters Association is to foster, expand, and improve bowhunting in the state of Ohio by creating a spirit of fellowship within the bowhunting community, educating youths in proper archery methods, and working with resource agencies and conservation organizations to conserve wildlife and its habitat.

Officer Nelson resides in Ross County with his wife Beverly and daughter Briana.  He is an avid turkey hunter and angler, with a special passion for bowhunting.

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Bowhunters needed for MDC wildlife observation survey

Survey is easy and valuable way for bowhunters to get involved in helping MDC manage Missouri’s wildlife resources.

By Joanie Straub, MDC

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages all bowhunters to participate in its annual bowhunter observation survey. This survey provides valuable information that assists MDC in gauging the health of wildlife populations, such as deer and turkey, and helps staff make harvest management decisions.

“This is an easy and very valuable way for bowhunters to get involved in helping MDC manage Missouri’s wildlife resources,” says MDC Resource Scientist Jeff Beringer. “Information provided by the survey helps us assess trends in animal populations and determine if numbers are increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable. This information also has important implications on the establishment of harvest regulations.”

Courtesy MDC

MDC mails surveys to participating bowhunters in early September. From Sept. 15 through Nov. 9, participants record the date, county, number of hours spent bowhunting, and the number of deer, wild turkeys and furbearers observed during their hunts. After Nov. 9, participants mail the postage-paid surveys back to MDC so the information can be analyzed.

To participate in the 2012 survey, email Paul.Rogers@mdc.mo.gov and write “Bowhunter Observation Survey” in the subject line. Participation requests must be received by Sept. 1. Include name and mailing address in the body of the email. Bowhunters can also send their name and address to: Bowhunter Observation Survey, Missouri Department of Conservation, 3500 E. Gans Road, Columbia, MO 65201.

MDC began conducting its bowhunter observation survey in 1983. Beringer said more than 190,000 bowhunting permits were distributed in 2011 but only approximately 7,000 bowhunters participated in last year’s survey.

“To maintain the high quality of information we receive from these surveys, it is very important more bowhunters participate,” says Beringer. “I encourage all Missouri bowhunters help keep Missouri a great place to hunt by participating in the survey.”

For more information about deer and turkey archery hunting regulations, visit mdc.mo.gov and search “archery hunting.”

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