Al Smith
As late summer rolls into Labor Day weekend, traditional early hunting seasons often have a feeling of sneaking up on us.
Squirrel, dove, rail, snipe and gallinule began Thursday and Canada geese and teal (blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon) begin the early waterfowl season Saturday.
There is one new season in the Lima area that begins Sept. 10 — the Disease Surveillance Area (DSA) archery season in Hardin, Wyandot and Marion counties. This season begins two weeks before the regular archery season that is slated to start Sept. 24. Both these seasons run through Feb. 5, 2023. There also is an early gun season in the DSA which is slated for Oct. 8-10. All other hunting seasons in the DSA, including youth, gun, extra gun weekend and muzzleloader, run on the same dates as statewide.
The DSA was established after deer with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) were discovered during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 deer seasons. The Ohio Division of Wildlife (DOW) established the DSA to monitor prevalence and implement regulations to slow the speared of CWD.
According to the 2022-23 hunting and trapping regulations, DSA rules include prohibiting the placement of or use of bait (salt, minerals, or any food) to attract or feed deer within the DSA boundaries and normal agricultural activities, including feeding domestic animals, as well as hunting deer over food plots, naturally occurring or cultivated plants, and agricultural crops are not prohibited in the DSA.
Mandatory sampling is required for all deer harvested in the DSA on Oct. 8-10, Nov. 5-6, and 12-13 as well as the entire seven-day gun season. Staffed sampling locations will only be available during the seven-day gun season.
Hunters can utilize self-serve kiosks to drop their deer off for testing throughout the deer season. Participation is voluntary outside of the 14 mandatory days already noted. Kiosk locations and dates of operation are available at wildohio.gov and instructions for sample submission will be provided at the kiosk.
The staffed sampling locations include:
• Big Island Wildlife Area headquarters, 5389 Larue-Prospect Rd West, New Bloomington.
• Rural King, 233 American Blvd., Marion.
• Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area headquarters, 19100 CH 115, Harpster.
• Hardin County Fairgrounds, 14134 County Road 140, Kenton.
Wyandot County Fairgrounds,10171 Ohio 53, Upper Sandusky.
McGuffey Conservation Club, 6950 Township Road 55, Ada.
It is recommended hunters check the 2022-23 hunting and trapping regulations for additional details and requirements.
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Matt Elkins of Spencerville had a top 10 and a top 20 place finish during separate Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) bass tournaments last weekend on the Detroit River.
Those finishes vaulted him into sixth place in the points standings in the boater category of the Michigan Division. He was 10th Saturday with a five bass limit that weighed 22 pounds. He wound up 19th the next day with another five bass limit that weighed 18 pounds, 13 ounces.
Zach Maisch of Lima is 31st in the standings while Wilson Burton of Findlay is 36th. Both had five bass limits during the tourneys. Maisch was 48th Saturday with bass that weighed 17 pounds, 9 ounces. He was 66th Sunday with 12 pounds, 5 ounces. Burton finished 71st Saturday with 15 pounds and was 62nd Sunday with 13 pounds, 10 ounces.
Buckeye Division anglers competed in a super two-day tournament the same weekend on the Ohio River at Tanner’s Creek out of Lawrenceburg, Indiana.
No Lima area angler finished in the top 20 in the boater or co-angler categories. Participants had to do that to qualify for the second day of competition.
In the boater category, Dick Shaffer of Rockford placed 24th with three bass that weighed 4 pounds, 4 ounces while Kyle Weisenburger of Columbus Grove was 40th with a pair of bass that weighed 3 pounds.
Bob Logan of Waynesfield, who won the previous Buckeye Division tourney, did not compete nor did Jake Alltop of Lewistown, who is one of the top co-anglers.
In the points standings, Logan is sixth, Weisenburger is 13th and Shaffer is 15th in the boater division while Alltop is third in the co-angler points standings.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in competitive bass fishing — the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.
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The Allen County Fly Fishers will meet at 7 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Allen County Sportsmen and Farmers Association clubhouse, located at 1001 S. Kemp Road location in Elida.
Various club issues will be discussed along with and getting members’ feedback on meeting activities. Club dues will be collected beginning in October and going through December. Dues are $30 per year with $20 of that amount going to the Allen County Sportsmen and the remainder staying with the fly fishing club. This will make everyone a member of the Allen County Sportsmen club.
According to club president Brad Sherrick, five members are interested in building a fly rod. He said any other members interested in building a rod, should let him know ASAP at 419-233-6438. He needs to finalize the people wanting to build a rod, get the length and weight they want to build and get the components ordered. A day and time to do the rod building will be decided.
Suggestions for a club logo are being sought. Sherrick noted that any members who know any artists, art students or anyone that likes to draw should see if they would be interested in designing a logo for the club.
Read previous Al Smith outdoors columns
Al Smith is a freelance outdoor writer. You may contact him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @alsmithFL
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