Women can choose among 36 sessions in three categories during the 2021 Ohio Women’s Outdoor Adventures slated for Sept. 17-19 at Salt Fork State Park Lodge and Conference Center near Cambridge. This is the seventh annual women’s event.
This is a perfect opportunity for women to learn basic skills in boating, fishing, hunting and nature programming since the event is tailored to beginners.
Registration for the event opened Thursday for new participants. Past participants may register at noon Thursday, July 22. Cost for the weekend is $330 per person based on double occupancy. This includes four education sessions — one Friday evening, two Saturday and one Sunday — and five meals, a T-shirt, snacks, instruction, equipment and transportation.
The event, hosted by the divisions of Parks and Watercraft and Wildlife, is open to all women ages 16 and older (minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian). There are 95 spots open for this year’s event.
Registrants are asked to choose three options in three theme categories — on the water sessions, on the land sessions and nature sessions. Popular sessions will be offered more than once.
On the water sessions include: creeking/stream monitoring, introduction to canoeing, introduction to kayaking, kayak fishing, personal watercraft basics, pontoon boat excursion, power boating basics and stand up paddleboarding. On land sessions include: archery, fly tying/fly fishing, golf basics, gun basics, hiking (Kennedy Stonehouse), mountain biking skills, shooting range (basic shotgun), shooting range (basic pistol), shooting range (basic rifle) and shoreline fishing. Nature sessions include: art and nature (acrylics), backyard wildlife, blue birds and boxes, dutch oven cooking, geo caching, hiking (Hosak’s Cave), nature photography (mobile devices) and nature photography (traditional camera).
Three different gun sessions are being offered at the nearby Deerassic Park shooting range. Those wishing to participant must take the gun basics session or have gun handling experience, so rank that session accordingly.
Information on the adventures can be found online at wildlife.ohio.dnr.gov
Registrants will receive their weekend itineraries in early September. If you have any questions or concerns, email Heidi.Hetzel-Evans@dnr.ohio.gov or call 614-315-0495.
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A pair of Lima area bass anglers caught five-fish limits during the opening tournament of the Michigan Division of the Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) presented by T-H Marine last Saturday.
However, Wilson Burton of Findlay and Zach Maisch of Lima finished well back in the boater standings in the tourney held on Lake St. Clair out of Harrison Township, Michigan.
Burton’s catch weighed 14 pounds, 1 ounce and put him in 61st place while Maisch’s weight of 12 pounds, 9 ounces had him finish 72nd.
Matt Elkins of Spencerville caught four bass that weighed 11 pounds, 12 ounces and finished 75th.
The next Michigan Division tourney will be held July 31 on the Detroit River out of Trenton, Michigan.
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During the pandemic in 2020, statistics show more people enjoyed outdoor activities. Included among those was boating based on boat sales, insurance policies taken out, insurance claims and calls for towing assistance.
Consequently, with more time spent on the water, there was a greater risk of deaths, injuries and accidents. The U.S. Coast Guard reported there was a 25% increase in boating deaths from 2019. There were 767 boating fatalities nationwide in 2020.
The agency also reported the total number of accidents increased 26.3% (4,168 to 5,265) from 2019 to 2020, and the number of non-fatal injured victims increased 24.7% (2,559 to 3,191).
A preventable statistic continues – drownings are the largest cause of death. Where the cause of death was known, 75 percent of fatal boating accident victims drowned. Of those drowning victims, 86 percent were not wearing a life jacket.
The leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents in 2020 continued to be alcohol usage. That accounted for more than 100 deaths, or 18% of total fatalities.
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Ohio’s application period for controlled hunts closes July 31.
Controlled access hunts offer a unique opportunity for people to pursue a number of different species across the state. Applicants will be notified of lottery results via email by Aug. 9. Successful applicants will receive a permit, rules, and hunting area map.
To check out information on the hunts, go online at wildlife.ohio.dnr.gov and view 2021-22 controlled access hunts.
For more information email wildinfo@dnr.oh.gov.
Al Smith is a freelance outdoor writer. Contact him at flyfishman7@hotmail.com and follow him on Twitter @alsmithFL
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