By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Children ages 17 and younger are permitted to hunt statewide for legal game this fall, thanks to a program set up by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Many in agriculture see that as a win-win situation for farmers in this state.

“Getting youth out in the fields at an early age is a great idea because the future generation can help control the deer population,” said ODNR Wildlife Communication Specialist Lindsay Deering. “This gives us an opportunity to get the youth acclimated to hunting so in future years they can help keep deer from causing damage to the farmers’ crops.”

Last year 30,000 youth participated in this two-weekend affair and harvested 10,500 deer.

“This effort has a dual result in that we’re teaching safe hunting to children and helping the farmers by harvesting the overpopulated deer,” Deering added. “Everyone wins here.”

To participate in the upcoming youth hunts, all young hunters must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult and must abide by all regular hunting hours and bag limits. Appropriate permits or licenses are required.

Youngsters 15 and under seeking waterfowl hunted the weekend of Oct. 4-5. Youth hunting for small game (rabbits, pheasants, quail and other legal game) is Oct. 25-26 and Nov. 1-2. Whitetail deer is a youth deer-gun season that is held Nov. 22-23. One deer of either sex is allowed for hunters 17 and under accompanied by a non-hunting adult.

Wild turkey season is popular among youth and a statewide spring season will be offered April 18-19, 2009.

“Other states have done this and it’s proven to be successful and safe,” Deering said of all the hunting dates and opportunities. “The focus is on young hunters and getting them out in the fields. In the long run it will benefit themselves and farmers.”

“Some kids have never met a farmer in their life,” said Tom LaVergne of the Ohio Division of Wildlife. “This will help relationships between landowners and hunters, if kids get to know them while they’re young. As we see it, this program is a win-win situation.”

And for fishermen of all ages, the ODNR announced 25,000 rainbow trout (measuring 10-13 inches) will be released in 25 Ohio waterways this month.

“This stocking provides excellent opportunities for anglers to continue fishing through the fall in this state,” said Elmer Heyob, hatcheries program administrator with the Division of Wildlife.
The trout stocking program targets small inland waters, including state and community park lakes, as well as other easy-access lakes throughout the state. Anglers 16 and older must have an Ohio fishing license.

The annual fishing license costs $19 and runs through Feb. 28, 2009. A one-day fishing license can be purchased for $11.
Trout are to be stocked at the following waterways: Tawana Lake (Shelby County), Crossroads Pond (Crawford), Foundation Lake (Knox), Lamberjack (Hancock), Lima Lake (Allen), Norwalk Reservoir #1 (Huron), Swanton Reservoir (Lucas), Blue Limestone Park (Delaware), Ohio-Erie Canal (Cuyahoga), Rush Run Lake (Preble), Eyman Park (Fayette), Grand Lake St. Marys (Auglaize), Heritage Park Pond (Franklin);

Lake Alma State Park (Vinton), Rose Lake (Hocking), Granger Pond and Painesville Recreational Park (Lake), Petros Lake (Stark), Scioto Trail (Ross), Stonelick Lake (Clermont), Blue Rock State Park (Muskingum), Timbre Ridge (Lawrence), Antrim Lake (Franklin) and Sycamore State Park Pond (Montgomery).