Ohio Mixed Bag: Sight-in day planned for Oct. 26

Elmore, Ohio — The 41st annual Dick Gremling and Richard Marleau Memorial Sight-In Day, sponsored by the Elmore Conservation Club, is set for Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the club range, 15550 West Portage River South Road, Elmore.

The day is a public event aimed at giving shooters the opportunity to sight in rifle, pistol, slug-gun, handgun, or bow for the hunting seasons. A donation of $5 per firearm or bow is asked, with proceeds going to Elmore area charities for the needy at the holidays. Experienced club staff will be on hand to assist.

The range is located along the Portage River, south side, a half mile west of State Route 590, between Elmore and Oak Harbor in Ottawa County. For questions, call 419-478-0233.

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PF/QF Adds Another Ohio Chapter

Bellefontaine, Ohio — Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) recently introduced a new dual chapter in Ohio. The Logan County Chapter of PF and QF plan to increase and enhance upland habitat and encourage participation in outdoor activities through hunting, fishing, and hands on conservation work for both youth and adults.

Unique among national conservation organizations, chapters of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever retain 100% decision-making control over fundraising dollars, allowing volunteers to support impactful wildlife habitat projects, public access initiatives and conservation education programs throughout the upland bird range. PF and QF’s regional representative for Ohio and West Virginia, Austin Roby, will work closely with the new chapter to support the organization’s vision to sustain abundant populations of wild pheasants, quail and other wildlife.

To learn more about the Logan County Chapter of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, contact chapter president Noah Ganson at 937-726-5107 or email noah.ganson@gmail.com. For questions about Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever in Ohio, contact Austin Roby at ARoby@PheasantsForever.org.

NWTF Offering Photo Contest

Edgefield, S.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) is calling on photographers to enter the organization’s annual photo contest.

Deadline for submitting entries is Jan. 10, 2025.

Photos may be entered in the following categories: live wild turkeys, live wildlife, scenic wild landscapes, and hunting/outdoor lifestyles.

Entries may be submitted online.

WTU Donates To NASP Program

Columbus — Whitetails Unlimited awarded more than $121,000 in grants to the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) this past fiscal year. NASP is an in-school program aimed at improving educational performance among students in grades 4-12. With this program, students are learning focus, self-control, discipline, patience, and life lessons required to be successful in the classroom and in life.

NASP has become the gold standard of scholastic archery programs with 1.3 million students participating in 49 states. Its two national tournaments boast more than 18,000 participants. In order to qualify for a national tournament, a student must place in their respective state tournaments. NASP has awarded $4.65 million in scholarships to thousands of student archers.

ODNR Opens New Visitor Center At Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area

McConnelsville, Ohio – The Ohio DNR (ODNR) recently held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction for a new visitor center for the Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area.

The visitor center will be a two-story timber building boasting indoor and outdoor space for visitors. Inside, educational and interactive displays will highlight the history of the region. Floor-to-ceiling windows will showcase a spectacular view from atop the hillside. The outdoor spaces, a 360-degree scenic ramp and an observation deck, will be a highpoint for visitors observing wildlife.

“One aspect of this visitor center that will be unique are the spectacular views,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “Visitors will be able to see across the landscape and will be able to catch a glimpse of wildlife in their natural environment, including a herd of bison that we plan to introduce to a nearby site.”

Bison were native to Ohio but wiped out in the 1800s. The Appalachian Hills bison herd will represent Ohio’s wildlife history and the importance of conserving land and habitats to prevent other species from being eradicated or extinction.

Wild turkey and white-tailed deer hunting are among the region’s best prospects. Muskingum and Guernsey counties, two of the counties encompassing Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area, ranked in the top 10 statewide for deer harvest in the 2023-24 season. Muskingum County also ranked in the top 10 for wild turkey harvest in spring 2024.

“This facility will highlight the wildlife area’s important grassland, woodland, and aquatic habitats,” said Division of Wildlife Chief Kendra Wecker. “This new space invites the public to enjoy the area’s beauty and explore further hunting, fishing, birding and trapping opportunities.”

The Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area is unique as it surrounds and serves as a connection to Jesse Owens State Park. All these properties combined are approximately 60,000 acres of public land for visitors to explore.

– Compiled from DNR, Staff, and Wire reports