Young turkey hunters in Limaland were about as successful this spring as they were a year ago during the two-day special youth hunt while their older counterparts did not fare as well as a year ago on the opening day of the wild turkey season..
A total of 49 wild turkeys were harvested by youth in the nine local counties on April 21-22. Last spring local young hunters harvested 53 wild turkeys. During opening day, Limaland turkey hunters checked in 68 birds last Monday compared to 91 that were checked on opening day in 2017.
On the youth side, the harvest was up in three local counties and down in five. One, Mercer, had a harvest of three turkeys each of the last two years. The count was up in Auglaize where six turkeys were checked this spring compared to five a year ago. It also was up in Putnam where nine turkeys were checked this spring compared to eight last spring. Shelby showed a big jump where six turkeys were harvested this year compared to two a year ago. The harvest in the other five counties with 2017 number in parenthesis was: Allen 8 (10), Hancock 0 (2), Hardin 7 (8), Logan 8 (10) and Van Wert 2 (5).
The youth harvest statewide were nearly identical. A total of 1,860 turkeys were harvested this year compared to 1,895 in 2017.
The harvest was down in eight of the nine local counties on opening day. Harvest numbers were five turkeys in 2018 and 2017 in Shelby County. The harvest in the other Limaland counties with 2017 number in parenthesis was: Allen 6 (8), Auglaize 3 (8), Hancock 4 (6), Hardin 11 (14), Logan 25 (27), Mercer 5 (7), and Van Wert 4 (7).
Opening day harvest statewide was 3,315 while 3,127 turkeys were taken on opening day in 2017.
The state is divided into two zones for spring turkey hunting: a south zone, which opened last Monday and is open through May 20, and a northeast zone, which opens Monday and runs through May 27. The spring turkey season is open statewide except for the Lake La Su An Wildlife Area. Hunters can view the 2018 spring turkey season zone map and harvest regulations at wildohio.gov.
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Lack of big bass keep Limaland bass angler Kyle Weisenburger from fishing the final two days of tournaments on the FLW Tour.
The Ottawa angler was catching fish two weeks ago at Lake Cumberland in Kentucky, but he couldn’t get solid three or four-pound fish to give him the boost he needed. He caught limits the first two days, but failed to qualify among the top 20 for fish the final two days.
He wound up 83rd in the tourney with 10 bass that weighed 23 pounds, 5 ounces. He caught 12 pounds, 5 ounces on the first day and 11 pounds on the second day.
“I caught a fair amount of fish each day, but just lacked a solid three or four-pound fish each day. I feel I did a lot of good things and capitalized on nearly all my opportunities, but it’s frustrating to be coming home missing out on a check by a little less than two pounds,” he said. “I Just have to keep putting forth effort, continue to get better, and find a way to succeed.”
Weisenburger was at Lewis Smith Lake in Jasper, Alabama, this week.
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A seminar on how to attract pollinators to your backyard will be held May from -7:30 p.m. at the Wildlife District Two Office, located at 952 Lima Ave. in Findlay.
Although the seminar is free, preregistration is required by May 7, as space is limited. Interested individuals can register by calling Meredith Gilbert at 419-429-8359 or emailing [email protected].
Topics to be covered by ODNR Division of Wildlife staff include pollinator life histories, benefits, and ecology. Current issues facing pollinators and how to attract them to your property will also be addressed.
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Cabela’s in Dundee, Mich., located off U.S. 23, is offering introduction to fly fishing and fly casting on Saturdays the next three months. This will be held May 5, 12 and 19 plus each Saturday in June and July from 1-4:30 .m.
Cabela’s experts will cover everything from rods and reels to styles of flies for different species, and everything else you will need to get started in the great sport of fly-fishing. Minimum age is 12 years old and must be accompanied by an adult.
Seminars are held weather permitting and subject to cancellation or change without notice. For more information or to make reservations, call Cabela’s Dundee at 734-529-4700 ext. 4115-8301.
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