The 2021 Ohio Outdoor and Wildlife Expo has been CANCELLED due to the uncertainty of the Coronavirus. 

Ohio Hunters and Anglers Can Now Purchase Multiyear Licenses

COLUMBUS, OH – Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 9, hunters and anglers will be able to buy multiyear licenses in Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Ohio resident license buyers can choose from 3-year, 5-year, 10-year and lifetime hunting or fishing licenses.

All single-year and multiyear licenses can be purchased online at wildohio.gov and at hundreds of participating agents throughout the state if an Ohio driver license or state identification is associated with the customer’s account.

Those interested in purchasing a lifetime license may apply online or at any of the ODNR Division of Wildlife’s five district offices or headquarters in Columbus. Locations of ODNR Division of Wildlife offices can be found at wildohio.gov. Lifetime licenses cannot be purchased at license agent locations at this time.

Prices for multiyear and lifetime licenses are as follows:

 Youth 3-year hunting – $28.60
 Youth 5-year hunting – $47.58
 Youth 10-year hunting – $95.16
 Youth lifetime hunting or fishing – $430.56
 Adult 3-year hunting or fishing – $54.08
 Adult 5-year hunting or fishing – $90.22
 Adult 10-year hunting or fishing – $180.44
 Adult lifetime hunting or fishing – $468
 Senior 3-year hunting or fishing – $28.60
 Senior 5-year hunting or fishing – $47.58
 Senior lifetime hunting or fishing – $84.24

Youth multiyear and lifetime licenses are available to any Ohio resident 17 years old and younger at the time of purchase. Senior multiyear and lifetime licenses are available for Ohio residents age 66 and older born on or after Jan. 1, 1938.

All money generated from the sale of multiyear and lifetime licenses will be deposited into the Wildlife Fund, where it will be used to protect and enhance Ohio’s wildlife populations. A hard-plastic card will be provided to lifetime license buyers, and these cards will be available for purchase at an additional cost of $4 to customers who purchase a multiyear license. Cards will be mailed to the customer’s address in seven to 14 days from the purchase date.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, a Lake Erie permit ($11) will be required for all nonresidents to fish Ohio waters of Lake Erie from Jan. 1-April 30 each year. Money generated by this permit will be used for specified purposes related to the protection and improvements of Lake Erie, such as combating invasive species, securing public access and providing for fish management projects in Lake Erie.

In other changes, apprentice hunters who have not yet completed hunter education will no longer be limited to purchasing only three apprentice hunting or apprentice fur taker permits. Apprentice hunters can continue to purchase an apprentice license each year until they successfully complete hunter education.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.

3/2/2018 Ohio DNR in Forestry
COLUMBUS, OH – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) reminds Ohioans to take precautions while burning debris this spring and to know the state’s outdoor burning regulations. Ohio law states outdoor debris burning is prohibited from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during March, April and May. Burning is limited in the spring due to the abundance of dry fuel on the ground. Winds can make a seemingly safe fire burn more intensely and escape control.
If a fire escapes control, immediately contact the local fire department. An escaped wildfire, even one burning in grass or weeds, is dangerous. Violators of Ohio’s burning regulations are subject to citations and fines. Residents should also check the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s regulations and consult with local fire officials about burning conditions.
The ODNR Division of Forestry offers these safety tips for burning debris outdoors:
Use a 55-gallon drum with a weighted screen lid to provide an enclosed incinerator.
Know current and future weather conditions, have fire suppression tools on hand and never leave a debris burn unattended.
Be informed about state and local burning regulations.
Consult the local fire department for additional information and safety considerations.
Visit forestry.ohiodnr.gov and firewise.org for more information and tips on protecting a home and community.
Remember: “Don’t burn during the day in March, April and May!”
Ohioans should also remember that food waste, dead animals and materials containing rubber, grease, asphalt or petroleum should never be burned.
The ODNR Division of Forestry works to promote the wise use and sustainable management of Ohio’s public and private woodlands. To learn more about Ohio’s woodlands, visit forestry.ohiodnr.gov.
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.

Businesses show their support for the Ohio Wildlife Project
A big shout out for those businesses who have chosen to partner with the Ohio Wildlife project.
Fin Feather Fur Outfitters of Ashland, Boardman, Canton, Middleburg Hts., and Milan Ohio. At The Fin, they pride themselves on customer service & product knowledge. They have gone to great lengths to make sure they are at the forefront of the industry’s new technology and gear. Above all, they want you to feel like family when you walk in their doors.
The Sportsman’s Den is your source for Firearms, Sporting Goods, Hunting Supplies, and Outdoor Gear in North Central Ohio. Located in Shelby it’s just a short drive from Mansfield, and centrally located between Columbus, Cleveland, and Toledo, it is worth the trip to come and see them.
Rural King Supply of Norwalk, America’s Farm and Home Department Store. They have an outstanding product mix including livestock feed, farm equipment, workwear, hunting supplies, housewares and toys. You never know what you will find at your local Rural King and that’s why every trip is an adventure.
Wild Birds Unlimited of Sandusky can help prepare you for the best backyard bird feeding experience possible. At Wild Birds Unlimited, their Certified Bird Feeding Specialist are trained to show you how to turn your yard into a bird feeding habitat that not only brings song, color and life to your home, but also benefits the wild birds and the environment in your area.
Buckeye Acres Campground and Its restaurant the Buckeye Fire & Grill of Clyde Ohio. Located in a quiet country setting, it is the perfect place for a seasonal family getaway, staycation, family vacation, or an enjoyable meal. Their location allows easy access to Cedar Point, Seneca Caverns, Attica and Fremont Speedways. They offer one of the areas longest camping seasons from early April to November.
These businesses have agreed to either have donation box’s placed on their countertops or have a change round up at their registers. We would encourage all outdoor enthusiast to support these local businesses and when checking out don’t forget the Ohio Wildlife Project. The best way to show your support of these businesses is by patronizing them. Let them know you appreciate their partnership with the Ohio Wildlife Project.
If you would be interested in partnering with the Ohio Wildlife Project or know of someone who might be please contact us at buckeyewildlife@gmail.com.

Ohioans know if they want a sky filled with the wings of the monarch butterfly, it’s going to take healthy habitat for monarchs and other pollinators. That’s why hundreds of Ohioans worked together last fall to collect approximately 200 pounds of common milkweed seeds, totaling over 19 million seeds! If you live in Ohio, you can take part in the 2017 statewide milkweed seed pod collection.
Last year’s massive statewide seed collection effort was spearheaded by the Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative, which is working to get the word out about why monarch butterflies are disappearing and help partners create monarch habitat.
The disappearance of milkweed, the only host plant for monarch caterpillars, across the U.S. has contributed to the 80% decline of the eastern monarch butterfly population over the last 20 years. Regionally adapted milkweed grows and blooms when monarchs need it most. The dried husks of the common milkweed pods are a treasure chest filled with biological gems – viable milkweed seeds. The decrease in local milkweed plants makes local seed collection efforts all the more important.
“If we want monarchs, we need to protect their awe inspiring multigenerational migration to and from Mexico,” explains Marci Lininger, Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative Coordinator and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Services Biologist. “That means more milkweed across monarch habitat and speaks to the Initiative’s motto ‘All you can, where you can’.”
From September 1 to October 31, 2016 Ohioans showed their overwhelming support for monarch conservation. Local agencies and individuals came together across 88 counties to collect, label and drop off their common milkweed pods. In preparation for this massive collection effort, Waste Management Inc. donated 90 specially marked collection bins and Soil and Water Conservation District offices served as drop off locations.
“The driver for our expanded efforts to collect common milkweed pods was the increased price of common milkweed seed,” said Lininger. “Adding in common milkweed seed to pollinator mixes doubled the price of our mixes and we decided that we could harvest the seeds ourselves and add it to our mixes once we purchased them.”
Over 2,500 gallons of pods were collected, enough to fill five truck beds! The majority of seeds collected are being grown into plugs with the help of prison horticultural programs. These seedlings will be tended overwinter to increase survival rates when they are transplanted next spring. About 5% of the seeds were given to participating Soil and Water Conservation Districts to thank them for their efforts in the statewide collection. The remaining seeds have been used for outreach and in seed mixes to establish connected monarch habitats across Ohio. The seeds sprouting today are priceless, because they are also the seeds of hope for a future filled with monarchs.
Lininger offered this advice to other states looking to start milkweed collection programs: “Early on you have to establish a firm foundation of partnership and interest. A shared understanding of goals and missions among our partners has given us the ability to make the Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative a sustainable, long term grass roots program that will be around for future generations – of both Ohioans and monarchs”.
The Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative and other partners help create pollinator habitat to achieve the Pollinator Health Task Force’s goals of 7 million acres of pollinator habitat established across North America over the next 5 years and increase the Eastern population of the monarch butterfly to 225 million butterflies.
The amazing results of the 2016 collection would not be possible without the support of Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative’s partners including: Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Ohio Department of Natural Resources – Division of Wildlife, Waste Management Inc., Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio State University, Wright State University, Master Gardeners, Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists, and many more.
For more information about the Ohio Pollinators Habitat Initiative contact: Lori Stevenson: Lori_Stevenson@fws.gov or Marci Lininger: Marci_Lininger@fws.gov
This story originally published in the USFWS Inside Region 3 Newsletter. Written By Melissa A. Clark, USFWS Midwest Regional Office – External Affairs and Lori Stevenson, USFWS Ohio Private Lands Office. Header photo by Jeff Burris, Ohio Division of Wildlife

October 4, 2017
Contact(s):
Vanessa Kauffman
703-358-2138
vanessa_kauffman@fws.gov

National Wildlife Refuge Week, observed this year on October 8-14, celebrates the world-class recreation brought to Americans by the National Wildlife Refuge System, the nation’s largest network of public lands managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. There is no better time to rediscover the rivers and trails that put national wildlife refuges on the “must visit” list for millions of Americans.
National wildlife refuges have been part of America’s proud natural heritage since the first refuge was established in 1903. Refuges provide vital habitat for thousands of species and access to world-class recreation, from fishing, hunting and hiking to nature watching, photography and environmental education. You can find at least one refuge in every state and every U.S. territory.
“Americans are fortunate to have access to an unparalleled network of national wildlife refuges close to where they live,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, who kicked off Refuge Week early today while visiting with staff and touring Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. “Whether you are hunting, fishing or just enjoying the great outdoors, I encourage everyone to get out and visit a refuge near you. One of my top priorities is to open up access wherever possible for the public to enjoy these lands so that more families have the opportunity to pass down that heritage as I have with my children.”
In 2016 alone, hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities contributed more than $156.3 billion in economic activity across the United States, according to the Service’s National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, published every five years. More than 101.6 million Americans, or 40 percent of the United States’ population 16 and older, pursued wildlife-related recreation.
“For hunters, anglers, wildlife watchers, photographers and hikers, the National Wildlife Refuge System is the jewel of our nation’s public lands,” said Fish and Wildlife Service Principal Deputy Director Greg Sheehan. “Refuge Week is a good time to remind ourselves of what America would be like without access to these amazing places.”
Americans living in most of the nation’s largest communities can find a national wildlife refuge within an hour’s drive. Hunting, within specified limits, is currently permitted on 372 wildlife refuges. Fishing is currently permitted on 309 wildlife refuges.
This year’s Refuge Week launches a year-long celebration of America’s rivers and trails in partnership with federal agencies and non-profit organizations, leading up to the 50th anniversaries of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and National Trails System Act on October 2, 2018. Take the opportunity to #FindYourWay to national wildlife refuges: walk, hike, bike, float, paddle, serve and learn alongside our nation’s wild and majestic birds, mammals and fish that call these unique places home. There are more than 340,000 miles of river that flow through refuges to #MakeYourSplash, as well as more than 2,100 miles of land trails on refuges across the country.
The Refuge System includes 566 national wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management districts covering over 150 million acres of lands. More than 50 million Americans visit refuges every year. Refuges support regional economies to the tune of $2.4 billion per year and more than 35,000 jobs.
During National Wildlife Refuge Week, held annually during the second full week of October, you can find special events, festivals, tours and even chances to volunteer to help wildlife. While you’re there, learn how refuges protect green spaces and improve life for you and your community.
Learn more about this year’s celebration by visiting: https://www.fws.gov/refuges/visitors/RefugeWeek2017.html.

ODNR in Discussions with AEP for Potential Expansion of Outdoor Recreation Opportunities

Memorandum of understanding kicks off negotiations for the state to purchase a major portion of AEP ReCreation Land property in eastern Ohio

COLUMBUS, OH – Taking an important first step toward what could become the most significant expansion of public recreation opportunities in the state’s recent history, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has signed a memorandum of understanding with American Electric Power (AEP) by which the parties will negotiate for the state to purchase a major portion of AEP’s 60,000-acre ReCreation Land property in eastern Ohio.

ODNR Director James Zehringer and AEP Vice President Jim Henry today announced ODNR’s interest in purchasing a large swath of AEP ReCreation Land to be used by the state for a wide range of outdoor recreational activities, including hunting and fishing.

Praising the agreement, Governor John R. Kasich said, “An opportunity to acquire and protect such a large, open expanse of land for public recreation is rare. Ohioans and out-of-state visitors who are drawn to our great state parks, forests, nature preserves and wildlife areas will potentially have even greater opportunities to explore and enjoy the outdoors.”

Director Zehringer emphasized that acquisitions would likely be made in separate parcels over a number of years, and much work remains to be done before the first purchase is negotiated and complete.

“ODNR will now work with AEP to finalize titling and obtain the necessary appraisals, but today’s agreement is a positive step toward preserving this invaluable recreational resource,” Zehringer said. “Our department and AEP have worked in a longstanding partnership to promote public access to AEP ReCreation Land, now we continue as partners to ensure these unmatched outdoor recreation opportunities are preserved for generations of Ohioans to come.”

AEP ReCreation Land spans a total of 60,000 acres in Guernsey, Morgan, Muskingum and Noble counties, which is all company-owned property that in the past had been surface mined for coal. In recent years, AEP reclaimed the land and opened it to public access for camping and other outdoor recreation.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov

For more news like this please visit http://ohiodnr.gov/news

Ohio’s Outdoor Recreation Survey Results Available

COLUMBUS, OH – Earlier this year, Ohio residents were asked to share their experiences and opinions regarding their favorite outdoor recreation activities on public lands, such as local and state parks, nature preserves, wildlife and forestry areas and federal lands. They were also asked specifically about their level of participation and any new or expanded facilities they would like to see in Ohio.
Feedback from the public survey helps park districts, local communities and nature preserve, wildlife and forestry managers understand outdoor recreation trends in Ohio and set priorities for funding and improvements.
Ohio University’s (OU) Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs final report for the 2018 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) public survey is now available at parks.ohiodnr.gov/research. OU analyzed 5,059 completed surveys from respondents from all of Ohio’s 88 counties. The report provides some interesting insight into the desires of Ohioan’s recreationalists, such as the facilities that respondents want more of and the top five outdoor recreational pursuits. The survey and the SCORP are funded with assistance from the National Park Service, and the full SCORP report will be available in 2018.
Survey results include:
• Eighty-two percent of survey respondents stated that recreational facilities are very important to the enjoyment of outdoor activities in Ohio.
• The main reasons for engaging in outdoor recreation on public lands is for fun and entertainment; sharing time with family and friends and experiencing nature; quiet time and serenity.
• Ohioans participating in wildlife activities favored wildlife viewing; nature photography and bird watching; with 47 percent stating they did so to experience nature, quiet time and serenity.
• Camping responses indicated tent and pop-up campers were more popular than other types of camping vehicles with more than 46 percent responding they enjoyed camping to share time with family and friends.
• All forms of trail activities received high responses, with nearly 51 percent of respondents stating they participated for health, wellness and fitness. The top trail-related activities are walking and hiking on various trail surfaces (natural, stone and paved).
• Canoeing and kayaking are the most frequent boating activities.
Ohioans prioritized which outdoor recreation facilities they would like to have more of in Ohio. The top ranked facilities focused on trails (natural surface, paved and water); wildlife viewing and birding areas; and undeveloped campgrounds.
The survey results will be included in the five-year SCORP, which provides information on recreation trends. The SCORP informs the grant application scoring process among worthy projects proposed by public outdoor recreation providers, such as park districts, cities, counties, villages and townships around the state.
More information on the survey and the 2018 SCORP project is available at parks.ohiodnr.gov/research

For more news like this please visit http://ohiodnr.gov/news

Rule Changes Proposed to Ohio Wildlife Council

COLUMBUS, OH – Changes to bag and size limits for fish in certain bodies of water and adding the rusty patched bumble bee to the list of state endangered species were among the rule changes proposed to the Ohio Wildlife Council on Wednesday, Aug. 16, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Proposed changes to sport fishing regulations include: exempting striped bass, hybrid striped bass and white bass taken from Pymatuning Lake from statewide bag and size limit regulations to be consistent with Pennsylvania; removing the 15-inch minimum length limit on saugeye harvested from Lake Snowden; and reducing the bag limit to four fish in the aggregate for channel and blue catfish harvested from Hoover Reservoir. In addition, anglers harvesting channel and blue catfish from Hoover Reservoir would be limited to taking only three fish less than 18 inches and one fish 28 inches or larger, in an effort to develop and promote a trophy catfish fishery.
Additional proposed rule changes include defining elk as a game quadruped; modifying requirements for field trials; adding the rusty patched bumble bee to the state’s endangered species list to reflect the federal status of this species; and renaming the unnamed cave isopod to Kindt’s cave isopod to reflect the correct common name for this species.
A complete list of proposed rules changes can be found at wildohio.gov.
A statewide hearing on the proposed rules will be held at the ODNR Division of Wildlife’s District One office on Thursday, Sept. 21, at 9 a.m. The office is located at 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43215. For those unable to attend the hearing, comments will also be accepted online at wildohio.gov. The online form will be available until Wednesday, Sept. 13.
The Ohio Wildlife Council is an eight-member board that approves all ODNR Division of Wildlife proposed rules and regulations. The council will vote on the proposed rules and season dates after considering public input at their meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 18.
Council meetings are open to the public. Individuals who want to provide comments on a topic that is currently being considered by council are asked to register at least two days before the meeting by calling 614-265-6304. All comments are required to be three minutes or less.
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.

For more news like this please visit http://ohiodnr.gov/news

ODNR’s Natural Resources Park a Family Favorite for Visitors at Ohio State Fair

Ohio State Fair will be July 26-Aug. 6     

COLUMBUS, OH – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will once again welcome visitors to the Natural Resources Park at the Ohio State Fair with free interactive exhibits and displays, allowing visitors to experience and see some of Ohio’s outdoor opportunities. Located in the southeast corner of the state fairgrounds, the park will be open to all fairgoers throughout the Ohio State Fair, which runs July 26-Aug 6. Free activities are available for people to enjoy from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily.
“The Ohio State Fair gives us an ideal opportunity to showcase to fairgoers some of the recreational opportunities available in every corner of the Buckeye State,” ODNR Director James Zehringer said. “Our Natural Resources Park is a favorite tradition for many visitors to the Ohio State Fair, and we are pleased to continue to offer this free park to share hands-on and interactive exhibits promoting Ohio’s great outdoors.”

Two brand-new wildlife buildings will make their debut at the 2017 Ohio State Fair this year. The first building is the Wild Ohio Shooting Range, which houses newly constructed archery and air gun ranges. This new building can accommodate up to 10 shooters at the air gun range and five shooters at the archery range. The ranges are open to all ages and skill levels from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

The second new wildlife building is called the Fish Ohio Building, which is a redesigned fish house where staff will be giving fish filleting and cooking demonstrations. The demonstration area includes a TV to allow more people to watch the process. The building also houses refrigerated storage to temporarily hold fish caught in the youth fishing area until kids are ready to pick them up and take them home. The new fish house will be open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Another new attraction is the Scenic Rivers touch pool. The shallow pool will be 8 feet by 3 feet and will contain many of Ohio’s native macroinvertebrate species, plus a few crayfish and small stream fish. The touch pool allows visitors to experience the magic of dipping a hand into a stream to find live creatures, and it shows how the Scenic Rivers program monitors these creatures to help gauge stream health. The touch pool will be staffed by volunteers from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Returning exhibits include the popular kayak pond, which is a 7,000-square-foot pond, which gives guests an opportunity to safely learn how to kayak. ODNR has also partnered with L.L. Bean to help fit kayakers into the right size life jacket. Sign up for this experience at the pavilion in the ODNR Natural Resources Park. Additionally, located near the kayak pond, the personal watercraft simulator will be available, allowing visitors to experience “riding” a jet ski.

A new animatronic Smokey Bear was installed in 2015, replacing the original 55-year-old Smokey. The new display has moving arms, head and mouth, which allows him to continue sharing his mission by teaching fairgoers how they can prevent wildfires. Smokey Bear will greet each child who comes to visit by name from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. A 71-foot-tall fire tower, originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934 in Pike County, is also located directly behind Smokey to reinforce the icon’s fire prevention message.

The youth fishing pond is also back by popular demand. Children under the age of 14 can learn how to catch and cook one of the 2,000 hybrid bluegill that have been stocked for the fair. A family-friendly opportunity, kids are sure to catch the fishing bug once they experience this fun and educational
recreational opportunity.

The ODNR Natural Resources Park will continue providing free outdoor entertainment in the ODNR Amphitheater, which has been expanded to seat more than 600 people during multiple daily performances throughout the fair. Acts will range from lumberjack competitions, animal demonstrations with animals from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, as well as the ever popular retriever dog show, in addition to music and clogging performances.
Other educational opportunities are available, including the Butterfly House, where guests can view a dazzling array of colors while gazing at butterflies up close and learning about their lifecycle. Visitors are also encouraged to check out Ruthven’s Aviary, which will feature some of Ohio’s native bird species, as well as how to create wildlife-friendly backyards. Fairgoers will also enjoy walking through a tall grass prairie exhibit, representing Ohio’s native plant life.

Families will enjoy the shade of the trees in the arboretum at the Natural Resources Park at the Ohio State Fair, which is a perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of the midway. ODNR has received accreditation by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program for the Natural Resources Park, which features the Governors Grove, with trees planted by Ohio Governor John Kasich and many of his predecessors. Many other trees in the park are labeled, including an American sweetgum tree grown from seed that traveled more than 2 million miles on the first flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1984.

The ODNR information booth will offer natural resources literature, and the gift shop will showcase a wide array of souvenirs, clothing and toys available for purchase.

For more information about the ODNR Natural Resources Park or to check out the daily amphitheater schedule, visit ohiodnr.gov/statefair. For more information about the Ohio State Fair, go to ohiostatefair.com.
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov