Conservation Corner and other outdoor events slated

Stop by and visit us this week at the Conservation Corner at the Meigs County Fair.

Two booths staffed by the Ohio Division of Wildlife and the Meigs Soil and Water Conservation District, respectively, and displays by the United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Athens-Meigs Farm Bureau.

This is the fourth year for the Conservation Corner, which is located in the Grange Building at the Rock Springs Fairgrounds.
There will be contests and giveaways each day; youths can take a chance on a fishing pole/tackle box combo given away daily by the Meigs County ACTT (Active Conservationists Teaming Together) group, a consortium of Meigs County sportsmen’s groups, and the Meigs SWCD will be giving away a bluebird house every day.

Meigs SWCD education coordinator Jenny Ridenour will have daily youth activities that change every day, and crafts for youngsters on Tuesday, 10 a.m. to noon.

The Division of Wildlife will have its fish tank with Ohio fish on display all week long, as well as an assortment of native reptiles, and of course there will be plenty of information about conservation programs for landowners, hunting and fishing, and much more.

Summer may be closing, but there is still plenty of time to enjoy the great outdoors. As you head out, it is important to remember to protect yourself and your family from little bloodsucking menaces.

The Chester Bowhunter and Archery Club is holding an informative discussion about ticks and tick-borne diseases and how bowhunters and other outdoor enthusiasts can protect themselves from the threat.

The event will be held Thursday, Aug. 31 at 6:30 p.m. at the Chester Bowhunter and Archery Club, 44781 Pomeroy Pike, and will feature Timothy McDermott, DVM, Ohio State University Extension Educator for Hocking County.

For more information on this event contact the Meigs County Health Department at 740-992-6626 or visit www.meigs-health.com

Two weeks ago I discussed changes to the Ohio Hunter Education curriculum, which had been in place largely unchanged since the 1970s. The latest is that any Ohio resident aged 12 or older (not 18 and older) can now take the entire online Ohio Hunter Education class at www.hunter-ed.com/Ohio
I took the online class recently and I thought it was a good product. For $15 a student can work on the class at their convenience, work it around school, sports, and other activities, log off whenever they want, later return to where they left off, and continue. You can even take the majority of the course on your smart phone, and not pay until you are completed with the test and ready to print your completion certificate. More importantly, to me, is that the delivery was smooth without any glitches, freezing or locking up – in short it worked.

I’m a big believer in the traditional instructor-led course, and online training isn’t for everyone, but it is nice that there are options, especially if a traditional class is not available.

Also, don’t forget that hunting season is just around the corner, so now is the time to get out and inspect your hunting gear, as well as your guns and bows and do some target practice and hone your skills.

Squirrel season begins Sept. 1 in Ohio and Sept. 9 in West Virginia (youth squirrel season starts Sept. 2 in the Mountain State). Deer archery season starts Sept. 30 in both Ohio and W.Va. Mourning dove season starts Sept. 1 in both states while early Canada Goose season starts Sept. 1 in W.Va. and Sept. 2 in Ohio.

Jim Freeman is the wildlife specialist for the Meigs Soil and Water Conservation District, he can be contacted weekdays at 740-992-4282 or at [email protected]