Apprentice hunting license sales promising

ROBERT LOEWENDICK

More than 11,000 apprentice hunting licenses have already been sold in two states that recently passed Families Afield measures to improve hunter recruitment. Apprentice licenses allow youth to try hunting under the direct supervision of an experienced adult hunter, before taking the required hunter education course. The concept derives from the Families Afield program established by the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, National Wild Turkey Federation and National Shooting Sports Foundation after results of a study called the Youth Hunting Report revealed declining youth involvement in outdoor sports and pointed to reasons for the declining numbers.

During a conversation with a Muskingum County, hunter education instructor, I was informed the decline of youth taking the required hunting course this season was the lowest in 35 years of him teaching the class. Possibly because of the nationwide dilemma of youth's disinterest in outdoor pursuits, or hopefully because youth interested in hunting were taking advantage of the apprentice license before taking the course.

In Michigan, more than 9,100 apprentice licenses have been sold since Aug. 11, while more than 2,600 have been purchased in Ohio since Aug. 1. In all, more than 5 million hunters in 11 states now have the opportunity to introduce children and newcomers to the hunting tradition thanks to Families Afield.
"The impressive number of apprentice licenses that have been sold to date reveals that sportsmen want to invite their children and non-hunting friends into the field to share the experiences they have enjoyed for years," said U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance President Bud Pidgeon. "We are proud of the sportsmen who are taking the opportunity to welcome newcomers, young and old alike, to the thrill of hunting tradtions."

Hunter recruitment and retention is the goal of the Families Afield initiative. A recent report shows that for every 100 hunters who leave the sport, only 69 take their place. One reason for the decline is the barriers in place that ban young hunters and newcomers to the sport from going afield with an adult mentor.

Fall wild turkey season harvest down
Ohio hunters harvested a preliminary total of 1,010 wild turkeys during the state's eleventh annual fall turkey gun-hunting season that opened in 37 counties on Oct. 14 and ended Oct. 29, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The preliminary figure is a 15 percent decrease from last year's preliminary gun-season total of 1,192 birds.

The top 10 counties were Ashtabula - 64, Coshocton - 50, Harrison - 47, Tuscarawas - 41, Jackson - 40, Vinton - 36, Guernsey and Washington - 34, and Gallia and Monroe - 32.

Muskingum County gave up 21 birds, down 12 from last year. Neighboring counties had these results: Licking County - 24 birds, Knox - 28 (27 fewer than 2005) and Perry -- 27.

There's still time for hunters to take advantage of the fall season and a good wild turkey population. The archery-only portion of the wild turkey hunting season began Oct. 30 and will run through Nov. 26.

Prior to the start of the fall hunting season, Ohio's wild turkey population was estimated at approximately 200,000 birds, according to the Division of Wildlife. Wild turkeys, absent in the state a half-century ago, now inhabit each of Ohio's 88 counties.

Pheasant releases improve hunting opportunities in Ohio

The release of more than 15,000 ring-necked pheasants on 29 public hunting areas across the state has begun and continues until later this month this fall.

Releases took place on the evening of Nov. 2 and will again on Nov. 9, both Thursdays. Wednesday, Nov. 22, will be the last release to increase pheasant hunting opportunities during the Thanksgiving weekend.

Pheasant hunting season opens Friday, Nov. 3, and remains open through Jan. 7, 2007, with a daily bag limit of two rooster (male) birds. Statewide hunting hours are sunrise to sunset.

Dillon Wildlife Area will have received a total of 740 released pheasants during the five release dates. On Nov. 9, 80 pheasants will be released, and 100 more on Nov. 22.