The following schedule is for upcoming pheasant releases at southwest Ohio wildlife areas:
• Nov. 6: Fallsville 220 birds, Indian Creek 290, Spring Valley 190, Rush Run 210, Caesar Creek 210 and Darke County 100.
• Nov. 14: Fallsville 100, Indian Creek 90, Spring Valley 100, Rush Run 90, Caesar Creek 100 and Darke 50.
• Nov. 26: Fallsville 120, Indian Creek 170, Spring Valley 100, Rush Run 100, Caesar Creek 100, Darke 80.
The division is conducting a review of its annual pheasant release program. Hunters who participate in stocked pheasant hunts can provide feedback. Wildlife staff will distribute survey cards to hunters on select wildlife areas. Hunters can return the cards by mail or take the survey online at wildohio.gov.
For information, call (800) WILDLIFE or visit wildohio.com.
Youth hunt: Mulberry Pheasantry of Camden and the Butler County chapter of Pheasants Forever will hold a youth pheasant hunt Nov. 15 and 16. The registration deadline is Nov. 10 with a limit of 75 youth per day.
There is a fee of $20 that includes two roosters, lunch, a blaze orange hunting vest, blaze orange ball cap, box of shotgun shells, gun safety discussion, and bird cleaning demonstration, use of dogs and guides.
To sign up or for more information, visit butlercountypf.com or call Tony or Wilma Petry at 937-787-3912 or 937-533-008. Youth hunters must have successfully completed the Division of Wildlife’s Hunter Safety course prior to the hunt and have a valid hunting license. All youth must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult. Mulberry Pheasantry is located at 6099 Ohio 725, Camden.
Finally, CWD found: After 12 years of testing with no Chronic Wasting Disease found in Ohio, the departments of agriculture and natural resources have confirmed the first case of CWD has been found in a quarantined captive deer herd in Holmes County. There is no evidence CWD has affected the wild deer population in the state.
The positive sample was taken from a buck on a hunting preserve in Millersburg as part of Ohio’s CWD monitoring program for captive white-tailed deer operations.
The disease is fatal in deer, elk and moose, but there is no evidence CWD can be transmitted to humans. CWD, first discovered in captive mule deer in Colorado in 1967, attacks the animal’s brain, producing small lesions that result in death.
“We have no reason to believe there has been transference to the state’s wild deer population,” said Scott Zody, chief of the Division of Wildlife. “With hunting season in progress, there are no CWD concerns that should prevent anyone from enjoying wild deer hunting in Ohio or from consuming meat from healthy animals.”
The division recommends hunters continue to take precautions such as shooting only animals that appear healthy, wearing rubber gloves when field-dressing their deer and washing thoroughly when finished. If hunters should observe a deer that appears unhealthy, they should contact their local wildlife office or officer.
In response to the finding, the division will increase sampling efforts in the wild deer population within six miles of the hunting preserve.
For more information, visit wildohio.com or call (330) 644-2293 or (800) WILDLIFE.
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