The Ohio Department of Natural Resources will be partnering with the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation as they host their National Championship July 9-16 at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo. More than 3,000 student athletes from all over the country are expected to participate with shooting competitions beginning daily at 8 a.m.

The SSSF is a leader in youth development shooting sports programs all over the country. Participants, ranging in age from elementary school to college, will compete in multiple shooting disciplines, including trap, pistol, rifle, skeet and sporting clays. The SSSF emphasizes a safe and supportive environment where shooting sports serve as catalysts for teaching life lessons and skills that emphasize positive character traits and citizenship values.

The Cardinal Shooting Center is the largest private shooting range in the country, offering visitors a chance to experience trap, skeet, sporting, rifle, and pistol ranges, along with more than 500 campsites, an indoor pool, fishing lake, outdoor family activities and Wi-Fi. For more information about the SSSF, go to sssfonline.org.

• Time is running out to get in your applications for controlled deer and waterfowl hunts on selected areas during the 2016-2017 season. The applications will be accepted through Sunday, July 31. These special hunts are held on selected areas to provide additional opportunities for Ohio’s hunting enthusiasts. All applicants, youth and adult, must possess a 2016-2017 Ohio hunting license and meet the age requirements in order to apply for a controlled hunt.

Hunters can apply for the controlled hunts by completing the application process online using the Wild Ohio Customer Center at wildohio.gov or by calling 800-WILDLIFE (800-945-3543) and requesting a mail-in application. There is a non-refundable application fee of $3 per hunt.

Hunters will be randomly drawn from submitted applications. Successful applicants will be notified and provided additional hunt information by mail and email. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Wild Ohio Customer Center to view the status of their application and, if selected, print their controlled hunt permit.

More specific information about hunt dates and locations, including opportunities dedicated to youth, women and mobility-impaired hunters, can be found at wildohio.gov on the Controlled Hunts page. 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.

Hunters interested in hunting Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area on the opening day of teal season and Labor Day are encouraged to enter the online lottery as well. This is the first time that this controlled hunt will be using the online application process. In the past, applications were submitted by post card.

Adults may apply for morning hunts being held each day. Hunters under the age of 18 at the time of application may apply for special youth hunts being held each afternoon. Successful applicants will receive notification in the mail by late August instructing them on how to find print their hunt permit from the website.

Hunters can apply for the controlled hunts by completing the application process online using the Wild Ohio Customer Center at wildohio.gov or by calling 800-WILDLIFE (800-945-3543) and requesting a mail-in application. There is a non-refundable application fee of $3 per hunt.

Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area is located in Sandusky County off State Route 6, between Fremont and Sandusky.

• Waterfowl hunters, mark your calendars. The state wide waterfowl blind drawings will be held at various locations at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20. Applicants must be present at the time of the drawing, must exhibit a 2016-2017 hunting license, and must provide a customer identification number when registering.

Individuals who are drawn for a blind location will have 45 days in which to construct a blind on the designated location. All blinds must bear a tag with the name and address of the owner. Blinds must be removed within 30 days of the close of waterfowl season.

• Anglers interested in learning the art of fly fishing and practicing their skills on a half-mile section of Cold Creek at the Castalia State Fish Hatchery in Erie County are encouraged to enter a lottery for beginning fly-fishing clinics.

There are 125 slots available for the popular program. Sessions will be held on Fridays from Sept. 2 through Oct. 7, with the exception of Sept. 23. Submissions for the lottery must be postmarked by Aug. 13.

In addition to fly-fishing instruction by ODNR Division of Wildlife staff and volunteers, attendees will be able to test their newly acquired skills by fishing for rainbow trout found in Cold Creek. Anglers may also encounter an occasional brown trout. Instruction will be from 8 a.m. until noon or 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 2, Sept. 9, Sept. 16, Sept. 30 and Oct. 7.

To apply, applicants must submit a postcard listing their: name, address, Customer ID number and phone number. The applicant may bring one guest. Only one postcard per applicant is allowed and no duplicates may be submitted. Postcards should be sent to: ODNR Division of Wildlife District Two, 952 Lima Avenue, Findlay, Ohio, 45840 Attention: Beginner Fly Fishing Clinics.

Successful applicants will receive an assigned session date and time. Permits are nontransferable. All anglers age 16 and older are required to have a valid Ohio fishing license. Funds generated from the sale of fishing licenses go toward conserving and restoring habitat, enforcement of fishing regulations, hatchery operations, fish stocking in public fishing areas, and enhancement of research and educational outreach.

Until next time, Good Hunting and Good Fishing!

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Water and Wings by Ken Parrott

Ken Parrott is an Agricultural Science teacher with Northmor High School.