Stories by Mike Tontimonia

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Wildlife/outdoors groups to avoid, and to support

Twelve names to remember when it comes to those who would rather all hunting, trapping and for that matter, sound wildlife management strategies, be stopped, include the Humane Society of the United States and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

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Gray wolves are no longer endangered species in the Great Lakes region

Give a standing ovation to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a recent decision to remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act in the western Great Lakes region.

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That wonderful time of year: outdoor sports show season

It’s show time, a sure sign that winter is on the slide, daylight is returning, and a new year of outdoor sports will emerge from its snow covered den eventually.

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On the Outdoors: Gift suggestions for the outdoor enthusiast on your Christmas list

Every outdoor enthusiast needs more stuff. And that in itself is enough to make shopping for that special, although often absent, sportsman or woman easy. But it’s not because he or she already has everything, or at least it seems so. So let’s go shopping.

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Pheasant quest is more about hunt than harvest

Redfield, South Dakota. Even when it’s bad it’s good. That’s the best way to describe South Dakota pheasant hunting this fall following a devastating winter and equally destructive spring. Pheasants are just big birds and, like the birds at your feeder, they can fall victim to severe winter weather that prevents them from finding food [...]

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Ohio’s archery season numbers mean plenty deer still out there

At the end of six weeks of archery season, which opened Sept. 24, 2011, Licking County held the lead for kill numbers with 1,836 deer tagged.

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Running of the does is a sight for hunters to see

The running of the bulls is an international spectacle but no more popular to deer hunters than this week’s running of the does, an annual ritual that marks the height of the early November whitetail rut. Indeed every whitetail buck of breeding age is chasing does 24 hours a day in an attempt to complete [...]

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On the Outdoors: Finding out the hard way the truth about ducks

No harvested grain fields, no crummy weather, and even worse, no ducks. Yeh, I know, we should have called first.

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On the Outdoors: Hunting plans go awry with unexpected obstacles

Every road trip begins with enthusiasm and promise. A good friend and I had planned this outing for months and we anticipated some great waterfowl hunting.

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If hunting AEP property, get permission first

From the Division of Wildlife comes a warning for hunters who frequent the rugged southeast Ohio terrain belonging to the American Electric Power Company. While approximately 90,000 acres of land are currently open to sportsmen, not all AEP properties are open to the public, according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife, adding that hunters need [...]

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On the Outdoors: Enjoy bow season and follow the rules

Overall, archers accounted for 35 percent of 239,475 deer taken during Ohio’s combined 2010-11 archery, muzzleloader and gun seasons. According to Division of Wildlife, Licking County led the state in archery harvest. Now add Coshocton, Tuscarawas, Ashtabula and Holmes to see the top counties.

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It’s bow season: Let the hunting tales begin

It’s bow season, a time of year that brings out the most interesting use of the English language. A time when what is said is not exactly the truth or for that matter, anywhere near it. Never the less, out of sense of honor and understanding, we all nod yes as if we understand and [...]

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Be prepared: Applying Boy Scout’s motto to travel

Preparing for a hunting adventure can be as enjoyable and challenging as the trip itself. A great friend and I are heading to Manitoba, Canada soon for several days of duck hunting, and we are already worried about packing all the things we may need and making sure everything is ship shape to avoid problems [...]

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Retiring journalist’s compilation of outdoor columns is worth your time

Good writing deserves good reading and not just one time through, but time after time. That’s the best way to describe a recent release by Steve Pollick, the soon to “hang it up” outdoor editor for the Toledo Blade. Pollick has been reporting the outdoor beat for 30 years and, according to him, “It’s time.” [...]

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On the Outdoors: Remember, safety is first when it comes to hunter’s tree stands

Tree stand safety can’t be stressed enough. Several online sources offer suggestions, so do instructions and disclaimers that come with every new climber, ladder stand, and strap-on stand.

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On the Outdoors: Outdoorsmen setting standard in community service

While touring the Portage County Randolph Fair, I spotted avid Suffield, Ohio outdoorsman Al Kisamore in the hog auction audience. He was representing the Ohio Fur Takers club, an active conservation-minded group that each puts its money where a needy mouth is.

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Lake Temagami– and lessons to learn on it

TEMAGAMI, Ontario — Known far and wide as a significant site for trophy lake trout, Lake Temagami is good, but not the big fish producer it was at one time. But it is far from fished out, a fact that is proven almost daily by Wayne Yarrow, a year-round island resident and highly skilled fisherman. [...]

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Give crate training a try, for dogs in your life

Have crate, will travel. The crate is for Fido, a place for him to relax and feel safe, while you, the dog’s owner, travel. Crate? Travel means to crank up Bessie and head for the store, go to work, or out for the evening. Why a crate, cage, wire pen, call it what you will? [...]

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Waterfowl hunting at Magee Marsh off limits during restoration project

With application deadline for once-a-year special hunts in select Ohio state-managed and -owned lands fast approaching, waterfowl hunters may be wondering why always popular Magee Marsh is not on the list.

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Record longnose gar caught in Summit Co. by bow fisherman

Picture this: You are wading, or perhaps tubing with toes wiggling in the water below — chatting with friends and enjoying a carefree spring evening and looking forward to the even warmer summer weather while nearby a monster-like fish lurks in the shallows, a scary-looking creature that lives a secret life in its watery home [...]

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About Mike

Mike Tontimonia has been writing weekly columns and magazine features about the outdoors for over 25 years, a career that continues to hold the same excitement for him as it did at the beginning. Mike is a retired educator, a licensed auctioneer, and marketing consultant. He lives in Ravenna, Ohio and enjoys spending time at his Carroll County cabin. Mike has hunted and fished in several states and Canada from the Carolinas to Alaska and from Idaho to Delaware. His readers have often commented that the stories about his adventures are about as close to being there as possible. He is past president of the Outdoor Writers of Ohio and a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Mike is also very involved in his community as a school board member and a Rotarian.