November 12, 1999

The 24 wildlife poachers subsequently arrested were fined a total of $7,526 by Ohio courts.

Since its start 17 years ago, 745 callers to the toll-free T.I.P. reporting hotline have been awarded $101,181 for providing information on wildlife violations. The information led to the arrests of 1,292 persons who were convicted of violating state wildlife laws and paid a total of $423,632 in fines.

For each TIP caller receiving an award, nearly two wildlife criminals have been convicted. For each dollar paid in rewards, $4.18 has been returned to the state wildlife agency for wildlife management and enforcement. The average TIP payment award is $136; the average fine is $327.88

In cooperation with Ohio's National Wild Turkey Federation chapter, $95 was paid to one caller whose information led to the conviction of a poacher involved in the illegal killing of a wild turkey.

Elyria resident Adam Grimm, 21, last week was announced as winner among a field of 243 entries in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2000-2001 federal duck stamp contest. Grimm's painting of a single mottled duck stretching its wings while sitting in the water will be depicted on next year's federal duck stamp.

"The style and setting were very similar to the painting of a canvasback I had submitted for Ohio's wetlands stamp contest in September. I believe that I sent in my federal duck stamp entry on the same day as I submitted my Ohio contest entry," said Grimm, whose canvasback painting finished second among a field of 37 entries in the state wetlands stamp competition hosted by the ODNR Division of Wildlife.

In 1995, Grimm was a Best of Show winner in the Ohio junior duck stamp design competition sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Two years ago, he was a semi-finalist in the Ohio wetlands stamp design competition. He followed that up with a third place finish last year and second place finish this year in the Ohio contests prior to winning the federal competition.

Grimm said he now is taking a break from his studies as a student at the Columbus College of Art and Design.

Persons who hunt migratory game birds, including waterfowl, must obtain a Harvest Information Program (H.I.P.) certification when purchasing their hunting license, as required under guidelines from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The H.I.P. certification comes at no expense other than answering a few survey questions about last year's migratory bird hunting activities.

"We've had over 80,000 H.I.P. certifications issued through our new point-of-sale license system this year," said Bill Page, a Division of Wildlife spokesperson. "Last year, we issued about 49,000 H.I.P. certifications when they were done by phone."

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service introduced H.I.P. to obtain better information regarding the number of people who hunt migratory birds such as ducks, geese and mourning doves, and the number of migratory game birds harvested each year nationwide.

In 1998, for example, the number of waterfowl hunters in Ohio increased 11 percent from the previous year to 34,000. Ohio's goose harvest last year was a near record 81,600 and the duck harvest was up six percent.

Surveyed hunters did not report seeing any bears or bobcats while squirrel hunting, but the wildlife agency says that a small number of black bears and bobcats are present in Ohio. A total of 27 bears were involved in 41 formal sightings reported this year to the Division of Wildlife and 12 unverified bobcat sightings.

Both animals are included on Ohio's endangered species list and are totally protected.

Among the 1,829 hunters who collectively hunted squirrels for 5,520 hours, more than 150 ruffed grouse, 1,300 deer and 3,000 wild turkeys were observed.