State record sunfish certified

By Dan Armitage

Ohio has a new state record sunfish on the books. A farm pond in Ohio’s most northwestern county has just produced a new state record green sunfish. The species was confirmed to be a green sunfish by fisheries biologist Brad Agler from the Ohio Division of Wildlife District 2, St. Joseph River Fish Unit.

Weighing 1.35 pounds, the record sunfish was caught by Jaret Stevens of Pioneer on May 18 from a pond in Williams County.  The fish measured 11.45 in. long and 10.82 in. girth and was landed with a spinning rod spooled with six-pound test monofilament and baited with a red worm.

Steven‘s catch replaces the previous state record green sunfish which was caught from a Richland County farm pond by SueAnn Newswanger of Shiloh, Ohio on May 13, 2018, weighing 1.2 pounds and measuring 11.0 inches long.  Ohio’s record fish are determined on the basis of weight only and are certified by the Outdoor Writers of Ohio State Record Fish Committee with assistance from fishery biologists with the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

For more information on Ohio’s state record fish program, contact Fred Snyder, Chairman, OWO State Record Fish Committee, 754 Co. Rd. 126, Fremont, OH 43420, phone 419-307-1515, email fnsnyder@gmail.com, www.outdoorwritersofohio.org.

Deer hunt lotteries underway

The Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves is holding special deer hunts at state nature preserves and state scenic river lands across Ohio during the 2026-2027 hunting season, locations identified as areas where browsing by high deer populations poses a threat to native plant communities.

The Division is offering gun and archery hunts in 22 counties this year, including five state nature preserves that will permit gun or muzzleloader hunts. Permits for all special hunts will be awarded through a lottery system.

To participate, hunters must attend a mandatory meeting for each preserve where they would like to hunt. After each meeting, hunters will have an opportunity to purchase a $5 ticket (cash only) to be entered into the preserve’s special hunt drawing. Hunters who wish to apply for hunts at multiple sites will have to attend multiple meetings and purchase additional tickets. Entry forms will not be accepted by mail.

After the drawing, successful entrants will be asked to remain for a pre-hunt orientation. Other special hunt requirements include:

• Hunters must possess a valid 2026-2027 hunting license to purchase tickets.
• Some of this year’s hunts will require an adult hunting license. Visit ohiodnr.gov for eligibility requirements.
• Names will be randomly drawn, and those selected will be assigned a specific time to hunt. For archery hunts, an orientation will be conducted immediately following the drawing.
• Hunters will be permitted to hunt with a partner; the partner is not required to attend the drawing or orientation.
• Hunters interested in the multiple types of special hunts at Caesar Creek Gorge, Lake Katharine, and Sheepskin Hollow state nature preserves will have to purchase separate lottery tickets for each hunt lottery.

Some of the hunts this year will be “antlerless deer only,” while others will allow the taking of antlered deer but only after harvesting an antlerless deer first. Other special regulations will be addressed at the orientation meetings following the drawings.

Locations and dates for special hunt meetings, which begin Aug.13 and continue until Aug. 27, depending on location, can be found at ohiodnr.gov.

Screwworm threat

According to the USDA, wildlife officials in some states are pushing ivermectin feed for deer to fight flesh-eating maggots that could become a major wildlife problem. New World screwworm larvae eat living flesh on warm-blooded animals, including deer, cattle, pets, and sometimes people. The United States wiped the parasite out in 1966, but it has now been confirmed in Texas again. USDA is releasing sterile flies and using quarantines, while Texas Ag is pushing ivermectin feed options for livestock and deer populations.

The FDA says ivermectin medicated feed is not currently approved for cattle or wildlife, but the fact that medicating deer is even being considered is an indication of how serious the threat may be. For more information, visit USDA.gov.