Top outdoor news for sportsmen from 2017

— As a result of an exceptional hatch in 2015, sub-legal walleye dominated this summer's catch most days. However, walleye and yellow perch populations in the Western Basin will provide spectacular fishing for the next several years.— A group of 18 individuals (including myself) from deer stakeholder groups began meeting with the Ohio Division of Wildlife to help guide Ohio's 10-year deer management goals.— The 2016-17 final deer hunting tally was 182,169, statistically similar to the previous season take of 188,329. With the statewide muzzleloader season scheduled for Jan. 6-9 and the archery season ending on Feb. 4, hunters have killed almost 164,000 so far this season.— As predicted by NOAA in July, using data supplied by Heidelberg University, the Lake Erie Harmful Algal Bloom was severe this season; the fourth worst on record since it began reappearing in the late 1990s.— Western Basin charter boat captains cited a 30-to-40 percent decline in business once the blooms returned. Several fish kills were specifically attributed to spreading of excess manure that polluted streams in Northwest Ohio.— Phil Hillman, "Father Steelhead," Ohio Division of Wildlife District Three Fisheries Administrator passed away unexpectedly on July 10 at the age of 62.— The Ballville Dam demolition project finally began in September, which the DOW anticipates will improve the populations of walleyes and other species of fish. They will be able to ascend over 20 miles up the Sandusky River to additional spawning sites again.— As feared for months, James Zehringer, the Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, fired Ray Petering, the popular DOW chief, on July 5. Despite Zehringer's clumsy, alternative explanation that euphemistically referred to Petering's firing as "his return to retirement," the move was clearly in retribution for his refusal to publicly deny the need for an overdue hunting and fishing license increase.License fees have remained fixed for 14 years while expenses have risen. DOW budget shortfalls have been independently projected by the Sportsmen's Alliance to be $220 million over the next 10 years.Approximately 50 Ohio sportsman clubs and conservation groups recognized and supported the license increases to restore high quality fish and wildlife management and enforcement. Yet, Zehringer testified before the Ohio Senate that the license increases were not necessary.Before Petering was instructed by the Director to tell people that the increases were not necessary, he was quoted as saying, "It is hard to run 2017 programs on 2004 money."Petering proudly declared that he worked for the best interests of sportsmen and said that he was willing to lose his job while doing the right thing for them rather than to lie like his bosses for political gain.Zehringer repeatedly says that the ODNR is not going to merge the DOW with any other divisions, as he did to the well-funded Watercraft and cash-strapped State Parks.However, soon after Petering's firing, several other of the DOW's most talented, experienced staff were merged into new assignments way below their previous responsibilities and capabilities at the Division of State Parks and Watercraft (in most cases).Then, in what many agree is a good move, Old Women's Creek was administratively transferred in September from the DOW to ODNR's Office of Coastal Management in Sandusky and the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves — now buried within ODNR's State Parks and Watercraft.— A new Memorandum of Understanding with American Electric Power to purchase some of their 60,000 acres of ReCreation Lands was announced in August. This restarted negotiations that Petering told the Outdoor Writers of Ohio in May that were well underway.— On the Federal level, while ignoring the majority of people who favor a healthy environment, the Trump Administration:— Proposed cutting the budgets of the U.S. EPA and the Great Lakes Restoration Fund.— Proposed eliminating NOAA's Climate Change and the National Sea Grant Programs.— Approved progress on the Keystone Pipeline, while oil now flows through the Dakota Access pipeline.— Scrapped the Stream Protection Rule for coal mining.— Reduced the size of National Monuments to allow exploitation of their resources.— Ordered re-writes of the "Waters of the U.S. Rule" that would protect headwater wetlands and the "clean power plan" that reduces air pollution from burning coal.— Eliminates penalties for killing migratory birds by the actions of industries.— Relaxed safety rules and expands oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.— Delayed the release of the Asian carp action plan.— Encouraged refuges to allow compatible uses including hunting, trapping and fishing.— Reversed the ban on lead fishing sinkers, lures and ammunition on Federal land.— The recently passed tax bill opens oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.