Dick Martin

Looking for a lively weekend? You should find it on South Bass Island on Sept. 6 and 7 when the Perry's Victory Heritage Festival will be held at Put-in-Bay.

The weekend begins at 10 a.m; when the Coast Guard will lay wreaths at the Battle Site, followed by a Perry Group Reception at the Keys from noon to 1:30 p.m. At 2:15 p.m. there will be a Historic Weekend Parade in downtown Put-in-Bay.

At 3 p.m. a Military Tactical will combine artillery and special maneuvers of ground forces from the War of 1812 and much more. For a full list of activities or more information, call 419-285-2491.

• Invasive populations of feral swine have established populations in at least 13 southeastern Ohio counties, according to the Dept.of Agriculture.

Reports of feral swine are on the increase according to Craig Hicks of the USDA. Hicks works with the DOW to track down reports of property damage caused by quick footed swine.

To help control the growing problem in the United States, the USDA has launched a $20 million program to help reduce the damage caused by these destructive and free ranging swine. The animals cause damage to crops, kill young livestock, destroy property, harm endangered plants and animals, and carry diseases that threaten other animals as well as people and water supplies.

Feral pigs may be hunted anytime and have no limits on kills.

• Ohio's waterfowl hunting zones were simplified for waterfowl hunters after the 2014-2015 season dates and bag limits were approved by the Ohio Wildlife Council recently.

The South Zone, North Zone, and Lake Erie Marsh Zone remain the same for waterfowl hunting, but the Lake Erie Goose Zone that previously covered much of northeast Ohio was removed.

Also new this year, the canvasback daily bag limit was reduced to one. Opening day for duck and goose hunting is Saturday, Oct. 18, in the Lake Erie Marsh Zone and Saturday, Oct. 25, in the North and South Zones.

Hunters 15 years of age and younger will have the opportunity to enjoy a statewide special youth waterfowl season Oct. 4 and 5. The daily bag limit for ducks is six, which may not include more than four mallards (no more than one may be a female), three wood ducks, one black duck, two redheads, three scaup one canvasback, two pintails and one mottled duck.

• The Division of Wildlife invites trappers to participate in a special drawing on Saturday, Oct. 25 for public land beaver and river otter trapping opportunities. A list of public land trapping opportunities available at this lottery will be posted no later than Oct. 10 at www.wildohio.gov under "Controlled Hunting and Trapping Events."

Registration at the Division of Wildlife's District Two Headquarters, located at 952 Lima Ave., Findlay, will begin at 11 a.m. with the drawing following promptly at noon. Trappers will place registration cards in a drum, names will be drawn, and the first drawn will receive first choice.

For additional information, call 419-424-5000.

• The Ohio State Trappers Association will hold its 2014 annual convention on Sept. 5 and 6 at the Portage County Fairgrounds, 4215 Fairground Rd., Randolph, OH 44265.

There will be an outdoor swap meet each day with tailgaters encouraged to attend. There will also be many vendors selling all types of outdoor equipment as well as a vast array of trapping supplies, many at special convention prices.

Seminars will range from beginning snaring and Stackhouse water trapping to coyote trapping and catching raccoons. For general information, contact Joe Young at 330-831-6711.

Dick Martin is a retired Shelby biology teacher and author who has written an outdoor column for more than 20 years. He can be reached at richmart@neo.rr.com.