Getting social about outdoors

A social media campaign creating profiles on Facebook and Twitter has been launched by the Ohio Division of Wildlife, which is inviting the public to discuss hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing in Ohio.

"We are happy to be able to provide real-time information to our hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers at their convenience," said Jim Marshall, acting chief of the Division of Wildlife. "Facebook and Twitter represent a new, fast way for our division to communicate with our supporters."

Visitors to the division's Facebook page can share their insight and feedback with Division of Wildlife staff and other outdoor enthusiasts. Supporters will also find important information, tips and activity ideas.

To participate in the Division of Wildlife's Facebook page, and click the "Like" button at the top of the page.

On Twitter, the division will post news releases, important deadlines and need-to-know messages. To follow the Ohio Division of Wildlife on Twitter, go to www.twitter.com/OhioDivWildlife and click "Follow."

Michael K. Seery of Oregon, a junior cadet at the Air Force Academy, led the U.S. Junior World Championship rifle team to a bronze medal in the 50-meter rifle prone men's junior championships at the 50th ISSF World Championships in Munich, Germany, on Aug. 1.

Poland won the junior team ISSF [International Shooting Sports Federation] World Championships, Germany finished second and Austria took fourth place.

The U.S. team included Seery, Jimmie Cooper (Columbus, Ga.) and Ryan Bender-Dunham (University of Alaska-Fairbanks). Seery fired the highest team score with a 595, Cooper had a 590 and Bender-Dunham finished with a 589 for a team aggregate 1774 points. Seery also scored a 589 in the 50-meter rifle prone men junior individual competition.

In 2007 at age 16, Seery fired his way to the sharpshooter division's intermediate junior/sub-junior class title in the three-position metallic sight competition at the National Rifle and Pistol Matches at Camp Perry.

In 2006 he won the titles of junior champion in smallbore three-position and smallbore prone at the Ohio state matches at Camp Perry. Even then, he had his sights set on qualifying for the Air Force Academy.

In 2008 he won his first collegiate title in the prone smallbore matches at the National Matches. Seery won the USA Shooting National Junior Men's 50-meter prone rifle championship at Fort Benning on June 16, earning himself a place on the U.S. team that went on to Munich.

"Mike's Benning match was sandwiched between an assignment in the instructor cadre of combat survival and a three-week training operation in South Korea," said his dad, Michael L. Seery. "He'll fit a West Coast wind-shooting clinic and a last-minute training camp in Germany into his pre-school-year leave, and will miss defending his 2009 [collegiate] 3-P and prone titles at Camp Perry."

The elder Seery said that when his son joined the academy, it brought in a new rifle coach, former Olympic smallbore gold medalist Launi Meili, in part because of Mike.

This week, said his mom, Heidi Wyse Seery, Mike attended his commitment dinner for the academy, in which he agreed to terms of service as a second lieutenant.

"His father is an NRA [National Rifle Association] certified instructor and is the one who got him started in competitive shooting and coached him because unfortunately there were no rifle teams in the area," she noted. As for herself, she adds, "yes, I am one proud mother!"

We can all salute that.

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The Ottawa Soil and Water Conservation District is conducting its annual fish sale for stocking ponds.

Applications can be made until Oct. 1 for bluegill, channel catfish, fathead minnow, largemouth bass, redear sunfish and white amur. The latter, also casually called grass carp, is primarily used in the United States to control aquatic vegetation. The amur sold in the program are sterile and so pose no reproductive threats.

To receive an order form, call the soil and water office at 419-898-1595 or stop in at 240 West Lake Street, Oak Harbor. Delivery day is Oct. 7 at the office.

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A "jakes event" for youths ages 12 through 17 is set for 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Fulton County Sportsmen's Club, 7700 County Road 14, Wauseon.

Sponsored by the club and the Fulton County Bad Creek Chapter, National Wild Turkey Federation, the day will offer trapshoots, fishing, archery, and a shooting simulator. A lunch follows the sessions. Ammunition and bait will be provided.

To register call Todd Bingham 419-335-1384 or Phil Knierem 419-335-6793.

Contact Steve Pollick at:

spollick@theblade.com

or 419-724-6068.