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Proper procedure required to claim deer killed on the road

Proper procedure required to claim deer killed on the road

When it comes to road-killed deer, if you hit it, you own it.

If you want it.

The foregoing may not exactly sound appetizing, or even desirable. But some motorists may not know that it is legal to claim road-killed deer, and that minimally damaged, fresh kills can yield a fair amount of edible venison.

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In both Ohio and Michigan the driver has first claim to a carcass, but anyone may do so if the driver involved in a deer collision leaves the scene or otherwise waives his claim.

It is important to note that wildlife lawmen, not to mention local judges, however, may take a dim view of someone taking possession of a roadkill without a permit.

Kevin Newsome, state wildlife officer assigned to Lucas County, said that law enforcement agencies - state troopers, sheriff s deputies, municipal police, and metropark rangers - generally all have deer-carcass receipts. Lawmen will issue such a receipt to a driver at a vehicle-deer accident, or to anyone the driver designates at the scene.

If no one is at the scene of a road-killed deer, anyone may claim the carcass, provided that a receipt is issued. Contact a nearby law enforcement agency or state wildlife officer if the scene is unattended. Moving the carcass without a receipt could result in a ticket for illegal possession of a deer.

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In some areas, Newsome added, law enforcement agencies keep lists of local residents and charitable institutions willing to collect unclaimed roadkills. Contact your local police or sheriff s department or patrol post about being included on such a list.

Rod Clute, big-game specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, said that motorists in Michigan may claim both deer or black bear carcasses. But a claim permit must be issued by a law enforcement agency or a state conservation officer, as in Ohio.

Similarly, anyone can claim an unattended carcass in Michigan by contacting a law enforcement agency for a permit.

wGuys on Ice - OK, OK, so there s these two guys, Marvin and Lloyd, and they re in northern Wisconsin and it s winter and they re ice fishing.

If that seems like the lead-in to a funny story, it is. The story, “Guys on Ice,” actually is a musical comedy and it opened Friday at Ms. Rose s Dinner Theater on State Rt. 25 south of Perrysburg.

The play revolves around the woes of Marvin and Lloyd, who, like so many ice fishermen, commiserate while they sit, jig, and wait for the perch to bite.

Marvin, who holds a high opinion of his capabilities, has been chosen to have his shanty featured on a favorite local television show, and Lloyd, his hapless sidekick, well, he just wants to hide out after an argument with his wife while he figures out what to do next.

Will Cubby Kevernan, the TV star, ever show up with his cameraman? Does Lloyd ever get back together with his wife? Does Marvin, who is trying to hit on the checkout girl at the local grocery, ever figure it out? And just how many fish do they catch? Well, you kind of have to be there.

It should come as no surprise that Guys on Ice is playing at Ms. Rose s - multiple engagements weekly through April 30. Claudette Davis, the theater s CEO, herself is an avid outdoorswoman and decided to bring it on after her success with “Escanaba in da Moonlight,” a hilarious spoof about deer hunting in Michigan s upper peninsula. Escanaba has had two runs at the theater and has been so popular that it will be an annual autumn staple.

Veteran viewers of Escanaba will recognize Remnar (Rick Woods) and Jimmer (Nate Kutz) from that play in roles as Marvin and Ernie the Moocher, respectively, in Guys. The songs are about familiar ice shanty themes - card playing, beer drinking, fishing, the weather, women, and ... you get the idea. And, did I mention beer drinking?

The result is two hours of entertainment that passes quickly - far more quickly than staring for two hours at a hole in the ice when the fish aren t biting.

The theater staff can fill you in on other details; call 419-874-8505.

DATEBOOK

Today and tomorrow - Boating-safety classes, noon to 4 p.m. each day, Woodville Mall, Northwood, by Flotilla 10-06, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary; repeats Friday and Saturday, beginning 6:30 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday; call JanDell Wasilausky, 419-698-4122.

Today through Thursday - Public trap, skeet, 5-Stand Sporting Clays, and indoor pistol shooting, 2 to 9 p.m., Toledo Trap & Skeet Club, 3150 State Rt. 295, Berkey; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; also, Sunday, trapshoot 11 a.m.; call the club, 419-829-5101.

Tomorrow - North Branch Boys Fly Fishing Club, supper 6:30 p.m., Toledo Sailing Club, Walbridge Park; program 7:30 p.m. by Glenn Weisner and Wayne Samson on England and angling; call Art Raker, 419-661-1777.

Tomorrow - Erie Shores Birding Association, 7:30 p.m., Room 201 Life Sciences Building, Monroe County Community College, 1555 South Raisinville Rd., Monroe, Mich.; program on Brazil by Jack and Janet Volker; call Mary Woodruff, 734-243-4358.

Thursday - Winter open house for OSU Stone Laboratory, 7 to 9 p.m., Fawcett Center, Ohio State University, 2400 Olentangy River Rd., Columbus; call Ohio Sea Grant, 614-292-8949.

Saturday - Wolf Creek Sportsmen s Association, annual wild game dinner, 5:30 p.m., at St. Clement s Hall, 3030 Tremainsville Rd.; call Bob Trapp, 419-292-1806, or Dale Pressley, 419-836-7647.

First Published February 17, 2004, 12:32 p.m.

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