A Brief History of the League of Ohio Sportsmen

The League of Ohio Sportsmen is a non-profit federation of the united hunting and fishing clubs of Ohio. It is dedicated to the restoration and conservation of wildlife in out fields, woods and water; to the abatement of stream pollution; to the rehabilitation and reforestation of unproductive lands; to further conservation education in our schools and to the public; and to defend the legal set-up of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources from political exploitation.

The League was organized in 1908 by a group of far-seeing sportsmen to save the remnants of the fast disappearing natural resources of the state.

The constructive program of these pioneers was so appealing to the numerous “fish and game” clubs throughout the state that its membership soon reached several thousands. In 1912, the League was chartered by the State of Ohio.

In Union there is Strength

Early in 1913 the combined forces of big and little clubs found that in the League they had a powerful voice in the State Legislature, willing, able and determined to fight for constructive outdoor legislation.

Solely through the efforts of the League was the Hunter’s License Law enacted, and only after the fiercest opposition which had battled such legislation year after year.  

 In 1918-19 the League assisted in the re-codification of the game laws. In 1928, a law was passed which prevents the unused sportsmen’s license money from being diverted to purposes other than the propagation, preservation and protection of fish and game.

Since its inception the League pressed for the enactment of a fishing license law to improve fishing through additional revenue. Time after time such a law was introduced in the Legislature and each time it was blocked or defeated. Once it was vetoed after passage. Finally in 1925, a “rod and reel” license law was enacted. This law penalized the fisherman who used such equipment Not satisfied with the “rod and reel” law, the League intensified its efforts, to making fishing license necessary for all. Later, through the League efforts, a Universal Fishing Law was enacted by which all fishermen over 18 were required to purchase a license.

From “Hunting to Fishing” to “Constructive Conservation” 

 In 1929, the State of Ohio became truly “conservation minded,” when the League of Ohio Sportsmen promoted and had passed in the Legislature a 67-page conservation bill. This word “conservation,” little understood and heretofore seldom used, was forcibly brought to the eyes and minds of Ohio citizens for the first time. It brought enthusiastic support from citizen who cared little or nothing for simple “fish and game” laws but were concerned with the preservation of wildlife in all its phases, as well as the wise use of the soil. This conservation bill set up the Division of Conservation and Natural Resources and brought into existence the first Conservation Council. This law was amended in 1939, giving the Council authority to promulgate rules and regulation, and the control of seasons and bag limits on fish and game.

Later, because of League efforts, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was created and the Fish and Game Division was removed from that department and became the Wildlife Division of the new Department of Natural Resources.  

Throughout the League's existance it has consistently fought for good outdoors legislation and vigorously opposed that which was bad. It has fought to keep conservation out of politics, it saw that the Hunters Identification Law was enacted, and the League initiated legislation making possible the Ohio Conservation Bulletin,

Sportsmen’s Money Protected By Law

As early as 1928, the League obtained promises from both political parties that license money for the Division of Conservation must not be diverted to any other branch of government. This was later enacted into law. 

In 1939, the League was responsible for outlawing the sale of wild rabbits in Ohio. Rabbits had formerly been killed by thousands and by any method, to be sold on the open market.

In 1940, the League played a major part in the negotiating of a contract between the Division of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Muskingum Conservancy District. This contract made available to sportsmen all hunting rights on 48,000 acres of land, all fishing rights on the 11 lakes owned by the District, and protected the 366 miles of shore lines of the lakes. Sportsmen are now reaping the benefits of this contract and it is recognized as one of the most outstanding conservation jobs ever done in Ohio, or in the nation.

The League and the Outdoor Writers 

In the early 1930s, at a Chicago meeting of the Izaak Walton League, several members in attendance proposed that an organization of individuals writing “hunting and fishing” articles for the press should be formed. The first officers of the new outdoor writers organization were from Ohio and affiliated with the League of Ohio Sportsmen.

A few years later these same League individuals promoted a state organization of Ohio outdoor writers. Both the Ohio Outdoor Writers Association of America and the Outdoor Writers of Ohio were the results of the concerted efforts of the closely affiliated officers of the League of Ohio Sportsmen.

A Major Achievement in Rehabilitation 

It was during this era of the League’s activities that a project of major importance to eastern and southern Ohio was brought into being. For several years ardent conservationists in southeastern Ohio were appalled at the havoc wrought in their counties by the strip mining of coal. Through the good offices of the League a meeting was arranged with the strip mine operators. The meeting resulted in the formation of the Ohio Reclamation Association, an enterprise carried on voluntarily by the strip mining industry to rehabilitate the marginal surface lands connected with the open-cut operations. The succeeding years witnessed most gratifying results of the operations, forming fishing lagoons, ponds and lakes. These waters are open to public fishing. Other reclaimed areas are leased to sportsmen’s clubs for as little as one dollar a year. No better public relations endeavor in all Ohio has borne such success as has the volunteer operations of the members of the Ohio Reclamation Association.

The Fight Against Pollution

Over the years the League has fought for legislation to control and abate stream pollution. Despite powerful opposition it succeeded in 1941 to giving authority to the then Department of Fish and Game to prosecute for the killing of animal and vegetable life in our streams and lakes by pollution. The League alone played an influential part in the passage of the Deddens Act which, for the first time, set up a commission to control and prevent stream pollution by industries and municipalities. We are convinced that the influence of the League contributed largely to the increased interest in the education of the public towards the menace of uncontrolled pollution.

Quail Reclassified 

The League of Ohio Sportsmen bears the honored scars of many a legislative battle. One scar they carry to this day was caused by the alarming scarcity of quail in the early 1900’s and the League’s efforts to do something about it. The League proposed a two-year closed season on quail for both 1911 and 1913 but lost the fight when the legislature voted in 1915 to place quail on the song bird list. Corrective legislation has since been pressed by the League and resulted in a Quail Study law being enacted in 1949. This law made it possible for the large majority of bird hunters to enjoy their favorite sport since the 1959 law reclassifies the quail from a song bird to a game bird and is now hunted.

Field Trial Problems Eased

As the League continued to grow in size and influence it greatly expanded its activities. It interested itself in the problems of sporting dog owners who were finding it exceedingly difficult to hold their field trials on State-controlled areas. Through the influence of the League, the original Field Trial Bill was introduced and enacted into law. In 1952 the League vigorously opposed three bills that were to be introduced into the legislature which would have given control of field trials to the state, and for which the state would collect a fee for each day that the trials were run. The League’s efforts prevented the passage of these bills.

Sandusky Bay 

 In 1954, the League called a meeting of statewide organizations to try to resolve the differences existing between the commercial fisherman, sport fishermen and pleasure boat owners on Sandusky Bay.  After many conferences, a satisfactory agreement was reached and unanimously approved. In 1955 and again in 1974, bills to resolve the differences were written, and after consultation with members of the General Assembly, were introduced and passed.

Foremost in the National Conservation Picture

The League of Ohio Sportsmen was one of the founders of the National Wildlife Federation. We are credited by many national organizations as having kept Ohio’s members of Congress fully informed, at all times, on legislation concerning conservation (not only on Ohio, but of national importance) so that they could vote intelligently on such legislation.

Conservation Education 

Under this heading comes the various activities engaged in by the League to promote conservation education among the youth of Ohio. To this end the League has cooperated whole heartily with the Future Farmers of America.

 The League entered into the book publishing field in 1952, with this booklet “Adopt a Stream.”  This booklet, well written and handsomely illustrated, tells in  detail how to improve or reclaim stream drainage areas by dams, riffles, pools and contains a diagram for selected stream banks and area planting. This free booklet has been distributed in every state in the Union and in several foreign countries.  

Another aspect of conservation education by the League was the distribution of wildlife and conservation books to all Ohio’s public and parochial schools. The purchase of these books was made possible by voluntary contributions from the clubs affiliated with the League. We are gratified to read the thousands of letters that have been received from the recipients of the books. The League is genuinely proud of its member clubs who have made this program possible.

League Pioneers Gun Safety in Ohio

The League was the first sportsmen’s organization in Ohio to realize the importance of teaching gun safety to younger hunters and they did something about it. They sponsored and introduced the National Rifle Association’s “Hunter Safety Program” in 1953 and organized schools and classes. In 1956, this worthwhile program was turned over to the Ohio Division of Wildlife, which continues to conduct courses in hunter education through a statewide volunteer instructor network to this day.

Youth Fishing Camp 

Since 1945 the League has been sponsoring youth fishing camps devoted to teaching sound sportsmanship. The Junior Anglers of Ohio event is sponsored through the League’s education arm, the Ohio Wildlife Federation, each spring. Any girl or boy age 8 and older is welcome to attend the annual three day event to learn about all aspects of angling and water safety. The five-year program goes from fishing basics like filleting fish, fly tying, line making to more advanced projects like rod and net building.

Legislative Victory for Clubs

In 1957 the League won a legislative victory when it defeated a bill designed to take the selling of hunting and fishing licenses away from conservation clubs. Also, that same year was initiated a statewide project to encourage conservation clubs, fraternal organizations, farm granges and individual landowners to construct a lake, or lakes in their areas. This project would not only help solve the dwindling water table but would furnish one of the finest recreational assets any club or community could have. It is hoped that this project will be a lifetime project for all conservation clubs.

A Bigger and Better League 

For many years, as its activities in the field of conservation education increased, and the burden of carrying on these and other programs in an effort to make Ohio more conservation minded, the League was always hard-pressed for lack of working capital to advance these endeavors. In 1960 there was inaugurated an extensive campaign to secure sustaining members of the League from  the ranks of industry, business and labor, and from others who had faith in the integrity and foresight of the large mass of those concerned with seasons bag limits, point systems and habitat as well as identification.  The League representatives are widely known in the flyway systems.

 There are also other conclaves on subjects such as fish and game, in addition to the yearly conventions, covering current conservation topics. At the annual convention the League’s State Conservation Awards are presented for outstanding achievements in a dozen categories.

Turkey and Trout 

Here a habitat program and restocking effort bore fruit to turkey hunters via a permit system and then a special license fee. A League resolution started action on all fronts. Today our state has turkey in all eighty-eight counties.

Trout, a forever romantic fish, is once more in the minds of Ohio anglers. The state’s cold water streams will again see revitalization with enactments, stocking and controls by the Ohio Wildlife Council to maintain the League’s balance and efforts to represent every segment of outdoor recreation.

Trapping 

In 1977, a League committee, the Ohioans For Wildlife Conservation, joined with other groups to defeat state issue 2 which would have stopped the use of certain traps. Many of our officers and directors served as county chairmen. After this victory, members of this committee formed a new organization to take the fight for hunting rights nationally as the Wildlife Legislative Fund of America.

The League will always stand ready to defend sportsmen’s rights through the courts, legislative action or the ballot box.  

Some of the League’s more recent accomplishments include Sunday Hunting, Lake Erie clean up funding and restoring and protecting wetlands and the ecosystems on all fronts.

Ohio Wildlife Federation

In 1977 the League created the Ohio Wildlife Federation, a wholly controlled tax deductible conservation education arm. OWF operates all of the League’s outdoor education camps, including the Junior Anglers of Ohio and the Coonskin Cap Brigade. Through grant funding, programs such as Project Wild started as joint projects of OWF, the Ohio Division of Wildlife and Ohio Dept. of Education. The Ohio Wildlife Federation also provides educational support for students in the natural resources curriculum by providing scholarships.

Targets for Tomorrow 

After many, long months of earnest study, almost endless conferences and diligent effort, the Chairman of the Policy and Program Committee submitted his completed report. It is, by its extensive coverage, a remarkable and extensive guide which is to be followed by the League for its future expansion and usefulness.  No field of conservation, restoration, reclamation, recreation, education, pollution, contamination, or wildlife was overlooked. It gives to the League a definite target to be aimed at and a splendid goal to achieve.

The officers and members of the League of Ohio Sportsmen are now engaged in carrying out the forceful programs which has made its name respected throughout the nation.  But while seeking new conservation and wildlife gains in the future, we must remain strong and united lest we lose all that we have won in the past.

What does the League of Ohio Sportsmen Want? 

Ø  To develop greater outdoor opportunity for all, as essential to character-building and to the people’s spiritual and physical development.

Ø  To promote highest standards of sportsmanship, and to strengthen farmer-sportsman understanding.

Ø  To cooperate closely with country, state and federal agencies of resource management in improving the resource backlog.

Ø  To encourage protection and restoration of waters, wildlife, forest and field, to safeguard public health  by eliminating pollution, discourage unwise drainage, advancing sound water use, encouraging wasteland utilization , nurturing and improving wildlife stocks, rehabilitating and restoring wildlife and wildlife environment.

Ø  To promote organization  of city, community, country and region al organizations in Ohio having like aims, and to give them aid and counsel in resolving problems in their own community levels.

Ø  To seek legislation only of the highest conservation merit.

Ø  To develop and constantly to improve a statewide, long range program designed to stimulate and encourage the finest resource use.

These things, the League of Ohio Sportsmen earnestly seeks and it pledges to secure, not for itself nor for its members, but for the people of Ohio today and for all the generation of Ohioans yet unborn.

 

The League of Ohio Sportsmen is dedicated to supporting conservation, restoration, and education that promotes the wise use and enjoyment of our natural resources including sound wildlife management.