USFS, WTF donate ATV and accessories to Lawrence wildlife officer
Published 10:09 am Wednesday, September 16, 2009
ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP — A cool set of wheels and the gear to go with it.
The U.S. Forestry Service has donated a four-wheeler to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for use by Lawrence County’s wildlife officer and the South Hills Longbeard Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation has donated a collection of gear to properly equip it.
“Wildlife officer Darin Abbott works a lot in partnership with our law enforcement officer Doug Berringer and Doug knew Darin had a need for one,” Wayne National Forest Ironton District Ranger Tim Slone explained.
The bright yellow Honda Foreman 450 will be used for deer season enforcement, illegal ATV trail searches and other wildlife law enforcement activities, Abbott said.
He said he is thankful for both donations.
“We owe a great deal of thanks to the forest for donating it and the turkey federation for outfitting it,” Abbott said.
WTF President Buddy Fry said his organization donated a GPS holder, brush guards, a spotlight and travel bag for the four- wheeler. The donation is from monies collected from hunting licenses.
“Part of what we do is advocacy of good sportsmanship and legal hunting,” Fry said. “We want to help out the wildlife officer in his enforcement of laws.”
Right now the WTF collects monies from the hunting license fees. Beginning Dec. 31 the state will collect all those fees and such sportsmans groups as the WTF may then apply for grants they can then use for community endeavors.