Tucked in among more than $70 billion in state spending priorities is a major item of importance to Ohio’s sportsmen. During negotiations between the House and Senate, Gov. Mike DeWine successfully advocated for $29 million for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources – Division of Wildlife to purchase the remaining 18,000 acres of the AEP Re-Creation Lands. In 2015, the power company announced its intention to sell the 60,000 acre property, which has long been used by Ohio hunters, anglers and trappers. It was thought that the state of Ohio would be first in line to purchase the prized property. The AEP tract amounts to 10 percent of all available public land for sportsmen.

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