FALL HUNTING, TRAPPING SEASONS ESTABLISHED: OH

Article Posted: April 13, 2000

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FALL HUNTING, TRAPPING SEASONS ESTABLISHED

BY OHIO WILDLIFE COUNCIL

COLUMBUS, OH -- Deer hunters this fall in Ohio will see a few changes in hunting season dates and regulations, including a less complex permit system, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Following Wednesday's approval of proposed hunting and trapping regulations and seasons by the Ohio Wildlife Council, Division of Wildlife officials said the special management antlerless deer hunting permit, referred to as a doe permit by many hunters, has been eliminated this year. Hunters who want to take two deer now are required to buy a second regular deer permit for $20. However, as in all of Ohio's past deer seasons, only one antlered buck may be taken by a hunter during the 2000-01 fall/winter hunting season, regardless of where, when, or type of method used to hunt deer.

"The only change in deer permits this year is that we eliminated the special management antlerless deer permit to make it easier and less confusing for hunters to get their second deer permits," said Pat Ruble, executive administrator of wildlife management and research for the Division of Wildlife. "When a hunter buys two regular deer permits, he or she may take one antlered buck and one antlerless deer, or two antlerless deer, where it is permitted."

Ohio retains its three deer management zones, but they have been significantly restructured from last year. As was the limit last year, hunters this fall can take one deer in Zones A or B, and a second deer in Zone C, or two deer in Zone C. The bag limit between zones can not be combined.

Hunters also can take up to four additional antlerless deer with urban permits in the urban zones. Urban deer permits are sold for $10 each and are also valid for taking antlerless deer at special controlled hunts at areas such as the Ravenna Arsenal, Killdeer Plains, and NASA Plum Brook.

The urban deer zone boundaries are unchanged from last season.

Ohio's statewide archery deer season is open October 7 through January 31. The statewide primitive deer season is open December 27-30, and the special early bucks-only primitive hunting season is open October 23-28 on the Salt Fork, Shawnee and Wildcat Hollow public hunting areas.

The statewide deer gun season is open November 27 through December 3 in all deer zones.

Deer of either sex may be taken in Zones B and C during the entire statewide deer gun season. Deer of either sex may be taken only during the first two days of the deer gun season in Zone A, followed by bucks-only during the remaining five days of the gun season in Zone A.

Legal hunting hours remain from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset during the archery season, and from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset during the deer gun and primitive deer seasons.

The revised deer hunting zones this year are:

Zone A: (13) Includes the counties of Ashtabula, Auglaize, Darke, Hancock, Henry, Mercer, Paulding, Preble, Putnam, Shelby, Trumbull, Van Wert, and Wood.

Zone B: (48) Includes the counties of Adams, Allen, Ashland, Brown, Butler, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Defiance, Delaware, Erie, Fayette, Fulton, Geauga, Greene, Hamilton, Hardin, Highland, Huron, Knox, Lake, Logan, Lorain, Lucas, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Miami, Montgomery, Morrow, Ottawa, Portage, Richland, Sandusky, Seneca, Stark, Summit, Wayne, Union, Warren, Williams and Wyandot.

Zone C: (27) Includes the counties of Athens, Belmont, Coshocton, Fairfield, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Licking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Tuscarawas, Washington, and Vinton.

Most of the remaining hunting and trapping season dates and regulations are little changed from a year ago, though several changes do affect dove, turkey, squirrel and quail hunters.

Ohio's dove hunting season is expected again to open September 1, but this fall legal hunting hours on public wildlife areas are changed only for the first ten days of the season where doves may be hunted from noon to sunset. Many states use a similar half-day rule during the early days of their respective dove seasons to extend hunting opportunities and to minimize conflicts with special early season goose and teal hunters.

The fall wild turkey hunting season is open October 14-22 in 28 counties. Adams, Brown, and Clermont counties have been added with those 25 counties that were open during last year's fall turkey season.

Ohio's statewide squirrel season will see one of its longest seasons with an opening date of August 19 and closing date of January 31, 2001. The change provides for a hunting season that is very similar to squirrel seasons in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri. The earlier opening date in Ohio also improves youth hunting opportunities.

The quail hunting season is open November 3-26 in selected southern Ohio counties. Greene County is now closed to quail hunting, but the season will be open in Scioto and 17 other counties this fall.

OHIO'S HUNTING AND TRAPPING SEASONS AND REGULATIONS, 2000-01

(SIGNIFICANT CHANGES ARE IN BOLD PRINT)

SQUIRREL: Open AUGUST 19 through January 31. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 4.

DOVE: Hunting days and bag limits will be set within the framework provided by federal government. Assuming the framework is similar to the 1999 season, Opening day will be September 1. HUNTING SEASON HOURS ON PUBLIC HUNTING AREAS WILL BE NOON TO SUNSET FOR THE FIRST 10 DAYS OF SEPTEMBER.

GROUSE: Open second Saturday in October (14) through February 28. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 3.

DUCKS, GEESE, COOTS, AND MERGANSERS: Hunting days and bag limits will be set within the framework provided by the federal government. Assuming the framework is similar to the 1999-00 season, the early goose season will open on September 1, the special teal season will open September 1, and the regular duck and goose seasons for all three zones will open on October 14.

YOUNG HUNTERS' UPLAND SEASON: Open the two Saturdays and Sundays immediately before the regular opening date (October 21, 22, 28, &29) on all public hunting areas. Rabbit, pheasant, and all other legal game that is in season may be taken. Quail may be taken on areas in counties open to quail hunting. Daily bag limits same as during the regular hunting seasons.

FALL WILD TURKEY: Open SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14 through Sunday, October 22. ADAMS, BROWN AND CLERMONT COUNTIES ARE OPEN FOR THE FIRST TIME AND ADDED TO THE EXISTING LIST OF 22 OPEN COUNTIES. Limit one turkey of either sex per fall season. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Legal hunting devices are shotgun and muzzleloading shotgun using shot, longbow and crossbow.

RABBIT: Open first Friday in November (3) through February 28. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 4.

PHEASANT: Open first Friday in November (3) through January 1. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 2. Only male pheasants may be taken.

QUAIL: Open first Friday in November (3) through November 26. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. GREENE COUNTY WILL BE CLOSED AND SCIOTO COUNTY WILL BE OPEN. Daily bag limit 4.

FOX, OPOSSUM, SKUNK, AND WEASEL TRAPPING: Open November 10 through January 31. No restriction on hours. No daily bag limit.

FOX HUNTING: Open November 10 through January 31. Daytime hunting of fox closed during deer gun season. No other restriction on hours. No daily bag limit.

RACCOON TRAPPING: Open November 10 through January 31. Season extends through March 15 in Erie, Ottawa, and Sandusky counties and Lucas County east of the Maumee River. No restriction on hours. No daily bag limits.

RACCOON AND OPOSSUM HUNTING: Open November 10 through January 31. No daily bag limit.

MINK AND MUSKRAT TRAPPING: Open November 15 through February 28. Season extends through March 15 in Erie, Ottawa, and Sandusky counties and Lucas County east of the Maumee River. No restriction on hours. No daily bag limit.

BEAVER TRAPPING: North Zone (the area north of Interstate 76 and east of Interstate 77) opens January 13, 2001 through February 28 and South Zone (rest of state) opens December 26 through February 28. Nonresidents may trap beaver only if the state of their residence permits Ohio citizens to trap beaver. Beaver trapping on state public hunting areas without a special beaver trapping permit from the Ohio Division of Wildlife is prohibited.

SPRING WILD TURKEY: open statewide (except on designated youth hunting areas) on the fourth Monday in April 23, 2001 through Sunday, May 13, 2001. Hours are one-half hour before sunrise to noon. Public hunting areas will be open to youth hunters (15 years old and younger) for turkey hunting on the Saturday and Sunday immediately prior to the regular spring wild turkey season (April 21 & 22, 2000). Limit 2 bearded turkeys per hunter per spring season.

CROW: Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from third Friday in June through the fourth Sunday in March. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. No daily bag limit.

FALCONRY SEASONS will be extended for quail, pheasants, squirrels, grouse, and rabbits.

Also approved by the Wildlife Council:

Hardin County Production Area 1 and Fish Creek Wildlife Area are now added to the state wildlife area system.

A permit is required to trap beaver on all MWCD lands and Turkey Run Public Hunting Area (Perry County).

Hunters may use any handgun with straight-walled cartridges that are .357 or larger caliber during the deer gun season.

Beaver snaring will be permitted on public hunting areas provided that the snares have a minimum loop diameter of 10 inches and the bottom of the snare must be covered by at least one inch of water at all times.

A relaxing lock is now defined as a device that stops tightening a snare's loop when a captured animal stops pulling against the snare.

Allow persons to hunt waterfowl more than one time per season on portions of the Killbuck, Mosquito Creek, and Grand River wildlife areas when same day drawings are used.

Permits the live trapping and capture of wild animals that have become involved in nuisance situations under certain guidelines.

For Further Information Contact:

John Wisse, Vicki Mountz, Pat Ruble

ODNR Division of Wildlife

(614) 265-6539



Source: ODNR






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