2008-09 HUNTING REGULATIONS PROPOSED TO
OHIO WILDLIFE COUNCIL
Fall turkey hunting opportunities would be expanded
COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio sportsmen will notice a few changes in next year's hunting and trapping regulations, based on proposals presented January 9 to the Ohio Wildlife Council by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
Fall turkey hunters would be able to hunt the entire season, from October 11 through November 30, with a shotgun, muzzleloading shotgun, bow or crossbow. This proposal adds 35 days to fall turkey gun hunting. Nine additional northeast Ohio counties would also be open for fall turkey hunting, bringing the total to 46 counties statewide. A map of counties open to hunting is available at wildohio.com.
September 1 is again proposed as the kick-off date for the state's fall hunting seasons--with the opening of squirrel, dove, Canada goose, rail, moorhen and snipe hunting. Other proposed hunting and trapping rules and season dates will be similar to those now in effect, with only slight changes to fall hunting dates.
Proposals concerning Ohio's white-tailed deer hunting will be heard during a separate wildlife council meeting on February 6. This will follow state wildlife biologists' assessment of the 2007-08 deer season, which ends on February 3. Those results will affect suggested modifications to current zone boundaries and bag limits for next season.
Open houses will be held on Sunday, March 2 in each of the state's five wildlife district offices to provide the public an opportunity to view and discuss proposed hunting and trapping regulations with state wildlife officials. Directions to the open houses can be obtained by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE or visiting wildohio.com on the Internet.
A statewide hearing on all the proposed rules will be held at 9 a.m., Thursday, March 6 at the wildlife division's District One Office, located at 1500 Dublin Road in Columbus. After considering public input, the Ohio Wildlife Council will vote on the proposed rules and season dates during its April 2 meeting.
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PROPOSED HUNTING AND TRAPPING REGULATIONS, 2008-2009
DOVES, DUCKS, GEESE, COOTS, AND MERGANSERS: Hunting days and bag limits will be set within the framework which will be provided by the federal government later this summer. Assuming the framework is similar to the 2007-08 season, dove season, the early goose season will open September 1 and the special teal season will open September 6.
SQUIRREL: September 1 through January 31. Hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit: 6.
GROUSE: Open second Saturday in October (11) through the last day of February (28). Hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit: 3.
YOUNG HUNTERS' UPLAND SEASON: Open the two Saturdays and Sundays immediately before the regular opening date (October 25 and 26 & November 1 and 2) statewide. Rabbit, pheasant, and all other legal game that is in season may be taken. Quail may be taken in counties open to quail hunting (see map). Daily bag limits same as during the regular hunting seasons.
FALL WILD TURKEY: Open second Saturday in October (11) through the Sunday after Thanksgiving (November 30). Shotgun, muzzleloading shotgun, bow and crossbow are legal for the entire season. Limit one turkey of either sex per fall season. Hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. See map for counties open to hunting.
RABBIT: Open first Friday in November (7) through the last day of February (28). Hours sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit: 4.
PHEASANT: Open first Friday in November (7) through the first Sunday in January (4). Hours: sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit: 2. Cocks only.
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. No restriction on hours. No daily bag limit.
MINK AND MUSKRAT TRAPPING: Open November 10 through the last day of 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: December 26 through the last day in February (28). Beaver trapping on state public hunting areas without a special beaver/otter-trapping permit from the ODNR Division of Wildlife is prohibited. No daily bag limit.
RIVER OTTER TRAPPING: December 26 through the last day of February (28). River otter trapping on state public hunting areas without a special beaver/otter-trapping permit from the ODNR Division of Wildlife is prohibited. Season bag limits are 3 in Zone C, 1 in Zone B, and Zone A is closed. Trappers are required to personally present skinned river otter pelts to a Division of Wildlife representative for mandatory CITES tagging within 72 hours of take.
SPRING WILD TURKEY: Open statewide (except on designated youth hunting areas) on the Monday nearest April 21 (April 20, 2009) through the fourth following Sunday (May 17, 2009). Hours are one-half hour before sunrise to noon. Open statewide to youth hunters (17 years old and younger) for turkey hunting on the Saturday and Sunday immediately prior to the regular spring wild turkey season (April 18 & 19, 2009). Hours for youth hunts will be one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Limit: 2 bearded turkeys per hunter per spring season.
CROW: Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from June 6, 2008 through March 15, 2009 and June 5, 2009 through March 14, 2010. Hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. No daily bag limit.
FALCONRY: Seasons for all non-migratory small game species will open on September 1 and extend through March 10.