COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio hunters will again enjoy a 60-day duck hunting season and a six-duck bag limit this year. The 2007-2008 waterfowl hunting season dates have been approved by the Ohio Wildlife Council and are the most liberal regulations allowed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The waterfowl hunting seasons are set to open October 20 in both Ohio’s north and south zones. Hunters 15 years of age and younger will have the opportunity to enjoy a special statewide season October 6-7. The youth season will be two weeks prior to the regular season.

The duck-hunting season in the North Zone is October 20 through December 9, with a second season opening December 22 through December 30.

In the South Zone, duck season is open October 20 through November 4, with a second season opening December 15 through January 27, 2008.

The daily bag limit for ducks is six, which may not include more than four mallards (only one of which may be female), one black duck, one pintail, two wood ducks, two redheads, three mottled ducks, two canvasback, or two scaup. Possession limits after the first day are twice the daily bag limit.

The daily bag limit for mergansers is five, of which only one may hooded. The daily bag limit for coots is 15. Possession limits after the first day are twice the daily bag limit.

In the Lake Erie Canada Goose Zone, the goose season is October 20 through November 4 with a second season opening December 8 and running through December 31, 2007.  The goose season for the remainder of the North Zone is October 20 through December 2, with a second season December 22 through January 6, 2008. In the South Zone, goose season is October 20 through November 4 with a second season December 15 through January 27, 2008.

The daily bag limit for Canada geese is two.  Light geese (snows, blues, Ross’) have a daily bag limit of 10, and white-fronted geese and brant have a daily bag limit of two.  The possession limit for brant and geese is twice the daily bag limit after the first day.

The Late Canada Goose Season is January 12 through February 2, 2008. No special late season permits are required. The Special Late Canada Goose zone map can be obtained at wildohio.com or by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.   

People planning to hunt waterfowl are required to answer several questions for the Harvest Information Program (HIP) survey when purchasing their hunting licenses.  A state wetland habitat stamp endorsement and a valid and signed federal duck stamp are required when hunting waterfowl, in addition to an Ohio hunting license.  The 2007-2008 hunting licenses and wetland stamps are on sale now and remain valid through February 29, 2008.

Copies of this season’s waterfowl hunting regulations which include maps of the zones (Publication 295, Waterfowl Hunting Regulations) will be available to hunters at all license vendors, online at wildohio.com and at Division of Wildlife district offices in Akron, Athens, Columbus, Findlay and Xenia, or by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.