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News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2003

APPROVED HUNTING AND TRAPPING REGULATIONS, 2003-04
(SIGNIFICANT CHANGES ARE IN BOLD PRINT)

DEER: Zone R -- Hunters could take only one deer during the 2003-04 deer seasons, which could be a deer of either sex during archery or primitive seasons, or during the first two days of the statewide gun season or a buck only during the last five days of the gun season.

Five counties include: Paulding, Putnam, Henry, Van Wert, Wood.

Zone A -- Hunters could take only one deer during the 2003-04 seasons, which could be a deer of either sex.

Twenty-nine counties, including: Allen, Auglaize, Cuyahoga, Darke, Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Geauga, Hancock, Hardin, Lake, Lorain, Lucas, Marion, Medina, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Ottawa, Portage, Preble, Sandusky, Seneca, Shelby, Stark, Summit, Wayne, Williams, Wyandot.

Zone B -- Hunters could take no more than two deer during the 2003-04 seasons, of which only one could be an antlered deer.

Fifty-four counties, including: Adams, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Belmont, Brown, Butler, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Gallia, Greene, Guernsey, Hamilton, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lawrence, Licking, Logan, Madison, Mahoning, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Richland, Ross, Scioto, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Vinton, Warren, Washington.

SQUIRREL: September 1 through January 31. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 6.

GROUSE: Open second Saturday in October (11) through February 29. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 3.

YOUNG HUNTERSÂ’ UPLAND SEASON: Open the two Saturdays and Sundays immediately before the regular opening date (October 25 and 26 & November 1 and 2) statewide (public and private lands). 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 third following Sunday, October 26 for hunters using a shotgun with shot, a longbow or a crossbow and through the Sunday after Thanksgiving, November 30, for hunters using a longbow or a crossbow. Limit one turkey of either sex per fall season. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset from October 11 through October 26 and one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset from October 27 through November 30. Thirty-six counties open for fall turkey hunting: Adams, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Belmont, Brown, Carroll, Clermont, Columbiana, Coshocton, Gallia, Geauga, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lawrence, Licking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pike, Richland, Ross, Scioto, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Vinton, ands Washington.

RABBIT: Open first Friday in November (7) through February 29. Hours sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 4.

PHEASANT: Open first Friday in November (7) through January 4. Hours sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 2. Cocks only.

QUAIL: Open first Friday in November (7) through November 30. Hours sunrise to sunset. See map for counties open to hunting. 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 10 through February 29. 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 10, 2004 through February 29 and South Zone (rest of state) opens December 26 through February 29. 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 ODNR Division of Wildlife is prohibited.

SPRING WILD TURKEY: Open statewide (except on designated youth hunting areas) on the fourth Monday in April (26) (2004) through the fourth following Sunday, May 23. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to noon. Public hunting areas will be open 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 24 & 25, 2004). Hours for youth hunts will be 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset. Limit 2 bearded turkeys per hunter per spring season.

CROW: Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from June 13, 2003 through March 22, 2004. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. No daily bag limit.

FALCONRY: Seasons for all non-migratory small game species will open on the third Saturday in August (16) and extend through March 10.

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For Further Information Contact:
Dave Scott, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6338
-or-
Andy Ware, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6882