News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 6, 2000

PROPOSED RULE CHANGES TO AFFECT DOVE, TURKEY, AND SQUIRREL HUNTERS

COLUMBUS, OH -- Proposed hunting and trapping regulations for the 2000-2001 fall and winter seasons contain several changes that mostly affect dove, turkey, and squirrel hunters. The proposals were presented Wednesday night by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife at a meeting of the Ohio Wildlife Council. The council will receive the Division of Wildlife’s deer hunting season proposals next month, then vote on all the rules and season dates in April.

Ohio's dove hunting season is expected to again open September 1, but under a new proposal, legal hunting hours will be noon to sunset for those persons hunting doves on all public hunting areas during the first ten days of the season. 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 2000 wild turkey hunting season is proposed for Saturday, October 14 through Sunday, October 22 in 28 Ohio counties, which for the first time would include Adams, Brown, and Clermont counties.

The quail hunting season would be open November 3-26 in selected southern Ohio counties. The wildlife agency is proposing to close Greene County to quail hunting and to permit the season to be open in Scioto County.

Ohio's statewide squirrel season will see one of its longest seasons with a proposed 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 would allow for enhancement of hunting opportunities for young hunters.

Ohio's other proposed hunting and trapping season dates remain similar to those established for the current seasons.

For Further Information Contact:
John Wisse, Division of Wildlife (614) 265-6539