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 2001-02 season, dove season, the early goose season and the special teal season will open September 1.
SQUIRREL: Open third Saturday in August (17) through January 31. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 6.
GROUSE: Open second Saturday in October (12) through February 28. 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 19, 20, 26, & 27) 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 (12) through the third following Sunday, October 27 for hunters using a shotgun with shot, a longbow or a crossbow and through the Sunday after Thanksgiving, December 1, for hunters using a longbow or a crossbow. See map for counties open to hunting. Ashland, Richland and Scioto counties are proposed to open for the first time. Limit one turkey of either sex per fall season. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset from October 12 through October 27 and one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset from October 28 through December 1.
RABBIT: Open first Friday in November (1) through February 28. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 4.
PHEASANT: Open first Friday in November (1) through January 1. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 2. Cocks only.
QUAIL: Open first Friday in November (1) through December 1. Hours one-half hour before 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 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 11, 2003 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 (28) (2003) through the fourth following Sunday, May 25. 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 26 & 27, 2003). Limit 2 bearded turkeys per hunter per spring season.
CROW: Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from June 14, 2002 through March 23, 2003. 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 and extend through March 10.
Special permission for trappers to use snares will no longer be required on private lands.
Deer hunting on private lands during the Special Area Primitive Season at Wildcat Hollow will be discontinued to allow for fall turkey hunting at these sites.
River otters will be removed and cattle egrets will be added to state list of endangered species. In addition, barn owls, dark-eyed juncos, hermit thrushes, least bitterns and yellow-crowned night-herons will be downlisted from endangered to threatened status; sedge wrens will be downlisted from endangered to a species of concern and Canada warblers, little blue herons, magnolia warblers, northern waterthrushes and winter wrens will be downlisted from endangered to special interest status.
Fur dealers will be required to provide a copy of their daily log of transactions along with their annual summary.