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News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 6, 2005

2005-2006 HUNTING RULES PROPOSED TO WILDLIFE COUNCIL

COLUMBUS, OH -- Ohio sportsmen will see little change in next year’s hunting and trapping regulations, based on proposals presented to the Ohio Wildlife Council by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

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, teal, 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 in next fall’s dates.

A separate wildlife council meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 9 to discuss possible changes to regulations governing white-tailed deer hunting. White-tailed deer is Ohio’s most popular game animal.

Once deer archery season closes on January 31, wildlife biologists will assess the 2004-05 deer season results before recommending any modifications to current zone boundaries and bag limits for the 2005-06 season.

The only significant change in hunting regulations comes in a proposal to establish a river otter trapping season during which trappers will be able to take a limited number of otters within a very conservative framework in 43 counties.

Open houses will be held on March 6 in each of the state’s five wildlife district offices to provide the public with opportunities to view and discuss proposed hunting and trapping regulations with state wildlife officials. Directions to the meetings can be obtained by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.

A statewide hearing on the proposed rules will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 10, 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 6 meeting.

PROPOSED HUNTING AND TRAPPING REGULATIONS, 2005-06

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 (8) through 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 22, 23, 29 and 30) 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. Daily bag limits same as during the regular hunting seasons. Map of open counties

FALL WILD TURKEY: Open second Saturday in October (8) through the third following Sunday, October 23 for hunters using a shotgun with shot, a longbow or a crossbow and through the Sunday after Thanksgiving, November 27, for hunters using a longbow or a crossbow. Map of counties open to fall turkey hunting.

Limit one turkey of either sex per fall season. Hours are one half hour before sunrise to sunset from October 8 through October 23 and one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset from October 24 through November 27.

RABBIT: Open first Friday in November (4) through February 28. Hours are sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 4.

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

QUAIL: Open first Friday in November (4) through November 27. Hours are sunrise to sunset. Bag limit 4. Map of open counties.

FOX, OPOSSUM, WEASEL, AND SKUNK 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: Opens statewide December 26, 2005 through February 28, 2006. Beaver trapping on state public hunting areas without a special beaver trapping permit from the Ohio Division of Wildlife is prohibited.

RIVER OTTER TRAPPING: Opens statewide December 26, 2005 through February 28, 2006.

Otter trapping on state public hunting areas without a special beaver/otter trapping permit from the Ohio Division of Wildlife is prohibited. Season bag limits are 3 in Zone C, 1 in Zone B and Zone A is closed. Map of Zones

Trappers are required to personally present skinned river otter pelts and carcasses to a Division of Wildlife representative for mandatory CITES tagging within 72 hr of take.

YOUNG HUNTERS’ SPRING WILD TURKEY: 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 22 & 23, 2006). Hours for youth hunts will be ∏ hour before sunrise to sunset. Limit 2 bearded turkeys per hunter per spring season, of which only 1 may be taken during the young hunters’ season.

SPRING WILD TURKEY: Open statewide (except on designated youth hunting areas) on Monday April 24, 2006 through Sunday, May 21, 2006. Hours are one-half hour before sunrise to noon. Limit 2 bearded turkeys per hunter per spring season.

CROW: Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from June 10, 2005 through March 19, 2006 and Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 9, 2006 through March 18, 2007. Hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. No daily bag limit.

DOVES, DUCKS, GEESE, COOTS, AND MERGANSERS: Hunting days and bag limits will be set within the framework which will be provided by the US Fish and Wildlife Service later this summer. Assuming the framework is similar to the 2003-04 season, dove season, the early goose season and the special teal season will open September 1.

FALCONRY: Seasons for all non-migratory small game species will open on September 1 and extend through March 10, 2006.

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For additional news online, check out the ODNR Press Room at Ohiodnr.com

For Further Information Contact:
Dave Risley, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6331
-or-
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6860