COLUMBUS, OH -- Hunters can expect to see an improvement in pheasant and rabbit hunting opportunities this fall, but quail hunting success will continue to remain low, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
Statewide hunting seasons for pheasants and rabbits open November 3. The quail season is open November 3-26 in 18 southern Ohio counties.
Rabbits may not be hunted November 3 through December 4 in a special closed zone bordering the Ashtabula-Geauga county line due to an ongoing snowshoe hare reintroduction project. The closed zone in northeast Ohio is bounded by U.S. Route 6, State Route 528, State Route 322 and State Route 534.
The ODNR Division of Wildlife reports that pheasants had a very good reproductive season this year. The pheasant population index, based upon spring and summer surveys, was up from a year ago and is the highest since the early 1990s.
Pheasant hunting should be very good with scattered pockets of abundant birds, says the Division of Wildlife. Hunting success this fall is likely to be good compared to the last several years. The highest densities of birds and improved hunting success are likely to be found in the northeast, west-central and northwest regions of the state. Avid pheasant hunters should focus their effort on private lands with significant amounts of undisturbed grassland, particularly in counties that have high amounts of acreage enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program.
Pheasants and rabbits may be hunted from sunrise to sunset on public lands and from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset on private lands. A daily limit of two male pheasants may be taken.
The pheasant season is open statewide November 3 through January 1, except during the one-week deer gun season that begins November 27.
The Division of Wildlife is also supplementing the wild pheasant population by releasing as many as 15,000 birds on selected wildlife areas around Ohio during November. Some pheasants have been released in support of the special young hunters upland hunting season October 21-22 and October 28-29.
Rabbit numbers also appear to be up this year. Increases in the summer survey rabbit population index were up this year in all regions of the state, except north-central and southwest Ohio. The Division of Wildlife says that overall rabbit hunting success will be good this fall. Sportsmen may do exceptionally well when hunting in the south-central and northeastern regions. Ohio's long season and widespread rabbit population will ensure many quality small game hunting opportunities on public and private lands this year.
A daily limit of four rabbits may be taken. The rabbit season is open November 3 through February 28, except during the deer gun season.
Forecasts for quail hunting this season are not as promising, according to state wildlife biologists. Quail abundance appears to have declined from last year based upon spring and summer survey data. Quail entered the breeding season this year in just slightly better condition than in 1999, but reproduction was below that of 1998. Hunter success and harvest will likely be reduced this fall. The southwest region of Ohio should continue to be the focus area for the avid quail hunter. Brown, Butler, Clermont, Highland, Montgomery, Preble and Warren counties offer the better quail hunting opportunities.
The quail season is open November 3-26 in 18 southern Ohio counties. A daily limit of four quail may be taken. Hunters who pursue upland game anywhere in Ohio during the statewide primitive deer season in late December must comply with the state's hunter orange requirement. However, the Division of Wildlife suggests that hunters may want to wear hunter orange caps or clothing during other times of the year to improve their visibility to other hunters in the area.
Additional hunting information is contained in the 2000-2001 Hunting Regulations Digest that is available where hunting licenses are sold or by calling the division's toll-free information line at 1-800-WILDLIFE.