COLUMBUS, OH -- For many hunters, cottontail rabbit, ring-necked pheasant and bobwhite quail hunting marks the beginning of the traditional upland game seasons in Ohio. This year, opening day for all three species is Friday, November 1, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
Rabbit hunters can expect a good season this year, with exceptional hunting in some areas of the state, said Mike Budzik, chief of ODNR's Division of Wildlife. And those Ohio families that make a pheasant hunt part of their Thanksgiving tradition should anticipate a good day in the field.
Rabbits and pheasants may be hunted statewide from sunrise to sunset on public lands and from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset on private lands. The daily bag limit, unchanged from last year, is four rabbits, two male pheasants (roosters) and four quail per hunter.
Cottontail rabbit hunting continues through February 28, 2003. Ring-necked pheasant hunting is open through January 1, 2003. Both seasons are closed only during the statewide deer gun hunting season, December 2 to 8.
Hunters are reminded that snowshoe hares are not legal game in Ohio and may not be taken. Recently reintroduced to northeast Ohio after nearly a century of absence, snowshoe hares are brown like cottontail rabbits early in the season.
From November 1 through December 8, 2002, portions of Geauga and Ashtabula counties will be closed to all rabbit hunting. This area is bordered by U. S. Route 6 to the north, U. S. Route 322 to the south, State Route 528 to the west, and State Route 534 to the east. Most hares will have turned white before rabbit hunting begins in this area, enabling hunters to correctly identify cottontail rabbits and snowshoe hares.
The ODNR Division of Wildlife releases pheasants on selected public hunting areas throughout the state on opening day of the pheasant season, the second and third Saturdays of the season and Thanksgiving Day. Hunters may call 1-800-WILDLIFE for locations of specific release sites.
Bobwhite quail hunting is limited to 16 counties in southwest Ohio: Adams, Athens, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Highland, Jackson, Meigs, Montgomery, Pike, Preble, Ross, Scioto, Vinton, and Warren. The season continues through December 1.
This year, for the first time, Sunday hunting on private land will not be restricted by acreage size requirements. Governor Bob Taft signed legislation earlier this year removing previous private land restrictions for hunting on Sundays. Public land was already open to Sunday hunting with no restrictions.
Additional hunting information is contained in the 2002-2003 Hunting & Trapping Regulations brochure, available where hunting licenses are sold, on the Internet at ohiodnr.com or by calling toll-free, 1-800-WILDLIFE.