01-08-2010, 12:10 PM
COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio sportsmen may notice a few changes in next year's hunting and trapping regulations, based on proposals presented January 6 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 and dove hunting. Other proposed hunting and trapping rules and season dates will be similar to those now in effect, with only slight changes to fall and spring hunting dates.
Young hunters age 17 and under should again be able to hunt statewide for rabbit, pheasant and all other legal game in season during two designated weekends, October 16 -17 and 23 - 24. Spring youth turkey season is proposed for April 16 - 17, 2011.
The remainder of the proposals concerning Ohio's white-tailed deer hunting will be heard during a separate Wildlife Council meeting on February 3.
A statewide hearing on all the proposed rules will be held at 9 a.m., Thursday, March 4 at the wildlife division's District One Office, located at 1500 Dublin Road in Columbus.
Open houses will be held on Saturday, March 6 in each of the state's five wildlife districts to provide the public an opportunity to view and discuss proposed hunting and trapping regulations with state wildlife officials. Directions to the open houses can be obtained by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE or visiting wildohio.com on the Internet.
After considering public input, the Ohio Wildlife Council will vote on the proposed rules and season dates during its April 7 meeting.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.
-30-
For further information, contact:<br />
Dave Scott, Division of Wildlife<br />
614. 265. 6338<br />
Nathan Stricker, (upland game) Division of Wildlife<br />
740. 747. 2525<br />
Mike Reynolds, (forest game) Division of Wildlife<br />
740. 589 .9921<br />
Suzie Prange, (furbearers) Division of Wildlife<br />
740. 589. 9924<br />
Jason Fallon, ODNR Communications<br />
614. 265. 6842
EDITOR'S NOTE: The proposed hunting and trapping seasons table is included. Those species in the table identified with an * are subject to federal guidelines that will not be available until the summer of 2010. The dates and bag limits listed should be considered the most likely option, but not a final proposal.
PROPOSED 2010-2011 HUNTING & TRAPPING SEASON DATES<br />
Species Opening date Closing date Bag Limit<br />
Squirrel September 1 January 31 6 daily<br />
Mourning dove * September 1 * To Be Announced 15 daily *<br />
Ruffed grouse October 9 January 31 2 daily<br />
American woodcock * October 9 * November 22 * 3 daily *<br />
Wild turkey<br />
fall season October 9 November 28 1<br />
Youth upland season for cottontail rabbit, ring-necked pheasant, bobwhite quail October 16 and 17 and<br />
October 23 and 24<br />
Cottontail rabbit November 5 February 28 4 daily<br />
Ring-necked pheasant, Chukar November 5 January 9 2 daily<br />
Bobwhite quail November 5 November 28 4 daily<br />
Fox, raccoon, skunk<br />
opossum, weasel hunting & trapping November 10 January 31<br />
Mink & muskrat trapping November 10 February 28<br />
Lake Erie Marsh area - mink, muskrat, skunk, raccoon, opossum, & weasel trapping November 10 March 15<br />
Beaver trapping December 26 February 28<br />
River otter trapping December 26 February 28 1 in Zone B<br />
3 in Zone C<br />
Wild turkey<br />
youth season April 16 and 17, 2011
Wild turkey<br />
spring season April 18, 2011 May 15, 2011 2<br />
Crow - Fri, Sat, Sun only June 4, 2010<br />
June 3, 2011 March 13, 2011<br />
March 12, 2012<br />
Coyote No Closed Season<br />
Woodchuck No Closed Season
September 1 is again proposed as the kick-off date for the state's fall hunting seasons--with the opening of squirrel and dove hunting. Other proposed hunting and trapping rules and season dates will be similar to those now in effect, with only slight changes to fall and spring hunting dates.
Young hunters age 17 and under should again be able to hunt statewide for rabbit, pheasant and all other legal game in season during two designated weekends, October 16 -17 and 23 - 24. Spring youth turkey season is proposed for April 16 - 17, 2011.
The remainder of the proposals concerning Ohio's white-tailed deer hunting will be heard during a separate Wildlife Council meeting on February 3.
A statewide hearing on all the proposed rules will be held at 9 a.m., Thursday, March 4 at the wildlife division's District One Office, located at 1500 Dublin Road in Columbus.
Open houses will be held on Saturday, March 6 in each of the state's five wildlife districts to provide the public an opportunity to view and discuss proposed hunting and trapping regulations with state wildlife officials. Directions to the open houses can be obtained by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE or visiting wildohio.com on the Internet.
After considering public input, the Ohio Wildlife Council will vote on the proposed rules and season dates during its April 7 meeting.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.
-30-
For further information, contact:<br />
Dave Scott, Division of Wildlife<br />
614. 265. 6338<br />
Nathan Stricker, (upland game) Division of Wildlife<br />
740. 747. 2525<br />
Mike Reynolds, (forest game) Division of Wildlife<br />
740. 589 .9921<br />
Suzie Prange, (furbearers) Division of Wildlife<br />
740. 589. 9924<br />
Jason Fallon, ODNR Communications<br />
614. 265. 6842
EDITOR'S NOTE: The proposed hunting and trapping seasons table is included. Those species in the table identified with an * are subject to federal guidelines that will not be available until the summer of 2010. The dates and bag limits listed should be considered the most likely option, but not a final proposal.
PROPOSED 2010-2011 HUNTING & TRAPPING SEASON DATES<br />
Species Opening date Closing date Bag Limit<br />
Squirrel September 1 January 31 6 daily<br />
Mourning dove * September 1 * To Be Announced 15 daily *<br />
Ruffed grouse October 9 January 31 2 daily<br />
American woodcock * October 9 * November 22 * 3 daily *<br />
Wild turkey<br />
fall season October 9 November 28 1<br />
Youth upland season for cottontail rabbit, ring-necked pheasant, bobwhite quail October 16 and 17 and<br />
October 23 and 24<br />
Cottontail rabbit November 5 February 28 4 daily<br />
Ring-necked pheasant, Chukar November 5 January 9 2 daily<br />
Bobwhite quail November 5 November 28 4 daily<br />
Fox, raccoon, skunk<br />
opossum, weasel hunting & trapping November 10 January 31<br />
Mink & muskrat trapping November 10 February 28<br />
Lake Erie Marsh area - mink, muskrat, skunk, raccoon, opossum, & weasel trapping November 10 March 15<br />
Beaver trapping December 26 February 28<br />
River otter trapping December 26 February 28 1 in Zone B<br />
3 in Zone C<br />
Wild turkey<br />
youth season April 16 and 17, 2011
Wild turkey<br />
spring season April 18, 2011 May 15, 2011 2<br />
Crow - Fri, Sat, Sun only June 4, 2010<br />
June 3, 2011 March 13, 2011<br />
March 12, 2012<br />
Coyote No Closed Season<br />
Woodchuck No Closed Season