UPLAND GAME HUNTING SEASONS BEGIN FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2
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COLUMBUS, OH – The season for three of Ohio hunters’ most popular game species, ring-necked pheasant, cottontail rabbit, and bobwhite quail begins Friday, November 2, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
"The rabbit population is increasing, and sportsmen can expect good hunting opportunities across much of Ohio,” said Nathan Stricker, project leader with the Olentangy Wildlife Research Station. "Quail populations remained stable this year in spite of the dry summer in the southwestern counties. Likewise, pheasant populations are similar to previous years and hunters will have a good chance at ringnecks in the northwest and central parts of the state."
Rabbits, pheasants, and quail may be hunted from sunrise to sunset. The daily bag limits for all three species remain unchanged from last year at four rabbits, two pheasants (roosters only) and four quail per hunter.
Cottontail rabbit hunting continues through February 29, 2008. Ring-necked pheasant hunting is open through January 6, 2008. Both seasons are closed only during the statewide 2007 deer-gun hunting season, November 26 through December 2, as well as the extra weekend of deer-gun hunting December 15-16.
Hunters are reminded that snowshoe hares are not legal game in Ohio and may not be taken. Recently reintroduced to northeastern Ohio after nearly a century of absence, snowshoe hares are brown early in the season, resembling cottontail rabbits. To avoid confusion between cottontail rabbits and snowshoe hares, portions of Geauga and Ashtabula counties will be closed to all rabbit hunting from November 2 through December 2. The coats of most hares will have turned white by early December, allowing for proper distinction. There are two restricted zones that cover portions of Geauga and Ashtabula counties. The first restricted area encompasses parts of Geauga and Ashtabula counties and is bordered by U.S. Route 6 to the north, U.S. Route 322 to the south, Kile Road to the west, and State Route 534 to the east. The second restricted area is in Ashtabula County bounded on the north by Cork-Cold Springs Road, on the west by Windsor-Mechanicsville Road, on the south by New Hudson Road and on the east by U.S. Route 45. A map of these two areas can be viewed in the 2007-2008 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations and on the Internet at www.wildohio.com .
The ODNR Division of Wildlife releases pheasants on selected public hunting areas throughout the state prior to opening day of the pheasant season, the second Saturday 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 southern Ohio: Adams, Athens, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Highland, Jackson, Meigs, Montgomery, Pike, Preble, Ross, Scioto, Vinton, and Warren. The season continues through November 25.
Additional hunting information is contained in the 2007-2008 Ohio Hunting Regulations brochure, which is available where hunting licenses are sold, on the Internet at www.wildohio.com or by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.
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For Further Information Contact:
Nathan Stricker, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(740) 747-2525
-or-
Dave Risley, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6330