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July 12, 2007
WILDLIFE COUNCIL APPROVES OHIO’S EARLY MIGRATORY BIRD SEASON DATES
September 1 again kicks off dove, Canada goose, rail, moorhen, teal, snipe and squirrel hunting seasons
 COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Wildlife Council has approved the state’s early migratory bird hunting seasons for this fall, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
September 1 will kick off the state’s hunting seasons with the opening of dove, Canada goose, rail, moorhen, teal and snipe. Squirrel hunting season also starts that day.
Ohio’s dove-hunting season runs September 1 through October 14 and November 10 through November 25, with a daily limit of 15 birds and a possession limit of 30 birds.
Controlled dove hunts will be available on September 1-3 from noon to sunset at:
- Fallsville wildlife area
- Spring Valley wildlife area
- Rush Run wildlife area
- Indian Creek wildlife area
- Bott state wildlife area
- St. Marys Fish Hatchery
- Cowan Lake State Park
Information on these controlled hunts is available by calling 937-372-9261.
Canada geese may be hunted statewide September 1-15, during the special early season, with a daily limit of three birds and possession limit of six birds after the first day. The daily bag limit is two Canada geese for birds taken in the Crane Creek/Ottawa, Mosquito Creek and Killdeer Plains mandatory reporting zones. The Mercer goose-reporting zone will not be open during the early Canada goose season.
The early teal-hunting season will be open September 1 through September 16, with a daily bag limit of four birds and possession limit of eight after the first day.
Waterfowl hunters must have a valid hunting license in addition to a state wetlands habitat stamp endorsement, a federal duck stamp and a Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification. Anyone who intends to hunt migratory game birds must obtain a new HIP certification this year.
Sora rails, Virginia rails and moorhens may be hunted September 1 through November 9, with a daily limit of 25 rails and 15 moorhens. Hunting season for snipe will be September 1 through November 25 and December 8-28, with a daily bag limit of eight.
The woodcock-hunting season is open October 12 through November 25, with a daily bag limit of three birds and a possession limit of six birds.
Hunting hours during the seasons for rails, moorhens, snipe, woodcock, teal, doves and Canada geese are sunrise to sunset. The only exceptions will be on wildlife areas that have specially posted hunting times for doves. The 2007-08 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations can be found on line at wildohio.com. The 2007 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons brochure will be available by mid-August at license outlets, Division of Wildlife district offices, or by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.
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