FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 4, 2001

PROPOSED OHIO HUNTING RULES WOULD BOOST TURKEY HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES

COLUMBUS, OH -- The Ohio Wildlife Council on Wednesday heard rule proposals that would expand wild turkey hunting opportunities in the state, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

With a statewide population now estimated to exceed 200,000 turkeys, hunters next fall would enjoy their most liberal hunting opportunities since Ohio's modern day turkey hunting season was opened in 1966.

"I am proposing that we expand the statewide spring turkey season in 2002 from three to four weeks and this year's fall turkey season in selected counties from one to two weeks," said Division of Wildlife Chief Mike Budzik. "This is an abundant resource that our agency knows can readily offer improved hunting opportunities."

The Division of Wildlife presented for discussion its proposed hunting and trapping rules and season dates for the 2001-02 fall/winter seasons to the Ohio Wildlife Council on Wednesday, excluding deer hunting seasons which will be discussed at the council's February meeting. Open house forums will be held in each of five wildlife agency districts from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 4. These forums allow the public to view and discuss proposed hunting and trapping regulations with Division of Wildlife personnel.

A statewide public hearing on the proposed rules is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 22 at the wildlife agency's District One office located at 1500 Dublin Road in Columbus. The Wildlife Council is scheduled to vote on acceptance of the proposed 2001-2002 rules and season dates during its April 11 meeting in Columbus.

The proposed spring turkey hunting season for 2002 would be open statewide daily from April 22 through May 19. As in recent years, hunters with the proper permits would be able to take a limit of two wild turkeys. Only bearded turkeys may be taken during the spring season. Legal hunting hours would remain one-half hour before sunrise to noon. This year, Ohio has a three-week statewide spring turkey hunting season that is open April 23 through May 13.

Also proposed is a longer fall turkey hunting season that would be extended from 9 to 16 days and open in selected counties this year October 13-28. These counties would for the first time include Ashtabula, Geauga, Licking and Trumbull counties, bringing to 32 the number of counties where the fall turkey season will be open. The remaining 28 counties would again include those that were open to fall turkey hunting last year: Adams, Athens, Belmont, Brown, Carroll, Clermont, Columbiana, Coshocton, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pike, Ross, Tuscarawas, Vinton and Washington.

As allowed last fall, a wild turkey of either sex could be taken in these counties during the 2001 fall turkey season. Legal fall turkey hunting hours would remain one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. A fall turkey permit is required.

There are only a few minor changes to this season's hunting and trapping rules being proposed for the 2001-2002 fall/winter seasons. The Division of Wildlife wants to close bobwhite quail hunting in Hamilton and Gallia counties due to poor distribution and abundance of these sporting gamebirds. The quail season will be open November 2-25 in 16 southern Ohio counties.

Expanded upland youth hunts are proposed to include private lands in addition to public lands October 20-21 and October 27-28. Last year, the young hunters' special upland season was open for persons age 17 and under only on public hunting areas. Rabbits, pheasants and all other legal game that is in season may be hunted during the special young hunters' season.

Additional hunting and trapping rules and season dates will reflect those now in effect with only slight changes next fall in opening season dates.

"Our current archery deer season remains open through January 31. When the season closes, we will be able to fully assess various data that will allow us to offer the best possible proposals for next year's deer hunting seasons. The proposed deer hunting season dates, rules, and zones will be announced in mid-February," said Budzik.

PROPOSED HUNTING & TRAPPING REGULATIONS, 2001-02

SQUIRREL: Open August 18 through January 31. Legal hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 4. Squirrels may be taken with a .22 caliber handgun on public hunting areas anytime during the open squirrel hunting season beginning August 18.

MOURNING DOVE: Hunting days and bag limits will be set in mid-summer within the framework provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Assuming the framework is similar to last year, opening day will be September 1. Hunting season hours on public hunting areas will be noon to sunset during the first ten days of the dove season.

RUFFED GROUSE: Open October 13 through February 28. Legal hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 3.

WATERFOWL: Hunting days and bag limits will be set in late summer within the framework provided by the USFWS. Assuming the framework is similar to last year, the special early goose and teal seasons will open September 1. The traditional fall waterfowl seasons will open in all three waterfowl zones on October 20.

YOUNG HUNTERS UPLAND SEASON: Open October 20-21 and October 27-28 statewide on public and private lands. Rabbits, pheasants, and all other legal game that is in season may be taken by persons age 17 and under. Quail may be taken on areas in counties that are open to quail hunting. Daily bag limits remain similar to those of the regular hunting seasons.

FALL WILD TURKEY: Open October 13-28. Ashtabula, Geauga, Licking and Trumbull counties are proposed to be open for the first time in addition those 28 counties where fall turkey season was open last year. Limit one turkey of either sex per fall season. Hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Legal hunting implements are shotgun and muzzleloading shotguns using shot, longbow and crossbow. It shall be legal to use dogs to assist with taking wild turkeys during the fall turkey season.

RABBIT: Open November 2 through February 28. Hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 4.

PHEASANT: Open November 2 through January 1. Hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Male birds only. Daily bag limit 2.

BOBWHITE QUAIL: Open November 2-25 in 16 southern Ohio counties. Gallia and Hamilton counties will be closed to quail hunting. Hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 4.

FOX, OPOSSUM, SKUNK AND WEASEL TRAPPING: Open November 10 through January 31. No restriction on hours and bag limits.

FOX HUNTING: Open November 10 through January 31. No restriction on hours and bag limit.

RACCOON TRAPPING: Open November 10 through January 31. Season extends through March 15 in Erie, Ottawa and Sandusky counties, and in Lucas County east of the Maumee River. No restriction on hours or bag limit.

RACCOON AND OPOSSUM HUNTING: Open November 10 through January 31. No daily bag limit.

MINK AND MUSKRAT TRAPPING: Open November 15 through February 28. Season extends through March 15 in Erie, Ottawa and Sandusky counties, and in Lucas County east of the Maumee River. No restriction on hours or bag limits.

BEAVER TRAPPING: North Zone (the area north of Interstate 76 and east of Interstate 77) open January 12, 2002 through February 28, 2002. South Zone (remainder of the state) open December 26, 2001 through February 28, 2002. Beaver trapping on state public hunting areas without a special permit from the Division of Wildlife is prohibited.

SPRING WILD TURKEY: Open statewide (except on designated youth hunting areas) April 22, 2002 through May 19, 2002. Hours are one-half hour before sunrise to noon. Public hunting areas will be open to young hunters age 17 and under for turkey hunting April 20-21, 2002. Limit is two bearded turkeys per hunter per spring season with the proper permits.

CROW: Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from the third Friday in June through the fourth Sunday in March. Hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. No daily bag limit.

FALCONRY SEASONS: These special seasons will be extended for quail, pheasants, squirrels, grouse and rabbits.

-30-

For Further Information Contact:
John Wisse, Ohio Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6539