News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2003

FEW CHANGES PROPOSED FOR OHIO’S HUNTING RULES

COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio sportsmen and women will see few changes to next year’s hunting and trapping regulations based on proposals presented to the Ohio Wildlife Council by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. A separate meeting will be held in February to discuss suggested changes concerning the state’s deer hunting seasons.

One of the proposed changes would make the legal hunting hours for rabbit, pheasant and quail from sunrise to sunset. If amended, the change would bring legal hunting hours in line on both private and public land. Additionally, September 1 would be the opening day for squirrel season to coincide with the opening of several other seasons.

The Ohio Wildlife Council will also consider modifying youth hunting hours during the spring wild turkey season to one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. This change is intended to make spring turkey hunting competitive with the numerous recreational opportunities our youth have available to them today.

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

Some changes were also proposed to the Ginseng Management Program. Opening day would be set for September 1 and diggers would be required to immediately replant seeds at the place where the plant was collected. The fee for certifying ginseng would be $3 a pound.

Another proposed change seeks to add the Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus centaureae wyandot) to the list of Ohio’s endangered butterflies.

Open house forums will be held on March 2 in each of the state’s five wildlife division districts. These forums will provide the public opportunities to view and discuss proposed hunting and trapping regulations with wildlife officials. Directions to the meetings can be obtained by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.

A statewide hearing on the proposed rules will be held Thursday, March 13 at 9 a.m. at the wildlife division's District One office, located at 1500 Dublin Road in Columbus. After considering public input, the Wildlife Council will vote on the proposed rules and season dates during its April 9 meeting.

PROPOSED HUNTING AND TRAPPING REGULATIONS, 2003-04
(SIGNIFICANT CHANGES ARE IN BOLD PRINT)

DOVES, DUCKS, GEESE, COOTS, AND MERGANSERS: Hunting days and bag limits will be set within the framework which will be provided by the federal government later this summer. Assuming the framework is similar to the 2002-03 season, dove season and the early goose season will open September 1. The special teal season will open in early September.

SQUIRREL: September 1 through January 31. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 6.

GROUSE: Open second Saturday in October (11) through February 29. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 3.

YOUNG HUNTERS’ UPLAND SEASON: Open the two Saturdays and Sundays immediately before the regular opening date (October 25 and 26 & November 1 and 2) statewide (public and private lands). Rabbit, pheasant, and all other legal game that is in season may be taken. Quail may be taken in counties open to quail hunting (see map). Daily bag limits same as during the regular hunting seasons.

FALL WILD TURKEY: Open second Saturday in October (11) through the third following Sunday, October 26 for hunters using a shotgun with shot, a longbow or a crossbow and through the Sunday after Thanksgiving, November 30, for hunters using a longbow or a crossbow. See map for counties open to hunting. Limit one turkey of either sex per fall season. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset from October 11 through October 26 and one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset from October 27 through November 30.

RABBIT: Open first Friday in November (7) through February 29. Hours sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 4.

PHEASANT: Open first Friday in November (7) through January 4. Hours sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit 2. Cocks only.

QUAIL: Open first Friday in November (7) through November 30. Hours sunrise to sunset. See map for counties open to hunting. Daily bag limit 4.

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

FOX HUNTING: Open November 10 through January 31. Daytime hunting of fox closed during deer gun season. No other restriction on hours. No daily bag limit.

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

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

MINK AND MUSKRAT TRAPPING: Open November 10 through February 29. Season extends through March 15 in Erie, Ottawa, and Sandusky counties and Lucas County east of the Maumee River. No restriction on hours. No daily bag limit.

BEAVER TRAPPING: North Zone (the area north of Interstate 76 and east of Interstate 77) opens January 10, 2004 through February 29 and South Zone (rest of state) opens December 26 through February 29. Nonresidents may trap beaver only if the state of their residence permits Ohio citizens to trap beaver. Beaver trapping on state public hunting areas without a special beaver trapping permit from the ODNR Division of Wildlife is prohibited.

SPRING WILD TURKEY: Open statewide (except on designated youth hunting areas) on the fourth Monday in April (26) (2004) through the fourth following Sunday, May 23. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to noon. Public hunting areas will be open to youth hunters (17 years old and younger) for turkey hunting on the Saturday and Sunday immediately prior to the regular spring wild turkey season (April 24 & 25, 2004). Hours for youth hunts will be 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset. Limit 2 bearded turkeys per hunter per spring season.

CROW: Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from June 13, 2003 through March 22, 2004. Hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. No daily bag limit.

FALCONRY: Seasons for all non-migratory small game species will open on the third Saturday in August (16) and extend through March 10.