Winter weather provides Ohioans a great hunting opportunity

It is time to start warming up the car in the morning, getting your winter jackets out of storage, and packing up your gun. That’s right! It is winter hunting season. For many Ohioans this means gathering their gear and heading for the woods in pursuit of their favorite game species. Whether you are climbing up a tree to your stand or finding a soft spot on the ground behind your blind, this year’s hunting opportunities are promising.

Bow season in Ohio allows a hunter many weeks in the woods with either a bow and arrow or crossbow and arrow. Bowhunting requires a hunter to get very close to the game. To be successful, a bowhunter must learn woodsmanship and be willing to invest many hours of practice becoming a good shot. A bowhunter must also invest time in scouting the area for deer sign to place him- or herself in a good location for deer hunting success. Many of the areas outlined on this map are among the best public deer hunting areas available in the state.

Ohio’s most popular deer hunting season is the traditional gun season. During this period, not only shotgun users, but bow and crossbow hunters, handgun hunters, and muzzleloader hunters may all participate. Hunter orange is required during this period; a vest, coat, jacket or coveralls that are either hunter orange or camouflage hunter orange must be worn to meet the law’s requirements.

If gun season isn’t your thing, muzzleloading just might be and there are several special opportunities for muzzleloading hunters in the state. Like bowhunting, muzzleloading for deer has grown in popularity because it’s fun and allows hunters many extra days in the field. Ohio has an statewide muzzleloader season after Christmas. As with bowhunting, muzzleloader hunting requires an investment of time for scouting, planning, practice, and setup.

The Division of Wildlife is collaborating with Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry to help pay for the processing of donated venison. Hunters are urged to donate their excess venison to the hungry. Hunters can take their legally harvested deer to a participating meat processor. There is no cost to the hunter as long as the local Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry program has sufficient funds to cover the processing expenses.

But the fun of winter hunting in Ohio doesn’t begin and end with deer season. Ohio hunters can also enjoy the fast action of mourning dove hunting, or renew family traditions in pursuit of rabbit, squirrel or waterfowl.

Doves are the most popular, abundant, and widespread game bird in North America. The dove’s fast flight, quick changes in direction, and alert nature make it one of the most challenging game birds. Successful dove hunters begin their season by scouting possible hunting areas in late August. Dove hunters will find dove management fields on public land productive.

If you are just getting started in hunting, there is no better game to start you down that enjoyable path than rabbit hunting. Plentiful, challenging, and good tasting on the dinner table, cottontail rabbits will teach the newcomer the basics of safe hunting while preparing new hunters for hunting larger game in the future. Rabbits can be found most anywhere in Ohio. Their preferred habitat is mainly brushy fields, fencerows, and woodland edges. Wildlife areas around the state provide these types of habitats in abundance.

Ohio boasts a long squirrel hunting season and it isn’t complicated or expensive nor does it require elaborate equipment. A hunting license and a full-choke shotgun using number 5- or 6-size shot are enough to get you started. Squirrels live in all Ohio counties and by paying attention to their habitat requirements you can have a successful hunt. With squirrels you’re looking for mature nut trees where food for squirrels is abundant. Oaks, hickories, and beeches all produce squirrel foods, so setting up in woods containing these types of trees is your goal.

The most commonly hunted squirrels in Ohio are the fox and gray squirrels. Fox squirrels, larger and rusty in color, are more common in smaller woodlots of agricultural areas. Gray squirrels that are light gray to black in appearance prefer larger forests such as those found in southeast Ohio. Still it is not uncommon to find both species in the same woods.

Ohio’s furbearer hunting and trapping season for fox, raccoon, skunk, opossum, weasel, mink, and muskrat is now underway. Trappers can begin pursuing beaver and river otter on December 26th. Ohio is among the nation’s leading producers of raw furs. In fact, fur trading played a very important role in Ohio’s exploration and settlement. Food sources and habitat conditions for furbearers have been fair to good this year across Ohio. Fur takers can expect a good season.

Hunter education courses are in full swing this time of year with courses being offered all around the Buckeye State. All first-time hunting license buyers in Ohio must complete a hunter education course. Ohio also issues an apprentice hunting license. The apprentice license was developed as part of a nation-wide effort called "Families Afield." Families Afield projects are designed to remove barriers that prevent hunters from passing along the hunting heritage. Apprentice hunting licenses or fur taker permits allow new hunters and trappers, both adults and youth, to sample the experience of hunting under the mentorship of a licensed adult prior to completing a hunter or trapper education course.

Safety is the number one issue when entering the woods in pursuit of your favorite game species. With temperatures dropping below freezing it is important to have the proper gear to stay warm. Hunters are urged to leave a hunting plan or schedule with family and friends. It is even a good idea to leave a copy on your vehicle when you are in the field. Also hunters are reminded to be sure of your target and beyond. Best of luck to all of the hunters what will enter the field this year.