|
Hunting / General Information
Ohio Administrative Code
New License Paper
Concealed Carry
Hunting with Permission
Hunting Methods
Share the Bounty
Public Hunting Lands
On All Wildlife Areas
Possession
Ginseng
Dog Training
Shooting Ranges
Shooting Range Hours of Operation
Allowable Hunting Equipment
Ohio Administrative Code
The Ohio Administrative Code contains the details of these regulations and is available for review
at each District Wildlife Office or Online at:
http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/1531 (ORC - Division of Wildlife)
http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/1533 (ORC - Hunting & Fishing)
http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/1501%3A31 (OAC - Division of Wildlife Rules and Regulations)
Back to Top
New License Paper
New License Paper No Longer Weatherproof/Tear Proof
In an effort to reduce costs, hunting and fishing licenses will no longer be printed on weatherproof/tear-proof paper.
Protective License Holders – Special Consideration For Deer & Turkey Hunters
Immediately upon harvest of the animal or bird, hunters have a legal obligation to record the time and date of harvest on the temporary kill tag and attach it to the carcass – see current Hunting & Trapping Regulations for details. The information on the temporary kill tag must not be obliterated or made illegible by weather or environmental conditions. Therefore, hunters should at least have a zip lock clear plastic bag or other protective license holder in his or her possession in order to protect the temporary kill tag from harm, and to help secure it to the carcass. The Ohio Division of Wildlife does not provide protective license holders.
License Agents may choose to sell protective license holders to our mutual customers, but may not require customers to purchase a license holder or any other product or service as a condition of sale of hunting and/or fishing licenses.
Lamination – Do Not Laminate Deer or Turkey Permits
The Ohio Division of Wildlife encourages hunters and anglers to carry licenses and permits in a protective pouch. Another option is lamination. License Agents who choose to provide lamination services to our mutual customers must abide by the following rules:
License Agents may not require customers to purchase lamination services (or any other product or service) as a condition of sale of hunting and/or fishing licenses. License Agents who use heat-activated lamination machines must use a heat setting of 215 degrees or lower, otherwise it will destroy the license. Do not laminate deer or turkey permits/tags. Deer and turkey hunters are required to fill-in certain information on the temporary kill-tag before attaching it to the carcass – see “License Holders” above.
Back to Top
Concealed Carry
A person possessing a valid Concealed
Carry license may carry their concealed
weapon while hunting, but it may not be used to
shoot, shoot at, or kill any wild animal. For more
information go to www.ag.state.oh.us.
Back to Top
Hunting with Permission
The landowner’s written permission is required for hunting and trapping on private land, regardless of whether the land is posted. Permission slips are available at Division of Wildlife district offices and at wildohio.com.
The Penalty for Hunting Without Written Permission
The maximum penalty for hunting without written
permission of the landowner for a first offense
is 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. The
maximum penalty for a second offense is 90
days in jail and a $750 fine.
A person must carry written permission at all times while engaging in hunting
or trapping on private land and exhibit it upon
request to a state wildlife officer, sheriff, deputy
sheriff, police officer, other law enforcement officer, owner of the land, or the landowner’s authorized
agent.
Download the Permission to Hunt Form
Back to Top
Hunting Methods
Unless otherwise indicated, game may be taken with longbow, crossbow, or any caliber handgun, rifle, shotgun (10 gauge or smaller), or airgun. Be safe and choose the appropriate method for the species.
Game birds and game quadrupeds (except wild boar) may not be taken by trapping.
Electronic callers may be used while hunting, except while hunting migratory game birds (waterfowl, rails, and shorebirds) and wild turkeys. It is lawful to use electronic callers for crow hunting.
It shall be unlawful to use any device capable of transmitting or receiving a person’s voice to aid in the hunting or taking of deer.
Spotlighting of wild animals from vehicles, including illuminating with headlights, is prohibited. Spotlighting is illegal whether hunting implements are carried in the vehicle or not.
Persons hunting, trapping, or pursuing furbearing animals at night must carry a continuous white light visible for at least 1/4 mile. When two or more persons are hunting or trapping together for furbearing animals, only one light is required and may be carried by any member of the party. Persons hunting foxes, coyotes, or raccoon with a call from a stationary position may use a single beam light of any color.
It is unlawful to possess a hunting device while training or working a dog pursuing coyotes from sunset to sunrise.
All hunting from motor vehicles, except boats and machinery being used in farm operations, is prohibited. Hunting small game and furbearers except mink, muskrat, otter, and beaver is lawful from a boat or powercraft. All hunting from aircraft is prohibited.
It is unlawful to shoot from, on, across, or along a public road or highway.
During the statewide muzzleloader season and youth deer gun season it is unlawful to hunt legal game with shot shells containing shot larger than #4. Waterfowl hunters must use nontoxic shot of any size.
During the youth deer gun season, deer gun season, deer gun weekend, and the muzzleloader deer seasons all hunters must visibly wear a vest, jacket, coat, or coveralls that are solid hunter orange or hunter orange camo, except waterfowl hunters.
Longbows and crossbows may be used to take legal game. However, crossbows may not be used to hunt migratory game birds. Longbow hunters may use a hand-held mechanical release or a mechanical device with a working safety. Crossbows may be cocked with a device, but must have a working safety and a stock more than 25 inches long.
Arrows for longbow and crossbow must be tipped with a broadhead not less than 3/4 inch wide while hunting deer or turkey. The arrow tip must have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed.
It is unlawful to hunt deer or turkey with a longbow having a draw weight of less than 40 pounds, or with a crossbow having a draw weight of less than 75 pounds.
Poisoned or explosive arrows are unlawful. While hunting, it is unlawful to have attached to a longbow or crossbow any mechanical, electrical, or electronic device capable of projecting a beam of light.
Back to Top
Share the Bounty
There are several organizations in Ohio fighting hunger by helping hunters donate a portion or all of their venison to folks who need it.
The Division of Wildlife wishes to thank you, the Ohio hunter, for making a difference by donating your venison to the hungry of our state.
FARMERS AND HUNTERS FEEDING THE HUNGRY
(FHFH) is an outreach ministry called upon to help feed venison and other big game to the hungry among us. This program began in 1997 and continues to grow, with representation in more than one-half of the United States.
To make a donation, contact FHFH. Go to the national website (www.fhfh.org), go to Donate Deer, select Ohio from the list of states, and find an active chapter near you. Look at the processors available for that chapter. Each chapter has a contact person and the processor's name and address.
Venison donated to food banks must be processed by a local or state-inspected and insured meat processor who is participating with FHFH. Hunters wishing to donate their deer to a food bank are not required to pay for the processing of the venison as long as the program has funds available to cover the cost. A subsidy grant from the Division of Wildlife was awarded to FHFH to help with the costs of venison processing
www.fhfh.org
Find participating butchers in Ohio
SPORTSMEN AGAINST HUNGER
This program helps share nature's bounty with the hungry. This program is active in all 50 states of the U.S., in parts of Canada, and in several countries around the world.
Deer hunters wishing to help fight hunger and homelessness may donate venison to Ohio food pantries by contacting Safari Club International on their website (www.safariclubfoundation.org) under Sportsmen Against Hunger. Deer meat will be accepted during any of the Ohio deer seasons.
www.safariclubfoundation.org
WHITETAILS UNLIMITED
Whitetails Unlimited (WTU) is a national non-profit organization with over 30 chapters in Ohio. WTU's purpose is to raise funds in support of education, habitat conservation, and the preservation of the hunting tradition for the direct benefit of the white-tailed deer and other wildlife.
Local WTU chapters use local funds for programs such as venison donation to the needy, youth archery and shooting sports activities, conservation club grants, and hunting promotion. Go to the national website (www.whitetailsunlimited.com) to find a local chapter or for info on starting a chapter in your area. You can also call 1-800-274-5471 for more information.
www.whitetailsunlimited.com
Back to Top
Public Hunting Lands
It is unlawful for any person to use a rifle, pistol, revolver, shotgun or other firearm at any time on any land or water area, controlled or administered by the Division of Wildlife except while lawfully trapping, or hunting wild animals, or target practicing on a designated Division of Wildlife target range.
It shall be unlawful for any person to
distribute, place, or scatter salt, grain, or
other feed capable of luring, enticing, or
attracting birds on lands owned,
controlled, or maintained by the wildlife
division including those lands managed
by the division by virtue of a lease or an
agreement.
Portions of Deer Creek, Killdeer Plains, Resthaven, Lake La Su An, Berlin Lake, Big Island, Delaware, Grand River, Brush Creek, Waterloo, Cooper Hollow, East Fork, Woodbury, Spring Valley, and Fallsville wildlife areas will be open for disabled persons with severe mobility impairments to drive their cars, trucks, or an Electrically Powered All Purpose Vehicle to designated interior areas for hunting. Disabled persons are required to have an Electric Powered All Purpose Vehicle Permit. Find more information or download a permit application.
It is unlawful to hunt with or possess any shot except nontoxic shot at Metzger Marsh, Mallard Club, Pipe Creek, Magee Marsh, Toussaint, and Little Portage wildlife areas.
All hunting and trapping on Magee Marsh Wildlife Area is by permit only.
Back to Top
On All Wildlife Areas
It is illegal to sit, stand, or otherwise be in contact with oil or gas production or transmission wells, pumps, tanks, pipes, and other equipment.
Roadside camping is prohibited on all state wildlife areas. Primitive campgrounds are located on Woodbury, Tycoon, Wolf Creek, and Monroe wildlife areas.
On Auburn Marsh Wildlife Area it is unlawful to use a rifle, pistol, revolver, or a shotgun using slugs at any time. Deer hunting at Auburn Marsh Wildlife Area is lawful using archery equipment only.
All wildlife areas are closed to all activity other than hunting, trapping, and fishing from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. September 1 through May 1 and from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. May 2 through August 31.
Beaver and river otter trapping are prohibited on all state public hunting areas including state parks and forests without a special permit from the Division of Wildlife. Consult our district offices or website for information on how these permits can be obtained.
State parks have special hunting and trapping regulations. Some are not open to hunting or trapping. A permit is required to build a duck blind on state park lakes. Consult the Division of Parks and Recreation, 2045 Morse Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43229; phone (614) 265-6561, or the park manager.
It is unlawful to operate or park any vehicle on properties administered by the Division of Wildlife except on designated roads and parking areas.
Back to Top
Possession
Live furbearing animals, amphibians, reptiles, game quadrupeds, or game birds may not be held in captivity or sold except by propagation permit.
Hides of fur-bearing animals taken legally during the open season may be sold during that open season or may be held for sale until June 15 following the close of the season.
Furbearers may not be taken alive during open hunting and trapping seasons.
Persons desiring to buy green or dried fur must have a fur dealer’s permit.
It is unlawful to buy, sell or possess nongame birds or their parts, dead or alive.
Back to Top
Ginseng
No person shall dig, harvest, or otherwise collect
wild ginseng from its natural habitat except
during the season of September 1 through December 31 of each year. Ginseng plants with
unripened berries, or which have less than
three-leaf stems (prongs) cannot be harvested.
Seeds from wild ginseng plants shall be immediately
replanted at the place where the plants
were collected. Any person collecting ginseng
is required to keep accurate records showing
the number of pounds and ounces of ginseng,
both green and/or dry weight, collected in each
Ohio county by date of collection. Dealers and
buyers shall acquire a state dealer’s registration
permit each year prior to purchasing or otherwise
acquiring Ohio ginseng. No person shall
harvest wild or cultivated ginseng from private
or public property without first obtaining written
permission from the landowner or his agent.
Collection is prohibited on ODNR property. For
more information on ginseng harvest, contact
the Division of Wildlife.
Back to Top
Dog Training
The Ohio Division of Wildlife has established designated dog training areas on some of its wildlife areas. Dogs may not be trained or exercised on state public hunting areas from May 1 through August 31, except on these designated dog training areas. A nonresident may not train, work, or exercise a dog in Ohio at any time if Ohio residents are not permitted to train, work, or exercise dogs in the nonresident’s state. Training dogs while pursuing furbearing animals is permitted only from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Firearms may not be carried by persons training or working dogs during the closed season for furbearing animals.
Designated dog training areas are located on portions of the Berlin, Caesar Creek, Delaware, Fallsville, Indian Creek, Killdeer Plains, Lake La Su An, Oxbow Lake, Resthaven, Rush Run, Spencer, and Tri-Valley wildlife areas.
Back to Top
Shooting Ranges
The Ohio Division of Wildlife operates five Supervised Class A ranges. All persons age 18 and older shooting on Supervised Class A ranges must purchase a shooting range permit which is available at all hunting and fishing license outlets and on the License and Permit Finder page. Permits are not sold at the shooting ranges; however, a self-serve computer kiosk will be available at the Spring Valley Shooting Range for purchase of a permit on site with a credit card only.
Shooters age 17 and under are not required to purchase a permit, but must be accompanied and directly monitored by an adult (age 18 years or older) holding a valid shooting range permit.
Back to Top
Shooting Range Hours of Operation
CLASS “A” RANGES - Hours of operation vary. All ranges are closed on Monday and Tuesday as well as the following dates: New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Woodbury shooting range will be closed September 10-21, 2012. Contact the wildlife areas for detailed information:
• Delaware Wildlife Area*
8589 Horseshoe Rd., Ashley
(614) 644-3925**
• Deer Creek Wildlife Area*
12552 Post Rd., Route 1 Mt. Sterling
(614) 644-3925**
• Spring Valley Wildlife Area
3450 Houston Rd., Waynesville
(937) 862-5162
• Grand River Wildlife Area*
6686 S.R. 534 Farmington
(330) 889-3280
• Woodbury Wildlife Area*
23371 S.R. 60 S, Warsaw
(740) 824-3211
*Closed during January and February
**Call to confirm range is open due to frequent flooding issues
Back to Top
|
