Ohio DNR Proposes Dates for Fall Hunting Seasons to Ohio Wildlife Council
OutdoorHub 01.11.13
On Wednesday, Jan. 9, the Ohio Wildlife Council received potential dates for the upcoming fall hunting seasons, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The ODNR Division of Wildlife biologists proposed that several traditional hunting dates be utilized for 2013-2014.
Sept. 1 is the proposed start date for Ohio’s fall squirrel and dove hunting seasons. Upland game hunting seasons for cottontail rabbit, ring-necked pheasant and bobwhite quail are proposed to start Nov. 1, the first Friday in November. Fox, raccoon, skunk, opossum and weasel hunting and trapping are proposed to start Nov. 10.
ODNR Division of Wildlife biologists proposed that cottontail rabbit hunting restrictions be removed in the snowshoe hare protected area in Geauga and Ashtabula counties. Remaining snowshoe hares are still protected as a state-endangered species and it remains illegal to kill them in Ohio.
Proposed open counties for quail hunting include Adams, Athens, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Highland, Jackson, Meigs, Montgomery, Pike, Preble, Ross, Scioto, Vinton and Warren.
Youth upland game seasons are proposed statewide for two weekends: Oct. 19-20 and Oct. 26-27.
Proposed 2014 wild turkey season dates are April 21-May 18, and the proposed 2014 youth wild turkey season is April 19-20.
Proposals concerning Ohio’s white-tailed deer and fall wild turkey hunting season will be heard at the next Ohio Wildlife Council meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 6.
Open houses will be held Saturday, March 2 at the state’s five wildlife district offices, the Lake Erie Fairport office and the Old Woman Creek Reserve office in Huron to give the public an opportunity to view and discuss proposed hunting and trapping regulations with the ODNR Division of Wildlife officials. For Ohioans who are unable to attend an open house, comments will be accepted online at wildohio.com. The online form will be available until March. Directions to the open houses can be found at wildohio.com or by calling 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543).
A statewide hearing on all of the proposed rules will be held at the ODNR Division of Wildlife’s District One office on Thursday, March 7 at 9 a.m. The office is located at 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43215. After considering public input, the Ohio Wildlife Council will vote on the proposed rules and season dates during its April 3 meeting.
