Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations Approved for 2011-12
OutdoorHub 04.08.12
Hunting and trapping regulations for 2011-12 seasons were passed by the Ohio Wildlife Council at the April 6 meeting, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The proposed change to move Fayette County from Deer Zone B to Zone A was approved. A rule to eliminate the requirement for all packages of deer meat produced during the butchering process to be marked with the tag, seal or certificate number was also passed. The tag, seal or certificate must be maintained until the entire deer has been consumed, but the package no longer needs to be marked.
Hunters can again buy antlerless deer permits at reduced prices for hunting in an urban zone, participating in a Division of Wildlife-authorized controlled hunt or hunting during the September 24 to November 27 portion of the deer season. The sale of reduced priced antlerless permits will cease after November 27, so hunters need to commit early to buying and using the extra reduced-cost permits to take full advantage of this opportunity. The deadline for using the antlerless permit will be extended to December 4 for those hunting in Deer Zone C. Cost of the antlerless deer permit remains $15.
The maximum number of deer that a hunter may take in Deer Zone A is two. Prior to November 28, hunters may take up to two deer in Zone A, one of which may be on a $15 antlerless deer permit. Beginning November 28, hunters may take only one deer in Zone A and antlerless permits may not be used.
The maximum number of deer that a hunter may take in Deer Zone B is four. Prior to November 28, hunters may take up to four deer in Zone B, two of which may be on $15 antlerless deer permits. Beginning November 28, hunters may take only two deer in Zone B and antlerless permits may not be used.
The maximum number of deer that a hunter may take in Deer Zone C is six. Prior to December 5, hunters may take up to six deer in Zone C, three of which may be on $15 antlerless deer permits. Beginning December 5, hunters may take only three deer in Zone C and antlerless permits may not be used.
Those hunting in urban zones and at Division of Wildlife-authorized controlled hunts will again have a six-deer bag limit, and those deer will not count against the hunter’s zone bag limit.
Either a $15 antlerless deer permit and a valid hunting license or $24 deer permit and a valid hunting license are required to hunt deer in Ohio. A hunter may take only one antlered deer in Ohio, regardless of zone, hunting method or season.
2011-12 White-tailed Deer Seasons and Dates:
- Archery season – September 24 through February 5, 2012
- Special area muzzleloader hunts – October 17-22
- Youth deer-gun season – November 19-20
- Statewide deer-gun season – November 28 through December 4 and December 17-18
- Statewide muzzleloader season – January 7-10, 2012
During the 2010-2011 season hunters killed a total of 239,260 deer. Approximately 475,000 people hunt white-tailed deer in Ohio.
Hunting seasons for rabbit, pheasant, quail, squirrel, crow, and wild turkey were approved as proposed. So were trapping seasons for beaver, mink, muskrat, and river otter, along with the hunting and trapping seasons for beaver, fox, raccoon, skunk, and weasel.
2011-12 Hunting and/or Trapping Seasons and Dates:
- Squirrel – September 1 through January 31, 2012
- Ruffed grouse – October 8 through January 31, 2012
- Fall Wild Turkey – October 8 – November 27, in specified counties
- Youth upland season – October 22-23 and October 29-30
- Cottontail rabbit – November 4 through February 29, 2012
- Ring-necked Pheasant – November 4 through January 8, 2012
- Bobwhite Quail – November 4-27, in specified counties
- Fox, raccoon, skunk, opossum, and weasel – November 10 through January 31, 2012
- Mink and muskrat – November 10 through February 29, 2012
- Mink, muskrat, raccoon, skunk, opossum, and weasel (Lake Erie Marsh area) – November 10 through March 15, 2012
- Beaver – December 26 through February 29, 2012
- River Otter – December 26 through February 29, 2012
- Youth Spring Wild Turkey Season – April 21 and 22, 2012
- Spring Wild Turkey – April 23, 2012 through May 20, 2012
- Crow (Fri, Sat, Sun only) – June 3, 2011 through March 12, 2012 and June 2, 2012 through March 11, 2013
- Coyote and woodchuck – No closed season
Rules and season dates for migratory birds including mourning dove, Canada goose, rail, moorhen, snipe, woodcock, and waterfowl hunting will be set in August, in compliance with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s 2011-12 framework.
All hunting and trapping season dates and rules can be found at wildohio.com.
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR Web site at ohiodnr.com.
