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Migratory Bird Season Dates Approved by Ohio Wildlife Council Ohio's hunting season opens September 1 COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Wildlife Council has approved the state's early migratory game bird hunting seasons for this fall, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife. September 1 kicks off the state's hunting season with the opening of dove, Canada goose, rail, moorhen and snipe. Ohio's dove season runs September 1 through October 23 and December 17 through January 2, 2012, with a daily limit of 15 birds and a possession limit of 30 birds. Controlled dove hunts will be offered at Fallsville, Rush Run, Spring Valley, Indian Creek and Bott state wildlife areas. These controlled hunts will take place Thursday, September 1 and Friday, September 2; hunting hours will be noon to sunset. Controlled dove hunts will also be offered at St. Marys Fish Hatchery on September 1, 3, 6, 10, 13 and 17. Youths 17 years old and younger will be given priority on September 1st and 3rd. Opening day drawings for all of these hunts will take place at noon, Saturday, August 27, at the respective public area headquarters. Drawings for the other hunts will be held the day of the hunt at noon. Maps and details are available at wildohio.com. Questions about any of these hunts should be directed to the Division of Wildlife's Southwest District office at (937) 372-9261. Canada geese may be hunted statewide September 1-15, during the special early season, with a daily limit of four birds and possession limit of eight birds after the first day. The Mercer Goose Zone will not be open during the early Canada goose season. A map of the area closed to Canada goose hunting during the early season is available online at wildohio.com. The early teal hunting season will open September 3 and end September 18, with a daily bag limit of four birds and possession limit of eight after the first day. Waterfowl hunters must have a valid hunting license in addition to a state wetlands habitat stamp endorsement, a federal duck stamp and a Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification. Anyone who intends to hunt migratory game birds must obtain a new HIP certification each year. Sora rails, Virginia rails and moorhens can be hunted September 1 through November 9, with a daily limit of 25 rails and 15 moorhens. Hunting season for snipe will be September 1 through November 27 and December 17 through January 4, 2012 with a daily bag limit of eight. The woodcock hunting season is open October 8 through November 21, with a daily bag limit of three birds and a possession limit of six birds. Hunting hours during the seasons for rails, moorhens, snipe, woodcock, teal, doves and Canada geese are sunrise to sunset. The only exceptions will be on wildlife areas that have specially posted hunting times for doves. The 2011-12 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations and the 2011 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons brochure can be found on line at wildohio.com. The 2011 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons brochure will be available by late August at license outlets, Division of Wildlife district offices, or by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE. |
2011-12 Waterfowl Hunting Season Dates Approved by Wildlife Council
Third zone for duck hunting added; new option offered by the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service
COLUMBUS, OH - The 2011-2012 waterfowl hunting season dates have been approved by the
Ohio Wildlife Council, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of
Wildlife.
Ohio duck hunters can now take advantage of three zones for hunting. Based on comments
received from waterfowl hunters in recent years and recent survey results, there was a need to
separate the Lake Erie Marsh Region from the rest of the North Zone so that season dates would
better maximize hunting opportunities when waterfowl are most abundant in different regions of
Ohio. Also, the border between the North Zone and the South Zone has moved south to Interstate
70. This move attempts to maximize hunting opportunities.
"I appreciate the efforts of Division of Wildlife staff to solicit input from the hunting public with respect
to their preferences for hunting waterfowl and then use that information to develop season
proposals that reflect what the majority of hunters have indicated is most important to them," stated
Dr. Larry Mixon, chairman of Ohio Wildlife Council.
The newly created Lake Erie Marsh Zone encompasses portions of Lucas, Wood, Ottawa,
Sandusky, and Erie counties. The duck hunting season in the Lake Erie Marsh Zone is October
15-30 followed by a second segment that opens November 12 through December 25.
The duck hunting season in the North Zone is October 15-30, followed by a second segment that
opens November 19 through January 1. In the South Zone, duck season is open October 22
through November 6, followed by a second segment that opens December 17 and runs through
January 29, 2012.
The daily bag limit for ducks is six, which may not include more than four mallards (no more than
one may be female), three wood ducks, one black duck, two redheads, two scaup, one canvasback,
two pintails, and one mottled duck. The daily bag limit for mergansers is five, of which no more than
two may be hooded mergansers. The daily bag limit for coots is 15. Possession limits after the first
day are twice the daily bag limit.
In the Lake Erie Canada Goose Zone, the goose season is October 15 through October 30 followed
by a second segment that opens November 12 and runs through January 8, 2012. The goose
season for the remainder of the North Zone is October 15 through October 30, with a second
segment that runs from November 19 through January 1, 2012 and a third segment from January
9-22, 2012. In the South Zone, goose season is October 22 through November 20 followed by a
second segment that opens December 17 and runs through January 29, 2012.
The daily bag limit for Canada geese is two. Light geese (snows, blues, Ross') have a daily bag limit
of 10, white-fronted geese have a daily bag limit of two and brant have a daily bag limit of one. The
possession limit for brant and geese is twice the daily bag limit after the first day.
Hunters 15 years of age and younger will have the opportunity to enjoy a special statewide
waterfowl season October 1-2.
Licensed falconers may hunt in the Lake Erie Marsh, North, South and Lake Erie Canada Goose
zones whenever these zones are open to waterfowl hunting; in addition properly licensed falconers
may hunt ducks and coots statewide from February 4, 2012 through March 3, 2012 and geese from
February 4 - 18, 2012.
Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification is required of all waterfowl hunters prior to hunting.
New this year, migratory game bird hunters must call 1-877-HIPOHIO (447-6446) and answer a few
survey questions to complete the HIP certification requirement. Once the survey has been
completed, hunters will be provided a certification number to write on their Ohio hunting license.
Waterfowl hunters age 18 and older will also need a state wetland habitat stamp which may be
purchased at any hunting license agent or at wildohio.com. In addition, all waterfowl hunters age 16
and older must posses a signed federal duck stamp which can be purchased at most U.S. post
offices.
Copies of this season's waterfowl hunting regulations, which include maps of the zones (Publication
295, Waterfowl Hunting Seasons), will be available online at wildohio.com or by late September to
hunters at all license agent outlets.
The 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.
Third zone for duck hunting added; new option offered by the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service
COLUMBUS, OH - The 2011-2012 waterfowl hunting season dates have been approved by the
Ohio Wildlife Council, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of
Wildlife.
Ohio duck hunters can now take advantage of three zones for hunting. Based on comments
received from waterfowl hunters in recent years and recent survey results, there was a need to
separate the Lake Erie Marsh Region from the rest of the North Zone so that season dates would
better maximize hunting opportunities when waterfowl are most abundant in different regions of
Ohio. Also, the border between the North Zone and the South Zone has moved south to Interstate
70. This move attempts to maximize hunting opportunities.
"I appreciate the efforts of Division of Wildlife staff to solicit input from the hunting public with respect
to their preferences for hunting waterfowl and then use that information to develop season
proposals that reflect what the majority of hunters have indicated is most important to them," stated
Dr. Larry Mixon, chairman of Ohio Wildlife Council.
The newly created Lake Erie Marsh Zone encompasses portions of Lucas, Wood, Ottawa,
Sandusky, and Erie counties. The duck hunting season in the Lake Erie Marsh Zone is October
15-30 followed by a second segment that opens November 12 through December 25.
The duck hunting season in the North Zone is October 15-30, followed by a second segment that
opens November 19 through January 1. In the South Zone, duck season is open October 22
through November 6, followed by a second segment that opens December 17 and runs through
January 29, 2012.
The daily bag limit for ducks is six, which may not include more than four mallards (no more than
one may be female), three wood ducks, one black duck, two redheads, two scaup, one canvasback,
two pintails, and one mottled duck. The daily bag limit for mergansers is five, of which no more than
two may be hooded mergansers. The daily bag limit for coots is 15. Possession limits after the first
day are twice the daily bag limit.
In the Lake Erie Canada Goose Zone, the goose season is October 15 through October 30 followed
by a second segment that opens November 12 and runs through January 8, 2012. The goose
season for the remainder of the North Zone is October 15 through October 30, with a second
segment that runs from November 19 through January 1, 2012 and a third segment from January
9-22, 2012. In the South Zone, goose season is October 22 through November 20 followed by a
second segment that opens December 17 and runs through January 29, 2012.
The daily bag limit for Canada geese is two. Light geese (snows, blues, Ross') have a daily bag limit
of 10, white-fronted geese have a daily bag limit of two and brant have a daily bag limit of one. The
possession limit for brant and geese is twice the daily bag limit after the first day.
Hunters 15 years of age and younger will have the opportunity to enjoy a special statewide
waterfowl season October 1-2.
Licensed falconers may hunt in the Lake Erie Marsh, North, South and Lake Erie Canada Goose
zones whenever these zones are open to waterfowl hunting; in addition properly licensed falconers
may hunt ducks and coots statewide from February 4, 2012 through March 3, 2012 and geese from
February 4 - 18, 2012.
Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification is required of all waterfowl hunters prior to hunting.
New this year, migratory game bird hunters must call 1-877-HIPOHIO (447-6446) and answer a few
survey questions to complete the HIP certification requirement. Once the survey has been
completed, hunters will be provided a certification number to write on their Ohio hunting license.
Waterfowl hunters age 18 and older will also need a state wetland habitat stamp which may be
purchased at any hunting license agent or at wildohio.com. In addition, all waterfowl hunters age 16
and older must posses a signed federal duck stamp which can be purchased at most U.S. post
offices.
Copies of this season's waterfowl hunting regulations, which include maps of the zones (Publication
295, Waterfowl Hunting Seasons), will be available online at wildohio.com or by late September to
hunters at all license agent outlets.
The 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.