Ohio Division of Wildlife proposes schedule, regulations for upcoming hunting seasons
Nobody knows the future in its details, but hunters and trappers at least have a clue about things to come.
Ohio Division of Wildlife proposals made public on Jan. 11 call for no significant changes in dates, season lengths or take limits for the 2023-24 hunting and trapping seasons. The eight-member Ohio Wildlife Council, a citizens’ panel tasked with approving or disapproving hunting, trapping and fishing regulations, will render its verdict by mid-April.
Excluded from the proposals are deer regulations, which won’t be made public until the council meets on Feb. 8, three days after the close of the current whitetail season.
The division cut the statewide spring wild turkey season limit to a single bearded bird last year and pared the number of open days during the fall hunt. The recent proposals maintain the single-bird spring limit through 2024 and keep the latest limits on the fall hunt.
Because of their falling numbers, ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail and ring-necked pheasants will also have their restrictions kept in place.
Proposals include a Sept. 1 start to the squirrel season; seasons for rail, gallinule and Wilson’s snipe; and the first half of a split mourning dove season. Sept. 2 would mark the opening of an early Canada goose season that would run through Sept. 10 and an early teal season to run through Sept. 17.
Youth hunts would include a special waterfowl season on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, a small-game window Oct. 21-22 and Oct. 28-29, and spring turkey weekend on April 13th and 14th in 2024.
Woodcock season would open Oct. 13 and grouse season Oct. 14 on both private and public land. The fall wild turkey hunt would begin Oct. 14 in selected counties.
Goose and duck seasons in the South Zone, which covers most of central Ohio, would start on Oct. 21. A special two-day statewide waterfowl hunt for veterans and active military would be held the weekend of Sept. 30.
The hunting seasons for cottontail rabbit, ring-necked pheasant and bobwhite quail would open Nov. 3.
Hunting and trapping seasons would commence Nov. 10 for fox, raccoon, skunk, opossum and weasel. Trapping would open on Nov. 10 for mink and muskrat. Trapping would begin on Dec. 26 for beaver and river otter.
For details on the proposals, including closing dates and daily limits, see the website, wildohio.gov. Comments from the public will be accepted Feb. 10 through March 8 at the email address wildlife.lawproposals@dnr.ohio.gov.
A statewide public hearing is typically held in March. The council traditionally votes on the proposals during its April meeting.
Something fishy
After a lengthy public health break, the Hoover Fishing Seminar returns Saturday for its 23rd installment at Walnut Springs Middle School, 888 E. Walnut St., Westerville. Doors open at 7 a.m. and a dozen scheduled classes on various aspects of fishing area waters commence at 8 a.m.
The $16 cost covers a round of seminars, lunch and five raffle tickets. Tickets also will be available for the raffle featuring a wide range of items that typically include quality rods, reels, electronics and other gear.
Seminars will cover kayak catfishing, kayak tournament fishing basics, kayak bass fishing, fish finders, Hoover catfishing, bank fishing, the Hoover multispecies fish management study, Alum muskie fishing, bass fishing at Hoover, crappie fishing at Hoover, and there will be two presentations on saugeye fishing.
All proceeds benefit two area youth fishing clubs, Hartley’s Hawgs and the Walnut Springs Middle School group. Details on seminars and a link to register can be found at the Hartley's Hawgs website.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio hunting season calendar proposed by Ohio Division of Wildlife
