The Ohio Wildlife Council is considering some changes to 2020 hunting seasons with an eye towards increasing opportunities for hunters and protecting a shrinking quail and grouse population.
According to the Ohio Division of Wildlife, both public input and recommendations from ODW scientists specializing in species populations are considered when making the rules.
One proposal would allow active military and vets to hunt during the youth waterfowl season Oct. 3-4. There’s also a proposal to delay the waterfowl hunting season in the north zone to Oct. 24 to allow for more hunting days in November. Also on the table is reducing the daily bag limit to one bird during the first 15 days of the season.
Additionally, it’s been suggested moving the opening of the 2021 spring turkey season to a Saturday in the south and northeast zones to allow for additional weekend hunting. Another new proposal would require a fur taker permit to hunt or trap coyotes and adding coyotes to the trapping season.
Also suggested was closing quail hunting on state-owned land and reducing the quail bag limit to two birds as well as shortening the ruffled grouse limits. You can read a complete list of the proposed changes by clicking here.
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Ohioans can provide comments on these and other proposed changes during the weeklong open house period from March 2-6, 2020, at any Division of Wildlife district office. Online submissions can be made at wildohio.gov beginning Feb. 21, 2020.
A statewide hearing on all proposed rules will be held at the Division of Wildlife’s District One office on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at 9 a.m. The office is located at 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus 43215.
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