REVISIONS TO OHIO DEER & TURKEY HUNTING REGULATIONS
Process for changing Ohio Deer & Turkey Hunting Laws
Rules that control deer and turkey hunting in Ohio are determined by the Ohio Wildlife Council. They face a delicate task of balancing hunter desires with the management of wildlife. Annual changes to the Ohio hunting regulations are based on state wildlife management assessments and the interest of the public. The public is afforded an opportunity each year to comment on proposed rule changes before the new year’s hunting regulations are published.
In early January, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife presents its proposed regulations for the next year to the Ohio Wildlife Council which may get revised slightly after reviewing data at the end of the deer season. The ODNR Division of Wildlife releases the change proposals to the public by publishing them on their website. Around the first week of March, an open house meeting is held in each of the state’s five wildlife districts to allow the public a chance to comment on the proposed hunting regulations. If you want to show support for or against these changes, you may want to mark your calendar and attend this meeting which is open to the public. About three weeks later, a state wide hearing is held at the wildlife district One Office in Columbus. The Ohio Wildlife Council considers the public’s input and determines the new rules.
Approved Changes to Regulations for 2011-2012
On Wednesday, 6 April 2011, the Ohio Wildlife Council approved changes to the Ohio hunting regulations for the 2011-2012 hunting seasons. The ODNR Division of Wildlife released the approved changes to the public on 7 April in a news release on their website at http://ohiodnr.com.
Changes impacting Turkey Hunting
There don’t seem to be any major rule changes that will impact turkey hunting. The fall turkey season is being proposed to start on 8 October and end on 27 November 2011 with a bag limit of one turkey of either sex. The youth spring turkey hunt is April 21-22 followed by the regular spring turkey season running April 23 through May 20, 2012. The bag limit is again to be two bearded turkeys for the spring season. Only one bearded turkey may be taken per day. Again, hunters will be allowed to hunt all day during 6-20 May 2012 which is the last two weeks of the spring turkey season.
Changes impacting Deer Hunting
Changes have been made to deer hunting seasons and bag limits. Archery season is to start on the 24th of September and continue through the 5th of February 2012. The early muzzleloader season is 17-22 Oct 2011. Gun season will be 28 November through December 4 with a two day hunt during 17-18 December 2011. The statewide muzzleloader season will again be in January during 2012 starting the 7th of January and going through the 10th.
Deer hunters “hunting in urban units and at Division of Wildlife-authorized controlled hunts will have a six-deer bag limit, and those deer will not count against the hunter’s zone bag limit.” This does not include the early special area muzzleloader hunt for Salt Fork, Shawnee, and Wildcat Hollow, even though it is called a controlled hunt. The bag limit for this special area muzzleloader hunt remains at one deer of either sex according the ODNR and the deer taken during this season counts towards the hunter’s zone bag limit. Hunters will again be able to purchase $15 antlerless deer permits through November 27th and those hunting in zone C will be able to use them until December 4th for killing up to six deer for the year. If you are a senior who qualifies for half price tags and you don’t plan to kill more than three deer, you may want to buy regular tags for $12 in place of the $15 antlerless tags. The antlerless tags are not half price for some reason. The one antlered deer per year limit and a requirement for a permit for each deer killed will still apply.
Checking in Game
You don’t need to take your game to a checking station anymore (Ref. Page 8 of hunting regulations). A new automated game checking system is in place which allows you to check in the deer or turkey by internet, phone or at a license agent. Landowners who hunt on land that they own but don’t live on are out of luck. The phone option is not open to them. To check their game in by 11:30 p.m. on the day it was killed, they must immediately go back home, go somewhere to use a computer, or go to a license agent. For some reason, land owners are allowed to check their game in without a permit number using a computer but can’t by phone. See ODNR site for more details.
The new official hunting regulations, when finalized and published, will be available online from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources at their Wild Ohio Customer Center. Be sure to review or obtain a copy of them prior to your hunting trip to ensure you are aware of any changes that get approved. If you want to learn more about hunting white tail deer and wild turkey in southeastern Ohio visit http://hunt-ohio-deer-and-turkey-on-public-land.com.
