|
 |
Small Game, Migratory Bird hunting seasons
proposed
COLUMBUS, OH – The 2019-2020 small game and migratory bird hunting
seasons and trapping seasons were proposed to the Ohio Wildlife Council
on Wednesday, Jan. 9, according to the Ohio Department of Natural
Resources (ODNR).
The hunting season date proposals prepared by the ODNR Division of
Wildlife maintain many traditional opening dates. Proposals concerning
Ohio's white-tailed deer hunting seasons will be presented at the next
Ohio Wildlife Council meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 13.
Notable changes among the proposals include providing an opportunity to
increase the daily bag limit of walleye, sauger or saugeye, in Lake
Erie when Ohio’s total allowable catch exceeds 3 million fish. Each
year, a total allowable catch is determined for walleye by the Lake
Erie Committee of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. The proposed bag
limit increase would be from four fish to six fish daily from March 1
to April 30 in Lake Erie, excluding the Sandusky River. (The four fish
daily bag limit would remain in place in this river.) This proposed
change would become effective in 2020.
Other notable proposals included modifying waterfowl bag limits by
decreasing the brant and pintail daily bag limit from three to one and
two to one, respectively; modifying annual shooting range permit fees
to provide a savings to shooters when purchased at the same time as
annual resident hunting licenses; and modifying the age requirements
for youth hunting seasons so they are open to hunters age 17 or
younger. This will provide for more uniform and consistent regulations
for all youth hunting seasons.
Additional proposed rule changes included exempting nonresident anglers
under the age of 16 from being required to obtain a nonresident Lake
Erie fishing permit; allowing hunters to carry a printed or electronic
version of their spring turkey, fall turkey, or deer permit(s); and
removing Mosquito Reservoir from the list of ODNR Division of Wildlife
properties where permits are issued for the construction of waterfowl
hunting blinds, providing more access to hunters. For a complete list
of all proposed changes, please visit the Winter 2019 Proposed Rule
Summary at wildohio.gov.
The Ohio Wildlife Council is an eight-member board that approves all of
the ODNR Division of Wildlife proposed rules and regulations. The
council will vote on the proposed rules and season dates after
considering public input.
Council meetings are open to the public. Individuals who want to
provide comments on a topic that is currently being considered by
council are asked to register at least two days before the meeting by
calling 614-265-6304. All comments are required to be three minutes or
less.
Open houses to receive public comments about hunting, trapping and
fishing regulations and other wildlife issues will be held on Saturday,
March 2. Open houses will be held at the ODNR Division of Wildlife
District One, District Two, District Three and District Four offices,
as well as the Greene County Fish and Game Association clubhouse in
Xenia.
Open houses give the public an opportunity to view and discuss proposed
fishing, hunting and trapping regulations with ODNR Division of
Wildlife officials. For Ohioans who are unable to attend an open house,
comments will be accepted online at wildohio.gov beginning on Thursday,
Feb. 14. Directions to the open houses can be found at wildohio.gov or
by calling 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543).
A statewide hearing on all of the proposed rules will be held at the
ODNR Division of Wildlife’s District One office on Thursday, March 21,
at 9 a.m. The office is located at 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus 43215.
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural
resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.
|
|
|
|
