Published August 25, 2008 04:00 am - Ohio hunters will again enjoy a 60-day duck-hunting season and a six-duck bag limit this year. The 2008-09 waterfowl hunting season dates have been approved by the Ohio Wildlife Council.
Outdoors Insider, with Dale Sunderlin: Waterfowl dates set for 2008-09
DALE SUNDERLIN Star Beacon
Ohio hunters will again enjoy a 60-day duck-hunting season and a six-duck bag limit this year. The 2008-09 waterfowl hunting season dates have been approved by the Ohio Wildlife Council.
Most are the most liberal regulations allowed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The waterfowl hunting seasons are set to open Oct. 18 in both Ohio’s north and south zones. Hunters 15 years of age and younger will have the opportunity to enjoy a special statewide season Oct. 4-5.
The duck-hunting season in the North Zone is October 18 through Dec. 7, with a second season open Dec. 20 through Dec. 28. In the South Zone, duck season is open Oct. 18 through Nov. 2, with a second season opening Dec. 6 and running through Jan. 18, 2009.
The daily bag limit for ducks is six, which may not include more than four mallards (no more than one may be female), one black duck, one pintail, three wood ducks, two redheads, and three mottled ducks. Due to continuing low breeding populations of lesser scaup, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has offered a mixed scaup bag limit with 40 days of a one-bird limit and 20 days of a two-bird limit.
As a result, Ohio hunters can take one scaup ( North Zone from October 18 - Nov. 17 and Dec. 20 - Dec. 28; South Zone from Oct. 18 - Nov. 2 and Dec. 26 - Jan. 18), or two scaup (North Zone from Nov. 18 - Dec. 7; South Zone from Dec. 6 - Dec. 25). Possession limits after the first day are twice the daily bag limit. Hunting season for canvasbacks will be closed.
The daily bag limit for mergansers is five, of which only two may be hooded. 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 Oct. 18 through Nov. 30 with a second season opening Dec. 3 and running through Dec. 28. The goose season for the remainder of the North Zone is Oct. 18 through Nov. 30, with a second season Dec. 17 through Jan. 11, 2009. In the South Zone, goose season is Oct. 18 through Nov. 5 with a second season Dec. 6 through Jan. 25, 2009.
The daily bag limit for Canada geese is two. Light geese (snows, blues, Ross’) have a daily bag limit of 10, and white-fronted geese and brant have a daily bag limit of two. The possession limit for brant and geese is twice the daily bag limit after the first day. The Late Canada Goose Season will not be offered this year.
People planning to hunt waterfowl are required to answer several questions for the Harvest Information Program (HIP) survey when purchasing their hunting licenses.
A state wetland habitat stamp endorsement and a valid and signed federal duck stamp are required when hunting waterfowl, in addition to an Ohio hunting license. The 2008-09 hunting licenses and wetland stamps are on sale now and remain valid through Feb. 28, 2009.
Copies of this season’s waterfowl hunting regulations, which include maps of the zones (Publication 295, Waterfowl Hunting Regulations), will be available in mid-September to hunters at all license vendors, online at wildohio.com and at Division of Wildlife district offices in Akron, Athens, Columbus, Findlay and Xenia, or by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE. (Portions reprinted by permission from the Ohio Division of wildlife)
Feedback welcomed
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife will welcome the public to its annual Open Houses on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008, from noon until 3: p.m. Normally held in the spring of the year, this is the first anyone form the division can remember scheduling these meeting for this time of year.
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