Ohio Waterfowl Hunting Regulations

Posted by admin

September 6, 2008

COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio hunters will again enjoy a 60-day duck hunting season and a six-duck bag limit this year. The 2008-2009 waterfowl hunting season dates have been approved by the Ohio Wildlife Council and 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.

2008-2009 Waterfowl Hunting Regulations:

The waterfowl hunting seasons are set to open October 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 October 4-5.

The duck-hunting season in the North Zone is October 18 through December 7, with a second season open December 20 through December 28. In the South Zone, duck season is open October 18 through November 2, with a second season opening December 6 and running through January 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 - November 17 and December 20 - December 28; South Zone from October 18 - November 2 and December 26 - January 18), or two scaup (North Zone from November 18 - December 7; South Zone from December 6 - December 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 October 18 through November 30 with a second season opening December 3 and running through December 28. The goose season for the remainder of the North Zone is October 18 through November 30, with a second season December 17 through January 11, 2009. In the South Zone, goose season is October 18 through November 5 with a second season December 6 through January 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 2008-2009 hunting licenses and wetland stamps are on sale now and remain valid through February 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.

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