Additional Days Approved for Ohio’s Mourning Dove Hunting Season

COLUMBUS, OH – Opening day for Ohio’s 2014-2015 early migratory bird hunting seasons will be Monday, Sept. 1, and includes mourning dove, Canada goose, rail, moorhen and snipe. Dates for these hunting seasons, plus teal and woodcock, were approved by the Ohio Wildlife Council on Wednesday, July 16.

Ohio’s dove hunting season was extended 20 days in 2014, including Sept. 1-Nov. 9 and Dec. 13-Jan. 1, 2015. The daily limit is 15 birds with a possession limit of 45 birds after the second day of the season.

Controlled dove hunts will be offered at Fallsville, Rush Run, Spring Valley, Indian Creek and Bott state wildlife areas. Bott Wildlife Area will hold its drawings at the Indian Creek Headquarters. Controlled hunts will take place during the first two days of the season, Sept. 1- 2. Controlled dove hunts will also be offered at St. Marys State Fish Hatchery on Sept. 1, 6, 13 and 20. Hunting hours will be noon to sunset for all controlled dove hunts.

Opening day drawings for all of these hunts will take place at noon on Saturday, Aug. 23, at the respective public area headquarters. Drawings for the other hunts will be held the day of the hunt at noon. Maps and details are available at wildohio.gov. Questions about these hunts should be directed to the ODNR Division of Wildlife’s District Five office at 937-372-9261.

Canada geese may be hunted Sept. 1-15 during the special early season, with a daily limit of five birds and possession limit of 15 after the second day. The Mercer Canada Goose Zone will be open during the early Canada goose season.

The early teal hunting season is Sept. 6-21 with a daily bag limit of six birds and possession limit of 18 after the second day. Sora rails, Virginia rails and moorhens can be hunted Sept.1-Nov. 9 with a daily limit of 25 rails and 15 moorhens. Hunting season for snipe is Sept. 1-Nov. 30 and Dec. 20-Jan. 4, 2015, with a daily bag limit of eight. The woodcock hunting season is Oct. 11-Nov. 24 with a daily bag limit of three.

Waterfowl hunters must have a valid hunting license in addition to an Ohio wetlands habitat stamp endorsement, a federal duck stamp and a Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification. Hunters must obtain a new HIP certification each year to hunt any migratory game bird season. Licenses, permits and stamps are available online at the Wild Ohio Customer Center. Federal duck stamps are available at duckstamp.com.

An Ohio wetlands habitat stamp endorsement and a federal duck stamp are not required to hunt doves, rails, moorhens, snipe and woodcock. Only nontoxic shot may be used to hunt waterfowl, rails, moorhens and snipe.

Hunting hours are sunrise to sunset. Exceptions apply on wildlife areas that have specially posted hunting times for doves. The 2014-2015 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations are available at wildohio.gov and at license outlets. The 2014 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons brochure will be available in August.