Ohio Wildlife Council Approves 2015-2016 Waterfowl Regulations and Hears New Proposal on CWD Surveillance

COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio’s waterfowl season dates and bag limits were approved by the Ohio Wildlife Council at its meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 19, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). In addition, the council was presented a new proposal to strengthen the state’s ability to address chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Ohio.

The proposed rule would allow the Chief of the ODNR Division of Wildlife to establish a “disease surveillance area” when chronic wasting disease has been detected in a wild or captive deer. This proposed rule would not automatically make an area with a CWD positive sample a “disease surveillance area,” but would allow the division to consider the situation and establish the area as needed.

A “disease surveillance area” designation would include all areas within a minimum of six miles surrounding any location where the disease has been detected. If an area would be designated as a “disease surveillance area,” the designation would remain in effect for a minimum of three years. The area would be mapped and posted on the ODNR Division of Wildlife’s website at wildohio.gov and would be available at any of the ODNR Division of Wildlife’s District offices.

The following regulations would apply within a “disease surveillance area” if it is established:

Required submission of harvested deer carcasses to Division of Wildlife inspection stations for inspection and sampling during the deer gun and deer muzzleloading seasons;

Prohibit the placement of or use of salt, mineral supplement, grain, fruit, vegetables or other feed to attract or feed deer;

Prohibit the hunting of deer by the aid of salt, mineral supplement, grain, fruit, vegetables or other feed;

Prohibit the removal of a deer carcass killed by a motor vehicle unless the carcass complies with the deer carcass regulations.

Normal agricultural activities including feeding of domestic animals as well as hunting deer over food plots, natural occurring or cultivated plants and agriculture crops would not be prohibited.

The proposed rule change is open to public comment and subject to a vote by the Wildlife Council at its regularly scheduled meeting in October. People interested in submitting comments about the proposed rule change are encouraged to visit wildohio.gov.

The Wildlife Council also approved the 2015-2016 following waterfowl season regulations and bag limits.

The South Zone, North Zone and Lake Erie Marsh Zones will remain the same for waterfowl hunting this year. New this year, the canvasback daily bag limit was increased to two.

Opening day for duck and goose hunting is Saturday, Oct. 17, in the Lake Erie Marsh Zone and Saturday, Oct. 24, in the North and South zones. See the 2015-2016 Waterfowl Hunting Seasons for more waterfowl hunting information, including zone maps.

Hunters 15 years of age and younger will have the opportunity to enjoy a statewide special youth waterfowl season Oct. 3-4. Bag limits established during the regular season apply.

Ohio is divided into three zones for duck, coot and merganser hunting. The seasons are split in each zone during the following dates:

Duck hunting season in the Lake Erie Marsh Zone is Oct. 17-Nov. 1 and Nov. 14-Dec. 27.
Duck hunting season in the North Zone is Oct. 24-Nov. 8 and Nov. 21-Jan. 3, 2016.
Duck hunting season in the South Zone is Oct. 24-Nov. 8 and Dec. 19-Jan. 31, 2016.

The daily bag limit for ducks is six, which may not include more than four mallards (no more than one may be female), three wood ducks, one black duck, two redheads, three scaup, two canvasbacks, two pintails and one mottled duck. The daily bag limit for mergansers is five, of which no more than two may be hooded mergansers. The daily bag limit for coots is 15. Possession limits after the second day are three times the daily bag limit.

Ohio is also divided into three zones for goose and brant hunting. The seasons are split in each zone during the following dates:

Goose hunting in the Lake Erie Marsh Zone is Oct. 17-Nov. 1, Nov. 14-Dec. 27 and Jan. 14-31, 2016
Goose hunting in the North Zone is Oct. 24-Nov. 8, Nov. 21-Jan. 3, 2015 and Jan. 14-31, 2016.
Goose hunting in the South Zone is Oct. 24-Nov. 8 and Dec. 1-Jan. 31, 2016.

The daily bag limit for Canada geese is three. Light geese (snows, Ross’s and blues) have a daily bag limit of 10, white-fronted geese have a daily bag limit of one and brant have a daily bag limit of one. The possession limit for brant and geese is three times the daily bag limit after the second day.

Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification is required of all migratory bird hunters prior to hunting. Migratory game bird hunters must call 877-HIPOHIO (447-6446) and answer a few survey questions to complete the HIP certification requirement. Once the survey has been completed, hunters will be provided a certification number to write on their Ohio hunting license.

Waterfowl hunters age 18 and older must also purchase an Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp, available at any hunting license agent or wildohio.gov. In addition, all waterfowl hunters age 16 and older must possess a signed federal duck stamp, which can be purchased at duckstamp.com, usps.com and most post offices.

Copies of this season’s waterfowl hunting regulations, which include maps of the zones, are available at wildohio.gov or available at all license agent outlets by late September.