Ohio Wildlife Council Approves Migratory Bird Season Dates

The Ohio Wildlife Council has approved the state's early migratory game bird hunting seasons for this fall, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. September 1 kicks off the state's hunting season with the opening of dove, Canada goose, teal, rail, moorhen and snipe.

Ohio's dove season runs September 1-October 21 and December 15-January 2, 2013, with a daily limit of 15 birds and a possession limit of 30 birds.

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. These controlled hunts will take place Saturday, September 1 and Sunday, September 2; hunting hours will be noon to sunset. Controlled dove hunts will also be offered at St. Marys Fish Hatchery on September 1-2, 8, 15 and 22. Youths 17-years-old and younger will be given priority on September 1-2.

Opening day drawings for all of these hunts will take place at noon, Saturday, Aug. 25 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.com. Questions about any of these hunts should be directed to the Division of Wildlife's Southwest District office at 937-372-9261.

Canada geese may be hunted statewide September 1-15 during the special early season with a daily limit of four birds and possession limit of eight birds after the first day. Although closed in past years, the Mercer Canada Goose Zone will be open during the early Canada goose season; thus, Canada geese can be hunted statewide during the early season.

The early teal hunting season will open September 1 and end September 16 with a daily bag limit of four birds and possession limit of eight after the first day.

Waterfowl hunters must have a valid hunting license in addition to a state wetlands habitat stamp endorsement, a federal duck stamp and a Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification. Anyone who intends to hunt migratory game birds must obtain a new HIP certification each year.

Sora rails, Virginia rails and moorhens can be hunted September 1-November 9 with a daily limit of 25 rails and 15 moorhens. Hunting season for snipe will be September 1-November 25 and December 15-January 4, 2013, with a daily bag limit of eight. The woodcock hunting season is open October 12-November 25 with a daily bag limit of three birds and a possession limit of six birds.

Hunting hours during the seasons for rails, moorhens, snipe, woodcock, teal, doves and Canada geese are sunrise to sunset. The only exceptions will be on wildlife areas that have specially posted hunting times for doves.

The 2012-13 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations and the 2012 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons brochure can be found on line at wildohio.com. The 2012 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons brochure will be available by late August at license outlets, Division of Wildlife district offices or by calling 800-WILDLIFE.