[DDX]

Ohio is moving this year from large zone based deer management to county based management. Ohio game officials said that smaller zones will allow them to better manage the herd on a more local level.

Those fools, it will never work. They should look to PA and see the stellar results our large zones are producing.

 

[Marble eye]

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[Bill_Weber_RRT]

What's next, shotgun only??? Oh wait that already happened....

 

[DDX]

COLUMBUS, OH – An October antlerless-only white-tailed deer muzzleloader hunting season, extended hunting hours and new bag limits were proposed to the Ohio Wildlife Council on Wednesday, Feb. 6, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

The proposed antlerless-only muzzleloader hunting season would be Oct. 12-13 and scheduled for the second weekend of October in subsequent years. The proposal includes making the October muzzleloader season for antlerless deer only, regardless of the method of take, and eliminating both the bonus gun weekend in December and the early muzzleloader season at three public hunting areas (Salt Fork Wildlife Area, Shawnee State Forest and Wildcat Hollow).

Hunting hours are proposed to be extended 30 minutes past sunset for all deer firearms seasons, including the weeklong deer-gun season, youth season and muzzleloader seasons. This will make the hours the same as archery season.

County bag limits are proposed to replace deer zones. Proposed bag limits will be two, three or four deer, determined by county. The proposed statewide bag limit is nine deer with additional controlled hunt opportunities, which do not count against the statewide bag limit. The nine deer bag limit is reduced from last season’s 18 deer limit.

It is also proposed that antlerless permits will only be valid until the Sunday before the deer-gun season. Urban deer zones would be eliminated. Hunters may harvest only one buck in Ohio, regardless of the method of take or location.

Proposed deer bag limits, from the following counties combined:
• One either-sex permit, one antlerless permit (eight counties): Darke, Erie, Fayette, Hancock, Madison, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood.
• Two either-sex permits, one antlerless permit (23 counties): Auglaize, Butler, Champaign, Clark, Gallia, Harrison, Henry, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Logan, Meigs, Mercer, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Preble, Ross, Shelby, Van Wert and Washington.
• Three either-sex permits, one antlerless permit (57 counties): Adams, Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Belmont, Brown, Carroll, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Defiance, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Fulton, Geauga, Greene, Guernsey, Hamilton, Hardin, Highland, Holmes, Huron, Knox, Lake, Licking, Lorain, Lucas, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Paulding, Pickaway, Pike, Portage, Putnam, Richland, Scioto, Seneca, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Vinton, Warren, Wayne, Williams and Wyandot.

Proposed seasons for 2013-2014:
• Deer archery: Sept. 28, 2013 - Feb. 2, 2014.
• Deer antlerless muzzleloader: Oct. 12-13, 2013.
• Youth deer gun: Nov. 16-17, 2013.
• Deer gun: Dec. 2-8, 2013.
• Deer muzzleloader: Jan. 4-7, 2014.

The start of fall turkey hunting season is proposed to be moved to the Monday following the antlerless deer muzzleloader season. The proposed fall turkey hunting season is Oct. 14 - Dec. 1, 2013. Butler, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Hamilton, Huron, Seneca and Warren counties are proposed to be added to the existing list of counties open for fall turkey hunting, which would bring the total to 56 counties.

Deer and fall wild turkey permits would go on sale June 1, instead of March 1.

 

[DDX]

4 month bow season. It just ended last weekend.

 

[OldDublin]

Far too many deer in Ohio....hope any changes by the ODNR slams 'em.

 

[dpms]

I am I reading it right that a hunter in Knox county can shoot three bucks?

 

[Reilly Auld]

No. One buck per year.

 

[DDX]

Their permits are strange, they are either sex but the bag limit is one buck. So if you kill a buck, you can buy another "either sex" but it can only be used on a doe/antlerless. An either sex tag is $24 but you can buy them 1 at time after you have taken a deer. The antlerless one is $15.

 

[Bluetick]

Appears they too are on a big herd reduction effort. True, they have slowed from last year as the total harvest was cut by half.

I still find it interesting that they limit the gun season so much.

 

[DDX]

Yes the just axed the 2 extra days which is great. Bow is their big draw, 4 months.

 

[zhuntman]

The allocations don't make any sense. Some northeast counties have the same deer allocation as the southern counties. The deer populations in southern Ohio are far greater than the north.

 

[Marble eye]

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[yellodog]

gee, they went from 3 zones, to 3 groups of counties, with the same rules. that oughta' help. go look at a map & see what has actually changed.

btw, in many counties you can buy unlimited urban antlerless tags that don't count against your limit. and these changes are only proposed, not enacted.

 

[Marble eye]

*

 

[Bigwoods Hunter]

Do they still have check stations? I wonder if the "doe" tags costing twice as much as ours fund these check stations in any way. I m not saying PA should have but a mandatory report one way or the other isnt a bad idea for PA. Trophy mentality in OH is very different than "brown its down" PA. Many in midwestern deer destination states let bucks get 3.5 before hittin the trigger. PA hunters want to shoot small bucks. IMO that is the major difference...PA is gettin there though. Slowly but getting there.

 

[Peppy]

No more check stations in Ohio. Call in, go online or go to a license shop and report your deer.

 

[OldDublin]

..... Trophy mentality in OH is very different than "brown its down" PA.....

That would be an extremely incorrect generalization.

 

[Peppy]

..... Trophy mentality in OH is very different than "brown its down" PA.....

That would be an extremely incorrect generalization.

The attitude imbedded possibly, but not in its truth.

Ohio and Ohians in my experience and first hand knowledge would lend credence to the idea and truth presented above.

However, and this is a very big however...be it known, the deer in Ohio are generally bigger (reasons are argued and discussed heavily as to the exact reasons why), but hunters in Ohio have a higher likelihood of killing a larger deer and most times has very little to do with being selective or results of trophy hunting.

This is only my opinion of course. But of the Amish I've talked to in Ohio, most are more knowledgable and versed on whitetail management, herd health, etc.. Than their Amish counterparts in PA, even more so than many Non-Amish hunters.

Ohio hunters hunt much differently than hunters in PA in my opinion and discussions with hunters there.

If a Ohian says they saw a "nice buck", it's probably 150" give or take. If an Ohian says they saw a "really nice buck", it's probably more like 165"+. And if an Ohian says they saw a monster? Well, you might want to get the camera ready for your hero shot if you kill him.

 

[TusseyMtMan]

Not using rifles has a lot to do with it, as does the shorter gun seasons. I hunt with a rifle. But, you can't deny the difference between PA and the non-rifle states.