Ohio migratory bird hunting begins Sept. 1

The state's early migratory bird hunting seasons for this fall will kick off Sept. 1 with the openers for dove, Canada goose, rail, moorhen, and snipe, as approved recently by the Ohio Wildlife Council.

The dove season is to run Sept. 1 through Oct. 24 and Dec. 6 through 21, with a daily limit of 15 birds and a possession limit of 30.

Controlled dove hunts are to be offered at Fallsville, Rush Run, Spring Valley, Indian Creek, and Bott state wildlife areas. These controlled hunts are to take place Sept. 1 and 2 with hunting hours to be noon to sunset. Controlled dove hunts also are to be offered at St. Marys Fish Hatchery on Sept. 1, 4, 7, 11, 14, and 18, with youth given priority on September 1, 4, and 7.

Opening-day drawings for all of these hunts are scheduled for noon, Saturday, Aug. 28, at the respective public area headquarters. Drawings for the other hunts are to 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 Sept. 1-15, during the special early season, with a daily limit of four birds and possession limit of eight birds after the first day. The Mercer Goose Zone will not be open during the early Canada goose season.

The early teal hunting season is to open Sept. 4 through 19, 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 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 Sept. 1 through November 9, with a daily limit of 25 rails and 15 moorhens. Hunting season for snipe is Sept. 1 through Nov. 28 and Dec. 6-23, with a daily bag limit of eight. The woodcock hunting season is to open Oct. 9 through Nov. 22, with a daily bag limit of three birds and a possession limit of six.

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 2010-11 digest of Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations and the 2010 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons brochure can be found on line at wildohio.com. The 2010 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons brochure is to be available by late August at license outlets, Division of Wildlife district offices, or by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.

A random drawing is set for Aug. 16 for three special controlled deer gun hunts at Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve in Jackson County.

The preserve encompasses more than 2,000 acres in southeast Ohio and harbors rich Appalachian forest cut by deep ravines, with a clear-water lake surrounded by sandstone cliffs.

Deer in high numbers have begun to have a negative effect on the nature preserve's flora.

Three one-day gun hunts are set for Nov. 29 and 30 and Dec. 1, the first three days of the shotgun season. Applicants will be assigned a hunting date at the time of the drawing and will receive a permit for that day, which is good for two hunters. Applicants must hold a current Ohio hunting license to be eligible.

Hunters who want to apply for a permit should submit a three-by-five-inch index card with printed name, complete address, and daytime telephone number along with the caption "Lake Katharine Gun Hunt" and a check or money order - no cash is accepted - for the $5 processing fee to the ODNR, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, 2045 Morse Rd., Bldg. C-2, Columbus, OH 43229. Only one name per postcard.

Entries must be received no later than Aug. 15. Only successful applicants will be notified by phone. Multiple applications are accepted, but each name will be awarded only one license. One $5 fee covers all applications.

The preserve is two miles west of the city of Jackson on Jackson County Road 85 (Lake Katharine Road). For other details call the preserve office at 740-286-2487.

In other deer hunting news, the 2009 all-seasons deer bag in Michigan was 444,047, down 9 percent from that of 2008, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment has reported. Hunters killed 5 percent fewer antlerless deer and 14 percent fewer bucks than in 2008.

Almost 687,000 deer hunters went afield in 2009, about the same as in 2008. Hunter success was down 6 percent during the traditional Nov. 15 through 30 firearms season, but up 1 percent during archery seasons, which department officials speculated could be attributed to more liberal rules for crossbows. The complete survey results are available online at michigan.gov/dnrhunting.

The 28th Lake Erie Waterfowlers Festival is scheduled for Aug. 21 and 22 at Magee Marsh State Wildlife Area, and Tom Kubicz, one of the organizers, wants to make a special effort to include youth programs on the 21st. But he is having difficulty obtaining commitments from organizations to pitch in.

"I would like something to happen, but I don't know what to do," said Kubicz, who acknowledged that he is a bit frustrated inasmuch as youths are the future of hunting and fishing.

So far, he said, a couple of individual dog trainers have come forward, as have the local Pheasants Forever chapters, the Ohio State Trappers Association, and Wolf Creek Sportsmen's Association. But he would like an even broader spectrum of organizations represented. He can be contacted by Aug. 1 at 419-246-5317.

Contact Steve Pollick at:

spollick@theblade.com

or 419-724-6068.