Ohio duck rules still liberal

The Ohio fall duck and goose hunting rules, as recently approved by the Ohio Wildlife Council, again will be the most liberal regulations allowed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service with a 60-day split duck hunting season and a six-duck daily bag limit.

The news was not unexpected, given the strong duck production reports earlier this summer in the annual continental breeding surveys. Similarly liberal seasons are set in Michigan.

The general waterfowl hunting seasons will open Oct. 16 in both Ohio's north and south zones. Hunters 15 years of age and younger can join in a special statewide season Oct. 2 and 3. The special early teal season is Sept. 4 through 19, with a daily bag of four.

The duck hunting season in the North Zone is Oct. 16 through Nov. 14, followed by a late portion that opens Nov. 20 through Dec. 19. In the South Zone, duck season is open Oct. 16 through 31, followed by a late portion that opens Dec. 11 and runs through Jan. 23.

The daily bag limit for ducks is six, which may not include more than four mallards [no more than one hen], three wood ducks, one black duck, two redheads, two scaup, one canvasback, two pintail, and one mottled duck. The daily bag limit for mergansers is five, of which no more than two may be hooded. The daily bag limit for coots is 15. Possession limits after the first day are twice the daily bag limit.

In the Lake Erie Canada Goose Zone, the goose season is Oct. 16 through Nov. 14 with a second segment Nov. 20 through Jan. 2. The goose season for the remainder of the North Zone is Oct. 16 through Nov. 28, with a second segment from Dec. 18 through Jan. 16. In the South Zone, goose season is Oct. 16 through Nov. 7 followed by a second segment Dec. 11 through Jan. 30.

The daily bag limit for Canada geese is two. Light geese (snows, blues, Ross') have a daily bag limit of 10, and white-fronted geese and brant have a daily bag limit of one. The possession limit for brant and geese is twice the daily bag limit after the first day.

The special early Canada goose season is Sept. 1 through 15 with a daily bag of four.

Licensed falconers may hunt in the North, South, and Lake Erie Canada Goose zones whenever these zones are open to waterfowl hunting. In addition properly licensed falconers may hunt ducks and coots statewide from Feb. 5, 2011 through March 4, 2011 and geese from Feb. 5 through 18.

Waterfowl hunters are required to answer several questions for the Harvest Information Program [HIP] survey when purchasing their hunting licenses. A state wetland habitat stamp endorsement and a valid, signed federal duck stamp are required when hunting waterfowl, in addition to an Ohio hunting license.

Copies of this season's waterfowl hunting regulations, which include maps of the zones [Publication 295, Waterfowl Hunting Seasons], will be available on-line at wildohio.com or by late September to hunters at all license agent outlets.

In neighboring Michigan, the duck season dates are as follows, also based on 60 days and six ducks: Oct. 2 through Nov. 30 in the North Zone [upper peninsula], Oct. 2 through Nov. 28 and Dec. 4 and 5 in the Middle Zone [northern lower], and Oct. 9 through Dec. 5 and Jan. 1 and 2 in the South Zone [southern lower].

In southern Michigan, the early Canada goose season generally is Sept. 1 through 15 with a daily limit of five. The general goose season in the south is Oct. 9 through Nov. 14 and Dec. 4 through 11 with a daily bag of two. A South Zone late goose season is set for Jan. 1 through 30, with a daily bag of five.

Other details, including other select game-unit goose seasons and zones, are available online at michigan.gov/dnre.

• Drawings for special early Canada goose season hunts at Maumee Bay State Park are set for 3 p.m. Sept. 2. for hunting on Sept. 7 through 10. Two hunters per blind will be allowed on each of the days from sunrise till 10:30 a.m.

To apply submit a postcard to Special Goose Hunt, Maumee Bay State Park, 1400 State Park Rd., Oregon, OH 43618. Only one card per hunter will be accepted.

List name, address and phone number, along with name and address of guest. All hunters submitting a postcard must be at least 18 years old, guests may be under 18. Dates, times, and blind numbers will be assigned at the time of drawing, with those drawn to be notified by phone.

In related news, waterfowl marshes managers working to prepare their wetlands for the upcoming early teal and goose season and the general hunting beyond might find a locally manufactured product, Pondseal, of interest when it comes to leaky dikes.

Muskrat and woodchuck holes and old field tiles all can be a pain, often calling for time-consuming repairs with a backhoe. Pondseal, it turns out, can be used both during construction and as a repair tool.

Details about the product are available by calling AquaBlok, 419-385-2980, or visiting on-line at pondseal.net.

Contact Steve Pollick at:spollick@theblade.comor 419-724-6068.