Article published November 01, 2009
Think twice, take stock of your hunting skills
Opening day for Ohio’s rabbit and pheasant hunting seasons is Friday, and it might pay to make haste slowly, especially when it comes to public hunting areas where pheasants have been stocked.
Annually the Ohio Division of Wildlife places some 15,000 pen-raised birds on 30 public hunting areas around the state, and the areas draw opening-day crowds like the World Series.
Bet your last shotshell that rank upon rank of orange-clad eager-beavers will go double-timing it across the fields to get “there” first. The smart money, however, is on the veterans who sit in the local restaurant or their trucks at shooting time, lingering over bacon and eggs or mug or two of coffee.
Let the track stars burn themselves out. They may shoot a few birds, but guess what? Many more birds will be hunkered down, watching the waves of commotion wash past them.
Mid to late morning, after all the racehorses have left, the veterans with their dogs will mosey out and bag their limits. Slow, patient hunting is the key.
“By late in the morning or early afternoon, you’ll have the place to yourself,” noted Scott Butterworth, wildlife management supervisor for Ohio Wildlife District 2.
In northwest Ohio about 3,000 birds are being stocked in allotments at the following areas: Killdeer Plains, Wyandot County; Wyandot, Wyandot County; Resthaven, Erie County; Willard, Huron County; Maumee State Forest, Lucas County; Oxbow, Defiance County, Turkeyfoot, Henry County, and the aforementioned Tiffin River and Ringneck Ridges sites.
A statewide list of releases can be viewed online at wildohio.com.
Wild pheasants also can be found in pockets of ideal cover as well, said Butterworth. “If you find the right habitat you’ll find the critters,” he said.
For wild birds, he suggested seeking permission on private CRP fields in Defiance and Williams County, and at Lake La Su An State Wildlife Area in Williams County, Fish Creek State Wildlife Area, also in Williams County, and the wilder parts of Killdeer Plains, which will have a mix of wild and pen birds.
Overall, “the state’s ring-necked pheasant population has been stable for the last several years, and this year should show some good opportunities for sportsmen,” said Nathan Stricker, project leader with the wildlife division’s Olentangy Wildlife Research Station.
Mild summer temperatures and moderate precipitation provided for good conditions during the nesting season, noted Stricker.
Upland game populations are responding positively to habitat programs in other areas around the state, especially in counties with significant enrollment in Scioto CREP and CP33 Quail Buffer practices.
Cottontail rabbit hunting continues through February 28. For them, noted Butterworth, “any brushy cover is best.” Ring-necked pheasant hunting is open through Jan. 10. Both seasons are closed during the statewide 2009 deer-gun hunting season, Nov. 30 through Dec. 6, as well as the extra weekend of deer-gun hunting December 19-20.
Rabbits, pheasants, and quail may be hunted from sunrise to sunset. The daily bag limit for all three species remains unchanged from last year at 4 rabbits, 2 pheasants (roosters/males only) and 4 quail.
Hunters are reminded that snowshoe hares are not legal game in Ohio. Recently reintroduced to northeastern Ohio after nearly a century of absence, snowshoe hares are brown early in the season, resembling cottontail rabbits. To avoid confusion between cottontail rabbits and snowshoe hares, portions of Geauga and Ashtabula counties will be closed to all rabbit hunting from Nov. 6 through Dec. 6. The coats of most hares will have turned white by early December, allowing for proper distinction.
There are two restricted zones that cover portions of Geauga and Ashtabula counties. A map of these two areas can be viewed in the 2009-2010 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations and online at wildohio.com.
Bobwhite quail hunting is limited to 16 counties in southern Ohio: Adams, Athens, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Highland, Jackson, Meigs, Montgomery, Pike, Preble, Ross, Scioto, Vinton and Warren. The season continues through Nov. 29.
Contact Steve Pollick at:spollick@theblade.comor 419-724-6068.
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