Gamebird seasons set to open Sept. 1

7/28/2009

The Ohio Wildlife Council has agreed to allow a fourth Canada goose in the daily bag in the special early Canada goose hunting season as wildlife managers continue to try to keep local populations in check.

The early goose season opens Sept. 1, along with a host of other early migratory gamebird seasons and squirrel hunting season. The goose hunt runs through Sept. 15 and is aimed at reducing growing numbers of resident populations of the giant race of Canada geese.

Migratory geese from Canada do not funnel through the region until later in the fall, and different regulations and bag limits will apply, to be set in late summer. The Mercer Goose Zone will not be open during the early Canada goose season.

Other gamebird openers Sept. 1 include seasons for dove, rail, moorhen and snipe.

The dove season runs through Oct. 25 and resumes Dec. 7 through December 21, with a daily limit of 15 birds.

Controlled dove hunts will be offered at Fallsville, Rush Run, Spring Valley, Indian Creek, and Bott state wildlife areas, and St. Marys Fish Hatchery.

These controlled hunts will take place Sept. 1 and 2, with hunting hours from noon to sunset. Youth-priority controlled dove hunts will be held at St. Mary s Fish Hatchery on Sept. 1, 5, 6, 13, 19 and 20.

Drawings for all of these hunts will take place at noon, Aug. 22, at the respective public area headquarters. Maps and details are available at wildohio.com. Questions about any one of these hunts should be directed to the Ohio Wildlife District 5 at 937-372-9261.

The early teal hunting season will be open Sept. 5 through 20, with a daily bag limit of four birds.

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 Sept. through Nov. 9, with a daily limit of 25 rails and 15 moorhens. Hunting season for snipe will be Sept. 1 through Nov. 29 and Dec. 7 through 23, with a daily bag limit of eight. The woodcock hunting season is open Oct. 10 through Nov. 23, with a daily bag limit of three 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 2009-10 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations and the 2009 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons brochure can be found on line at wildohio.com. The 2009 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons brochure will be available by late August at license outlets, district wildlife offices, or by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.

Hunters also should note that Friday is the last day to apply for various controlled or draw deer and waterfowl hunts. Applications can be made on-line at the above Web address.

Trappers mark 50th

The 50th annual convention of the National Trappers Association is set for Thursday through Sunday at the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima.

Attractions include demonstrations, vendors, and a Native American Pow-Wow. The Ohio Division of Wildlife plans to staff a booth in the Dealers Building and hunter education volunteers are to provide archery instruction and tips at the division s archery trailer. A full schedule and list of vendors can be found at nationaltrappers.com.

Admission is $10 for the entire event; children age 12 and under get in free. Camping is available for $25 a day with electric and water hook ups, or $10 a day for primitive.

The National Trappers Association is committed to defending and promoting the safe and ethical harvest of furbearing mammals and to the preservation and enhancement of their habitats.

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