Hunters Should Note Changes to Early Goose Season Drawings in Northeast Ohio

Hunters who wish to participate in the 2012 early goose season on three northeast Ohio wildlife areas must apply online at www.wildohio.com. The application period is June 1- July 31.

For the first time, selected hunters will have the opportunity to hunt the early goose season, September 1-15, within the Restricted Waterfowl Hunting Zone of LaDue Reservoir in Geauga County. As in years past, Wingfoot and Mogadore wildlife areas will be open for the season, but new this year, only selected hunters from the online drawing may participate in the early season. The online application fee is $3 per hunter.

Free, on-site, local drawings for the later season will take place in September. The drawings dates will be announced later this summer once the season dates are established.

For more information call Wildlife District Three, Wildlife Management at (330) 644-2293.

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Hunters Bag Nearly 8,900 Wild Turkeys During First Week of Spring Season in Ohio

Ohio hunters harvested a preliminary total of 8,898 bearded wild turkeys during the first week of the spring turkey-hunting season, which is open statewide through May 20, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Last year hunters checked 7,744 wild turkeys during the first week of the season.

Top counties for wild turkeys killed last week were: Ashtabula-315, Guernsey-276, Tuscarawas-269, Coshocton-266, Muskingum-265, Belmont-262, Meigs-223, Knox-221, Harrison-220 and Adams-213.

The Division of Wildlife estimates that more than 70,000 people will hunt turkeys during the four-week season. Legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon from April 23 to May 6. Hunting hours from May 7-20 will be a half hour before sunrise to sunset. Ohio’s wild turkey population was estimated at 180,000 prior to the start of the spring season.

A special youth-only hunt for hunters age 17 and younger was held statewide on April 21-22. Young hunters killed an additional 1,632 birds statewide.

Only bearded wild turkeys may be taken during the spring hunting season. A hunter is required to check in their turkey by 11:30 p.m. on the day of harvest. Hunters with the proper permits may take a limit of two bearded gobblers during the four-week season, but not more than one wild turkey per day.

Hunters must report their turkey harvest, but they are no longer required to take their turkey to a check station for physical inspection. Instead, hunters have three options to complete the new automated game check: online at wildohio.com or ohiogamecheck.com; by telephone at 877-TAG-ITOH (877-824-4864). This option is only available to those who are required to have a turkey permit to hunt turkeys; and at all license agents. A list of these agents can be found at wildohio.com.

Game-check transactions will be available online and by telephone seven days a week and during holidays. License agents’ locations will be available for turkey check-in during normal business hours. Call the license agent for specific hours of operation. All turkeys must be checked in by 11:30 p.m. the day of kill.

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Local Food Banks Benefit from Generosity of Ohio Hunters

Ohio deer hunters donated more than 104,400 pounds of venison to local food banks through the 2011-12 deer hunting season, according to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The venison donation equals approximately 417,600 meals for Ohioans in need. A total of 2,088 deer were donated during this season compared to 2,503 last year, 2,336 in 2009-10, 1,096 in 2008-09, and 418 in 2007-08.

Last year 219,698 deer were killed during Ohio’s 2011-12 hunting season, compared to 239,379 in the 2010-11 hunting season.

The Division of Wildlife has collaborated with FHFH for the last four years in an effort to assist with the processing costs associated with donating venison to a food bank. A subsidy grant was provided in allotments that are matched with funds generated or collected by local Ohio FHFH chapters. ODNR’s Division of Wildlife subsidizes this program as an additional deer management tool, helping wildlife managers encourage hunters to kill more does.

Venison that is donated to food banks must be processed by a federal, state or locally inspected and insured meat processor that is participating with FHFH. Hunters wishing to donate their deer to a food bank are not required to pay for the processing of the venison as long as the program has funds available to cover the cost. There are currently 77 participating meat processors across the state. A list is provided at www.fhfh.org.

Currently, there are 34 local chapters across the state. Anyone interested in becoming a local program coordinator or a participating meat processor should visit the “Local FHFH” page at www.fhfh.org. The webpage includes a current list of coordinators, program names and the counties that they serve.

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Ohio’s Young Hunters Productive During Special Two-Day Turkey Hunt

Young hunters across Ohio again experienced success during the annual youth spring turkey season, held Saturday and Sunday, April 21-22, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Hunters age 17 and under harvested 1,632 wild turkeys during the special two-day season, compared to 1,490 wild turkeys last year.

Counties reporting the greatest number of wild turkeys checked were Ashtabula-73, Muskingum-60, Tuscarawas-53, Carroll and Monroe-49, Highland-48, Washington-46, Jackson-42, Harrison-41 and Knox and Trumbull-39.

All participants were required to possess a valid Ohio youth hunting license and youth spring turkey permit, as well as be accompanied by a non-hunting adult 18 years of age or older. The young hunters’ turkey season was open statewide with the exception of Lake La Su An State Wildlife Area in Williams County, which required a special hunting permit.

The youth spring turkey season is one of four special youth-only hunting seasons designed to offer a safe and productive early hunting experience for young hunters. Special seasons are also set aside for upland game, white-tailed deer and waterfowl hunting opportunities.

Details on youth hunting opportunities and hunting seasons can be found in the 2011-2012 Ohio Hunting Regulations, available where licenses are sold. It can also be viewed online at wildohio.com.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at www.ohiodnr.com.

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Ohio’s Spring Turkey Season Underway

Ohio hunters harvested a preliminary total of 2,227 bearded wild turkeys on the first day of the spring turkey-hunting season, which is open statewide through May 20, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. In 2011, a preliminary total of 2,646 wild turkeys were killed on opening day.

Top counties for wild turkeys killed on Monday were: Ashtabula-93, Coshocton-79, Tuscarawas-78, Muskingum-74, Guernsey-69, Adams-62, Highland-57, Knox-56, Brown-55 and Clermont-54.

The Division of Wildlife estimates that more than 70,000 people will hunt turkeys during the four-week season. Legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon from April 23 to May 6. Hunting hours May 7-20 will be a half hour before sunrise to sunset. Ohio’s wild turkey population was estimated at 180,000 prior to the start of the spring season.

Only bearded wild turkeys may be taken during the spring hunting season. A hunter is required to check in their turkey by 11:30 p.m. on the day of harvest. Hunters with the proper permits may take a limit of two bearded gobblers during the four-week season, but not more than one wild turkey per day.

Hunters must report their turkey harvest, but they are no longer required to take their turkey to a check station for physical inspection. Instead, hunters have three options to complete the new automated game check:

• Online at wildohio.com or ohiogamecheck.com;
• By telephone at 877-TAG-ITOH (877-824-4864). This option is only available to those who are required to have a turkey permit to hunt turkeys; and
• At all license agents. A list of these agents can be found at wildohio.com.

Game-check transactions will be available online and by telephone seven days a week including holidays. License agents’ locations will be available for turkey check-in during normal business hours. Hunters can call the license agent for specific hours of operation. All turkeys must be checked in by 11:30 p.m. the day of kill.

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How Many Deer Does an Average Hunter Harvest in a Season?

Have you ever wondered how many deer the typical hunter takes in a season? These handy graphs from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provide some answers to that question, showing the number of deer taken per each successful hunter during the 2011-2012 Ohio deer season.

This is the first time the Ohio DNR has compiled data in this way, therefore they do not have data on deer per hunter from previous years, according to Central Ohio Information Specialist Lindsay Deering, who put the data together.

She said the total number of deer harvested was 219,698 by 157,726 successful hunters. Those hunters are only about a third of the hunters who purchased a license for that season, meaning two-thirds of hunters came away with zero deer.

The graph below lists how many hunters took the number of deer listed along the bottom of the chart. Note that the last number of 6 deer taken actually means 6 or more deer, but DNR Wildlife Communication Specialist Jamey Graham said so few hunters harvest 6 or more deer that the percentage is insignificant.

The graph below shows what percentage of successful hunters took which number of deer.

Graham speculated as to why most hunters only take one deer. One potential reason is that hunters do not have enough time to hunt. “That’s why we don’t see more hunters in the field in the first place,” Graham said. The second reason may be that the opportunity does not present itself again. Even successful hunters who have taken one deer may try and try but are not successful in their hunt. And the third may be the weather. Even if hunters intend on spending the whole week gun or bow hunting, the weather does not cooperate.

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Ohio Spring Turkey Hunting Season Opens April 23

This year’s spring wild turkey season opens in all 88Ohiocounties on Monday, April 23 and continues through Sunday, May 20, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

“Ohiohas again experienced a record low wild turkey hatch, with last year’s nesting season negatively impacted by rainfall and flooding,” said ODNR Wildlife Biologist Mike Reynolds. “The early onset of spring-like weather and green vegetation could make it harder for hunters to see and hear turkeys, creating challenging hunting conditions this season.”

Wild turkey breeding activity is largely controlled by the increasing amount of daylight.  Typically in southeastOhio, hens start incubating nests on May 1.

Hunters harvested 18,162 wild turkeys during last year’s youth and spring turkey seasons.Ohio’s current wild turkey population is more than 180,000. ODNR anticipates as many as 70,000 licensed hunters, not counting private landowners hunting on their own property, will enjoyOhio’s popular spring wild turkey season.

A special youth-only turkey hunt for those possessing a valid youth hunting license and youth turkey permit will be held April 21-22. Young hunters must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult, 18 years of age or older. The young hunter’s turkey season is open statewide with the exception of Lake La Su An State Wildlife Area inWilliamsCounty, which requires a special hunting permit. Legal hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise to sunset each day during the two-day youth season.

All hunters must report their harvest of turkeys, but they are no longer required to take their turkey to a check station for physical inspection. Hunters will have three options to complete the automated game check:

Online at www.wildohio.com or www.ohiogamecheck.com;

By telephone at 877-TAG-ITOH (877-824-4864);

At all license agents. A list of agents can be found at wildohio.com or by calling 800-WILDLIFE.

Game-check transactions will be available online and by telephone seven days a week and during holidays. Landowner hunters who are not required to purchase a fall turkey permit must use the website or a license agent to check their turkey, but cannot use the phone-in method.

Legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon from April 23 to May 6.  Hunting hours from May 7-20 will be a half-hour before sunrise to sunset.  An incorrect start date for the all day turkey hunting hours was printed in the 2011-12 Hunting Regulations booklet. The first day for all day hunting is May 7.

Hunters are required to have a hunting license and a spring turkey-hunting permit. They can also take one bearded turkey per day. A second spring turkey permit can be purchased allowing hunters to take a limit of two bearded wild turkeys.Turkeysmust be checked by 11:30 p.m. the day of harvest.

Hunters may use shotguns, longbows and crossbows to hunt wild turkeys; however, it is unlawful to hunt turkeys using bait, live decoys or electronic calling devices or to shoot a wild turkey while it is in a tree.

The Division of Wildlife advises turkey hunters to wear hunter orange clothing when entering, leaving or moving through hunting areas in order to remain visible to others.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.com.

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Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations Approved for 2011-12

Hunting and trapping regulations for 2011-12 seasons were passed by the Ohio Wildlife Council at the April 6 meeting, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The proposed change to move Fayette County from Deer Zone B to Zone A was approved. A rule to eliminate the requirement for all packages of deer meat produced during the butchering process to be marked with the tag, seal or certificate number was also passed. The tag, seal or certificate must be maintained until the entire deer has been consumed, but the package no longer needs to be marked.

Hunters can again buy antlerless deer permits at reduced prices for hunting in an urban zone, participating in a Division of Wildlife-authorized controlled hunt or hunting during the September 24 to November 27 portion of the deer season. The sale of reduced priced antlerless permits will cease after November 27, so hunters need to commit early to buying and using the extra reduced-cost permits to take full advantage of this opportunity. The deadline for using the antlerless permit will be extended to December 4 for those hunting in Deer Zone C.  Cost of the antlerless deer permit remains $15.

The maximum number of deer that a hunter may take in Deer Zone A is two.  Prior to November 28, hunters may take up to two deer in Zone A, one of which may be on a $15 antlerless deer permit.  Beginning November 28, hunters may take only one deer in Zone A and antlerless permits may not be used.

The maximum number of deer that a hunter may take in Deer Zone B is four.  Prior to November 28, hunters may take up to four deer in Zone B, two of which may be on $15 antlerless deer permits.  Beginning November 28, hunters may take only two deer in Zone B and antlerless permits may not be used.

The maximum number of deer that a hunter may take in Deer Zone C is six.  Prior to December 5, hunters may take up to six deer in Zone C, three of which may be on $15 antlerless deer permits. Beginning December 5, hunters may take only three deer in Zone C and antlerless permits may not be used.

Those hunting in urban zones and at Division of Wildlife-authorized controlled hunts will again have a six-deer bag limit, and those deer will not count against the hunter’s zone bag limit.

Either a $15 antlerless deer permit and a valid hunting license or $24 deer permit and a valid hunting license are required to hunt deer in Ohio. A hunter may take only one antlered deer in Ohio, regardless of zone, hunting method or season.

2011-12 White-tailed Deer Seasons and Dates:

• Archery season – September 24 through February 5, 2012
• Special area muzzleloader hunts – October 17-22
• Youth deer-gun season – November 19-20
• Statewide deer-gun season – November 28 through December 4 and December 17-18
• Statewide muzzleloader season – January 7-10, 2012

During the 2010-2011 season hunters killed a total of 239,260 deer. Approximately 475,000 people hunt white-tailed deer in Ohio.

Hunting seasons for rabbit, pheasant, quail, squirrel, crow, and wild turkey were approved as proposed. So were trapping seasons for beaver, mink, muskrat, and river otter, along with the hunting and trapping seasons for beaver, fox, raccoon, skunk, and weasel.

2011-12 Hunting and/or Trapping Seasons and Dates:

• Squirrel – September 1 through January 31, 2012
• Ruffed grouse – October 8 through January 31, 2012
• Fall Wild Turkey – October 8 - November 27, in specified counties
• Youth upland season – October 22-23 and October 29-30
• Cottontail rabbit – November 4 through February 29, 2012
• Ring-necked Pheasant – November 4 through January 8, 2012
• Bobwhite Quail  – November 4-27, in specified counties
• Fox, raccoon, skunk, opossum, and weasel – November 10 through January 31, 2012
• Mink and muskrat – November 10 through February 29, 2012
• Mink, muskrat, raccoon, skunk, opossum, and weasel (Lake Erie Marsh area) – November 10 through March 15, 2012
• Beaver – December 26 through February 29, 2012
• River Otter – December 26 through February 29, 2012
• Youth Spring Wild Turkey Season – April 21 and 22, 2012
• Spring Wild Turkey – April 23, 2012 through May 20, 2012
• Crow (Fri, Sat, Sun only) – June 3, 2011 through March 12, 2012 and June 2, 2012 through March 11, 2013
• Coyote and woodchuck – No closed season

Rules and season dates for migratory birds including mourning dove, Canada goose, rail, moorhen, snipe, woodcock, and waterfowl hunting will be set in August, in compliance with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s 2011-12 framework.

All hunting and trapping season dates and rules can be found at wildohio.com.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR Web site at ohiodnr.com.

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Hunter Recovering from Injuries After 40 Foot Fall from Tree Stand

Ronnie Dotson of Winchester, Ohio is lucky to be alive, albeit that existence is spent partially in a hospital bed at home, on a wheelchair or with a walker. He’s  60 years old and life wasn’t always this way. But last November, just one day before Thanksgiving, Ronnie and his son David were anxious to get into a tree stand for some evening hunting before the sun went down.

According to a report by Tom Cross on the People’s Defender, at about 4:30 pm the two men went to their respective tree stands in an old woodlot near Ronnie’s home. Ronnie had a favorite tree stand 40 feet above the ground. He liked it because it offered him a clear shot to the ground below and he had been using it for years.

He climbed up and put his weight on the stand and the stand broke at the cables. Ronnie and his platform went crashing down 40 feet. Understandably, he doesn’t remember much after that.

The men were supposed to reconvene at their truck around 6 pm, but when Ronnie didn’t show up, David instantly knew something was wrong since he always returns just before dark. David returned to Ronnie’s tree stand to find him lying at the bottom of the tree. His bow was still tied to the rope, the platform was hanging down and Ronald was in serious pain after having laid on the ground for two hours after his fall.

Immediately, David called for help and Ronnie was air-lifted to the University of Cincinnati Trauma Center. The damage was bad. People’s Defender lists the damage done. “… He was found to have a fractured skull, crushed ear lobes, broken collar bone, a fractured sternum, 11 broken ribs, a ruptured spleen, crushed pelvis, cracked vertebrae, broken back, broken knee, broken ankle, punctured lung from broken ribs, and later as a result of the fall, developed pneumonia and a lung infection.”

Ronnie has spent four weeks in an intensive care unit, three more weeks at the Drake Rehabilitation Center and is now finally recuperating at his home. Ronnie still relies on a wheelchair and walker to get around. There are still many months of rehabilitation ahead and it is unsure whether he will work again. His brother George and family have been gathering donations from outdoor sports shops, outfitters and other companies to sustain medical and related expenses for a benefit hog roast, auction and raffle at the Wayne Township Community Building in Cherry Fork, Ohio this Saturday. For more information or to donate, contact George Dotson at (937) 695-0278.

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NWTF Wheelin’ Sportsmen to Hold First Annual Camp Perry Gun Blast Benefit

The Wheelin’ Sportsmen Program of the National Wild Turkey Federation is an Outreach Program designed to provide hunting, shooting & other outdoor recreational activities for the physically challenged including our many Wounded Warriors

This is accomplished by teaming up able bodied hunters & sportsmen with physically challenged individuals to provide them an opportunity to hunt, fish, shoot and participate in those activities that they could not normally do on their own because of their disability.
The Big Board Raffle will include no less than 10 guns from Remington, Benelli, Weatherby, Ruger, Marlin, Mossberg and other manufacturers of quality shotguns, rifles and pistols.

Locally, the Lakeshore Longbeards Chapter of Ottawa Co. Ohio has held a crossbow deer hunt specifically for the disabled for the past four years. One weekend each November, local volunteers host a half dozen to 10 wheelchair-bound and other disabled hunters protect the environmental integrity of East Harbor State Park by helping to cull out over-browsing deer.

This hunt is just one of many Wheelin’ Sportsmen events occurring in Ohio and the rest of the country. As additional money is raised to support this program, and the larger the program grows, many more of our physically challenged neighbors get an opportunity to participate and get back out in the field for a day of fun & fellowship.

In order to see this hugely successful program continue and encourage growth in other locales, the Lakeshore Longbeards Chapter will be hosting the First Annual Camp Perry Wheelin’ Sportsmen Gun Blast Benefit. This benefit will be held at the Camp Perry Club House on Tuesday, July 31st from 6-10 pm. An evening of fun is guaranteed as it will include a great meal of barbecued chicken & bratwurst, door prizes and numerous gun raffle games including a Big Board Gun Raffle.
There will be various raffle games priced from $5 & up so everyone who attends will have a chance to win. The BEST DEAL OF THE NIGHT & best opportunity to win will be the Big Board Gun Raffle. A Single Ticket for the ten guns is $20 or you can buy a $100 Raffle Package which will give you 10 of the $20 tickets or $200 of tickets.

To encourage early ticket sales, if you buy your Gun Blast admission ticket ($25) and your $100 Raffle Package prior to July 24, 2012 , you will receive a 2nd $100 Raffle Package absolutely FREE! That’s 20 of the $20 tickets or $400 of Raffle Tickets for just $100.

To reserve your seat and your Raffle Package, contact the NWTF at the number below. Please inform all of your friends about this great event so they can get their tickets reserved as well.

Tickets for this event will be $25 and includes your dinner and a door prize ticket on a quality firearm. There will be no more than 400 tickets available so get yours today. There will also be a FREE gun raffle for any Active Duty Military personnel or Veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States in attendance.

Tickets can be reserved by calling NWTF Regional Director Skip Markland at 419-769-6983 or email at wmarkland@nwtf.net. Please check out our NWTF website at www.nwtf.org. Please plan to include this benefit in your activities for your time at Camp Perry.

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