Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Ohio Department of Natural Resources
May - June 2008

WILDLIFE COUNCIL APPROVES 2008-09 REGULATIONS
COLUMBUS, OH — September 1 will again kick off Ohio’s fall hunting seasons - with the opening of the squirrel-hunting season that runs through January 31 - under regulations approved recently by the Ohio Wildlife Council.
Fall turkey hunters will enjoy expanded opportunities. They will be able to hunt the entire season, from October 11 through November 30, with a shotgun, muzzleloading shotgun, bow or crossbow. This new rule adds 35 days to the previous season for fall turkey gun hunting. Nine additional northeast Ohio counties will also be open for fall turkey hunting, bringing the total to 46 counties statewide.

Deer hunters can again buy additional antlerless deer permits at reduced prices for hunting in an urban zone, participating in a controlled hunt, or hunting during the September 27 to November 30 portion of the archery season. Deer hunters with antlerless permits can hunt in Zone C until December 7. Cost of the antlerless deer permit remains at $15.
As was the requirement last year, hunters must purchase a regular deer permit before purchasing antlerless deer permits. The permit system remains otherwise unchanged from last year: hunters may still take up to one additional antlerless deer in Zone A, up to two additional antlerless deer in Zone B and up to three additional antlerless deer in Zone C.
However, use of the antlerless deer permit during the first part of the statewide archery season and during deer-gun week in Zone C will not count against the hunter's season bag limit for that zone. The sale of these permits will cease after November 30, so hunters need to commit early to buying and using the extra reduced-cost permits.
Archery season will run from Saturday, September 27 through Sunday, February 1, 2009. The popular youth deer-gun season is Saturday and Sunday, November 22-23. Regular deer-gun season will run Monday, December 1 through Sunday, December 7. The additional deer-gun hunting weekend is set for Saturday and Sunday, December 20 -21. Statewide muzzleloader season will run Saturday, December 27 through Tuesday, December 30. Special area muzzleloader hunts will be open Monday, October 20 through Saturday, October 25 at Salt Fork, Shawnee and Wildcat Hollow. Muzzleloader hunts at these areas will no longer require a special permit and hunters may use either deer permit for this hunt. The bag limit remains at one deer of either sex with any antlered deer harvested counting toward the one-buck yearly limit for the year.
The state's three deer-hunting zones remain in place. A three-deer limit (Zone C) will cover 38 central, south, southeastern, and southwestern counties. The 30 mid-state counties of Zone B will have a two-deer limit, and the 20 northwestern counties of Zone A will have a one-deer limit. A hunter may take only one buck in Ohio, regardless of zone, hunting method or season.

Hunting and trapping seasons for rabbits, pheasants, quail, squirrel, grouse, fox, raccoon, mink, muskrat, beaver, river otter, crow and falconry were approved as proposed.
Rules for dove, Canada goose, rail, moorhen, snipe, and migratory waterfowl hunting, as well as those season dates, will be set in August, in compliance with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's 2008-09 framework.
All hunting and trapping season dates and rules can be found at www.wildohio.com.

OHIO SPRING TURKEY SEASON OPENS
COLUMBUS, OH — Spring wild turkey hunting opened in all 88 Ohio counties on April 21. The season continues through May 18.
"Based on brood observations, hunters can expect statewide harvest numbers that are similar or slightly higher than last year," said ODNR wildlife biologist Mike Reynolds.
Hunters harvested 17,005 wild turkeys during last year's spring season.
Reynolds added that Ohio's current wild turkey population is around 185,000. He anticipates as many as 85,000 people, not counting private landowners hunting on their own property, will enjoy Ohio's increasingly popular spring wild turkey season.

The wild turkey is Ohio's largest game bird. It stands 3-4 feet tall and may weigh up to 27 pounds. Legal hunting hours for the regular spring season are one-half hour before sunrise until noon. Hunters are required to have a hunting license and a spring turkey-hunting permit and can 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.

Shotguns using shot, longbows and crossbows may be used to hunt wild turkeys. It is unlawful to hunt turkeys over bait, to use a live decoy or electronic calling device, or to shoot a wild turkey while it is in a tree. A wild turkey must be properly tagged and taken to an official check station by 2 p.m. on the day it is harvested.
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. Additional turkey hunting information is available at www.wildohio.com.

ODNR SEEKS 18 NEW WILDLIFE OFFICERS
COLUMBUS, OH — Applications are being accepted from Monday, April 7 through Friday, May 2, for the next state wildlife officer training school, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. ODNR is seeking to fill at least 18 new wildlife officer positions throughout Ohio.
Wildlife officers have statewide jurisdiction to enforce fish and wildlife laws, protect state property, investigate allegations of waterway pollution and serve warrants. They also conduct educational programs, advise landowners on dealing with wildlife and keep local conservation organizations updated on state wildlife projects and regulations. They frequently work alone and can be assigned to any county in the state.

Applicants for the wildlife officer training school must be at least 21 years of age and have a valid driver's license. A two-year college degree or completion of undergraduate core program in fish and wildlife management, criminal justice, environmental law enforcement or a related field of study is also required. Applicants must also be able to demonstrate physical fitness according to standards developed by the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission. They must also be able to swim 100 yards in five minutes and tread water for five minutes.

Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to take a state proficiency test administered by the Ohio Department of Administrative Services. The test will be given on June 7 in Columbus. Top scoring candidates will then undergo interviews and pre-employment evaluations, including a drug screening, polygraph examination and background investigation.

Those who are selected as cadets will attend the wildlife officer academy for about six months. During the training, cadets will study law enforcement, fish and wildlife management techniques and learn communications and educational skills.
To obtain an application package, call 1-800-WILDLIFE or visit wildohio.com .

YELLOW PERCH DAILY LIMIT REDUCTION APPROVED

COLUMBUS, OH — Lake Erie anglers fishing in Ohio waters west of Huron will face a reduction this summer in the daily bag limit for yellow perch, following action by the Ohio Wildlife Council on Wednesday.

Beginning July 1, the daily bag limit for yellow perch will drop from 30 to 25 fish per angler, but only in waters west of Huron. The daily bag limit will remain at 30 fish per angler in Ohio waters from Huron eastward, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
In additional action, the wildlife council:
1) Approved a reduction in the statewide daily bag limit for muskellunge from two fish to one fish.
2) Allowed access to several lakes owned by the Division of Wildlife to motorboats greater than 10 horsepower as long as they operate at idle speed. These lakes include Knox Lake in Knox County, Lake La Su An in Williams County, Oxbow Lake in Defiance County, and Rupert Lake in Vinton County.
3) Allowed 10-horsepower motors on Greenfield Lake and Rockmill Lake in Fairfield County, and Zepernick Lake in Columbiana County.

LAKE ERIE AND OTHER WATERWAYS BEST SPOTS FOR TROPHY FISH
COLUMBUS, OH — Lake Erie and a dozen inland lakes were among the best places to reel in "Fish Ohio" catches during 2007, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The "Fish Ohio" program recognizes noteworthy catches among 19 fish species.
With 2.25 million Lake Erie water acres, 451 miles of the Ohio River, 40,000 miles of streams, some 200 inland lakes and thousands of private ponds, Ohio anglers have great opportunities to catch fish that qualify for the "Fish Ohio" recognition program. Among the state's best "Fish Ohio" waters in 2007 were:

LAKE ERIE: Top spot for walleye, yellow perch and smallmouth bass
Trophy walleye received the highest number of entries with more than 2,300. Lake Erie was the top place to catch them, followed by the Maumee and Sandusky rivers. Catches of yellow perch were the third most caught fish at the lake with more than 1,000 entries. Mogadore Reservoir in Portage County and Indian Lake in Logan County followed in the yellow perch take. Lake Erie is also the top lake for smallmouth bass, followed by Big Darby Creek, Ohio River, Alum Creek Lake in Delaware County, Piedmont Lake in Belmont County, and the Grand River.

INLAND LAKES: Home of trophy saugeye and muskie
Indian Lake led the list for trophy saugeye catches followed by Big Walnut Creek, Buckeye Lake in Fairfield, Perry, and Licking counties, Tappan Lake in Harrison County, and Atwood Lake in Tuscarawas County. The number one "Fish Ohio" lake for "muskie" catches was Leesville Lake in Carroll County, followed by West Branch Reservoir in Portage County, Clear Fork Reservoir in Richland County, and Piedmont Lake in Tuscarawas County.

PRIVATE PONDS: Best places for crappie, channel cat and largemouth bass
While a majority of entries for sunfish, crappies, channel catfish, and largemouth bass were caught in private ponds, these species also were plentiful in many public waterways. Mosquito Lake in Trumbull County led the "Fish Ohio" entries in the crappie category with Pymatuning Lake in Ashtabula County, Indian Lake, West Branch Reservoir, and Mogadore Reservoir completing the list.
Lake Erie topped the list for qualifying catches of channel catfish in a public waterway. Hoover Reservoir in Delaware and Franklin counties, the Ohio and Maumee rivers also proved to be hot spots for channel catfish action. The top "Fish Ohio" area for largemouth bass was Portage Lakes in Summit County. Nimisila Reservoir in Summit County, Mogadore Reservoir, and the ponds on AEP's ReCreations Lands also noted trophy catches of largemouth.

During 2004, the "Fish Ohio" program recognized 12,947 anglers from Ohio and 40 other states for trophy catches. Each angler with a qualifying "Fish Ohio" catch receives a certificate and lapel pin. The 2007 pin featured a largemouth bass; the 2008 pin will display a sauger. Since 1976, more than 400,000 anglers have been recognized for "Fish Ohio" catches.
Individuals who catch four "Fish Ohio" fish in a single year qualify as Master Anglers. The Master Angler pin is similar to the "Fish Ohio" pin, except it is gold in color.
Anyone interested in submitting an entry in the "Fish Ohio" program should complete the online registration, available at www.fishohio.org.

OVERBAGGING STEELHEAD TROUT COSTS LORAIN MAN NEARLY $700
AKRON, OH – Anastacio Felix, 66, of Lorain, was convicted this week of overbagging steelhead trout, according to the ODNR Division of Wildlife. The conviction cost him $394 in fines and court costs, as well as $300 in restitution for the illegally harvested fish.

State wildlife officers Rick Louttit and Jason Warren arrested Felix on March 15, after receiving complaints regarding an alleged poacher in the Avon Lake area. Following surveillance activities the day before, Louttit and Warren, while posing as fishermen, were able to garner more information from the poacher. Felix admitted to keeping six steelhead over the limit during the two-day period, which led to the arrest. The daily bag limit is two fish.

On Tuesday, Avon Lake Municipal Court Judge Darrel A. Bilancini found Felix guilty of several wildlife violations and ordered him to pay the fines and restitution.
“This case is particularly interesting because it is the first one since new restitution values took effect in Ohio,” commented Doug Miller, law enforcement supervisor for the Division of Wildlife. “New legislation recently raised the value of all illegally taken wildlife - and steelhead are no exception.”
The new legislation reflects the present-day value of Ohio's wildlife, which can range anywhere from $20 to nearly $2,500, depending on criteria and weighting factors. Trophy deer are an exception; their value can range much higher.

The new restitution schedule stems from legislation (HB238) passed by the Ohio General Assembly last year. House Bill 238 revised provisions governing the restitution value of wild animals that are unlawfully held, taken, bought, sold or possessed. It is the first revision since 1994 and establishes a progressive formula that reflects the current status and scarcity of various species.

Seven categories of value make up the new scoring criteria: recreational, aesthetic, educational, state-list designation, economics, recruitment, and population dynamics. The new restitution values of wild animals taken illegally result from the total score for each of the seven criteria. The criteria total is then multiplied by the weighting factor of species population status. An animal that is considered abundant has a lower weighting factor than does an endangered species.
The Division of Wildlife encourages anyone who is aware of a possible violation of wildlife laws to call the Turn In a Poacher (TIP) line at 1-800-POACHER. Callers can remain anonymous.

LAKEWOOD TAXIDERMIST CONVICTED OF SELLING TROPHY MOUNTS
AKRON, OH – Taxidermist Larry Peterson, 69, of Berea, was recently convicted in Lakewood Municipal Court of selling trophy-mounted sport-caught fish in his Lakewood taxidermy studio, according to the ODNR Division of Wildlife. The studio, L&D Bait and Tackle, is now closed.
“Mr. Peterson was warned of his violations a week before he was arrested,” explained Jason Hadsell, Cuyahoga County wildlife officer. “He failed to heed my warnings and further action was taken.”

Judge Patrick Carroll convicted Peterson of two misdemeanor counts involving the commercial sale of sport-caught fish. He placed him on two years of probation. Peterson paid $75 in court costs and forfeited 25 fish mounts to the Division of Wildlife. The mounted fish will be donated to nature centers throughout northeast Ohio for use in educational programs.
“Mr. Peterson was looking to make several thousand dollars by selling each of these fish for $135 to $225,” stated Doug Miller, Division of Wildlife law enforcement supervisor for northeast Ohio.

State law prohibits the sale of sport-caught fish (fish harvested by angling) and parts thereof. Fish mounts are included in this law; replicated fish may be sold legally.
The Division of Wildlife encourages anyone who is aware of a possible violation of wildlife laws to call the Turn In a Poacher (TIP) line at 1-800-POACHER. Callers can remain anonymous.

OPPORTUNITIES EXPAND FOR HUNTERS WITH DISABILITIES
COLUMBUS, OH — Disabled hunters who meet certain medical criteria will be able to apply for a permit to hunt from a motor vehicle on select state wildlife areas as a result of legislation signed into law today by Governor Ted Strickland.

The new permit system allows qualifying individuals to possess a loaded firearm on or in an electric powered all-purpose vehicle (EPAPV) or motor vehicle, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
"This legislation represents a continuation of our efforts to enhance opportunities for persons with disabilities to hunt and fish," said Jim Marshall, assistant chief of the Division of Wildlife.

The vehicle must be at a complete stop with the motor off before a firearm can be discharged. When the vehicle is in motion, firearms on board must be unloaded. The EPAPV may be used as a hunting blind or platform during firearm discharge.
Additionally, permitted users may travel off road with an EPAPV only as long as they remain within 100 yards perpendicular from the edge of roads posted and specifically designated for this use.

Nine access roads have been designated for use by permit holders at Deer Creek, Resthaven, Lake La Su An, Grand River, Bush Creek, Waterloo, Cooper Hollow, East Fork, and Fallsville state wildlife areas.
Representative Peter Ujvagi of Toledo and Senator John Carey of Wellston sponsored the bill that provided for these changes. The Physically Challenged Bowhunters Association (PCBA) and The Ability Center of Greater Toledo supported the legislation, advocating for improved hunting access for those with physical disabilities.