First Posted: 2/21/2015
According to the Ohio Division of Wildlife, proposals to reduce bag limits and adjusting hunting seasons work to stabilize deer populations.
In the Lima area, Allen, Hardin, Logan and Putnam counties would be three-deer counties, while Auglaize, Hancock, Mercer Shelby and Van Wert would be two-deer counties.
Open houses to receive public comments about these hunting regulation proposals, as well as other hunting, trapping and fishing regulations and wildlife issues, will be held on March 7. Open houses will be held at the Wildlife District One, District Two, District Three and District Four offices and the Greene County Fish and Game Association clubhouse in Xenia. Directions to the open houses can be found at wildohio.gov or by calling 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543).
Open houses give the public an opportunity to view and discuss proposed fishing, hunting and trapping regulations with wildlife officials. If you are unable to attend an open house, comments will be accepted online at wildohio.gov. The online form will be available until March 8.
After receiving public input, the wildlife council will vote on the proposals. A statewide hearing on all the proposed rules will be held at the DOW District One office, 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus, at 9 a.m. on March 19.
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It was nice to receive a summary of the deer summits held recently in all five wildlife districts from DOW chief Scott Zody. All attendees received a copy. Although attendance at most of the district summits was somewhat disappointing, it was interesting to note all participants found the summit was worth their time, and all would attend again.
Attendees include a diverse range of individuals including not only interested hunters but members of the media, representatives from gun clubs and associations as well as specific organizations, such as Quality Deer Management Association, Safari Club International, White-Tails Unlimited, Ohioans fro Wildlife Conservation and Ohio Bowhunters Association. State Sen. Joe Uecker, of the 14th Senate district, also attended.
During question and answer sessions at each summit, the main concerns were:
• Concerns over the new check-in system and poaching increases.
• Concerns and understanding of chronic wasting disease.
• Licensing fees for out of state hunters (primarily considered too low).
• Coyote effects on white tail deer.
• Deer damage permit effects on overall herd numbers.
• Concerns over bag limits (primarily request for decrease in bag limit).
Results of a questionnaire handed out at the summits showed some interesting results.
On the question of allowing all legal firearms during all or part of the January statewide muzzleloader season, an overwhelming number did not support this (65), while 17 supported it and 8 had no opinion.
When asked if all deer hunting, including archery, should end at the conclusion of the January muzzleloader season, 47 did not support it, while 22 did and 18 had no opinion.
When asked if the youth deer gun season should be moved to a different weekend (a proposal now offered by the wildlife council), 43 had no opinion, 26 did not support the idea while 19 supported it.
On the question of limiting the antlerless deer harvest on public lands, 45 supported that, 15 did not and 28 had no opinion.
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Recently state auditor David Yost suggested an increased cost for anglers and hunters. He has proposed the resident fishing license climb to $23 from $19, while non-resident fishing licenses would move to $48 from $40. Yost also suggest the non-resident cost of a deer permit climb to $38 from $24.
Those ideas were not unexpected, since it had been mentioned at the Wildlife District Two deer summit in Findlay that proposed increases might be in the offing. Such increases would have to be passed by the state legislature.
