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Dates for 2009-10 waterfowl hunting seasons approved by Ohio Wildlife Council

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Al Smith
August 20, 2009

COLUMBUS -- Ohio hunters will again enjoy a 60-day duck hunting season and a six-duck bag limit this year. The 2009-2010 waterfowl hunting season dates have been approved by the Ohio Wildlife Council and are the most liberal regulations allowed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife (DOW).

The waterfowl hunting seasons are set to open Oct. 17 in both Ohio's north and south zones. Hunters 15 years of age and younger will have the opportunity to enjoy a special statewide season Oct. 3-4.

The duck hunting season in the north zone is Oct. 17-Dec. 6, followed by a late portion that opens Dec. 26-Jan. 3, 2010. In the South Zone, duck season is open Oct. 17-Nov. 1, followed by a late portion that opens Dec. 12 and runs through Jan. 24, 2010.

The daily bag limit for ducks is six, which may not include more than four mallards (no more than one may be female), three wood ducks, one black duck, two redheads, two scaup, one canvasback, one pintail and one mottled duck.

Ohio duck hunters will note that canvasback populations have recovered well enough to allow for limited harvest opportunity this year. Likewise, scaup populations have improved from 2008 and the bag limit of two applies for the entire season, unlike the regulations in place last year.

The daily bag limit for mergansers is five, of which only two may be hooded. The daily bag limit for coots is 15. Possession limits after the first day are twice the daily bag limit.

Ohio hunters will enjoy a slightly longer goose season this year that essentially adds an extra weekend to each zone.

In the Lake Erie Canada goose zone, the goose season is Oct. 17-Nov. 29 followed by a second segment that opens Dec. 7-Jan. 3, 2010. The goose season for the remainder of the north zone is Oct. 17-Nov. 29, with a second segment that runs from Dec. 19-Jan. 17, 2010.

In the south zone, goose season is Oct. 17-Nov. 8 followed by a second segment that opens Dec. 12 and runs through Jan. 31, 2010.

The daily bag limit for Canada geese is two. Light geese (snows, blues, Ross') have a daily bag limit of 10, and white-fronted geese and brant have a daily bag limit of one. The possession limit for brant and geese is twice the daily bag limit after the first day.

People planning to hunt waterfowl are required to answer several questions for the harvest information program (HIP) survey when purchasing their hunting licenses. A state wetland habitat stamp endorsement and a valid and signed federal duck stamp are required when hunting waterfowl, in addition to an Ohio hunting license.

The 2009-2010 hunting licenses and wetland stamps are on sale now and remain valid through Feb. 28, 2010.

Copies of this season's waterfowl hunting regulations, which include maps of the zones (publication 295, waterfowl hunting seasons), will be available online at wildohio.com or by late September to hunters at all license vendors.




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