COLUMBUS — Ohio hunters should experience good opportunities for success as they take to the field in search of waterfowl throughout the hunting seasons, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Waterfowl seasons stretch from October through January.
This positive outlook is based on findings by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) biologists and detailed in the USFWS Status Report and Adaptive Harvest Management Report. The reports provide information from continental surveys and are available on the ODNR Division of Wildlife Waterfowl Hunting Resources page at wildohio.com.
More Canada geese
Canada geese are the most harvested waterfowl in Ohio. The 78-day Canada goose season begins in October and allows hunters to harvest three geese daily.
Ohio’s spring breeding population estimate was 147,500 geese, near the record high for the 20-plus years the survey has been conducted.
Migrant interior goose populations (Canada’s Southern James Bay and the Mississippi Valley) had above normal gosling production, suggesting the Canada goose migration into Ohio this year could be above normal.
- Goose hunting in the Lake Erie Canada Goose Zone is Oct. 12-27 and Nov. 9-Jan. 9, 2014.
- Goose hunting in the North Zone is Oct. 19-Nov. 3 and Nov. 30-Jan. 30, 2014.
- Goose hunting in the South Zone is Oct. 19-Nov. 3 and Nov. 30-Jan. 30, 2014.
Duck season
Ohio waterfowl hunters will also enjoy a 60-day duck hunting season beginning in October.
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, three scaup, two canvasbacks, two pintails and one mottled duck.
The daily bag limit for mergansers is five, of which no more than two may be hooded mergansers. The daily bag limit for coots is 15.
- Duck hunting season in the Lake Erie Marsh Zone is Oct. 12-27 and Nov. 9-Dec. 22.
- Duck hunting season in the North Zone is Oct. 19-Nov. 3 and Nov. 30-Jan. 12, 2014.
- Duck hunting season in the South Zone is Oct. 19-Nov. 3 and Dec. 14-Jan. 26, 2014.
Possession limits for all migratory game birds increased this year to three times the daily bag limit after the second day.
Pre-hunt survey
Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification is required of all waterfowl hunters prior to hunting. Migratory game bird hunters must call 877-HIPOHIO (447-6446) and answer a few survey questions to complete the HIP certification requirement. Hunters will be provided a certification number to write on their Ohio hunting license once the survey has been completed.
Waterfowl hunters 18 and older must also purchase an Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp, available at any hunting license agent or wildohio.com. In addition, all waterfowl hunters 16 and older must possess a signed federal duck stamp, which can be purchased at most post offices, at duckstamp.com or usps.com.
Migration updates
Hunters can follow the waterfowl migration this year on wildohio.com.
Data from biweekly waterfowl surveys will be updated throughout the season on the “Waterfowl Hunting Resources” page.
Areas to be surveyed from the air will be expanded this year to include Mercer, Big Island, Mosquito Creek, Killbuck and Funk Bottoms wildlife areas, in addition to the Lake Erie Marshes.
Any of you Ohio boys find yourself heading south for warmer hunting give me a shout. I guide in north TX and am in a long sleeve shirt and waders most of the season. You can check our past hunts and follow along throughout the season by going to http://www.fourcurlnation.com
I’ll admit I originally grew up in Cleveland but once I arrived here in 83 and saw I could hunt and fish year round AND didn’t have to shovel snow, well, for me it was a no-brainer! Hope to hunt with y’all soon.