COLUMBUS — The Ohio Wildlife Council passed a slate of new rules and regulations at its regularly scheduled meeting Oct. 7, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
White-tailed deer carcass taxidermy and processing regulations take effect Nov. 1. Other rules that take effect Jan. 1, 2021, include new walleye and catfish daily limits as well as changes to aquaculture production.
Walleye
The Ohio Wildlife Council approved a six-walleye daily limit across Lake Erie from March 1 to April 30, 2021. A separate walleye daily limit for the Sandusky River and Sandusky Bay from March 1 to April 30 has been rescinded.
This change aligns the walleye daily limit with the rest of the Lake Erie Sport Fishing District.
Catfish
The vote also removed the six-fish daily limit of channel catfish on inland lakes and reservoirs less than 700 acres. The statewide daily bag limit of one channel catfish 28 inches or larger remains in place.
The statewide changes do not include Hoover Reservoir, which has site-specific regulations. Removing the channel catfish bag limit on smaller lakes and reservoirs increases angler opportunities, promotes harvest, increases the growth rates of the remaining fish, and improves the overall health of these populations.
Deer
A third change allows certified Ohio taxidermists and venison processors to accept legally harvested out-of-state white-tailed deer and other cervid carcasses.
Information about properly handling cervid carcasses will be distributed to certified taxidermists and processors to limit the spread of chronic wasting disease, a fatal disease that affects deer and other cervids. This change takes effect Nov. 1.
Frogs
A final regulation change affects how American bullfrogs, green frogs, and their tadpoles are handled at aquaculture facilities. This regulation defines the American bullfrog and green frog as Class A aquaculture species, allowing the aquaculture operation to take naturally occurring bullfrogs, green frogs, and tadpoles for sales, propagation, or rearing.
