2013-14 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Seasons

The Ohio Wildlife Council approved 2013-2014 hunting and trapping regulations, including season dates and bag limits, at its April 17 meeting. The regulations approved by the Ohio Wildlife Council will now be filed with the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR). JCARR must approve the rule-making process before the regulations can take effect. 2013-2014 white-tailed deer hunting seasons:

Deer archery: Sept. 28, 2013-Feb. 2, 2014; Antlerless deer muzzleloader: Oct. 12-13, 2013; Youth deer: Nov. 23-24,2013; Deer gun: Dec. 2-8, 2013; and Deer muzzleloader: Jan. 4-7, 2014.

Hunters may harvest only one buck in Ohio, regardless of the method of take or location. The hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30minutes past sunset for all deer seasons. Antlerless permits are valid until Dec. 1, the Sunday before deer-gun season. County bag limits will replace deer zones. Bag limits are two, three or four deer, depending on the county. The statewide bag limit is nine deer, but a hunter cannot exceed a county bag limit. Additional controlled hunting opportunities do not count against the statewide bag limit. The December bonus gun weekend, the early muzzleloader season at three public hunting areas (Salt Fork Wildlife Area, Shawnee State Forest and Wildcat Hollow) and urban hunting zones have been discontinued.

Other hunting seasons were also previously approved. An Oct. 14start date for the fall wild turkey season, the Monday following the antlerless deer muzzleloader season, has been approved. Butler, Delaware,Fairfield, Franklin,Hamilton, Huron, Seneca and Warren counties are added to the list of counties open for fall turkey hunting. Deer and fall turkey permits will go on sale July 1. Cottontail rabbit hunting restrictions are removed in the snowshoe hare protected areain Geauga and Ashtabula counties. Remaining snowshoe hares are still protected as a state-endangered species, and it remains illegal to kill them in Ohio. 2013-2014 hunting and trapping seasons:

Squirrel: Sept. 1, 2013-Jan. 31, 2014;
Ruffed grouse: Oct. 12, 2013-Jan. 31, 2014;
Fall wild turkey: Oct. 14,2013-Dec. 1, 2013;
Youth upland game: Oct. 19-20, Oct. 26-27, 2013;
Cottontail rabbit: Nov. 1, 2013-Feb. 28, 2014;
Ring-necked pheasant: Nov. 1, 2013-Jan. 5, 2014;
Bobwhite quail: Nov. 1-Dec. 1, 2013;
Fox, raccoon, opossum, skunk and weasel: Nov. 10, 2013-Jan. 31, 2014;
Mink and muskrat: Nov. 10, 2013-Feb. 28, 2014;
Mink, muskrat, raccoon, opossum, skunk and weasel (Erie, Ottawa and Sandusky counties, and Lucas County east of the Maumee River): Nov. 10, 2013-March 15, 2014;
Beaver: Dec. 26, 2013-Feb. 28, 2014;
River otter: Dec. 26,2013-Feb. 28, 2014;
Crow: June 7, 2013-March 8,2014;
June 6, 2014-March 7, 2015 (Friday,Saturday and Sunday only);
Youth spring wild turkey: April 19-20, 2014;
Spring wild turkey: April 21-May 18, 2014;
Coyote and wild boar: No closed season; and Groundhog: Closed only during deer gun season.

Season dates and bag limits for migratory birds, including mourning dove, Canadagoose,rail, moorhen, snipe, woodcock and waterfowl, will be set in August in compliance with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2013-2014 framework.

Wisconsin Folks Interested in Hosting Deer Hunt for those with Disabilities: Please Sign Up by June 1

Please apply by June 1 to host deer hunt for those with disabilities

Sponsors and landowners interested in hosting a gun deer hunt for hunters with disabilities are encouraged to apply by June 1.

Sponsors are encouraged to submit their applications using the new online process which can be found at dnr.wi.gov, search keywords “disabled deer hunt.”

Hard copies are available at DNR service centers or by calling Scott Roepke at 608-261-7588.

This year’s gun hunt for hunters with disabilities will occur Oct. 5 to 13. Landowners and sponsors have the option to limit the hunt to certain days within that time period.

Hunters interested in participating in the hunt can find a list of sponsors on the DNR web page above after June 1. Hunters are encouraged to contact sponsors as soon as possible so that hunt planning can get underway.

Sponsors are required to submit a list of participating hunters no later than Sept. 1. The list of participating hunters can also be submitted online, similar to the sponsor application.

In 2012, 93 sponsors worked with landowners to make nearly 75,000 acres of land open to hunters with disabilities. These sponsors and landowners provided opportunities for more than 450 hunters.

Many thanks go to hunt sponsors, landowners, and volunteers for their dedication to this great event. Without you, this hunt would not be possible!

Related articles

• Landowners and deer benefit from Deer Management Assistance Program (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• North Dakota's 2013 deer season is set, Apply soon (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Learn to Hunt Bear application process open - Wisconsin (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Ohio Game Check Procedure Updated for 2013 Deer and Turkey Hunting (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Missouri landowners invited to Tree Farm Conference in Kirksville (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• More than 140,000 pounds of donated venison goes to food pantries statewide in Wisconsin (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report

Cool spring means colder water temperatures than usual for the Memorial Day holiday weekend

The cool spring means water temperatures across most of the state will be colder than usual for the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Water levels on streams and rivers are beginning to recede, but they remain high on many river systems. The Mississippi is beginning to drop in the lower pools, but is still rising on some of the northern pools. The Flambeau River is running

nearly 2 feet above normal on the North Fork. The Rock River had dropped from flood stage but slow-no-wake rules remain in place in Rock County.

Widespread rain has alleviated fire danger and helped “green up” vegetation around the state, but 30 wildfires still burned 32 acres in DNR Protection Areas the past week.

Many state parks and forests report that most reservable campsites are booked for the weekend, but there are still some open sites. People can also now check the DNR website for availability of non-reservable sites for camping in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, which has nearly 900 campsites.

Next weekend, June 1-2 is Free Fun Weekend in Wisconsin with free fishing, free DNR trails and free ATV/UTV riding June 1 and 2 and free entry to state parks and forests Sunday, June 2 only.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: a video invitation for free fun weekend from DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp and Wisconsin Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch is available in the online DNR Outdoor Report.]

Most northern lakes and flowages currently have high water levels from recent heavy rains. The erratic weather of the past week made for some variable water temperatures ranging from the upper 40s on the large and deep lakes to the mid to upper 60s on some smaller lakes.

The variable weather also made for constantly changing fishing success, though walleye anglers have been experiencing steadily improving action and success over the past week. Daily walleye bag limits will increase May 25 on more than 440 lakes in northern Wisconsin in time for the long Memorial Day weekend as spring spearing winds down by the Wisconsin bands of Chippewa Indians. Only seven of the preliminary 197 lakes that were set at a one fish bag limit will have that limit. All others will move to a two, three four or five fish limit. Check the DNR website for the revised ceded territory bag limits [PDF].

Northern pike success has been fair and panfish activity has picked up with the warm-up in water temperatures. Bass activity has also been increasing, but the erratic weather has kept fish in deeper water. The first largemouth bass spawning activity has been observed in some lakes. Crappies and white bass were biting below the Wisconsin Dells dam on the Wisconsin River.

Bass are just beginning to move onto their beds on Green Bay and there has been some excellent bass fishing all around Door County. On Lake Michigan, salmon fishing has really begun to pick up with the arrival of coho in southern waters, especially at Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha, with some trollers have reported catching limits.

The spring turkey season ended with hunters having better success at the end of the season with the warmer temperatures. Hen turkeys have established nests and will be sitting on eggs for the next few weeks.

Bucks are growing their antlers and does are beginning to give birth to fawns. Again, does will leave their young for long periods of time. These fawns are not abandoned…leave them where they and their mothers will return to care for them.

Butterfly species are slowly emerging including: Karner blue butterflies, spring azures, pine, horary and brown elfins, and mourning cloaks. Spring ephemerals are peaking with trout lilies, trilliums, wild geranium, bellwort, bloodroot, anemones, marsh marigold and violets blooming. And more morels are popping up with some mushroom hunters reporting finding several pounds of these spring delicacies.

Related articles

• Wisconsin regular inland game fish season opens Saturday, May 4 (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Iowa Campsites in High Demand for Memorial Day Weekend (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)

U.P. conservation organizations awarded DNR deer habitat improvement grants

Six Upper Peninsula conservation organizations will receive Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative (DHIPI) grants from the Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Division in 2013, DNR officials announced today.

The projects, totaling $50,000 of DHIPI grant money, will improve deer habitat in Alger, Dickinson, Iron, Mackinac, Menominee and Ontonagon counties.

The DHIPI grant program is designed to attract and support proposals from non-government organizations interested in improving white-tailed deer habitat in the Upper Peninsula. The competitive grant program, funded by the state’s Deer Range Improvement Fund (DRIP), requires the projects be located on non-state-owned land, including private property and Commercial Forest Act-enrolled land.

The following organizations will receive 2013 DHIPI grants:

• The Dickinson Conservation District will receive $7,700 to plant crab apple and oak trees on 40 parcels of privately owned land in Dickinson, Iron and Menominee counties to improve hard and soft mast availability.

• U.P. Whitetails, in partnership with The Forestland Group LLC., will receive $9,500 to plant conifers and advanced oak saplings on Heartwood Forestland Fund IV property where hard mast-producing beech trees have been lost due to beech bark disease. Approximately 400 acres in Alger County will receive 8-foot-tall saplings in a concerted effort to establish acorn-producing oak groves and enhance historic winter deer range.

• Wildlife Unlimited of Iron County will receive $7,500 to partner with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to enhance wildlife openings on 10 sites with native prairie and cool-season plantings. This project partners deer habitat improvement with Wildlife Unlimited’s youth hunter recruitment program. It also provides new opportunities for disabled hunters using the group’s specially outfitted accessibility hunting trailer. 

• The Ontonagon chapter of Whitetails Unlimited will receive $7,850 to create a 10-acre wildlife opening project adjacent to a deer wintering complex. This project is intended to provide nutritious wildlife forage to deer during the snow-free months, especially the critical weeks in the spring and fall as deer migrate to and from winter habitat.

    

• Straits Area Sportsmen’s Club will receive $9,200 to plant 20 large red oak trees (each at least 15 feet tall) on U.S. Forest Service land in Mackinac County. These unique plantings are designed to introduce acorn-bearing trees onto the landscape where hard mast is deficient, and the advanced size of the trees means they can produce acorns within a few years and are above the deer browse line.

• The Alger and Schoolcraft County chapters of U.P. Whitetails and the Alger County Fish and Game Alliance will receive $8,250 in partnership to enhance a 50-acre wildlife opening on private land. This area is immediately adjacent to the Petrel deer wintering complex and will benefit deer in the spring and fall as they move to winter habitat.

"All of these projects are prime examples of how communities of sportsmen can partner with the DNR to enhance deer habitat in their local area," said DNR wildlife biologist Bill Scullon, who oversees the DHIPI program. “Not only are there the direct habitat benefits of the projects, but the partnerships that develop can provide the basis for many more community-based conservation efforts.”  

“Habitat improvement projects like these give us the ability to test novel mechanisms, evaluate what works, and incorporate those successful efforts into the future planning for the broader landscape,” according to Natural Resources Commissioner John Madigan of Munising.  

The six grant recipients were also congratulated by Natural Resources Commission Chairman J.R. Richardson of Ontonagon. “These habitat improvement projects bring real value back to the resource, and I have to thank the sporting groups and community partners for their dedication and involvement,” Richardson said.

For more information about the Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative or the DRIP Fund, contact Bill Scullon at 906-563-9247. More information about deer management in Michigan can be found online at www.michigan.gov/deer.

Created by legislation in 1971, the DRIP fund is supported by a $1.50 allocation from each deer license sold (except for senior licenses), which equals $2.2 to $2.8 million in funding annually. This restricted funding is for the enhancement, maintenance, and acquisition of deer habitat statewide.

Related articles

• Landowners and deer benefit from Deer Management Assistance Program (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Louisiana Men Guilty of poaching Iowa Deer (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• More than 140,000 pounds of donated venison goes to food pantries statewide in Wisconsin (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• North Dakota's 2013 deer season is set, Apply soon (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Heavy late-winter snow will challenge Upper Peninsula deer population (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)

Landowners and deer benefit from Deer Management Assistance Program

Oklahoma landowners can sign up for assistance in managing the whitetail deer population on their properties by participating in the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) from the Oklahoma Department of

Wildlife Conservation.

DMAP is a joint effort between Wildlife Department biologists and the landowners, or cooperators, who collect detailed information about the deer population and those harvested on their property. The program gives landowners, hunt clubs or lease operators the ability to implement a more intensive form of deer management than might be possible under statewide regulations through additional antlerless deer harvests. DMAP cooperators may be issued permits that allow the harvest of additional antlerless deer during regular archery, primitive firearms and gun seasons. The program also allows antlerless harvest with a gun the entire month of December.

A landowner wishing to become a DMAP cooperator must enroll at least 1,000 acres in the program. Owners of smaller properties may ask their neighbors to join them in their application to meet the 1,000-acre minimum.

"Key to the program is that it allows some flexibility in harvesting antlerless deer to adjust for local deer populations on participating properties," said Erik Bartholomew, big game biologist for the Wildlife Department. "Once an application is submitted, a biologist will arrange to visit the property to evaluate habitat, determine the landowner's management goals and review past year's harvest data. The biologist will recommend approval of the DMAP application if the program can benefit the landowner's management goals."

Cooperators who join DMAP must conduct a spotlight survey in late summer, and agree to tag and maintain accurate records of all deer harvested on DMAP properties. Data collected upon harvesting a deer, including sex, weight, antler beam measurement and a lower jawbone, is vital to understanding the herd's characteristics. After the deer season, the Department will issue a report to the landowner to help evaluate future management needs.

Louisiana Men Guilty of poaching Iowa Deer

RED OAK, Iowa - Four Louisiana men were found guilty of poaching Iowa deer from a case that started when someone made a call to the Turn in Poachers hotline.

The investigation began in late November 2011 when the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Department received a

“These men came to Iowa specifically to road hunt trophy bucks during the rut,” said Deb Howe, state conservation officer for the Iowa DNR. “They did not have any licenses or tags to hunt in Iowa during the time they were here.”

Michael Fralick, of Ponchatoula, La., was convicted on all 32 counts of deer hunting violations in four southwest Iowa counties. Fralick was assessed $6,123.90 in fines and court costs, forfeited two rifles and received a five year license suspension. He was ordered to pay $22,500 in civil damages.

James Moore, of Ponchatoula, La., pleaded guilty to discharge firearm from roadway, having a loaded gun in vehicle, failure to tag deer, illegal method of take in Adams County, Iowa, and was fined $604.50. He also pleaded guilty to two counts unlawful transportation/possession of whitetail deer, no valid non-resident hunting license, no valid non-resident any-sex deer license, no habitat fee, illegal method of take in Montgomery County, Iowa, and was assessed $1,688.50 total fines and court costs. Moore received a five year license suspension and was ordered to pay $10,000 in civil damages.

Moore was in possession of an illegal deer in Oklahoma when he was served with the Iowa citations by officials in Oklahoma.

Stanley Russel, of Roseland La., and William “Heath” Chambliss, of Kentwood, La., were both found guilty in Montgomery County, Iowa, of no valid non-resident hunting license, no valid non-resident any sex deer license, no valid non-resident antlerless deer license (required) and no habitat fee. Their fines and court costs totaled $1,433.40 each and they received a two year license suspension.

The four men pleaded guilty to various wildlife crimes in Kansas as well.

These convictions were the result of a 10 month investigation by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Bureau, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Louisiana Department of Game & Fish, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Information received through the TIP hotline in both Iowa and Kansas was critical in this investigation. If you have information on wildlife crimes please call TIP of Iowa at 1-800-532-2020 you can remain anonymous.

TIP call from a concerned citizen about the activities of these men. The information led authorities to possible illegal activity in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources received a TIP call about illegal deer activity around the same time that linked the two cases together.

North Dakota’s 2013 deer season is set, Apply soon

North Dakota’s 2013 deer season is set, with 59,500 licenses available to hunters this fall, 5,800 fewer than last year and the lowest since 1983.

Randy Kreil, wildlife chief for the State Game and Fish Department, said after a significant reduction in gun licenses in 2012, harvest and survey data revealed deer populations are still below management objectives in most units.

“The statewide hunter success rate in 2012 was 63 percent, which is higher than in 2011 (52 percent), but is still lower than our goal of 70 percent,” Kreil said. “The decrease of licenses in 2013 is necessary to allow deer populations to increase toward management goals.”

Winter aerial surveys showed deer numbers were down from 2011 levels in the northern and eastern portions of the state, specifically units 1, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2K1, 2K2, and 3A1. Kreil said although deer are still below management objectives in 2A, 2F1 and 2F2, aerial surveys showed numbers were slightly above levels recorded in 2011 or 2012.

“The winter of 2012-13 was severe in the northern and eastern portions of the state, which will impede population recovery in those areas,” Kreil said. “Furthermore, high quality deer habitat continues to be lost statewide and will limit the potential for population recovery.”

Currently, all hunting units in the state are below management objectives except in 3E2, 3F1, 3F2 and 4F.

Out west, mule deer licenses in the badlands will decrease slightly this year. As was the case last year, no antlerless mule deer licenses are available in units 3B1, 3B2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F. This restriction applies to regular gun, resident and nonresident any-deer bow, gratis and youth licenses.

According to Kreil, the spring mule deer survey did show positive trends, with numbers up 15 percent over last year. “This modest increase indicates the mild winter of 2011 and no doe harvest in 2012 might be having a positive effect on the mule deer herd,” he added. “With the no-doe-harvest regulation remaining in place for 2013, there may be some reason for optimism concerning mule deer.”

Hunters are able to draw one license for the deer gun season and one for the muzzleloader season, and purchase an archery license. Like last year, there is no concurrent season and a hunter cannot receive more than one license for the deer gun season.

The number of licenses available for 2013 is 1,150 antlered mule deer, a decrease of 50 mule deer licenses from last year; 1,166 for muzzleloader, down 116 from last year; and 115 restricted youth antlered mule

North Dakota’s 2013 deer gun season opens Nov. 8 at noon and continues through Nov. 24. Online applications for the regular deer gun, youth, muzzleloader, and resident gratis and nonresident landowner seasons will be available May 13 through the Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov. Also, paper applications will be at vendors throughout the state the week of May 13. The deadline for applying is June 5.

Bow hunters should note that both resident and nonresident archery licenses this year are available only through the department’s Bismarck office or website, or by calling (800) 406-6409. Archery tags will not be sold over the counter at license vendor locations in 2013.

Gratis and nonresident landowner applicants will want to take note of a new law passed recently by the state legislature. House Bill 1131 reduces the number of acres required to qualify from 160 to 150. In addition, gratis applications received on or before the regular deer gun lottery application deadline (June 5) will be issued any-legal-deer license. Applications received after the deadline will be issued based on licenses remaining after the lottery – generally only antlerless licenses remain.

HB 1131 also allows residents who turn age 12 in 2013 to receive an antlerless white-tailed deer license, and allows an individual who turns 14 this year to receive one deer license valid for the youth deer season. Previously, a young hunter had to turn the appropriate age prior to the end of the respective big game season.

deer, a decrease of five from last year.

Adjustments Proposed to Ohio Deer Hunting Opportunities for 2013-2014 Season

 The Ohio Wildlife Council will consider white-tailed deer hunting proposals on Wednesday, May 15, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The following are adjustments to the proposals that were voted on and approved during the April 17 Ohio Wildlife Council meeting. These proposals address public input requesting an increase in recreational opportunities.

The Ohio Wildlife Council will consider rescheduling two days of deer-gun hunting on Jan. 3-4, 2014. Deer can be pursued with all legal hunting equipment, including shotgun, handgun, muzzleloader and bow from one half-hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset. The statewide muzzleloader season is Jan. 5-7, 2014.

“We are proposing to add a day to the existing muzzleloader season, for a total of five days of January gun hunting,” said ODNR Division of Wildlife Chief Scott Zody. “The first two days will be open to all legal firearms, while the last three days will be restricted to muzzleloaders.”

The Ohio Wildlife Council will also consider a proposal to adjust the bag limits in Hocking, Perry and Ross counties to four deer. The bag limit in these counties was initially proposed as three deer.

The council meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the ODNR Division of Wildlife’s District One office, 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43215. This meeting is open to the public and comments on the proposed rules will be accepted.

Individuals who want to provide comments to the council must preregister at least two days prior by calling 614-265-6304. The deadline to preregister will be 5 p.m. on Monday, May 13. All comments are required to be three minutes or less. Emailed or written comments will not be presented at this meeting, but will continue to be an important mechanism for input in regularly scheduled wildlife open houses.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.

Related articles

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