Expanded deer season proposed for Wyandot Co.

COLUMBUS — Deer hunting bag limits for most of northwest Ohio for the 2022-23 season would be three per hunter, which is no change for Seneca County, if the Ohio Wildlife Council approves regulations as submitted by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife. However, an ODNR news release said Wyandot County would be one of three counties to have expanded hunting dates because of chronic wasting disease. Proposed deer seasons in the disease surveillance area include a longer archery season and an early gun season in early October. Statewide deer-hunting dates — including Seneca County — would be similar to last season, the release said. As in years past, only one antlered deer may be harvested, regardless of where or how it is taken, and a hunter cannot exceed a county bag limit. Proposed dates for 2022-23 include: Deer archery: Sept. 24-Feb. 5.Youth deer gun: Nov. 19-20.Deer gun: Nov. 28-Dec. 4 and Dec. 17-18.Deer muzzleloader: Jan. 7-10, 2023.Expanded deer season in the CWD surveillance area in Wyandot, Marion and Hardin counties would be: Deer archery: Sept. 1-Feb. 5.Early deer gun: Oct. 8-10.Youth deer gun: Nov. 19-20.Deer gun: Nov. 28-Dec. 4 and Dec. 17-18.Deer muzzleloader: Jan. 7-10, 2023.Hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Further, the release said public land deer-hunting restrictions are proposed to be removed at Big Island, Andreoff and Wyandot wildlife areas. Public land restrictions previously were removed at Killdeer Plains and Lake La Su An wildlife areas. A disease surveillance area was established following the discovery in 2020 of two CWD-positive deer in Wyandot County. Further testing revealed eight more CWD-positive deer in 2021, the release said. The Division of Wildlife has proposed additional measures to increase the deer harvest, decrease the possibility of disease transmission and limit the spread of CWD in Hardin, Marion and Wyandot counties. CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer and other similar species. Also in deer regulations news, ODNR has proposed bag limit increases designed to slow herd growth and provide additional hunting opportunities in 18 counties. Three counties are proposed to increase to two deer (from one deer) — Clinton, Fayette and Pickaway. Fifteen counties are proposed to increase to three deer (from two deer) — Allen, Auglaize, Champaign, Clark, Darke, Mercer, Miami, Morrow, Muskingum, Perry, Preble, Putnam, Shelby, Van Wert and Washington. Proposed wild turkey seasons The fall 2022 wild turkey hunting season was proposed to be reduced by three weeks. Dates would be Oct. 15-Nov. 13. Spring turkey hunting seasons for 2023 were proposed to maintain a 30-day spring turkey season in the south zone and northeast zone, with opening days on Saturdays. Youth season would be April 15-16, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. In the south zone, which includes Seneca County, dates would be April 22-April 30, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to noon, and May 1-21, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. In the northeast zone, which includes counties in the northeast corner of Ohio, would be April 29-May 7, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to noon, and May 8-28, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. Endangered and threatened species listings Every five years, the release said the Division of Wildlife reviews and updates the species listed as endangered, threatened, extirpated, species of concern and special interest. This year, 58 species listings were proposed to be changed, added or removed from the endangered and threatened species list. A complete list of proposed species is available at wildohio.gov. Three fish species — alligator gar, blacknose shiner and longhead darter — were proposed to be downgraded to endangered from extirpated. Many updates to dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies were proposed following years of thorough citizen science reporting, the release said. Two crayfish species, the blue crayfish and the crawzilla crawdad, were added to the list after previously unknown populations of both species were discovered in Ohio. General hunting proposals The release said ODNR has proposed to remove the requirement that a crossbow have traverse limbs and a stock that is at least 25 inches long. A shoulder-mount stock would still be required. The change would update the definition of a crossbow to allow newer designs that are shorter and have differing limb configurations, the release said. It was also proposed to remove the restrictions for carrying a concealed firearm while hunting, the release said. Under the proposal, a person may carry and hunt with a legally concealed firearm. Ohio Wildlife Council is an eight-member board that considers Ohio Division of Wildlife proposed changes to rules and regulations. Council meetings take place virtually and are open to the public. Individuals interested in providing comments are asked to call 614-265-6304 at least two days prior to the meeting to register. Comments are required to be 3 minutes or less. A complete list of proposed rule changes and proposed hunting and trapping season dates for 2022-2023 are available at wildohio.gov. Anyone who would like to comment can do so online at wildohio.gov through March 16. A statewide hearing on all proposed rules is planned for 9 a.m. March 24.