Ohio 2022-23 hunting seasons approved

COLUMBUS — Ohio Wildlife Council has approved a shortened fall wild turkey season statewide and a longer white-tailed deer season in the disease surveillance area of Wyandot, Hardin and Marion counties, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife. In the disease surveillance area that was established following the 2020 discovery of chronic wasting disease in two deer in Wyandot County, said an ODNR news release. Further testing revealed eight more CWD-positive deer in 2021. CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer and other similar species. The release said the Division of Wildlife has implemented additional measures to increase the deer harvest, decrease the possibility of disease transmission and limit the spread of CWD. Deer archery hunting in Hardin, Marion and Wyandot counties will begin Sept. 10. The original proposed start date of Sept. 1 was amended following feedback from hunters and landowners. Deer seasons in the disease surveillance area: • Deer archery - Sept. 10-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. Public land deer hunting restrictions have been removed at Big Island, Andreoff and Wyandot wildlife areas. Public land restrictions had previously been removed at Killdeer Plains and Lake La Su An wildlife areas. Seneca County and statewide deer hunting seasons Except for the CWD surveillance area, the 2022-23 deer hunting dates are similar to last season. 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. The deer hunting season 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. Hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Bag limits will increase in 18 counties, but there's no increase in Seneca or neighboring counties. Three counties will increase to two deer (from one deer): Clinton, Fayette and Pickaway. Fifteen counties will increase to three deer (from two deer): Allen, Auglaize, Champaign, Clark, Darke, Mercer, Miami, Morrow, Muskingum, Perry, Preble, Putnam, Shelby, Van Wert and Washington. Deer bag limit increases are designed to slow herd growth. Wild turkey seasons This year's fall wild turkey hunting will be Oct. 8-Nov. 13, a 37-day season shortened from 52 days last year. The season limit is one wild turkey of either sex. Season dates were amended based on comments from fall turkey hunters. A 37-day season matches the length of Ohio's spring turkey hunting season when the south and northeast zones are combined. Fall turkey hunting is open in 70 of Ohio's 88 counties, including Seneca County. Spring 2023 turkey hunting dates will be: • Youth season: April 15-16, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. South zone, including Seneca and nearby counties: • April 22-April 30, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to noon. • May 1-21, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. Northeast zone: • April 29-May 7, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to noon. • May 8-28, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. General hunting regulations The definition of a crossbow was updated to include new limb configurations and stock lengths. This will allow newer crossbow designs that are shorter and have differing limb configurations. A shoulder-mount stock is still required for a crossbow. Restrictions were removed for carrying a concealed firearm while hunting. A person may carry and hunt with a legally concealed firearm, so long as the firearm meets existing regulations. Endangered and threatened species listings Every five years, 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 changed, added or removed from the endangered and threatened species list. A complete list of species is available at wildohio.gov. Three fish species, the alligator gar, blacknose shiner and longhead darter were downgraded to endangered from extirpated. Many species of dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies were updated following years of thorough citizen science reporting. 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.