February 24, 2000
Wildlife Agency to simplify deer permit system
By Vicki Hunker
Staff Writer
Deer hunters in Seneca and Wyandot counties would be able to take a deer of either sex throughout this fall's deer gun season if proposed regulation changes are approved by the Ohio Wildlife Council.
The counties were part of a rezoning from Zone A to Zone B by the Division of Wildlife. Nearby counties remaining in Zone A would include Hancock and Wood. In Zone B would be Sandusky, Crawford and Huron.
According to the proposed rules, Ohio again would be divided into three deer management zones. (See box for other counties.)
Hunters would be able to take one deer in Zones A or B and a second deer in Zone C, or two deer in Zone C. They could not take one deer in Zone A and another in Zone B.
Hunters would be able to take up to four additional antlerless deer with urban permits in the urban zones. Urban permits are sold for $10 each. Urban zone boundaries would remain unchanged from last year.
In addition to zoning changes, a less complex permitting system has been proposed.
Ohio Division of Wildlife officials said they hope to simplify the rules by eliminating the special management antlerless deer permit -- referred to as a "doe permit" by many hunters -- and will instead have only two types of deer permits.
A regular deer permit would be used to take either a buck or doe. An urban deer permit would be used to take only antlerless deer within any of the five urban deer zones and during special controlled hunts.
Hunters wishing to take two deer, while hunting in a zone where a second deer is allowed, would simply purchase two deer permits. Only one of the permits could be used to take a buck, regardless of zone, season and type of hunting implement. With two permits, a hunter could take one buck and one antlerless deer or two antlerless deer.
"The similarity of the terms special management antlerless deer permit and special deer permit has been confusing to many hunters so we are trying to make things less complicated," said Pat Ruble, executive administrator of wildlife management and research for the Division of Wildlife.
The statewide archery season would be open Oct. 7-Jan. 31. Primitive season would be Dec. 27-30. And special bucks-only primitive hunts would be Oct. 23-28 on the Salt Fork, Shawnee and Wildcat Hollow public hunting areas.
Statewide deer gun season would be Nov. 27-Dec. 3 in all three zones. Deer of either sex could be taken in zones B and C during the entire week. Deer of either sex may be taken the first two days in Zone A, followed by bucks only during the remaining five days.
Legal hunting hours would remain a half-hour before sunrise until a half-hour after sunset for archery and would remain a half-hour before sunrise until sunset for gun and primitive seasons.
The Division of Wildlife will have regional open houses March 5 to allow public comment. A statewide fish and game hearing will be March 16 in Columbus.
The Wildlife Council is scheduled to vote April 12 on all proposed hunting season dates and regulations.