The public has a few options to speak up on the changes or any other issues involving wildlife. The first would be at a district open house set for noon-3 p.m. on March 3 at the Greene County Fish & Game, 1538 Union Road, Xenia.
The second opportunity will be at a statewide open house at the District One office, 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus, on March 15 at 9 a.m.
For those unable to attend either gathering, there is a website where you can send your opinions. Go to wildohio.gov. The online form will be available through March 4.
The Wildlife Council will vote on the proposed rules and season dates during its 6:30 p.m. meeting April 11, after considering public input. Small game, migratory bird and wild turkey hunting season dates were proposed at the January council meeting and will also be voted on by the council April 11.
Actually, the proposed changes are minimal. Bag limits will remain the same for all counties except Jefferson, which will be lowered from 3 to 2 because EHD significantly reduced the herd there.
Also proposed are modifications for hunting on public land that would permit hunters to kill only one antlerless deer per license year and require that only antlered deer be harvested on public land after Dec. 2. This proposal would allow for herd growth on public land.
The DOW also proposed to allow the use of range finders on archery equipment that utilize only non-visible light when hunting in Ohio. Any device that projects a beam of visible light would still be prohibited.
Here are the proposed dates for Ohio’s 2018-2019 whitetail deer hunting season:
• Deer archery: Sept. 29, 2018-Feb. 3, 2019,
• Youth deer gun: Nov. 17-18, 2018,
• Deer gun: Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2018; Dec. 15-16, 2018,
• Deer muzzleloader: Jan. 5-8, 2019.
Name change: The Ohio Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Camp will welcome campers this summer with a new name, Camp Canopy. It will feature the same learning topics, traditions and activities as the previously-named camp, just with a different look and feel, according to Jeremy Scherf, camp co-director and service forester with the Division of Forestry.
“It’s still the same camp focusing on the many elements of forestry and wildlife that we all know and love, but with a fresh facelift on the outside,” said Scherf. “Camp Canopy is the new and improved Ohio Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Camp.”
Students who have completed the eighth grade through high school seniors graduating the year of camp are invited to attend Camp Canopy, which will be held June 10-15. As in years past, the camp will be held at FFA Camp Muskingum on Leesville Lake in Carroll County. For more information, visit campcanopy.com.
Diversity: The 34th annual Ohio Wildlife Diversity Conference will be 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on March 6, at the Ohio Union, 1739 North High Street, Columbus. This year the conference is entitled "Predators: Never Late for Dinner." Register at wildohio.gov or call 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543). People who register before March 1 will receive a discounted rate of $25. The cost will be $35 after that date.
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