OHIO WATERFOWL Dates, limits

The duck hunting season (except pintails and canvasbacks) in the north zone is Oct. 19 through Nov. 30, with a second split season Dec. 7 through 23. The north zone season for pintails opens Oct.19 and runs through Nov. 17, only. Both zones will have a closed season on canvasbacks.
In the south zone, duck season (except pintails and canvasbacks) is open Oct. 26 through Nov. 17, with a second split season Dec. 14 through Jan. 19, 2003. The south zone season for pintails is Oct. 26 through Nov. 2, with a second split season Dec. 14 through Jan. 4, 2003.
The daily bag limit for ducks is six, which may not include more than three mallards (only one of which may be female), one black duck, one pintail, two wood ducks, two redheads or three scaup. The season is closed on canvasbacks. Possession limits after the first day are twice the daily bag limit.
In the Lake Erie Canada goose zone, the goose season is Oct. 19 through Oct. 27, with a second split season Dec. 7 through Jan. 1, 2003. The Lake Erie Canada goose zone applies only to Canada geese and brant. Hunters may harvest light geese (snows, blues, Ross' and white fronts) within the Lake Erie Canada goose zone during the dates of the open goose season for the remainder of the north zone. The goose season for the remainder of the north zone is Oct. 19 through Nov. 30, with a second split season Dec. 7 through Jan. 2, 2003. In the south zone, goose season is Oct. 26 through Nov. 17 with a second split Dec. 14 through Jan. 29, 2003.
The daily bag limit for Canada geese is one in the Lake Erie goose zone, and two in the remainder of the state. Light geese (snows, blues, Ross') have a daily bag limit of 10, and white-fronted geese and brant have a daily bag limit of two. The possession limit for brant and geese is twice the daily bag limit after the first day.
The special late Canada goose season is Jan. 11 through 29, 2003. No special late season permits are required this year.
Areas open to the special late Canada goose season will include all of Fulton, Henry, Seneca and Huron counties; those portions of Lucas county west of I-80 and I-75 north to the Ohio/Michigan border; the portion of Summit county south of I-80; the portion of Allen county north of U.S. Route 30; and the portion of Geauga county north of U.S. Route 6.
Falconry season for ducks, coots and mergansers in the north zone will be from Sept. 7 through 15, Oct. 12 through 13, Oct. 19 through Nov. 30, Dec. 7 through Dec. 23 and Jan. 20 through Feb. 24, 2003. South zone falconry season is Sept. 7 through 15, Oct. 12 through 13, Oct. 26 through Nov. 17, Dec. 14 through 19 and Jan. 20 through Feb. 24, 2003.
People planning to hunt waterfowl are required to answer several questions for the Harvest Information Program survey when purchasing their hunting license. A state wetland habitat stamp endorsement and a valid and signed federal duck stamp are required in addition to a hunting license. 2002-2003 hunting licenses and wetland stamps are on sale now and remain valid through Feb. 28, 2003.
Legal shooting hours for all waterfowl will be one half-hour before sunrise to sunset.