OHIO
OHIO
Open houses across statewill target fishing rules
Six open houses will be held in August across the state by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife to solicit comments on Lake Erie and other fishing regulations they will propose for the 2004 season.
Division of Wildlife fisheries biologists, law enforcement personnel and administrators will be available to take comments and field questions.
Meetings will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 14 at the DOW's district offices in Columbus, Findlay, Akron, Athens, Xenia and at the Sandusky Fish Research Station.
After the open houses and consideration of public input, the Ohio Wildlife Council will vote on the proposals Oct. 15.
The DOW is planning to propose reducing the springtime limit on walleyes from four to three fish per day from March 1 to April 30. The limit for walleyes outside of that period is planned to stay at six fish per day. Also planned is a proposal creating a year-round walleye size limit of 15 inches. State fisheries biologists will also propose closing smallmouth fishing in May and June, when the popular sport fish are laying eggs and guarding their nests. Other Lake Erie and inland fishing regulation proposals will be previewed.
The DOW uses the open-house format each winter when taking comments on proposals for hunting seasons and bag limits, including those for deer and wild turkey hunting. Charts and graphs showing data on Lake Erie walleye populations will be available for review at the Aug. 14 open houses.
Early bird hunting season
The Ohio Wildlife Council has approved the state's early migratory bird hunting seasons for this fall, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
Sept. 1 will kick off the state's hunting seasons with the opening of hunting for dove, Canada goose and teal, rail, moorhen and snipe. Squirrel hunting season also starts that day. Ohio's dove hunting season has been set for Sept. 1 through Oct. 19, and Dec. 13 through Dec. 23 with a daily limit of 15 birds and possession limit of 30 birds.
Controlled dove hunts will be available for the first time on Rush Run and Pickerel Creek state wildlife areas in Preble and Sandusky counties. Information on individual hunts is available by calling 800-WILDLIFE.