Hunting proposal OKs 3-deer areas

The Ohio Wildlife Council will likely approve expanded deer hunting opportunities -- with a three-deer limit in some areas -- when it votes on hunting regulations for the 2004-05 season this spring.
The proposal, developed by Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife biologists and others, would enable Buckeye State hunters to harvest one, two or three deer in some counties.
Area affected
The three-deer area encompasses 26 counties in the southeast and central part of the state, designated Zone C according to the proposal. Hunters in 34 counties across the state designated Zone B would be allowed two deer, and 28 mostly northwestern counties designated Zone A would have a one-deer limit.
The main reason behind the proposal, according to DOW researchers, is to help control the deer population.
In a prepared statement, Dave Risley, a wildlife management and research administrator for the DOW, said: "The 2004-05 proposals reflect the fact we want hunters to take more deer in certain areas of the state to help manage the population. The increased bag limits should make for more great deer hunting in Ohio."
Other proposed rules
Also under the proposal, the regular season for hunters using guns would run from Nov. 29 through Dec. 5, the season for hunters using muzzleloading guns would run from Dec. 27 through Dec. 30, and the archery season would run Oct. 2 through Jan. 31.
The young hunters season in 2004 would be held Nov. 20 and 21, with a limit of only one deer of either sex in any county and with any deer taken counting as part of the young hunter's total season limit. As usual, each youth hunter must be accompanied by a nonhunting adult who does not have to have a hunting license.
Public hearings set
Public hearings on the proposed regulations will be March 7 at each of the state's five wildlife district offices and on March 11 at the DOW headquarters, 1500 Dublin Road in Columbus. The headquarters for District Three, which covers all of northeastern Ohio, is at 912 Portage Lakes Drive in Akron.
The OWC will vote on proposed hunting regulations when it meets April 7 in Columbus.
braun@vindy.com