The Ohio Division of Wildlife reports that Ohio hunters and trappers preparing to pursue furbearers will find good populations of these animals during the 2009-2010 season, which begins Nov. 10.
“Food sources and habitat conditions for furbearers have been good this year across Ohio,” said Suzie Prange, wildlife biologist with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. “Fur takers can expect a good season.”
For the fifth year, 43 counties will be open for river otter trapping from Dec. 26 to Feb. 28. River otters were reintroduced into four Ohio watersheds between 1986 and 1993 and have increased their range in the state. They were removed from the state endangered species list in 2002. Full details of open counties, checking and permit requirements can be found in the Ohio River Otter Trapping Regulations.
In most regions of Ohio, hunting and trapping seasons for fox, raccoon, opossum, skunk and weasel open Nov. 10 and close Jan. 31, 2010. The trapping season for mink and muskrat is open Nov. 10 through Feb. 28, 2010.
Exceptions are Erie, Ottawa and Sandusky counties, and in Lucas County east of the Maumee River where raccoon, opossum, skunk, weasel, mink and muskrat trapping seasons will remain open through March 15, 2010. Ohio’s beaver-trapping season runs Dec. 26 to Feb. 28, 2010, statewide.
There are no daily bag limits or restrictions on hours when furbearers may be hunted or trapped, with the exception of river otters where bag limits are dependent on the county where the trapping occurs. Special hunting regulations for coyotes apply during the one-week statewide deer-gun season Nov. 30-Dec. 6, and the deer-gun weekend of Dec. 19-20.
A fur-taker permit is required in addition to a valid Ohio hunting license to hunt or trap fur-bearing animals, except for coyotes, which may be hunted or trapped year round without a fur-taker permit. A special ODNR Division of Wildlife permit is required to trap beaver and otters on state public hunting areas.
Otters that are accidentally captured, either in excess of bag limits or in closed counties, must be released unharmed. Otters that cannot be released must be turned over to the Division of Wildlife.
Beaver trappers in particular, are advised to watch for otter sign and modify set placements where necessary. The Ohio State Trappers Association and the Division of Wildlife have published a guide on how to recognize otter sign and use various otter avoidance techniques while trapping for beaver in areas closed to otter trapping. A copy of the publication and reports about observing otters in Ohio can be ordered by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.
Ohio is among the nation’s leading producers of raw furs. Currently, there are 52 licensed fur dealers and over 17,000 licensed fur takers in the state.
Please remember the 2009-10 licenses will not be printed on waterproof paper. Sportsmen and women should protect their licenses and permits from the elements by carrying them in a protective pouch or wallet.
Additional hunting information is contained in the 2009-2010 Ohio Hunting Regulations brochure, available where Ohio hunting licenses are sold, on the Internet at wildohio.com calling toll-free 1-800-WILDLIFE.
Public drawing
The Ohio Division of Wildlife will be holding special drawings to select trappers for harvesting beaver and river otter on public properties.
Beaver and river otter trapping permits for the Grand River Wildlife Area and the LaDue Public Hunting Area will be issued at a public drawing on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. Registration begins at 6 p.m. The drawing will be held at the Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area Headquarters, 8303 North Park Avenue, North Bloomfield, Ohio. A total of 8 permits will be issued for the areas; five for Grand River and three for LaDue. The season bag limit for beaver is unlimited. The river otter Zone-C bag limit will be in effect, allowing for a total of three otters to be harvested.
To be eligible for the drawing, trappers will be required to bring a valid hunting license and fur taker permit, proof of a previous hunting license and fur taker permit, or proof of registration/completion of a trapper education course. For more information, call Grand River WLA (330) 889-3280.
Trapping for these furbearers on public lands is by permit only and limited to areas where flooding from beaver dams interferes with other management practices or affects adjacent, private property or roadways. Beaver and otter trapping seasons run Dec. 26, 2009 through Feb. 28, 2010 statewide.
Early results
The Ohio Division of Wildlife reported that Muzzleloader hunters took 474 deer during last week’s early muzzleloader deer hunt according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
Hunters took 271 deer at Salt Fork Wildlife Area, 159 deer at Wildcat Hollow and 44 deer at Shawnee State Forest. During last year’s early muzzleloader hunt, hunters took a total of 568 deer for the season; 315 deer at Salt Fork Wildlife Area, 162 deer at Wildcat Hollow and 91 deer at Shawnee State Forest.
The early muzzleloader season was open Oct. 19 through Oct. 24. The season allows for the harvest of antlered and antlerless deer, with the $15 antlerless deer permits valid for use.
Ohio’s various deer hunting seasons coupled with a healthy population gives hunters a good opportunity for success. Archery season opened September 26 and runs through Feb. 7, 2010. Youth deer gun season is November 21 and 22. Deer gun season will open November 30 and extend through Dec. 6, and be open for a weekend hunt on Dec. 19 and 20. The statewide muzzleloader season is Jan. 9-12, 2010.
Hunters interested in donating venison to food banks are reminded that the ODNR Division of Wildlife has collaborated with Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) to help pay for the processing of donated venison. Hunters who donate their deer to a food bank are not required to pay the processing cost as long as funding for the effort lasts. More information about this program can be found online at www.fhfh.org
For additional information on all of Ohio’s deer hunting seasons and requirements, hunters are advised to review the 2009-10 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Information is also available online at www.wildohio.com.
Sandy’s back
And I mean that literally. After major back surgery Sandy Soderstorm wasn’t sure if she’s be able to hunt this year or not. Needless to say she started out slow scouting at first until she found a good spot to set a tree stand.
Takin’ care of business
On Oct. 20, Sandy had decided she was going to giver it a try but she had to pick he daughter Shauna up from school first, Shauna is also a huntress, just so ya know.
Once she had taken care of her motherly duties she headed for her stand. Once there she eased out a few bleats followed by a grunt or two. Then she waited, nothing. Heck, give it another try? A couple more bleats followed by a grunt or two, then wait some more.
A hellacious commotion
While Sandy was waiting and watching some squirrels a hellacious snap of a branch resonated through the woods. What the heck? Then more branches breaking and even more thrashing sounds. After that came a thundering grunt, the closer he got the more noise he made and the louder he got. Sandy was on the edge of her seat, she heard branches ripping, it seemed like he was taking forever to get within sight.
Oh, Lord, please
Suddenly, there he was, “Oh, my God, he’s huge!” Sandy said to herself. “Oh, Lord, please let me stay calm and don’t let that evil buck fever slip into my mind.”
As she tried to compose herself, her heart was pounding like a big bass drum and she had the shakes. She took a deep breath. At that moment it all seemed to come into perspective. Sandy said “It was the coolest thing; it was like everything went into slow motion.” She needed one or two more steps and he would be out in the open. As she held her breath he put his nose to the ground and made those final steps. Sandy’s crosshairs were already trained on him and as he moved into her shooting lane, she squeezed the trigger and heard the thwack of her bolt. “Oh, my God, what a feeling!” was Sandy’s comment.
‘I hit a big one’
She called her daughter to report, “I hit a big one, I mean a really, really big one, he’s huge!” They didn’t have to go far to find him and see just how big he was. Sandy said “His rack was keeping his head up off the ground; I couldn’t believe how big he was.”
Tore up
Sandy said she went back the next day to the spot where she had nailed him and found 9 scraps and a path of mass destruction in the area he had called home. “The stuff he tore up was everywhere, I couldn’t believe it.” None the less this was my best hunt ever; I’m still pumped up about it.
Sandy’s stats
Sandy Soderstorm arrowed her “He’s so big” 9-point with some trash at the base buck in Andover, Ohio on Oct. 20th, 2009 around 6:30 p.m. using a Horton Hunter XS DP2 with a 200-pound pull punching out Horton carbon 20” bolts tipped with 3 fixed blade 100 gram broadheads. He was at 20 yards when she poked him and he went another 25 before failing. She was wearing Moss Oak camo with Sent lock technology sitting 10 up in a ladder stand Oh yeah Sandy said he weighed in at around 250 and green scored 145 / 148 B&C.;
Way to go, Sandy!
Remember, pass it on or it will surely pass on.
Sunderlin is a freelance writer from Geneva. Reach him at djss@roadrunner.com.
