Regardless of the status of your beard or how you prefer your
tea, this weekend we can all be “duckmen”. This Saturday, October 19th, is the
first official day of waterfowl season for Ohio. Not ‘Early Teal’ or ‘Early
Goose’, but the legitimate season that we have all been waiting for. The sound
of wings cutting through the sky, the sight of your lab making her first
retrieve, or just the time spent with good friends; whatever drives you to hunt
ducks, this is your weekend.
This year’s regulations are very similar to the past but
with a slight change in geese bag limits. The daily bag limits are listed
below.
*Daily Bag Limits
Ducks: Daily bag limit of 6 ducks not to include more than 4 mallards (only 1 of which may be a hen), 3 wood ducks, 1 black duck, 2 redheads, 3 scaup (bluebill), 2 canvasback, 1 mottled duck, or 2 pintails.
Mergansers: Daily bag limit of 5, not to include more than 2 hooded mergansers.
Coots: Daily bag limit of 15.
Geese: Daily bag limit of 3 Canada geese, 10 light geese (snows, blues, or Ross's), 1 white-fronted goose, and 1 brant.
Ducks: Daily bag limit of 6 ducks not to include more than 4 mallards (only 1 of which may be a hen), 3 wood ducks, 1 black duck, 2 redheads, 3 scaup (bluebill), 2 canvasback, 1 mottled duck, or 2 pintails.
Mergansers: Daily bag limit of 5, not to include more than 2 hooded mergansers.
Coots: Daily bag limit of 15.
Geese: Daily bag limit of 3 Canada geese, 10 light geese (snows, blues, or Ross's), 1 white-fronted goose, and 1 brant.
Possession Limit: The possession limit is three times the
daily bag limit, after the second day for all waterfowl.
Shooting Hours: Daily hunting hours 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset for the regular waterfowl season.
Shooting Hours: Daily hunting hours 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset for the regular waterfowl season.
This season lasts until Nov. 3rd. These dates exclude
the Lake Erie Marsh Zone. For the full list of seasons and regulations, visit
wildohio.com. For some great migration information, visit ducks.org and check
out the Migration Map.
 |
| Sadie's first retrieve at 5-1/2 months old. Taken during the WV early season. |
If you aren’t familiar with hunting waterfowl, I suggest
going with someone who is. The regulations and types of ducks you can and
cannot shoot can be overwhelming. Ducks and geese are considered ‘federal’
animals. This means you could be committing a federal offense if you are hunting
them incorrectly.
With that being said, this is a season meant for making memories.
Have fun and be safe.
