Hunting Archery Duck Deer

Ohio Division of Wildlife proposes extra weekend of deer hunting - It is time for another thumbs-up, thumbs-down look at recent happenings in the outdoor world.

Thumbs up to the Ohio Division of Wildlife for proposing extra time to hunt deer.
As anticipated, the DOW has proposed an extra weekend of deer-gun hunting on Dec. 16-17 for next season. In addition, the wildlife agency also is proposing to add an extra weekend to the archery season. Instead of that season ending on the final day of January, the DOW suggests it finishes on the first weekend of February.

“Ohio’s deer-gun hunting week is very popular, but traditionally only encompasses two weekend days, said Dave Risley, wildlife management and research administrator for the DOW. “This proposal would provide more opportunity for hunters to get out and hunt for another weekend.”

Another key DOW proposal concerns chronic wasting disease (CWD), a progressive, fatal, degenerative disease of the brain affecting elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer.
Although CWD has never been found in Ohio, officials want to make sure they minimize the risk of the disease coming into the state.

Since Ohioans do hunt where the disease has been found, the proposal seeks the disposal of hunter-killed deer, elk and moose carcasses from CWD-affected areas before they are brought back to Ohio.

Meat from an animal from a CWD-infected area must be de-boned and wrapped with no part of the spinal column or head attached, according to the proposal. Hunters could bring back antlers or antlers attached to skullcaps as long as all soft tissue was removed. Hides and capes without the head or lymph nodes attached and finished taxidermy mounts from known CWD-infected areas would also be acceptable.

Hunters have an opportunity to comment on these proposals during open houses that are scheduled for noon to 3 p.m. March 5 in each of the state’s five wildlife districts. The proposed rules are slated for a statewide hearing at 9 a.m. March 9 at the District 1 wildlife office, located at 1500 Dublin Road in Columbus. After considering public input, the Ohio Wildlife Council will vote on the proposed rules and season dates during its April 5 meeting.

Under other proposals, limits in deer zones in the Limaland area are unchanged from last season. Allen, Auglaize, Mercer, Putnam and Van Wert counties are in Zone A where hunters may take only one deer. Hancock, Hardin and Logan counties are in Zone B where there is a two-deer limit. There is a three-deer limit in Zone C.

Proposed bag limits and deer hunting zones are:
Zone A — Hunters could take only one deer during the 2006-2007 seasons, which could be a deer of either sex. The zone includes 20 counties: Allen, Auglaize, Darke, Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Ottawa, Paulding, Preble, Putnam, Sandusky, Shelby, Van Wert, Williams, Wood.

Zone B — Hunters could take only two deer during the 2006-2007 seasons, which could be a deer of either sex. The zone includes 30 counties: Ashland, Ashtabula, Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Fayette, Geauga, Greene, Hancock, Hardin, Huron, Lake, Logan, Lorain, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Portage, Seneca, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Union, Warren, Wayne, Wyandot.

Zone C — Hunters could take no more than three deer during the 2006-2007 seasons, of which only one could be an antlered deer. The zone includes 38 counties: Adams, Athens, Belmont, Brown, Carroll, Clermont, Columbiana, Coshocton, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Hamilton, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lawrence, Licking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Richland, Ross, Scioto, Tuscarawas, Vinton, Washington.

On the negative side, a big thumbs down to Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle and a pair of Wisconsin legislators who wimped out on that state’s carrying a concealed weapons (CCW) bill.

Doyle, who had vetoed a CCW measure two years ago, did the same thing recently. He claimed the bill would make his state more dangerous.

However, the Wisconsin Senate voted 23-10 to override the veto and the House appeared as if it would also. But a pair of legislators, who voted for the bill earlier, voted against it during the override veto attempt. The House vote was 64-34, two shy of the 66 needed for an override.

While vetoing the bill, Doyle said, “The bill does not create a single job, help a single Wisconsin citizen afford health care or improve schools for a single Wisconsin child. The legislature should spend more time trying to get jobs into our communities instead of more guns.”

Al Smith is outdoor editor of The Crescent-News. Contact him at outdoor@crescent-news.com.