Hunting Season

Hunting Season is here, and I'm not talking about looking for new problems in the hills. Ohio's hunting season as been in full swing for a while now, however there is one week a year that catches my attention a little more then others. That week is referred to a "Deer Gun Week" around here, it lasts from November 30th through December 6th. This is the only week that Hunters are permitted to hunt deer with a gun, besides a couple special weekends.

I want to let people know about this Deer Gun Week due to the affect that it has on the local climbing. Several of the areas that are mentioned in this blog and that allow climbing are also open to hunters during the above mentioned dates. So be careful if your out and about in the woods this week, make sure to wear bright colors and beware of your surroundings.

Even in areas as such as the Trailer Park I have seen hunters. The best places to climb during this week would probably be COAD and Witches.

Below is some info on Ohio's Hunting from ODNR' page.

Deer Zones and Bag Limits
	Deer Permit ($24)			Antlerless Deer Permit ($15)
Zone	Opening Date	Closing Date	Limit	Opening Date	Closing Date	Limit	Total
A	Sept 26, 2009	Feb 7, 2010	1	Sept 26, 2009	Nov 29, 2009	1	2
B	Sept 26, 2009	Feb 7, 2010	2	Sept 26, 2009	Nov 29, 2009	2	4
C	Sept 26, 2009	Feb 7, 2010	3	Sept 26, 2009	Dec 6, 2009	3	6

Deer Hunting Hours

Archery season hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.

Hours for deer hunting are 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset for the Youth Deer Gun Season, Deer Gun Season, the Early Muzzleloader Season, and Statewide Muzzleloader Season.

09-2010 Hunting Season Dates and Bag Limits

SPECIES	OPENING DATE	CLOSING DATE	DAILY BAG
White-tailed Deer: Archery	September 26	February 7	Refer to Deer Hunting Section for details on zone and bag limits
White-tailed Deer: Early Muzzleloader Wildcat Hollow, Salt Fork Wildlife Area, Shawnee State Forest	October 19	October 24
White-tailed Deer: Youth Gun	November 21	November 22
White-tailed Deer: Gun	November 30	December 6
White-tailed Deer: Gun (extended)	December 19	December 20
White-tailed Deer: Muzzleloader	January 9	January 12
Wild Turkey: Fall	October 10	November 29	Refer to Turkey Hunting Section for details on seasonal bag limits
Wild Turkey: Spring
	April 19	May 16
Squirrel (gray, red, fox, black)	September 1	January 31	6
Mourning Dove	September 1 - Refer to Publication 298 or Small Game Section
Ruffed Grouse	October 10	January 31	2
Goose and Brant	Refer to Waterfowl Season Dates or refer to Publication 295 Click here to review all Waterfowl Season Information
Ducks, Coots, Mergansers and Canvasbacks	Refer to Waterfowl Season Dates or refer to Publication 295 Click here to review all Waterfowl Season Information
Cottontail Rabbit	November 6	February 28	4
Ringneck Pheasant	November 6	January 10	2 (cock pheasants only)
Bobwhite Quail	November 6	November 29	4
Fox, Raccoon, Skunk, Opossum, Weasel	November 10	January 31	No Limit
Crow Fri. Sat. Sun. Only	June 5, 2009	March 14, 2010	No Limit
Coyote	No closed season for hunting or trapping		No Limit
Wild boar	No closed season for hunting		No Limit
Groundhog	Closed during deer gun season only		No Limit