Daily limits for hunting Canada geese in Ohio likely to increase in 2021-22 season

As Ohio duck hunters prepare to say goodbye for a while, preparations for what’s next on the migratory bird front are in the works. 

Duck season in the South Zone, which includes most of central Ohio, ends 30 minutes after sunset today. The goose season stretches almost two more weeks until it concludes across the state at the end of the day on Feb. 6. 

Goose hunters for the 2021-22 season got something of a boon under Ohio Division of Wildlife proposals for next season in the form of an increased combined daily limit on three species — Canada geese, white-fronted geese and brant — to five from the current three.

Under the proposals, presented for approval Jan. 13 to the Ohio Wildlife Council, the limit on brant, a migrant not frequently seen let alone targeted, would stay at one each day. White-fronted geese typically are taken in low numbers. 

The increased goose limit, which fit federal guidelines given to states in the Mississippi flyway, is designed to encourage the taking of ubiquitous resident Canada geese. A hunter preference survey showed support for the increased limit. 

The five-goose daily limit isn’t expected to have much of an impact on the migratory Canada geese that summer in Canada, some of which pass through Ohio as they head south for the winter. 

Also proposed is a change that would allow active military and veterans to hunt alongside young hunters during the special waterfowl hunting weekend. Youths previously could hunt during the special weekend only with a non-hunting adult. 

Other planned migratory bird hunting season dates: 

• Sept. 1-Nov. 9: rail and gallinule (common moorhen). Rail daily limit 25, gallinule 15. 

• Sept. 1-Nov. 7 and Dec. 11-Jan. 1: mourning dove. Daily limit 15. 

• Sept. 1-Nov. 24 and Dec. 11-Jan. 1: common snipe (Wilson’s snipe). Daily limit eight. 

• Sept. 4-Sept. 19: teal. Daily limit six. 

• Sept. 4-Sept. 12: early Canada goose. Daily limit five. 

• Oct. 9-Nov. 22: woodcock. Daily limit three. 

Ohio is parceled into three zones for hunting geese and ducks. Most of central Ohio lies within the South Zone, where the following dates have been proposed: 

• Oct. 23-Oct. 31 and Dec. 11-Jan. 30, 2022: coots, mergansers and ducks. Daily limit for ducks is six, including not more than four mallards (two females), three wood ducks, two black ducks, two redheads, two canvasbacks, one mottled duck, one pintail. The scaup limit would be one during first 15 days of a zone season, two during the last 45 days. Daily limit for mergansers would be five, with no more than two hooded. Daily limit 15 on coots. 

• Oct. 23-Oct 31 and Nov. 18-Feb. 12, 2022: Daily limit of five dark geese, including Canada geese, white-fronted geese and a single brant. Daily limit of 10 snow, blue or Ross’s geese, singly or in aggregate. 

A list of proposals made during the January wildlife council meeting can be found at wildohio.gov. On the home page, click on the link, “Ohio Wildlife Council Receives Migratory Bird Hunting Season Proposals.” A link leads to a page from which the “Proposed OAC Rule Changes” can be downloaded. 

Anyone wishing to comment on the proposals can phone (614) 265-6304 for instructions. A statewide hearing is planned at 9 a.m. March 18. 

Proposals for the 2021-22 deer, trapping and hunting seasons are scheduled to be announced during the wildlife council’s meeting in February. 

outdoors@dispatch.com