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This website publishes administrative rules on their effective dates, as designated by the adopting state agencies, colleges, and universities.

Chapter 1501:31-7 | Migratory Game Birds

 
 
 
Rule
Rule 1501:31-7-02 | Migratory game birds; general provisions.
 

(A) Methods.

It shall be unlawful to hunt or take migratory game birds:

(1) With a trap, snare, net, crossbow and arrow, rifle, pistol, swivel gun, punt gun, machine gun, pumpkin ball, or rifled slug, fish hook, poison, drug, explosive, or stupefying substance.

(2) With a shotgun of any description originally capable of holding more than three shells, unless the magazine has been cut off, altered, or plugged with a one piece filler incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, so as to reduce the capacity of the said gun to not more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined.

(3) From or by means, aid, or use of a sinkbox, motor-driven conveyance, motor vehicle, or aircraft of any kind.

(4) From any motorboat, or other craft having a motor attached, or any sailboat, unless the motor has been completely shut off and/or the sails furled, and the craft has come to rest. A craft under power may be used to retrieve dead or crippled birds provided that crippled birds are not shot from such craft when under power.

(5) By the use or aid of livestock as a blind or means of concealment.

(6) By the use or aid of live birds as decoys. No person shall take migratory waterfowl on an area where tame or captive live ducks or geese are present unless such birds are and have been for a period of ten consecutive days prior to such taking, confined within an enclosure which substantially reduces the audibility of their calls and totally conceals such birds from the sight of wild migratory waterfowl.

(7) While in possession of or by the use or aid of recorded bird calls or sounds, or recorded or electrically amplified imitations of bird calls or sounds.

(8) By means or aid of any motor-driven land, water or air conveyance or any sailboat used for the purpose of or resulting in the concentrating, driving, rallying, or stirring up of waterfowl or coots.

(9) By the aid of baiting or on or over any baited area.

(10) While in possession of, or with any shot other than non-toxic shot, or with any shells containing shot other than non-toxic shot, except:

(a) Mourning doves;

(b) Eurasian collared-doves;

(c) Woodcock.

(B) Blinds on public hunting areas.

It shall be unlawful to:

(1) Construct or place a permanent blind on a wildlife area or any other state or federal property under agreement with the division of wildlife unless approved by the chief of the division of wildlife;

(2) Fail to immediately remove any portable blind placed or constructed on a public hunting area upon completion of the day's hunt.

(C) Decoys on wildlife areas or in waters of the state.

It shall be unlawful to:

(1) Place or set any decoys on a wildlife area or in waters of the state which are left unattended before or after legal shooting hours;

(2) Fail to immediately remove decoys placed or set on a wildlife area or in waters of the state upon completion of the day's hunt.

(D) Possession and wanton waste.

It shall be unlawful for any person to:

(1) Possess a wounded migratory game bird that is not immediately killed and made part of a daily bag limit;

(2) Kill or cripple any migratory game bird without making a reasonable effort to retrieve the bird and retain it in their actual custody at the place where taken or between that place and either:

(a) Their automobile or principal means of land transportation, or

(b) Their personal abode or temporary or transient place of lodging, or

(c) A migratory bird preservation facility, or

(d) A post office, or

(e) A common carrier facility.

(3) To possess any dressed migratory game bird, except mourning doves and Eurasian collared-doves, which does not have the head or one fully feathered wing attached at any place other than at the personal abode of the possessor or a migratory bird preservation facility;

(4) Possess any freshly-killed migratory game bird during the closed season.

(E) Plumage and skins.

It shall be unlawful for any person to buy, sell, or barter any feathers or others parts of any migratory game bird, except as provided for under 1533.71 of the revised code.

(1) Any person, without a permit, may possess and transport the plumage and skins of lawfully taken migratory game birds for their own use.

(2) Any person, without a permit, may possess, dispose of, and transport for the making of fishing flies, bed pillows and mattresses, and for similar commercial uses, but not for millinery or ornamental use, feathers of wild ducks and wild geese lawfully killed.

(F) Nests and eggs.

It shall be unlawful for any person to disturb, destroy, or possess the nest or eggs of a migratory game bird unless that person has been issued a permit to do so by the chief of the division of wildlife or the chief's designee.

(G) Falconry.

It shall be unlawful:

(1) For any person to hunt or take a migratory game bird with a raptor, except a licensed falconer during the open season;

(2) For a licensed falconer to exceed the daily bag limit of an aggregate of three migratory game birds of any species while hunting with a raptor.

(H) Licensing.

It shall be unlawful for any person to:

(1) Hunt any migratory game bird or migratory waterfowl without first having been harvest information program (HIP) certified for Ohio.

(2) Hunt ducks, geese or brant on the lands of another without first obtaining an annual wetland habitat stamp endorsement. This paragraph does not apply to persons under eighteen years of age nor to persons exempted from procuring a hunting license under section 1533.10 or division (A) of section 1533.12 of the Revised Code.

(3) Hunt ducks, geese and brant without possessing a current valid federal migratory bird stamp that is validated by the person's signature written on the stamp in ink or for forty-five days after the date of purchase, a valid receipt for a federal electronic duck stamp or E-stamp. This paragraph does not apply to persons under sixteen years of age.

(4) Fail to carry, and exhibit to any wildlife officer requesting, their HIP certification, wetland habitat stamp endorsement, and federal migratory bird stamp or receipt for a federal electronic duck stamp or E-stamp, when such license, stamp or certification is required by this rule.

(I) Ohio river bordering the state of West Virginia.

It shall be unlawful for any person to:

(1) Take any migratory game bird contrary to regulations of the state of West Virginia on or over the main body of the Ohio river where it forms the border between Ohio and West Virginia, excluding embayment areas and tributaries;

(2) Possess any migratory game bird that was taken on or over the main body of the Ohio river where it forms the border between Ohio and West Virginia contrary to the regulations of the state of West Virginia, excluding embayment areas and tributaries.

(3) Embayment areas and tributaries are determined by a straight line between opposite points where the tributary or embayment connects with the main body of the Ohio river.

(J) Provisions of this rule, rule 1501:31-7-05, and rule 1501:31-7-06 of the Administrative Code do not apply to employees of the division of wildlife or persons authorized by the chief of the division of wildlife while conducting activities as part of a management program for migratory game birds that has been approved by the chief of the division of wildlife.

(K) All definitions set forth in section 1531.01 of the Revised Code and rule 1501:31-1-02 of the Administrative Code apply to this rule.

Last updated February 9, 2024 at 9:04 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 1531.06, 1531.08, 1531.10
Amplifies: 1531.02, 1531.06, 1531.08, 1531.10, 1533.02, 1533.112, 1533.16
Five Year Review Date: 2/1/2029
Prior Effective Dates: 6/1/1979, 7/31/1990, 5/16/1994, 8/10/1997, 7/1/2010
Rule 1501:31-7-04 | Possession for purposes of processing, transportation, or storage of migratory game birds.
 

(A) No hunter who legally takes and possesses any migratory game birds shall place or leave any such birds in the custody of any other person for picking, cleaning, freezing, processing, shipping, transportation, or storage, including temporary storage, or dispose of such birds by gift to another person, unless such birds have a tag attached signed by the hunter stating his address, the total number and kinds of birds, and the date such birds were killed.

(B) No person may receive or have in custody any migratory game birds belonging to another person, or receive and possess any migratory game birds taken by another person, unless such birds are tagged as required under paragraph (A) of this rule.

(C) No hunter who legally takes and possesses any migratory game birds shall place or leave such birds at any place for storage, including temporary storage, other than at his personal abode unless such birds are tagged as required under paragraph (A) of this rule. Legally possessed migratory game birds being transported in any vehicle as the personal baggage of the possessor shall not be deemed to be in storage or temporary storage.

(D) No migratory bird preservation facility shall:

(1) Receive or have in custody any migratory game bird unless accurate records are maintained which can identify each bird received by, or in the custody of, the facility by the name of the person from whom the bird was obtained, and show:

(a) The number of each species;

(b) The location where taken;

(c) The date such birds were received;

(d) The name and address of the person from whom such birds were received;

(e) The date such birds were disposed of; and

(f) The name and address of the person to whom such birds were delivered.

(E) No person shall destroy any records required to be maintained under this rule for a period of one year following the last entry on the record.

(F) Record keeping as required by this rule will not be necessary at hunting clubs which do not fully process migratory birds by removal of both the head and wings.

(G) All definitions set forth in rule 1501:31-1-02 of the Administrative Code shall apply to this rule.

Last updated February 27, 2023 at 10:53 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By:
Amplifies:
Five Year Review Date:
Prior Effective Dates: 9/1/1971, 12/15/1976, 2/5/1977, 6/1/1982
Rule 1501:31-7-05 | Seasons and limits on rails, Wilson's snipe, woodcock, gallinules, mourning doves, and Eurasian collared-doves.
 

(A) Throughout the state, it is unlawful for any person to hunt, kill, wound, take, or attempt to take, or to possess any of the migratory game birds specified in this rule except as provided in this rule or other rules of the Administrative Code. Provided further, it shall be unlawful for any person to:

(1) Hunt, take, or possess any rails except sora and Virginia, which may be hunted and taken from September 1, 2023 through November 9, 2023;

(2) Take or possess more than twenty-five rails singly or in the aggregate in one day, or to possess more than seventy-five rails singly or in the aggregate at anytime after the second day;

(3) Hunt, take, or possess Wilson's snipe at any time, except from September 1, 2023 through November 22, 2023 and December 9, 2023 through January 1, 2024;

(4) Hunt, take, or possess woodcock at any time, except from October 13, 2023 through November 26, 2023;

(5) Hunt or take rails, Wilson's snipe, woodcock, or gallinules at any time, except from sunrise to sunset daily during the open season;

(6) Take more than three woodcock in one day or possess more than nine woodcock after the second day;

(7) Take more than eight Wilson's snipe in one day or possess more than twenty-four Wilson's snipe at any time after the second day;

(8) Hunt, take, or possess gallinules at any time except from September 1, 2023 through November 9, 2023;

(9) Take more than fifteen gallinules in one day or possess more than forty-five gallinules at any time after the second day.

(B) Mourning doves and Eurasian collared-doves.

It shall be unlawful for any person to:

(1) Hunt, take, or possess mourning doves or Eurasian collared-doves at any time except from September 1, 2023 through November 5, 2023, and December 9, 2023 through January 1, 2024;

(2) Hunt or take mourning doves or Eurasian collared-doves at any time except from sunrise to sunset daily during the open season;

(3) Take or possess more than fifteen mourning doves or Eurasian collared-doves singly or in the aggregate in one day, or possess more than forty-five mourning doves or Eurasian collared-doves singly or in the aggregate after the second day;

(4) Hunt or possess mourning doves or Eurasian collared-doves on any public hunting area designated as a controlled access opportunity area without a permit from the chief of the division of wildlife;

(5) Hunt or possess mourning doves or Eurasian collared-doves except during the posted hours on any public hunting area posted with signs stating the restricted hunting hours;

(6) Take a mourning dove or Eurasian collared-dove that is on any type of building, utility wire or utility pole.

(C) All definitions set forth in rule 1501:31-1-02 of the Administrative Code apply to this rule.

Last updated February 9, 2024 at 9:04 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 1531.06, 1531.08, 1531.10
Amplifies: 1531.06, 1531.08, 1533.02
Five Year Review Date: 6/30/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 8/9/1987 (Temp.), 8/15/1993 (Temp.), 11/27/2006, 7/1/2007, 9/1/2007 (Emer.), 9/1/2010 (Emer.), 11/12/2012, 11/7/2014, 7/1/2017, 7/1/2019
Rule 1501:31-7-06 | Seasons and limits on ducks, brant, geese, mergansers, and coots.
 

(A) Throughout the state, it shall be unlawful for any person to hunt, kill, wound, take, or attempt to take or to possess any of the birds specified in this rule except as provided in this rule or other rules in the Administrative Code. For the purpose of this rule, the state will be divided into the north zone, south zone, and lake Erie marsh zone for the hunting of ducks, brant, mergansers, coots, and geese.

The lake Erie marsh zone consists of all land and water within the boundaries of the area bordered by a line starting at the intersection of interstate 75 at the Ohio-Michigan state line and continuing south to interstate 280, then south on I-280 to the Ohio turnpike (I-80/I-90), then east on the Ohio Turnpike to the Erie-Lorain county line, then north to lake Erie. The zone boundary follows the lake Erie shoreline at a distance of two hundred yards offshore. The zone boundary follows the shoreline west toward and around the northern tip of Cedar Point amusement park, then continues from the westernmost point of Cedar Point toward the southernmost tip of the sand bar at the mouth of Sandusky bay and out into lake Erie at a distance of two hundred yards offshore continuing parallel to the lake Erie shoreline north and west toward the northernmost tip of Cedar Point national wildlife refuge, then follows a direct line toward the southernmost tip of Wood Tick peninsula in Michigan to a point that intersects the Ohio-Michigan state line, then follows the state line back to the point of the beginning.

The north zone will be that portion of the state, except the lake Erie marsh zone, north of a line extending east from the Indiana state line along U. S. highway 33 to state route 127, south along SR 127 to SR 703, south along SR 703, including all lands within the Mercer wildlife area, to SR 219, east along SR 219 to SR 364, north along SR 364, including all lands within the St. Mary's fish hatchery, to SR 703, east along SR 703 to SR 66, north along SR 66 to U. S. 33, east along U. S. 33 to SR 385, east along SR 385 to SR 117, south along SR 117 to SR 273, east along SR 273 to SR 31, south along SR 31 to SR 739, east along SR 739 to SR 4, north along SR 4 to SR 95, east along SR 95 to SR 13, southeast along SR 13 to SR 3, northeast along SR 3 to SR 60, north along SR 60 to U.S. 30, east along U.S. 30 to SR 3, south along SR 3 to SR 226, south along SR 226 to SR 514, southwest along SR 514 to SR 754, south along SR 754 to SR 39/60, east along SR 39/60 U.S. to SR 241, north along SR 241 to U.S. 30, east along U.S. 30 to SR 39, east along SR 39 to the Pennsylvania state line.

The south zone will be all portions of the state not included in the lake Erie marsh zone or the north zone.

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt ducks, brant, geese, coots, and mergansers at any time except from one half hour before sunrise to sunset during the open season.

(2) Coots, mergansers and ducks may be hunted in the lake Erie marsh zone from October 14, 2023 through October 29, 2023 and from November 4, 2023 through December 17, 2023; coots, mergansers and ducks may be hunted in the north zone from October 21, 2023 through October 29, 2023 and from November 11, 2023 through December 31, 2023; coots, mergansers and ducks may be hunted in the south zone from October 21, 2023 through October 29, 2023 and from December 9, 2023 through January 28, 2024.

(3) Brant and geese may be hunted in the north zone from October 21, 2023 through October 29, 2023, from November 11, 2023 through February 5, 2024. Brant and geese may be hunted in the south zone from October 21, 2023 through October 29, 2023 and from November 18, 2023 through February 12, 2024. Brant and geese may be hunted in the lake Erie marsh zone from October 14, 2023 through October 29, 2023, from November 4, 2023 through December 17, 2023, and from December 31, 2023 through February 4, 2024.

(4) Licensed falconers may hunt ducks, geese, mergansers and coots within the lake Erie marsh, north or south zones when the respective zone is open to goose hunting.

(B) It shall be unlawful for any person to take or possess more than six ducks per day or possess at any time after the second day more than eighteen ducks, except as hereinafter expressly provided.

(1) The daily bag limit of six ducks shall not include more of the following species than:

(a) Four mallard ducks of which no more than two may be female;

(b) Three wood ducks;

(c) Two black duck;

(d) Two redhead ducks;

(e) One pintail ducks;

(f) One mottled duck;

(g) One scaup during the first fifteen days of the open season for ducks in each zone as designated in paragraph (A) of this rule or two scaup during the last forty-five days of the open season for ducks in each zone as designated in paragraph (A) of this rule;

(h) Two canvasback.

(2) The possession limit of eighteen ducks after the second day shall not include more of the following species than:

(a) Twelve mallard ducks of which no more than six may be female;

(b) Nine wood ducks;

(c) Six black ducks;

(d) Six redhead ducks;

(e) Three pintail ducks;

(f) Three mottled ducks;

(g) Three scaup during the first fifteen days of the open season for ducks in each zone as designated in paragraph (A) of this rule or six scaup during the last forty-five days of the open season for ducks in each zone as designated in paragraph (A) of this rule;

(h) Six canvasbacks.

(C) It shall be unlawful for any person in any one day to take more than any of the following: five in the aggregate of Canada geese, brant, or white-fronted geese of which no more than one may be a brant; or ten snow, blue, or Ross' geese singly or in the aggregate.

(D) It shall be unlawful for any person after the second day to possess more than any of the following: fifteen Canada geese; three brant; nine white-fronted geese; or thirty snow, blue, or Ross' geese singly or in the aggregate.

(E) In addition to the daily bag and maximum possession limit on other ducks, it shall be unlawful for any person to take more than five mergansers in any one day of which no more than two may be a hooded merganser, or possess after the second day more than fifteen mergansers singly or in the aggregate, except that not more than six hooded mergansers may be included in the maximum possession limit.

(F) It shall be unlawful for any person to take more than fifteen coots in any one day or possess after the opening day more than forty-five coots at any time.

(G) It shall be unlawful for any person to possess more than the daily limit of migratory game birds, or the aggregate daily bag limit, whichever applies, at or between the place where taken and one's principal or ordinary home or dwelling place, one's temporary or transient place of lodging, a migratory bird preservation facility, or a post office or common carrier facility.

(H) It is lawful for persons seventeen years of age or younger to hunt, take, and possess ducks, mergansers, geese and coots on September 30 and October 1, 2023 statewide in accordance with this rule. This season is designated as the youth waterfowl season. All persons seventeen years of age and younger must be accompanied by a non-hunting person eighteen years of age or older. Provided further, persons eighteen years of age or older and eligible to hunt under paragraph (I) of this rule may hunt and accompany a person hunting under this paragraph.

(I) It is lawful for veterans and members of the armed forces on active duty, including members of the national guard and reserves on active duty, to hunt, take, and possess ducks, mergansers, geese and coots on September 30 and October 1, 2023 statewide in accordance with this rule. For the purpose of this rule "veteran," "active duty," and "armed forces" have the same meaning as defined in 38 C.F.R 101(2017).

(J) Special early Canada goose and teal seasons.

It shall be unlawful to:

(1) Hunt or take teal or Canada geese at any time, except from sunrise to sunset daily during the special early Canada goose and teal seasons;

(2) Hunt or take Canada geese, except Canada geese may be hunted and taken statewide from September 2, 2023 through September 10, 2023, or during the open season for geese as specified in this rule;

(3) Take more than five Canada geese in one day or possess more than fifteen Canada geese at any time after the second day during the special early goose season;

(4) Hunt, or take teal, except teal may be hunted and taken statewide from September 2, 2023 through September 17, 2023, or during the open season for ducks as specified in this rule;

(5) Take more than six teal in one day or possess more than eighteen teal at any time after the second day during the special early teal season.

(K) All definitions set forth in rule 1501:31-1-02 of the Administrative Code apply to this rule.

Last updated March 15, 2024 at 2:48 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 1531.06, 1531.08, 1531.10
Amplifies: 1531.06, 1531.08, 1533.02
Five Year Review Date: 6/30/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 9/22/1977 (Temp.), 9/16/1981 (Temp.), 9/26/1989 (Temp.), 9/30/1991 (Temp.), 9/30/1992 (Temp.), 9/20/1997 (Temp.), 10/4/2000 (Temp.), 10/18/2003, 11/18/2005, 11/27/2006, 11/4/2010, 11/10/2011, 7/1/2017, 7/1/2020