For Hunters

New Duck Blind Map

A few facts - Ohio hunters are very important to the preservation of wild life. Proceeds from hunting licenses all go to the Division of Wildlife. Since natural predators are gone due to urbanization, hunters keep wild life in check.

12/22/2009

Logan County Deer Hunters took more deer this year than last year.

Ohio hunters took 114,633 white-tailed deer during the state's popular, weeklong deer-gun season, which ran November 30th through December 6th, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. In 2008, hunters killed a preliminary total of 116,798 deer during the same time period.

A total of 178,397 deer have been harvested so far this season when combining the adult and youth gun seasons, early muzzleloader season, and the first six weeks of the archery season. That compares to a total of 179,194 killed last year during the same time period. Hunters took a total of 252,017 deer during all of last year's hunting seasons.

The statewide deer population was estimated to be 650,000 in late September, prior to the start of the hunting season. Approximately 420,000 hunters were expected to participate in the statewide deer-gun season.

Hunters still have a weekend of deer-gun hunting, December 19th-20th, and nine weeks of archery hunting in Ohio. Archery season remains open until February 7th, 2010. The statewide muzzleloader deer-hunting season will be held January 9th-12th, 2010.

Logan County hunters who wish to share their success can submit a photo of themselves and the deer they killed this year to webmaster@indianlake.com

nters who wish to share their success can submit a photo of themselves and the deer they killed this year to www.wildohio.com.

Photo2 and 3 - This is the first huge beaver trapped back in the game reserve area by Justin Kuehl and Larry Dishong. This beaver weighed 60 lbs. 8oz.! Trapping season for beaver ends February 28, 2009. Click on photos to enlarge.

Ohio hunters and trappers set to begin pursuing furbearers will find good populations of these animals.
The Ohio Division of Wildlife predicts a good season for hunters this year. ?Food sources and habitat conditions for furbearers have been very good this year across Ohio,? said Mark Shieldcastle, wetland wildlife supervisor for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Fur takers can expect a good season. For the third year, 43 counties will be open for river otter trapping from December 26 to February 29, 2008. River otters were reintroduced into four Ohio watersheds between 1986 and 1993 and have increased their range in the state. They were removed from the state endangered species list in 2002. Full details of open counties, checking and permit requirements can be found in River Otter Trapping Regulations. In most regions of Ohio, hunting and trapping seasons for fox, raccoon, opossum, skunk and weasel open November 10, and close January 31, 2009. The trapping season for mink and muskrat is open November 10 through February 28, 2009. Exceptions are Erie, Ottawa and Sandusky counties, and in Lucas County east of the Maumee River where raccoon, mink and muskrat trapping seasons will remain open through March 15, 2009. Ohio's beaver-trapping season runs December 26 to February 28, 2009 statewide. There are no daily bag limits or restrictions on hours when furbearers may be hunted or trapped, with the exception of river otters where bag limits are dependent on the county where the trapping occurs. Special hunting regulations for coyotes apply during the one-week statewide deer-gun season November 26-December 2 and the deer-gun weekend of December 15-16. A fur-taker permit is required in addition to a valid Ohio hunting license to hunt or trap fur-bearing animals, except for coyotes, which may be hunted or trapped year round without a fur-taker permit. A special Division of Wildlife permit is required to trap beaver and otters on state public hunting areas. As before, otters that are accidentally captured, either in excess of bag limits or in closed counties, must be released unharmed. Otters that cannot be released must be turned over to the Division of Wildlife. Beaver trappers in particular, are advised to watch for otter sign and modify their set placements where necessary. The Ohio State Trappers Association and the Division of Wildlife have published a guide on how to recognize otter sign and use various otter avoidance techniques while trapping for beaver in areas closed to otter trapping. A copy of this publication and reports about observing otters in Ohio can be ordered by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE. Ohio is among the nation?s leading producers of raw furs. Last year, there were 94 licensed fur dealers and 26,224 licensed fur takers in the state. Additional hunting information is contained in the 2007-2008 Ohio Hunting Regulations brochure, available where Ohio hunting licenses are sold, on the Internet through the link below, or by calling toll-free 1-800-WILDLIFE. © 2008 ODNR / Division of Wildlife

Click here for hunting and trapping news

  Indian Lake has designated areas for hunting and trapping. For a view of the designated areas on the map, click here.

Duck Blind Drawing August 15, 2009

Indian Lake State Park "Duck Blind" Drawing will be conducted on Saturday August 16, 2009 at 8:00 am at the Park Office. The drawing will be held to permit the construction of permanent duck hunting blinds at 34 sites on Indian Lake. Applicants must show their current or last year's hunting license, and current or last year's federal duck stamp and current or last year's validated state wetland stamp. Successful applicants shall pay the $50.00 permit fee construct a blind on the designated location within 45 days of the issuance of the permit.

Register for blinds at Indian Lake State Park at 937-843-2717
Indian Lake State Park Office.

 
Ohio's Popular Deer-Gun Season Opens November 30
Donation of extra venison - at no cost to the hunter - is encouraged for Ohioans in need 
 

COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio's popular deer-gun season opens statewide on Monday, November 30, offering hunters a full week to harvest a whitetail. The upcoming season will again include an extra weekend of gun hunting on December 19-20, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

 
Deer can be hunted with a legal muzzleloader, handgun or shotgun from one half-hour before sunrise to sunset through December 6 and December 19-20. With a pre-hunting season population estimate of 650,000 white-tailed deer, the ODNR Division of Wildlife anticipates 115,000 to 125,000 deer will be killed during the nine-day season. Approximately 420,000 hunters are expected to participate in this year's season, including many out-of-state hunters. 

The white-tailed deer is the most popular game animal in Ohio, frequently pursued by generations of hunters. Ohio ranks 8th nationally in annual hunting-related sales and 10th in the number of jobs associated with the hunting-related industry. Each year, hunting has a $859 million economic impact in Ohio through the sale of equipment, fuel, food, lodging and more.

Ohio is divided into three deer hunting zones. Beginning on the opening day of gun season and continuing through December 6 a limit of one deer may be taken in Zone A (20 counties) and two deer in Zone B (30 counties). A total of six deer may be harvested in eastern and southeastern Ohio's Zone C (38 counties) through the week long gun season. The antlerless deer permit will be valid for deer-gun week only in Zone C.

Beginning on December 7, the bag limit is three deer in Zone C and antlerless deer permits are no longer valid. Any time a hunter is allowed to take more than one deer, they must purchase an additional permit.
 
Those hunting in urban units and at Division of Wildlife-authorized controlled hunts will have a six-deer bag limit, and those deer will not count against the hunter's zone bag limit. Antlerless deer permits can be used for the entire season in urban deer units or Division of Wildlife-authorized controlled hunts. Antlerless deer permits must be purchased by November 29.
 
Hunters may take only one antlered deer, regardless of zone, hunting method or season. A deer permit is required in addition to a valid Ohio hunting license.
 
Hunters are encouraged to kill more does this season using the reduced-priced antlerless deer permit and donate any extra venison to organizations assisting Ohioans in need. The Division is collaborating with Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry to help pay for the processing of donated venison. Hunters who donate their deer are not required to pay the processing cost as long as the deer are taken to a participating processor. Counties being served by this program can be found online at fhfh.org.
 
Additional hunting regulations and maps of the state's deer zones are contained in the 2009-2010 Ohio Hunting & Trapping Regulations. This free publication is available wherever hunting licenses are sold, online at wildohio.com or by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.
 
The 2009-2010 licenses will not be printed on weatherproof paper. Sportsmen and women should protect their licenses and permits from the elements by carrying them in a protective pouch or wallet.

2007 - Steve Mc Cafferty Jr.

Shot near Huntsville, Ohio. Southeast of Indian Lake.

Joe Williams from DeGraff a neighboring community to Indian Lake shot his eight-point whitetail buck in eastern Logan County on Nov. 26, 2001 during Ohio's deer gun season. The deer's antlers measured 1703/8, which officially places the Williams' buck as the second largest eight-point whitetail deer ever scored in Ohio, and the fifth-largest ever scored in the world. The Ohio state record is 186, and the world record is 190.

wild turkey 

Spring turkey harvest numbers increase
Excerpts from a report written by Bill Tipple, WBLL-WPKO
Tuesday, 19 May 2009

Logan County State Wildlife Officer Kevin Russell Hunters checked 18,936 wild turkeys during Ohio's four-week, statewide spring turkey-hunting season that ended May 17th, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The preliminary total represents a 2 percent increase over last year's preliminary harvest number of 18,556.

16 more birds were harvested in Logan County this year, but totals were down in the five surrounding counties.

In addition to the turkeys taken during the regular season, young hunters harvested another 1,814 birds during a special hunt for ages 17 and younger held April 18-19.

The ODNR Division of Wildlife estimates that more than 75,000 people hunted turkeys during the season. Prior to the start of the spring hunting season, state wildlife biologists estimated the wild turkey population in Ohio to be more than 200,000 birds.

This was the tenth spring that turkey hunting was open in every Ohio county. Only 57 of the state's 88 counties were open to spring turkey hunting in 1999.

Wild turkeys were nearly extinct in Ohio before being reintroduced in the mid-1950s by the Division of Wildlife. The first spring turkey-hunting season opened in 1966. Wild turkeys are now present in all 88 counties.

Turkey hunters are reminded that licenses purchased now are also valid during the 2009 fall hunting season. Spring turkey permits are good for spring season only. Those participating in the fall turkey season will need to buy a fall turkey permit. The 2009-2010 licenses will not be printed on weatherproof paper. Sportsmen and women should protect their licenses and permits from the elements by carrying them in a protective pouch or wallet.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at http://www.ohiodnr.com/.

Preliminary Spring Turkey Season Results for 2009 Followed by (2008) Final Totals
Logan -156 (140)

2008-2009 Hunting Season Dates and Bag Limits