1501:31-15-11 Deer regulations.

 

 

 

1501:31-15-11             Deer regulations.

 

 

 

(A)   It shall be lawful for any person to hunt or take deer with a crossbow and arrow or a longbow and arrow statewide during the deer gun seasons contained in this rule. Provided further, it shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or take a deer during the deer gun season with a weapon other than those particularly described in paragraph (F) of this rule.

 

(B)  Deer of either sex may be taken with a longbow and arrow, and crossbows.

 

(C)   It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or take deer with a crossbow and arrow or a longbow and arrow at any time except from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

 

(D)   It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt deer, coyotes, or any other wild animal except waterfowl, during the earlyspecial muzzleloading deer hunting season, statewide muzzleloading deer hunting season, youth only deer season, or the deer gun season, unless such person is visibly wearing a vest, jacket, coveralls colored solid hunter orange, or camouflage hunter orange.

 

(E)   It shall be unlawful to carry any firearm or weapon unless displayed and visible on the outermost garment, and only when carried in accordance with the Revised Code.

 

(F)   It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or take deer by any means unless otherwise provided, except:

 

(1)    A 10-gauge, 12-gauge, 16-gauge, 20-gauge, 28-gauge, or .410-gauge shotgun firing a single ball, rifled slug or projectile per barrel;

 

(2)   A muzzleloading rifle, .38 caliber or larger using a single ball or projectile per barrel;

 

(3)   A handgun with a single barrel not less than five inches in length, as measured from the front of the cylinder or chamber to the end of the barrel, chambered, and using only straight-walled cartridges of .357 caliber magnum or larger.

 

(4)    A longbow and arrow or a crossbow having a working safety and a stock twenty-five inches or longer. Cocking levers and devices may be used on crossbows. Provided further:

 

(a)     It shall be unlawful for any person to possess explosive or poisoned arrows or bolts while hunting with a longbow or crossbow;

 

 

(b)   It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt deer or turkey with a longbow having a draw weight less than forty pounds, or with a crossbow having a draw weight less than seventy-five pounds or greater than two hundred pounds;

(c)   It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt deer or turkey with a broadhead arrow tip measuring less than three quarters inch wide. The arrow tip shall have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed.

(d)  It shall be unlawful to have any mechanical, electrical or electronic device attached to a longbow or crossbow while hunting, which is capable of projecting a beam or ray of light on a wild animal.

(5)    A 10-gauge, 12-gauge, 16-gauge, 20-gauge, 28-gauge, or .410-gauge shoulder firearm firing a single ball, rifled slug, or projectile per barrel, provided further, it shall be unlawful to possess or shoot any ball, rifled slug, or projectile for:

(a)   A 10-gauge shoulder firearm which weighs less than one and five-eighths ounces or seven hundred eleven grains; or

(b)   A 12-gauge shoulder firearm which weighs less than seven-eighths ounce or three hundred eighty-two grains; or

(c)   A 16-gauge shoulder firearm which weighs less than four-fifths ounce or three hundred fifty grains; or

(d)   A 20-gauge shoulder firearm which weighs less than five-eights ounce or two hundred seventy-three grains.

(e)     A 28-gauge or .410-gauge shoulder firearm which weighs less then one-fifth ounce.

(f)   It shall be unlawful to use any shell casing which is necked down or made totally of metal for any of the shotguns listed in paragraph (F) of this rule.

(G)   It shall be unlawful for any person hunting during the deer gun season to possess any shotgun or shoulder firearm 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 said gun to not more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined.

(H)    It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or take any wild animals from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except deer, waterfowl, wild boar, and coyotes during the deer gun season. Persons hunting coyotes and wild boar during the week of deer gun season must possess both a valid hunting license and valid special deer permit and use a hunting implement as described in paragraph (F) of rule 1501:31-15-11 of the Administrative Code. Provided further, it shall be unlawful to hunt or take a deer, wild boar or coyote at any time other than from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset during the deer gun season.

(I)   It shall be unlawful for any person to possess a loaded weapon while going to or from hunting deer, wild boar or coyote at any time except between one-half hour before sunrise to sunset daily during any of the seasons where deer may be legally taken with a gun.

(J)      From one-half hour before sunrise to sunset during any open season where muzzleloading weapons are legal for deer hunting, a muzzleloading weapon is considered unloaded when the percussion cap is removed or the priming powder is removed from the pan.

(K)   It shall be unlawful for any person not possessing a special deer permit, or an urban deer permit, to hunt, take, or possess a deer. It shall be lawful for persons possessing a valid special deer permit to hunt, take and possess an antlerless or antlered deer.

(L)   It shall be unlawful to permanently tag any deer in any county other than where the deer was killed, or an adjacent county where the deer was killed.

(1)   It shall be unlawful to attach an urban deer permit temporary tag to an antlered deer.

(2)   It shall be unlawful to take more than two deer per day regardless of the method of taking. Provided further, it shall be unlawful to hunt or take a second deer before a temporary tag has been attached to the first deer taken that day.

(3)    Persons holding a special deer permit and an urban deer permit may take an antlerless deer under authority of said permits during the open deer gun season, statewide muzzleloading season, and longbow and crossbow season.

(4)   It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt with or carry an urban deer permit, or a special deer permit of another.

(5)   It shall be unlawful to take more than seven deer per license year regardless of the method of taking.

(6)   It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in deer hunting without being in possession of a deer permit that is valid for the zone or unit they are hunting in.

(7)   It shall be unlawful to take more than one deer per license year in deer zone A.

(8)   It shall be unlawful to take more than three deer per license year from deer zone C.

(9)   It shall be unlawful to take more than two deer per license year in deer zone B.

(10)   It shall be unlawful to take more than three deer per license year using special deer permits.

(11)    It shall be unlawful to take more than four deer per license year with urban deer permits.

(12)   It shall be unlawful to provide any false information to any person completing a deer harvest record form for the issuance of a permanent deer tag.

(13)   Urban deer permits shall only be valid to take antlerless deer when a person is hunting in an approved urban unit or a division of wildlife controlled hunt.

(14)    It shall be unlawful for any person to purchase or use an urban deer permit without first purchasing a hunting license and a special deer permit

(M)    It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt, or take, deer by the aid of an unleashed dog.

(N)   It shall be unlawful to use any device capable of transmitting or receiving a persons voice to aid in the hunting or taking of deer.

(O)     Each person who kills a deer shall immediately attach a tag bearing his name, address, and the date and time killed to the dead deer at the place where it fell and

such tag shall remain attached until final inspection and permanent tagging at an official deer check station. A hunter possessing a special deer permit or urban deer permit, other than the free deer permits issued to exempt persons, shall detach the temporary tag from his current special deer permit, or urban deer permit and immediately attach the temporary tag to the dead deer at the place where it fell. Provided further, it shall be unlawful to remove a temporary tag from any deer until the deer has been permanently tagged.

(P)   Each person who obtained their special deer permit, free senior deer permit, reduced price senior deer permit, urban deer permit or youth deer permit on the Internet and kills a deer shall immediately fill in the date, time and county of harvest on their deer permit and immediately attach a temporary tag bearing their name, address, date and time of harvest to the deer at the place where it fell.

(Q)    Every deer taken or possessed during any open deer season shall be delivered for inspection and permanent tagging to either an official division of wildlife deer check station or a state wildlife officer in the county where killed or an adjacent county where killed not later than eight p.m. of the following day after harvest or by eight p.m. if harvested on the last day of any deer season. A deer may be skinned and eviscerated, but the head shall not be detached from the carcass prior to presentation for final inspection and permanent tagging at an official deer check station. Provided further, all persons taking deer under the authority of an urban deer permit shall deliver the deer for permanent tagging in the urban unit where the deer was taken, not later than eight p.m. the following day after the kill or by eight

p.m. if taken on the final day of the deer season.

(R)   No person shall place or leave a deer or any part thereof in the custody of any other person for skinning, processing, mounting, transportation, shipping, storage, including temporary storage, or any other reason, unless such deer or parts thereof have a tag or seal attached bearing the owner's name, address, and the date and place where the deer was killed.

(S)   It shall be unlawful for any person to receive or have in possession, a deer or part of a deer, unless such deer or part of a deer is tagged as required in this rule, or unless the deer or part of a deer has or such person has:

(1)     A statement attached which shows when and where legally taken, the date received, and from whom received; or

(2)   A division of wildlife tag, seal, or certificate which shows the deer was killed by a motor vehicle in Ohio; or

(3)   An official tag or seal and valid nonresident license issued by another state or

province if taken outside of Ohio; or

(4)   A certificate of ownership prescribed by section 1533.121 of the Revised Code; or

(5)   A certificate of ownership or a receipt issued by a wildlife officer.

(T)    Any taxidermist, the owner, manager, or employee of any cold storage, locker plant, or meat processor receiving, processing or having in custody any wild animal or parts thereof, shall maintain accurate diurnal records showing the dates when such wild animal or parts thereof were received, and when the same were disposed of, and the name and address of the owner of the wild animal or parts thereof, and the state or province from which the wild animal or parts thereof were taken and the official tag or seal number of or certificate of ownership number. Any person authorized to enforce this part may enter such establishment or plants at all reasonable hours and inspect the records and premises where operations are being carried on. The records required to be maintained shall be retained by the person or persons responsible for their preparation and maintenance for a period of two years following the date of receiving, possessing or having such wild animals.

(U)    It shall be unlawful for any person to release a deer or bear into the wild that was raised pursuant to a license issued under section 1533.71 of the Revised Code.

(V)   It shall be lawful for a properly licensed person who has successfully taken a deer, and who has attached to that deer their temporary deer tag, to aid and assist another person in the hunting of deer, provided the person does not have in possession any device commonly used to kill or wound wild animals.

(W)   It shall be unlawful for any person who has killed their limit of deer or has detached their temporary deer tag from their valid deer permit to hunt deer, or aid another person in the hunting of deer, while having in possession any device commonly used to kill or wound wild animals.

(X)   It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot, take or attempt to take a deer that is in the water.

(Y)    It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, place, or use permanent-type tree stands, or place spikes, nails, wires, or other metal objects to hold tree stands or as steps to tree stands on any public hunting area; provided further, it shall be unlawful for any person to construct, place, or use any permanent-type tree stands, or place spikes, nails, wires, or other metal objects to hold tree stands or as steps to tree stands on any private property except with the landowner's permission.

(Z)   It shall be unlawful for any person to possess or carry a rifle, pistol or revolver or any other type of firearm while hunting deer with a bow and arrow, or a crossbow or when they are assisting or accompanying a person that is longbow or crossbow hunting for deer during the statewide longbow and crossbow season. Provided further, it shall be unlawful to possess or carry a revolver or pistol while hunting deer during the statewide muzzleloading deer season.

(AA) It shall be unlawful for any person to possess or transport a deer off the Plum Brook station, Ottawa national wildlife refuge, or Ravenna training and logistics  site unless said deer is permanently tagged with a tag provided by the division of wildlife. Provided further, persons with an urban deer permit may temporary tag an antlerless deer taken at Plum Brook, Ottawa national wildlife refuge, or Ravenna training and logistics site. This provision does not apply to deer legally possessed because of being killed by a vehicle. All deer must be tagged prior to  being removed from either facility. Provided further, persons may temporary tag antlerless deer taken on any special deer hunts established or administered by the division of wildlife with the temporary tag from their urban deer permit when authorized by the chief.

(BB) It shall be unlawful for any person not having a special deer permit, and an urban deer permits to hunt, take, or possess more than seven deer per season whether taken from within or outside of the confines of the Plum Brook station, Ottawa national wildlife refuge, or Ravenna training and logistics site. Provided further it shall be unlawful for persons possessing a special deer permit only to take more than three deer per license year regardless of the method of taking.

(CC) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt on Plum Brook station at any time other than from eight a.m. to five p.m.

(DD) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt on Plum Brook station, Ravenna training and logistics site or Ottawa national wildlife refuge without a permit. Such permit shall specify the specific area assigned to him on the day he is authorized to hunt and the type of deer permitted to be taken. It shall be unlawful to take or attempt to take a deer other than the type specified on the permit. If the permit does not specify otherwise, either antlered or antlerless deer may be taken.

(EE) It shall be unlawful for any person other than the person who shoots or takes a deer to present the deer to any wildlife officer or check station for permanent tagging.

(FF) It shall be unlawful for any person to possess more than one firearm while hunting deer.

(GG) It shall be unlawful for any person to attach a temporary deer tag to any deer which was taken by another person.

(HH) It shall be lawful to hunt any wild animal which has an open season during the entire statewide muzzleloading deer season, except furbearing animals may  be taken at night. Provided further it shall be unlawful to:

(1)    Use or possess rifled slugs or rifles other than muzzleloading rifles during the daylight hours.

(2)   Hunt at any time other than from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset;

(3)   Use shotguns using shot shells with shot larger than number four shot;

(4)    Take or attempt to take a deer with any shotgun other than a muzzleloading shotgun using a single ball.

(5)    Hunt with a muzzleloading rifle, muzzleloading shotgun using a slug, bow or crossbow without having in ones possession a valid deer permit, or valid urban deer permit.

(II)    It shall be unlawful for any person to possess rifle ammunition or shotgun shells containing shot while hunting during the deer gun season except persons legally hunting waterfowl may possess non-toxic shotgun shells containing shot during the deer gun seasons.

(JJ) The daily hunting hours during the statewide muzzleloading season shall be one-half hour before sunrise to sunset daily.

(KK) It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in hunting deer during the statewide muzzleloading season, while possessing any weapons other than a muzzleloading rifle, .38 caliber or larger, muzzleloading shotguns using a single ball, crossbows, longbows and arrows. Provided further, shotguns using lead shot shells with shot not larger than number four may be used to take other legal game, except it shall be unlawful to take or attempt to take a deer with any shotgun other than a muzzleloading shotgun using a single ball.

(LL) It shall be unlawful at any time to possess a deer or deer parts that were taken in violation of any division rule or the Revised Code.

(MM) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or take deer at any time except in accordance with this paragraph or other provisions of this rule. Provided further, antlered deer shall have antlers at least three inches in height, all deer with antlers less than three inches shall be considered antlerless deer. It shall be unlawful to take more than one antlered deer per license year.

(1)   The following counties are deer zone A: Allen, Auglaize, Darke, Defiance, Erie, Fulton, , Henry, Lucas, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Ottawa, Paulding, Preble, Putnam, Sandusky, Shelby, Van Wert, Williams, and Wood.

(2)       The following counties are deer zone B: 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, Wayne, Warren and Wyandot.

(3)   The following counties shall in deer zone C: 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 and Washington.

(4)    EarlyDeer special muzzleloading deer season opens on October 23, 200624, 2005, through October 28, 200629, 2005. on the following areas: Salt Fork, Wildcat Hollow, and Shawnee as described in rule 1501:31-15-13 of the Administrative Code.

(5)      Deer longbow and crossbow season opens statewide on September 30, 2006October 1, 2005 through February 4, 2007January 31, 2006. Deer of either sex may be taken. Provided further, it shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or take a deer during the longbow or crossbow season, with a weapon other than a longbow and crossbow as particularly described in paragraph (F)(4) of this rule.

(6)      Statewide muzzleloading season opens December 27, 20062005 through December 30, 20062005. Deer of either sex may be taken.

(7)   Deer gun season opens in deer gun zones A, B and C on November 27, 200628, 2005 through December 3, 20064, 2005 and December 16 and 17 2006. Deer of either sex may be taken statewide during the entire deer gun season..

(8)    The chief of the division of wildlife may provide a permit which allows the taking of deer from division owned or administered lands to young, or handicapped hunters prior to or after the opening of deer gun season. Provided further, all provisions of this rule orof any other division of wildlife rule shall apply to all persons issued said permit.

(NN) It shall be lawful to hunt any wild animal which has an open season during the youth only deer season weekend with the following restrictions:

(1)   No person shall use or possess slugs except youth hunters hunting deer.

(2)    No person shall use or possess shot shells with shot larger than number four shot except waterfowl hunters using nontoxic shot.

(3) No person shall possess a rifle or rifle ammunition while hunting during the youth deer season except a muzzleloading rifle.

(OO) It shall be unlawful to use or provide any contraceptive drugs, substances or chemicals to any free ranging wild animal. Provided further, persons may request permission from the chief of the division of wildlife to use contraceptives for scientific research. The chief may issue a conditional permit in writing after a person has submitted in writing the proposal which outlines the scientific research project.

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

Effective:                                                     07/01/2006

R.C. 119.032 review dates:                         02/03/2006 and 07/01/2011

CERTIFIED ELECTRONICALLY

Certification

05/16/2006

Date

Promulgated Under:                           119.03

Statutory Authority:                           1531.06, 1531.08, 1531.10

Rule Amplifies:                                  1531.06, 1531.08, 1531.10

Prior Effective Dates:                         5/1/76, 6/1/77, 6/1/78, 6/1/79, 6/1/80, 6/1/81, 10/16,

81, 6/1/82, 5/31/83, 5/31/84, 6/1/85, 6/1/86, 11/21/86 (Emer.), 4/20/87, 9/12/87, 6/1/88, 7/1/89, 7/31/90, 8/11/91, 7/31/92, 10/31/92, 6/7/93, 6/30/94, 8/15/95,

10/10/96, 8/10/97, 8/13/99, 11/12/99, 8/1/00, 7/22/01,

7/19/02, 6/4/03, 6/30/04, 9/20/05