New to Ohio (Ada area) with kids wanting to hunt

[huntinglawyer]

Hey everyone, new to the forum but wanted to ask some questions and see if I could get some pointers.

I am 32 with 4 children and will be moving to Ada sometime in July to attend law school at ONU. I currently live in Arizona and love everything about the outdoors as do my children. My oldest daughter will be 8 in June and my oldest son just turned 5. They love to come along hunting with me out here and both can't wait to get to apply for AZ hunts once they turn 10.

Hunting and access out here in AZ is a whole different ball game vs the mostly all private land out that way so wanting to see what my options are for my kids to be able to hunt or get to experience some type of hunting trip out there. They are both just about old enough to really be getting into enjoying the outdoors and I don't want them to miss out on that for 3+ years while I'm in school. Much easier for them to love the outdoors getting an early start.

So, after all that backstory I did see there are some youth hunts available in the regs for some wildlife areas. Technically we will not be residents of Ohio because I'm moving there for school so I wanted to know if NR youth are allowed to try for those draws? I also can't seem to find a minimum legal age to begin hunting there like AZ (10). Anyone that can help answer that for me? I assume other than those few wildlife areas that allow hunting with the draw, everything else would be dependent on access from landowners. Obviously no way to know for certain but are there many landowners that grant access to youth hunters trying to kill a doe or a spike for their first deer? I personally won't have any time to hunt for myself with school going so it would just be for opportunity for me to get out with my kids some while they are still impressionable.

Any help or tips would be appreciated! Also willing to help anyone out with info In AZ if needed.

Thanks!
Blake

 

[Dustinb80]

Hey everyone, new to the forum but wanted to ask some questions and see if I could get some pointers.

I am 32 with 4 children and will be moving to Ada sometime in July to attend law school at ONU. I currently live in Arizona and love everything about the outdoors as do my children. My oldest daughter will be 8 in June and my oldest son just turned 5. They love to come along hunting with me out here and both can't wait to get to apply for AZ hunts once they turn 10.

Hunting and access out here in AZ is a whole different ball game vs the mostly all private land out that way so wanting to see what my options are for my kids to be able to hunt or get to experience some type of hunting trip out there. They are both just about old enough to really be getting into enjoying the outdoors and I don't want them to miss out on that for 3+ years while I'm in school. Much easier for them to love the outdoors getting an early start.

So, after all that backstory I did see there are some youth hunts available in the regs for some wildlife areas. Technically we will not be residents of Ohio because I'm moving there for school so I wanted to know if NR youth are allowed to try for those draws? I also can't seem to find a minimum legal age to begin hunting there like AZ (10). Anyone that can help answer that for me? I assume other than those few wildlife areas that allow hunting with the draw, everything else would be dependent on access from landowners. Obviously no way to know for certain but are there many landowners that grant access to youth hunters trying to kill a doe or a spike for their first deer? I personally won't have any time to hunt for myself with school going so it would just be for opportunity for me to get out with my kids some while they are still impressionable.

Any help or tips would be appreciated! Also willing to help anyone out with info In AZ if needed.

Thanks!
Blake

You came to the right place. Welcome aboard. Great folks on here. Stick around, you'll get the answers you need.

 

["J"]

Welcome too the site, Blake. As far as age restriction, I don’t remember seeing anything in the regs restricting it. Basically up to the parents. You just have to be licensed as well as the child, if I remember right.
There are fathers in your position here on the site, I’d imagine they’d chime in and correct me if I’m off base. Good luck with your degree process.

 

[giles]

Welcome, Blake. The best thing you could do is contact the local GW for Ada area. They will likely point you in a direction of landowner or help on the youth hunting opportunities. No minimum age in Ohio. A hunter safety course is available (I highly suggest this for any new hunter) but an apprentice license can be had for 3 years also.

 

[Bowkills]

use the new sign up to hunt the next day system olhap program, if knocking on doors gets you nowhere. Almost 0 public ground here. There is some great pieces of ground hardwood lots in the program 30mins away from ada to hunt everything but deer with firearms. just takes goggle earth and a little drive time. Ohio regulation book is available online easy to flip through.

 

[Quantum673]

No age limit in Ohio. They will need to take the Hunter safety course to get a license. They can get an apprentice license without the Hunter safety course. With an apprentice license they need to be hunting with a licensed adult.

Welcome aboard!

 

[Outdoorsfellar]

Welcome !

 

[Hedgelj]

Welcome!
Good luck with school.

 

[Bigcountry40]

Hey everyone, new to the forum but wanted to ask some questions and see if I could get some pointers.

I am 32 with 4 children and will be moving to Ada sometime in July to attend law school at ONU. I currently live in Arizona and love everything about the outdoors as do my children. My oldest daughter will be 8 in June and my oldest son just turned 5. They love to come along hunting with me out here and both can't wait to get to apply for AZ hunts once they turn 10.

Hunting and access out here in AZ is a whole different ball game vs the mostly all private land out that way so wanting to see what my options are for my kids to be able to hunt or get to experience some type of hunting trip out there. They are both just about old enough to really be getting into enjoying the outdoors and I don't want them to miss out on that for 3+ years while I'm in school. Much easier for them to love the outdoors getting an early start.

So, after all that backstory I did see there are some youth hunts available in the regs for some wildlife areas. Technically we will not be residents of Ohio because I'm moving there for school so I wanted to know if NR youth are allowed to try for those draws? I also can't seem to find a minimum legal age to begin hunting there like AZ (10). Anyone that can help answer that for me? I assume other than those few wildlife areas that allow hunting with the draw, everything else would be dependent on access from landowners. Obviously no way to know for certain but are there many landowners that grant access to youth hunters trying to kill a doe or a spike for their first deer? I personally won't have any time to hunt for myself with school going so it would just be for opportunity for me to get out with my kids some while they are still impressionable.

Any help or tips would be appreciated! Also willing to help anyone out with info In AZ if needed.

Thanks!
Blake

Welcome, I work about 20 minutes from Ada very tough county to get permission for, Hardin county has a rich hunting tradition and was home to national coon dog trials for years. Ada is not far from Kill deer plain wildlife area.

 

[Redhunter1012]

I live a little North of you. Networking in our area pays off. There are folks around that will allow you to hunt. There is a couple small public parcels with a 10 minute drive of you to the north. They're around 20-30 acre grass thickets with small trees. Good places to bowhunt and really don't get any pressure til gun season. They're easy to get in and setup a blind before season. I guarantee once you start meeting people you'll start getting permission. Go to the grain elevator in town (heritage cooperative) and ask There. Maybe make a flier up similar to your post here introducing yourself and family and whatnot.

 

[Left field]

Welcome to the site , I know guys put in for special draws from out of state , we also offer a lot of camping and hiking trails , if get a chance to take family to Lake Erie , definitely worth seeing

 

[huntinglawyer]

Thanks for all the replies and advice! I'll look into seeing if I can get the kids into a hunter safety course when we get out there. Seems to be an age limit of 12 to do the online course and then the issue of not being a resident there. I'll give ohio division of wildlife a call tomorrow to clarify if they can participate. If not I'll probably go the apprentice license route. I like the olhap program but may be an issue for the kids not being able to use guns on those parcels due to the rules. I will definitely ask around town once I get out there as well and see what I can come up with. Thanks again for all the help!

 

[hickslawns]

Already received some solid input. Wish I had more to offer. Craig Barr is WO in Allen County. Not sure who is the WO in Hardin County. Quick Google search should find out. Good luck this season.

 

[finelyshedded]

Welcome to the site and lots of great info from members so far. Hope you guys can get some access up that way.
Unless things have changed, I’d go the Apprentice license route. You have up to 3 years to do this plus as mentioned earlier an adult has to be with them at ALL times. After their 3rd year you have to have them take the Hunters Safety course to hunt.
Good luck in your endeavors afield and school.

 

[Bigcountry40]

Welcome to the site and lots of great info from members so far. Hope you guys can get some access up that way.
Unless things have changed, I’d go the Apprentice license route. You have up to 3 years to do this plus as mentioned earlier an adult has to be with them at ALL times. After their 3rd year you have to have them take the Hunters Safety course to hunt.
Good luck in your endeavors afield and school.

Ohio got rid of the 3 year apprentice rule, unlimited now.

 

[finelyshedded]

Ohio got rid of the 3 year apprentice rule, unlimited now.

Eventually they have to take HSC correct? Before becoming an Adult age?

 

[Bigcountry40]

Eventually they have to take HSC correct? Before becoming an Adult age?

You have to if u wanna hunt alone. Only reason I know, my buddy who’s a slob hunter has bought his boy an apprentice license for about 10 years. I hate it

 

[Left field]

Anything in particular you /they want to youth hunt?

 

[huntinglawyer]

Anything in particular you /they want to youth hunt?

Mostly was thinking deer and turkey.

 

[Left field]

You can also download Ohio Department Of Natural Resources app lets you know about drawings , youth hunts, controlled hunting ect.