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Sportsmen's Input Needed

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
49,545
288
Appalachia
I'm not sure I'm at full liberty to say what I'm up to, so I'll spare the details until I get that answer, but let's say I've found myself at the table with a "coalition" of sportsmen from around Ohio with the opportunity to influence/inform policy decisions at a state and/or federal level. Before I head into the first meeting, I want to turn to TOOville for some input. Keep in mind this isn't strictly deer hunting related, so things like clean water, habitat restoration, public land access, etc. are all on the table.

That said, I'll pose the question like this: If you could make any one change to Ohio's hunting and fishing regulations/policies/etc., what would you do? What would be your Plan B if you couldn't execute Plan A for some reason?

Fire away boys!
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
A limit on bait. Say, 2.5 gallons or 10 pounds. This would let people still feed birds and squirrels in their yard.

Bring back check in stations.

Real hard toss up of which would be A or B. Those are the two things I'd change if I was in charge. 3rd would be to have more GWs in the places that need them. These guys have way to much ground to cover. A county like the one I live in could have one for water and one for land. Much like those counties that border lake Erie.
 

Wiley E Coyote

Active Member
I like the check in stations especially if it was run by the DNR. Could regret that😂 Part of me wants no baiting allowed period but then I think about the lucky guy that has access to crop fields or apple trees on his property. He's legal to hunt but his neighbor is not allowed to dump apples or grain for the same opportunities. So I'm ok with the baiting. I really don't understand why you can bait a deer and not a turkey. If a man buys a tag kills only the one bird that's legal why is that wrong. I get the sporting part of it but a lot of people can only hunt on the weekends. That's not very much time. He payed for his tag and a dead bird is a dead bird. Why should he be judged. I guess they fear to many birds will be killed. I'm sure that's the answer now that I think it though
 
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hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
40,489
288
Ohio
Good luck. More game wardens would be beneficial. Those guys work big areas with minimal help.

I'm an anti-baiter but I'm also a realist.

Best of luck. You'll have a tough row to hoe. They might listen. One never knows.
 

Curran

Senior Member
Supporting Member
8,069
186
Central Ohio
Think bigger fellas…

I need to flesh out the ideas more but…

1. Creation of an access program to open up more private land to hunting. Yes, I know there is a small scale program in place now but it needs to be 10x what currently exists.

2. Creation of a grand scale habitat program for upland birds and pollinators on public and private that benefits wildlife, sportsmen, and the entire ecosystem. This in turn would benefit deer and turkey but the only reason we don’t have pheasant and quail anymore is habitat, habitat, and habitat.
 

at1010

*Supporting Member*
5,317
159
1. Dmap or similar programs where they give tags our soecifc to an area. It’s insane I can only shoot 2 does on 300+ acres and if I am lucky a buck. Sure I can bring guests but it’s my land - I should be able to shoot a few more when many neighbors (great folks) but they don’t shoot any.

2. Vote for outlawing bait.
 

JARHEAD

Active Member
1,162
55
Behind you
Think bigger fellas…

I need to flesh out the ideas more but…

1. Creation of an access program to open up more private land to hunting. Yes, I know there is a small scale program in place now but it needs to be 10x what currently exists.

2. Creation of a grand scale habitat program for upland birds and pollinators on public and private that benefits wildlife, sportsmen, and the entire ecosystem. This in turn would benefit deer and turkey but the only reason we don’t have pheasant and quail anymore is habitat, habitat, and habitat.
And Grouse. #s have been on the decline for years with little response from the state
 
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Hunter II

Junior Member
608
141
No more either sex tags. Antlered deer tag is limited to the weapon you choose at the time of purchase and you can only purchase one per year. Antlerless tags are any weapon.

Non-resident draw for deer.
 

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
49,545
288
Appalachia
Reciprocal nonresident license and deer tag prices.

Think bigger fellas…

I need to flesh out the ideas more but…

1. Creation of an access program to open up more private land to hunting. Yes, I know there is a small scale program in place now but it needs to be 10x what currently exists.

2. Creation of a grand scale habitat program for upland birds and pollinators on public and private that benefits wildlife, sportsmen, and the entire ecosystem. This in turn would benefit deer and turkey but the only reason we don’t have pheasant and quail anymore is habitat, habitat, and habitat.
These are my Top-3 with a baiting ban at #4 and limited lottery on bobcats.
 
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After reading all of the posts I have to agree with Curran
I used to have about an acre of field and the ODNR supplied me seed to plant a song bird food plot. Mostly sunflower and millet. I had pheasants and quail in that plot. Along with all the non game species.
Unfortunately I planted white pines later to block the view of my neighbors house.

I did a couple DYI hunts in Wyoming on what they call walk in. Private ranches that allowed foot access. You had to apply for the walk in areas before the season came in so hunting pressure was limited.

I do still think killing hen turkeys is wrong with the population declining. And coons should be open season.
 

Isaacorps

Member
5,531
155
Columbus
1. Open season for raccoons similar to groundhogs and coyotes

2. Bobcat season

3. Shift bow season earlier. Say first Saturday in September to last Sunday in December. Bump muzzleloader season to second weekend in January.
 
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