Section 1501:31-15-18 - [Effective 6/30/2024] Furbearing animals seasons and bag limits(A) Unless otherwise provided by division rule, it shall be unlawful to hunt, take, or possess a furbearing animal at any time except during the respective open season. Provided further: (1) The open season for hunting raccoon, opossum, skunk, fox, and weasel is from November tenth through midnight, January thirty-first;(2) The open season for trapping raccoon, opossum, skunk, fox, and weasel is from November tenth through midnight, January thirty-first;(3) The open season for trapping mink or muskrat is from November tenth through the last day of February;(4) The open season for trapping beaver is from December twenty-sixth through the last day of February;(5) The open season for trapping river otter is from December twenty-sixth through the last day of February; (a) It shall be unlawful to take or trap more than three river otters per season, of which no more than one may be taken in river otter zone B;(b) The following counties are in river otter zone A: Ashtabula, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Geauga, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, Lake, Mahoning, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Portage, Stark, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Washington, and Wayne;
(c) The remainder of the state is in river otter zone B.(6) The respective open seasons for trapping furbearing animals, except fox, is extended through March fifteenth in the following counties: Lucas east of the Maumee river, Ottawa, Sandusky, and Erie;(7) Coyotes may be hunted and trapped year-round unless otherwise provided by division rule;(8) The furbearing animals listed in this rule may be possessed at any time during the respective open season through the next immediate June fifteenth or by a person having a permit issued by the division of wildlife.(B) All definitions set forth in rule 1501:31-1-02 of the Administrative Code apply to this rule. Replaces: 1501:31-15-17
Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-15-18
Effective: 6/30/2024
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 06/30/2029
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 1531.06, 1531.08, 1531.10
Rule Amplifies: 1531.06, 1531.08, 1531.10, 1533.02
Prior Effective Dates: 06/01/1977 (Temp.), 06/01/1978 (Temp.), 06/01/1979 (Temp.), 06/01/1980 (Temp.), 06/01/1981 (Temp.), 07/01/2006, 07/01/2007, 07/01/2008, 07/01/2009, 07/01/2010, 07/01/2011, 01/01/2012, 07/01/2012, 07/01/2013, 07/01/2014, 01/01/2015, 07/01/2015, 07/01/2016, 07/01/2017, 07/27/2018, 07/01/2019, 07/01/2020, 07/01/2021, 07/01/2022