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.

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.

Early Goose Season Announced

Hunters may sign up for the early goose season locations at the Indian Lake State Park office beginning Tuesday, Aug. 14. No call-ins will be accepted. There will be six locations this year and special restrictions apply. The early goose season begins Sept. 1 and runs through Sept. 15. Consult the park office for additional hunting restrictions.

Duck Blind Drawing August 16, 2008

Indian Lake State Park "Duck Blind" Drawing will be conducted on Saturday August 16, 2008 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.

 
YOUTH HUNTING - Ohio's youth hunters will again have several added opportunities to learn and practice their hunting skills this fall. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife offers several ways for families to hunt together and create lasting traditions in the state's outdoors.
WATERFOWL: Youngsters age 15 and younger wanting to pursue waterfowl may do so, statewide, on Saturday and Sunday, October 4-5.
SMALL GAME: Hunters age 17 and younger may hunt statewide for rabbit, pheasant and all other legal game in season during two designated weekends, October 25-26 and November 1-2. Quail also may be taken in 16 designated open counties.
Pheasant releases for young hunters will occur prior to these dates on the following state wildlife areas: Resthaven, Oxbow, Berlin, Killdeer Plains, Camp Belden, Grand River, Spencer, Wellington, Delaware, Dillon, Caesar Creek, Rush Run, Fallsville and Darke, as well as Charlemont Metropark in Lorain County.
WHITE-TAILED DEER: A youth deer-gun season will be open statewide, November 22- 23. Young hunters age 17 and younger who are accompanied by a non-hunting adult may take one deer of either sex during this season, in accordance with existing bag and deer zone limits.
WILD TURKEY: It is not too early to be planning to participate in the spring youth wild turkey hunting for 2009. A statewide spring youth wild turkey season will be offered on Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19. This hunt is open to youths age 17 and younger.
CONTROLLED HUNTS: The Division of Wildlife also offers several controlled hunts for young hunters throughout the hunting season. Applications to participate in these hunts are accepted June 1 through July 31. Applications are available at the division's five district offices and on the division's web site, and may be completed by mail or online. There are controlled youth hunts for white-tailed deer, wild turkey and waterfowl.
To participate in the upcoming youth hunts, all young hunters must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult, and must abide by all regular hunting hours and bag limits.

The seven-day deer-gun season is open each day from a half-hour before sunrise to sunset and ends Sunday at sunset. With an estimated population of 700,000 white-tailed deer, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife anticipates a harvest of 140,000 to 145,000 deer.

Ohio has more than a million acres of land open to public hunting, including more than 65,000 acres which has been added during the last 10 years.

Deer hunting contributes an estimated $266 million to Ohio's economy each year and helps to support thousands of jobs. Venison is delicious and nutritious meat, low in fat and cholesterol. It is the number one wild game served by hunters in Ohio. Deer hunters also contribute thousands of pounds of venison to organizations that help feed less-fortunate Ohio residents through special programs.

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 

2008-2009 Hunting Season Dates and Bag Limits