Rule 1501:31-15-06 | Controlled access and special opportunity areas.
(A) Controlled access opportunity permits.
The following areas require a controlled access opportunity permit to hunt upon: Castalia state fish hatchery, Eagle creek, Hebron state fish hatchery, Kincaid springs state fish hatchery, Magee marsh, Marion and Fred Conkel, Mercer, Pipe creek, St. Mary's state fish hatchery, and Urbana. Provided further, it shall be unlawful to:
(1) Hunt upon any area where a controlled access opportunity permit is required without first obtaining said permit;
(2) Violate any of the rules or provisions of a controlled access opportunity permit;
(3) Buy, sell, trade, or barter any controlled access opportunity permit issued by the division of wildlife;
(4) Apply more than one time for a specific controlled access opportunity administered by the division of wildlife unless otherwise authorized by the chief of the division of wildlife.
(B) Special opportunity areas.
(1) Beaver creek wildlife area.
It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or trap on Beaver creek wildlife area other than for waterfowl, deer, and furbearing animals during the open season prescribed for such species.
(2) Camp Belden and Steinen wildlife areas.
It shall be unlawful for any person eighteen years of age or older to hunt, trap, or fish on the camp Belden and Steinen wildlife areas. Provided further, persons younger than eighteen years of age may hunt, trap or fish when accompanied by a non-hunting, non-trapping, and non-fishing adult.
(3) City of Akron, Mogadore property located in Brimfield and Suffield townships in Portage county.
It shall be unlawful to:
(a) Hunt waterfowl on this area without a valid permit authorizing such activity, except for the last forty-five days of the north zone goose season as established in rule 1501:31-7-06 of the Administrative Code when no permit is required;
(b) Hunt wild quadrupeds and wild turkey except with a longbow or crossbow during the open seasons in such manner and in such numbers as are prescribed by the Revised Code or the Administrative Code;
(c) Hunt with a shotgun, rifle, pistol, or revolver except persons legally hunting waterfowl may use shotguns and persons legally trapping furbearing animals may use a rimfire firearm to kill a furbearing animal caught in a trap.
(4) City of Akron, Wendell R. LaDue reservoir located in Auburn and Troy townships in Geauga county.
It shall be unlawful to hunt waterfowl east of state route 44 without a valid permit authorizing such activity, except for the last forty-five days of the north zone goose season as established in rule 1501:31-7-06 of the Administrative Code when no permit is required. No permit is required to hunt waterfowl on the remainder of the LaDue property, including the portion of the Wendell R. LaDue reservoir west of state route 44.
(5) Clark lake wildlife area, Grand lake St. Mary's state park, and Spring valley wildlife area.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to place, construct, maintain, or use a permanent waterfowl blind on state property at Grand lake St. Marys state park, Clark lake wildlife area or Spring valley wildlife area without first obtaining a written permit from the chief of the division of wildlife or their designee, or without written permission from the permit holder. For the purpose of this rule a "permanent waterfowl blind" is a structure that is taken to, placed, or built for the purpose of concealment of waterfowl hunters and is left at the same place of concealment for more than one calendar day.
(b) It shall be unlawful to violate any of the rules or provisions of the written permit required by this rule.
(6) Lake La Su An wildlife area in Williams county.
It shall be unlawful to hunt turkey on the lake La Su An wildlife area without written authorization from the chief of the division of wildlife.
(7) Ottawa national wildlife refuge.
Portions of the Ottawa national wildlife refuge are posted by signs or buoys designating such areas require a permit to hunt thereon. Provided further, it shall be unlawful:
(a) To hunt within these restricted areas without first obtaining a permit issued by the division of wildlife;
(b) To violate the rules or provisions of the permit issued by the division of wildlife.
(C) Areas having limited or no firearm use.
It shall be unlawful to:
(1) Use a shotgun, rifle, pistol, or revolver at any time on the Greenfield dam, Auburn marsh, Grant lake, and Aquilla public hunting areas, except:
(a) Shotguns using shot may be used to take migratory birds, rabbits, pheasants, squirrel, and turkey during the open season prescribed for such species;
(b) Persons legally trapping furbearing animals may use a rimfire firearm to kill a furbearing animal caught in a trap.
(2) Hunt on the Elm road, Marsh wetlands nature preserve, and Warren public hunting areas, or the portion of Wingfoot public hunting area designated with signs as archery only, except:
(a) With a longbow or crossbow during the open seasons in such manner and in such numbers as are prescribed by the Revised Code or the Administrative Code;
(b) Persons legally trapping furbearing animals may use a rimfire firearm to kill a furbearing animal caught in a trap.
(3) Hunt with or possess any shot except non-toxic shot on Metzger marsh wildlife area, Mallard Club wildlife area, Pipe creek wildlife area, Magee marsh wildlife area, Toussaint wildlife area, and Little Portage wildlife area.
(D) All definitions set forth in rule 1501:31-1-02 of the Administrative Code apply to this rule.
Last updated May 14, 2024 at 2:24 PM
Supplemental Information
Amplifies: 1531.06, 1531.08, 1531.10
Five Year Review Date: 5/1/2029
Prior Effective Dates: 8/25/1975, 6/1/1980, 6/1/1981, 6/1/1982, 5/31/1983, 5/31/1984, 6/1/1986, 4/20/1987, 6/1/1988, 11/1/1988, 7/1/1989, 7/31/1992, 11/1/1993, 5/16/1994, 8/15/1995, 8/10/1996, 6/1/1997, 7/5/2000, 7/19/2002, 6/4/2003, 5/28/2004, 6/1/2006, 7/1/2008, 7/1/2011, 7/11/2013, 1/1/2014, 7/7/2018, 6/30/2023, 2/1/2024