Rule 1501:31-15-18 | 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.
Last updated July 2, 2024 at 9:45 AM
Supplemental Information
Amplifies: 1531.06, 1531.08, 1531.10, 1533.02
Five Year Review Date: 6/30/2029
Prior Effective Dates: 6/1/1977 (Temp.), 6/1/1978 (Temp.), 6/1/1979 (Temp.), 6/1/1980 (Temp.), 6/1/1981 (Temp.), 7/1/2006, 7/1/2007, 7/1/2008, 7/1/2009, 7/1/2010, 7/1/2011, 1/1/2012, 7/1/2012, 7/11/2013, 7/1/2014, 1/1/2015, 7/1/2015, 7/1/2016, 7/1/2017, 7/27/2018, 7/1/2019, 7/1/2020, 7/1/2021, 7/1/2022