JCARR Approves Rules Setting Hunting Season and Bag Limits

COLUMBUS—The Ohio Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) today approved rules to set the dates for hunting and fishing seasons and daily bag limits, announced State Rep. Jamie Callender (R-Concord).

The approved rules, proposed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, set the dates for the 2023-24 hunting and fishing seasons, which vary but fall between September and February. There was no major change to restrictions on fish catch limits. 

“Hunting and fishing is an annual tradition for thousands of families across Northeast Ohio,” said Callender. “Ensuring that, through careful stewardship and conservation, we are able to pass these traditions on for generations to come is key to what makes Northeast Ohio the best place in the state to work and live.” 

The rules also set bag limits, maintaining current limits in most counties. Bag limits will increase in six counties and decrease in one county for the 2023-24 seasons. While Lake and Ashtabula Counties deer bag limit remains at three, Geauga County’s has increased from two to three. 

“Hunting is a family tradition, honored sport, and long-lived past time in Ohio,” said Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Mary Mertz. “The current seasons, which we will maintain, have provided prosperous outcomes in recent years, including the highest deer harvest in a decade! We hope to continue to make this experience more memorable in the years to come.”

JCARR is responsible for reviewing new, amended, and rescinded rules from all Ohio agencies.