Ohio’s flocks of Canada geese are so plentiful that the Ohio Wildlife Council has agreed to increase the daily bag limit for the early goose hunting season to five geese per day, up from three geese.

It might not seem as if it’s already time for the early hunting seasons around the Buckeye State, but Ohio waterfowl hunters will be encouraged to head to the farm fields and marshes on Saturday, Sept. 4 to kick off the early Canada goose season.

With Canada goose populations at an all-time high this year, waterfowl hunters will enjoy a very liberal daily bag limit of five geese per day, an increase from three geese per day, through Sept. 12.

The early teal season will also be open from Sept. 4-19. The popular mourning dove season has a lengthy campaign from Wednesday, Sept. 1 through Nov. 17.

Ohio’s familiar habitat mosaic of farm fields, woodlots, and wetlands provides optimum opportunities to hunt mourning doves, squirrels, and waterfowl, as hunting seasons begin during the first week of September, according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

Hunting is a favorite and cherished activity for thousands of Ohioans, especially around the marshes, forests and farmland of Ottawa County and northwest Ohio. The many waterfowl hunting clubs will be busy, and managed public dove fields around the area will attract hunters.

As in years past, the hunting seasons that will again open on Wednesday, Sept. 1 include squirrel (fox, gray, and red), mourning dove, rail, snipe, and gallinule. Canada geese and teal (blue-winged, green-winged, and cinnamon) may be hunted during the early waterfowl season beginning Saturday, Sept. 4.

“Ohio’s hunting license sales increased 5% in 2020 from the previous season,” said Division of Wildlife Chief Kendra Wecker. “We know that many Ohioans are eagerly anticipating the start of fall hunting. You’ll find abundant populations of mourning doves, squirrels, and geese when you return to the woods and fields. As always, thank you for supporting conservation in Ohio.”

Canada geese require a larger gauge shotgun to hit flying birds from a longer distance. Be sure to review waterfowl identification before an early season hunt; in particular, wood ducks are not yet in season but are sometimes misidentified as teal.

Hunters are reminded to check the current regulations for changes to season dates and daily limits as the 2021 fall seasons begin. A summary of the 2021-22 hunting and trapping regulations is available where licenses are sold, on the HuntFish OH app, and at wildohio.gov.

Ohio’s white-tailed deer archery hunting season opens Saturday, Sept. 25.

The free HuntFish OH app can be downloaded to conveniently purchase fishing and hunting licenses, check game, view wildlife area maps, and much more. The HuntFish OH mobile app is available for Android and iOS users and can be found in the app store. Users can access the Division of Wildlife’s online system to check harvested white-tailed deer and wild turkey while out in the field, even without a Wi-Fi connection.

Landowners can now receive an incentive to allow hunters access during specific hunting seasons through the Ohio Landowner and Hunter Access Partnership Program. Visit the Ohio Landowner and Hunter Access Partnership Program page at wildohio.gov to sign up as a landowner or hunter.