U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service



-133350-228600 Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Controlled White-tailed Deer Youth Gun Hunt:Frequently Asked QuestionsOak Harbor, OhioThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Ohio Division of Wildlife have cooperated in the establishment of a controlled white-tailed deer youth gun hunt. Public hunting will be allowed on the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge and Magee Marsh Wildlife Area in designated areas by permit only. The Refuge is open to white-tailed deer hunting only. No other species of wildlife may be harvested during this hunt.Any questions not found on this list can be directed toward the federal wildlife officers of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge by contacting us at 419-898-0014 or by email at ottawa@.Questions not listed may also be answered by reading the Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations for the current year.What time is check-in on the morning of the hunt?Check-in takes place from 5:00 a.m. – 5:30 a.m. on the morning of your hunt.Where do I go to check-in/check-out the day of my hunt?Check-in will take place at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 14000 West State Route 2, Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449. This is the big green building that can be seen from Route 2; look for signs along Route 2 and the parking lot lights. Check-out will take place at the same building at the conclusion of the hunt.What happens on the morning of check-in?On the morning of the hunt, hunters will arrive at the Visitor Center with their licenses, tags, and controlled hunt permit. Once all documents have been checked, the hunter must fill out a Registration Card. The hunter will also be given a Harvest Card that must be turned in at the conclusion of their hunt. Staff will go over maps of the unit that have previously been assigned to the permittee. Rules and regulations will be reviewed. Once check-in is completed hunters may leave the Visitor Center and enter their units to start their hunt. Where can my child hunt on the refuge?There are 9 potential units that are used during the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex/ Magee Marsh Wildlife Area controlled deer youth gun hunts. The permit you receive will display the area that you have been assigned to hunt. Maps for these areas along with directions on access will be provided on the morning of the hunt at check-in. Hunters may also find their maps by going to the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge website: my child allowed to bring partners on the day of their hunt?Yes. A youth hunter permittee is allowed to bring up to two additional hunting youth partners. Up to three non-hunting adults are allowed to be included in the party as well. If a party has three youth hunters there needs to be at least two adults for that party; one adult can be in charge of two youth hunters. No matter the number of hunters in a party, a youth hunter must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult at all times. Will my child be able to scout their area before the day of their hunt?Yes. Hunters will be able to scout their unit on the designated preview day determined by the refuge, usually the first Saturday in November. This will be the only time hunters will have access to their units before the morning of their hunt. Letters and/or emails will be sent to the hunters containing details about the preview day.Are tree stand and/or blind allowed on the refuge?Yes. Tree stands are allowed as long as they do not have any fasteners that can break through the bark of the tree. Climbing stands and ladder stands are the best stands to use when hunting on the refuge. Hunters are also welcome to use blinds. Hunters must remember that stands and blinds can only be set up the day of the hunt and must be taken down at the end of the hunt.Does my child have to wear blaze orange if they are hunting on the refuge?Yes. All state regulations apply even on controlled hunts on the refuge. Each hunter must wear a blaze orange jacket/vest while hunting on the refuge. Adults who are accompanying the youth hunter must wear a blaze orange jacket/vest as well.What do I do if there is another hunter in my child’s unit?Other than the possibility of refuge staff, there should not be other people in the hunt unit other than your hunting group on the day of the hunt. If another person is spotted within a hunting unit who is not supposed to be in the area, hunters should call the federal wildlife officers at the refuge immediately.If my child shoots a deer that runs into a different unit are they still able to retrieve it?Hunters may track wounded deer out of their assigned unit with prior approval from Refuge officials. Refuge officials need to let other hunters know if a hunter from a different unit is tracking a deer in their area. Refuge officials can also gain permission from adjacent landowners if a wounded deer leaves the refuge property. If you wound a deer and need to track it after shooting hours please contact one of the federal officers at the refuge. Does this controlled hunt count toward my harvest limits?Controlled hunts do not count towards county or state deer harvest limits. However, hunters who harvest a deer on the refuge must tag the animal. Hunters are only allowed one antlered deer a season even if harvested during a controlled hunt. If a hunter has taken an antlered deer within the State they are not allowed to harvest another antlered deer on the refuge. Hunters are allowed to harvest does and button-bucks with an either-sex deer permit. Antlerless deer permits are also valid for all controlled deer hunts.Is the tagging process different on a controlled hunt?No. If a deer is harvested it must be tagged immediately and called in or registered per State regulations.How many deer is my child allowed to harvest and what sex can they be?Hunters are allowed to harvest one deer while gun hunting on the refuge. Any of the youth hunters within a group are allowed to harvest an antlered deer if they have not already harvested an antlered deer this deer season in the State. Youth hunters are allowed one antlered deer per year. Youth may also harvest does and button-bucks with an either-sex deer permit or an antlerless deer permit.What licenses and tags do I need in order to hunt on the Ottawa NWR?In order to hunt on the refuge you will need your controlled hunt permit stating that you have been awarded an area and opportunity to hunt the refuge. Along with your permit, you will also need an Ohio annual hunting license and an either-sex deer permit or an antlerless deer permit. All State regulations apply on a controlled hunt on the refuge. A youth hunter must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult at all times when in the field. The adult does not have to have a hunting license but must be 18 years old or older to accompany a youth hunter. For more information about licenses and tags please see the Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations for the current year.Can I shoot coyotes or any other animal while deer hunting?No other animals may be shot or harvested while deer hunting. Deer are the only animal that can be harvested on this hunt.What happens if I know I won’t be able to attend the hunt on the date issued by the permit?Permits can be transferred if the original permit holder cannot attend the hunt indicated on the permit. The transferee must have the permit signed by the original permit holder with them at check-in on the morning of the hunt. If the permit cannot be transferred please mail the permit back to Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge prior to the hunt so we can find someone to use it.All injuries or accidents occurring on the refuge must be reported immediately to the Refuge Headquarters, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, 14000 West State Route 2, Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449. Phone 419-898-0014. ................
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