Outdoors: Ohio hunting season begins today

The Ohio Wildlife Council has also approved this year’s regular season waterfowl hunting dates, which include the following changes: a decrease in the scaup bag limit to three, an increase in the canvasback bag limit to two and the youth waterfowl season will now be Oct. 5-6.

Following are the dates for duck, coot and merganser hunting:

— In the Lake Erie Marsh Zone, Oct. 12-27 and Nov. 9-Dec. 22.

— In the North Zone, Oct. 19-Nov. 3 and Nov. 30-Jan. 12.

— In the South Zone, Oct. 19-Nov. 3 and Dec. 14-Jan. 26.

Ohio is also divided into three zones for goose and brant hunting. Following are this year’s dates:

— In the Lake Erie Canada Goose Zone, Oct. 12-27 and Nov. 9-Jan. 9.

— In the North Zone, Oct. 19-Nov. 3 and Nov. 30-Jan. 30, 2014.

— In the South Zone, Oct. 19-Nov. 3 and Nov. 30-Jan. 30.

Some other seasons to note: Deer hunting begins with archery on Sept. 28; the new antlerless deer muzzleloader season is Oct. 12-13; fall turkey on Oct. 14; rabbit and upland game birds on Nov. 1. For all hunting dates and information, visit wildohio.com.

Officers promoted: Auglaize County wildlife officer Matt Hoehn and Warren County wildlife officer Rick Rogers were recently promoted to wildlife officer field supervisor positions in southwest Ohio.

Rogers, a 1985 West Carrollton High School/Montgomery County JVS graduate, will supervise officers in Adams, Clinton, Greene, Highland, Montgomery and Warren counties. He has been the Warren County officer since 2001.

Hoehn, a native of Delphos, will supervise six county officers in Auglaize, Clark, Darke, Mercer, Miami and Shelby counties. He has been the Auglaize County officer since 2005.

Both supervisors will work out of the Wildlife District 5 Office in Xenia.

Bass winners: Three area anglers finished in the top 10 during last weekend's Walmart Bass Fishing League Buckeye Division event on the Ohio River at Tanner's Creek, near Lawrenceburg, Ind.

David Spivey of Hamilton tied for third with a five-bass total of 7 pounds, 10 ounces, good for $968, plus a $300 Evinrude bonus. Wes Campbell of Brookville came in eighth with five bass at 6-7 and won $513. Dick Shaffer of Rockford brought in four bass at 6-3 for a $456 prize.

The event was won by Kyle Weisenburger of Ottawa, Ohio with five bass for 9 pounds, 6 ounces. The top prize was $3,418.