In a short, non-announcement announcement, the Ohio Division of Wildlife will again start selling nonresident licenses, beginning May 8th.
Presumably that allowance means all types of nonresident license, too, such as general fishing licences, short-term licenses, Lake Erie charter licenses, as well as nonresident general hunting licenses, turkey tags, and similar other permits.
The sum total of this rather important development by the Wildlife Division reads:
"Update: All non-resident licenses and permits are once again available for purchase beginning May 8, 2020."
It is found on the agency's main web page, but not included in a press release as to specifics nor details. Indeed, it is not even featured in a general Ohio Department of Natural Resources press release.
Simply amazing.
For the record, the Wildlife Division stopped selling non-resident fishing and hunting licenses of all kinds April 6th; one month ago. This action was taken in response to non-resident anglers flocking to Lake Erie's Western Basin public boat ramps. Anglers from as far away as South Dakota were observed.
Such traveling and use of Ohio's public facilities ran counter to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's Stay-At-Home orders to help contain the spread of the cronovirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The cessation of license sales to nonresidents did come at a cost, however. Data supplied by the Ohio Division of Wildlife showed that up through the sales stoppage the state had issued 5,620 non-resident annual fishing licenses, compared to 9,908 for the same to-date period in 2019. Similar drops were seen in short-term and Lake Erie charter license sales.
Non-resident turkey tag sales did increase, perhaps because he threat of a stoppage motivated this class of hunters to buy their tags in time for the up-coming spring season.
- By Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkAmeritech.net
JFrischk4@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment