Easy to understand the regs of rifle use in Ohio.

It is unlawful for any person to use or hunt with a rifle, pistol, or revolver from October 15 through January 1 during the daylight hours on any lands owned, administered or under agreement with the Division of Wildlife, except when properly used on a designated Division of Wildlife target range or when hunting squirrels with a rimfire rifle, pistol, revolver, or muzzleloading rifle .40 caliber or smaller, or when deer hunting with a muzzleloading rifle or legal pistol or revolver during the youth deer gun season, deer gun season, statewide muzzleloader season, and the early muzzleloader season.

But, some wildlife areas on state parks have different regs. I was escorted off of West Branch WA by the park ranger and Portage County sherrif for hunting groundhogs with my .17HMR. I had my Ohio reg booklet with me and showed them the above paragraph and ask them to show me where it stated I was in the wrong. The park ranger showed me where it stated that state parks had special regulations and to check with the park office. Funny thing was the statement he showed me was in the waterfowl hunting section. I told him that one can't hunt waterfowl with a rifle anyways.

Needless to say I lost the argument but did save myself from getting a citation. The park ranger was impressed that I had the regs with me and knew exactly what the regs I had been issued by the state said. He realized that I was convinced that I was unknowingly doing somthing that is not permited on West Branch WA. So beware, no rifles at West Branch.