COLUMBUS - Need some hunting info? ODNR can help.

Ohioans seeking information about the upcoming white-tailed deer hunting seasons or individuals seeking to report violations of state wildlife laws can take advantage of extended call center hours from Nov. 19 to Dec. 4, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The 1-800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) general hunting information hotline will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 19 and from noon until 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 20, for the third annual youth deer-gun season.

Staff will also be available to answer calls prior to and during the popular deer-gun season, which begins Friday, November 28 and ends Sunday, Dec. 4:

48 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, November 25

410 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, November 26-27

48 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, November 28-December 2

410 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, December 3-4.

The hotline will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

&#8220We anticipate nearly 400,000 hunters will be out enjoying Ohio's popular deer-gun season, and the Division of Wildlife will be ready and available to assist hunters. People should feel free to contact us with any question that may arise,” said Steven A. Gray, chief of the Division of Wildlife.

Ohioans are encouraged to help enforce state wildlife laws by reporting wildlife violations to the division’s Turn-in-a-Poacher (TIP) hotline at 1-800-POACHER (762-2437).