A state legislative committee has approved a bill that would let Ohio hunters use firearms silencers, sending the measure to the full Ohio House.
Ohio wildlife officials have proposed hunting policies that would reduce the bag limit for deer for most of the state's counties.
Sixteen of the 18 Ohio wildlife officers referred for illegal on-duty hunting by the state watchdog have been cleared by the state and were returned to their jobs.
The state is attributing a large drop in the number of deer bagged by Ohio hunters to the effect of liberal bag limits in past years meant to bring down the number of deer.
Ohio's Division of Wildlife is monitoring deer around the state for reasons including health and public safety as deer-gun season opens this week.
Ohio hunters can set their eyes on ring-necked pheasants, cottontail rabbits and bobwhite quail as the state's small game hunting season gets underway.
Ohio will release more than 15,000 ring-necked pheasants at 27 Ohio public hunting areas this fall to provide additional hunting opportunities.