HUNTING SEASONS IN OHIO 2025–26: Deer Hunting, Big Game and Small Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide

Plan your 2025–26 OH hunt with our state‑by‑state guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from whitetail deer to wild turkey to ducks. Whether you’re drawing a compound bow at first light in Oak Openings, slip‑streaming decoys for mallards on the Lake Erie marshes, or tracking coyote year‑round on private land, Ohio’s forests, prairies, and wetlands deliver premier big game and small game opportunities under clear regulations. What Is There to Hunt in Ohio? Ohio’s diverse habitats support: Big Game: Whitetail deer, wild turkey, black bear (limited draw), invasive feral hogs (no closed season) Small Game & Upland Birds: Cottontail rabbit, gray squirrel, bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse, woodcock Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks (mallard, teal, wood duck), Canada geese, coots, rails, mourning dove Furbearers & Predators: Coyote, raccoon, fox, opossum, muskrat From the Appalachian foothills to the Lake plains, Ohio hunters pursue robust state animal populations across well‑defined seasons. What Animals Can You Hunt Year‑Round in Ohio? On private lands with landowner permission—and a valid license—you may take unprotected or nuisance species such as coyote, raccoon, opossum, and feral hogs with no closed season and no bag limits, aiding predator control and crop‑damage management. Public Wildlife Areas enforce posted season and weapon restrictions. Ohio Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26 Whitetail Deer Archery: Sept 20 – Feb 15, 2026 (extended bucks in select counties) Youth Firearms Weekend: Oct 18–19, 2025 Gun Season (Zone A): Nov 22 – Nov 30, 2025 Gun Season (Zone B): Dec 6 – Dec 14, 2025 Muzzleloader: Dec 1 – Dec 7, 2025 Antlerless (ODNR tag): Jan 2 – Jan 10, 2026 Ohio’s deer seasons balance bow, rifle, and muzzleloader opportunities. Bag limit: one legal buck per firearms season; archery allows two antlered deer statewide under statewide tag. Wild Turkey (Spring) Spring Youth Hunt: Apr 11–12, 2026 Spring General: Apr 13 – May 24, 2026 Fall Archery: Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2025 (limited counties) Turkey licenses cover both shotgun and archery; youth hunts encourage the next generation of hunters. Black Bear Draw Hunts Only: Sept 15 – Oct 15, 2025 Black bear tags issue via computerized lottery; successful applicants may hunt with bait or hounds per ODNR rules, and must report harvests within 48 hrs. Ohio Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26 Small Game & Upland Birds Rabbit & Squirrel: Oct 1 – Feb 28, 2026 Ruffed Grouse & Woodcock: Oct 1 – Nov 30, 2025 Bobwhite Quail: Oct 1 – Jan 31, 2026 (WMAs only) Mourning Dove: Sept 1 – Nov 20, 2025 Non‑toxic shot required; upland hunters deploy dogs and decoys in fall and winter. Waterfowl & Migratory Birds Early Teal: Sept 6 – Sept 27, 2025 Duck & Goose: Nov 15 – Jan 31, 2026 (zones split) Youth Waterfowl Days: Oct 17–18, 2025 Rails & Coots: Sept 1 – Nov 9, 2025 Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset; Federal Duck Stamp, HIP, and state waterfowl permit required Lake Erie marshes and river impoundments host peak migrations; daily duck bag limit is 6 with sub‑limits (2 hen mallards, 2 teal). Bag Limits by Species Whitetail Deer: 1 buck per firearms season; archery statewide allows 2 antlered under tag Wild Turkey: 2 per spring; 1 fall archery Black Bear: 1 per draw permit Ducks: 6/day; 2 hen mallards, 2 teal sub‑limits Geese: 5/day Rails & Coots: 15 & 25/day Rabbit & Squirrel: 8/day each Coyote & Feral Hogs: No limits on private lands Bag limits ensure balanced big game and small game harvests. License & Tags Information for Ohio Hunters (2025–26) All hunters must carry a valid Ohio DNR hunting license and required tags or permits: Resident License: $19; Nonresident: $152 Deer Tags: $29 each (buck); $5 (antlerless) Turkey Permit: $11; youth tags free by application Waterfowl Permit: $8; Federal Duck Stamp & HIP required Bear Permit: $35 (draw only) Furbearer Permit: $15; includes raccoon, opossum, beaver Licenses fund wildlife management, habitat restoration, and conservation education. Draw applications open midsummer. Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader Ohio authorizes: Archery: Compound and recurve bows, crossbows (archery seasons) Firearms: Center‑fire rifles, shotguns (slugs & buckshot) during gun seasons Muzzleloaders: Permitted in early December window Dogs & Bait: Allowed for waterfowl retrievers; bait and dogs for bear under specific ODNR regulations Ensure compliance with caliber, draw weight, and non‑toxic shot requirements. Regulations & Resources ODNR regulations cover: Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset; waterfowl sunrise rule applies Zone Maps & Boundaries: WMAs and county zones online Harvest Reporting: Mandatory for deer, turkey, bear within 48 hrs via OH|DAT Special Areas: State Wildlife Areas, CWD monitoring zones, and dove field trials Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt. This guide was created based on information from Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR): https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/about-ODNR/news/ohio-wildlife-council-approves-2025-26-hunting-seasons With structured seasons, clear bag limits, and streamlined license systems, Ohio delivers outstanding hunts for whitetail deer, wild turkey, ducks, and predators. Prepare your bow or rifle, secure proper tags, and experience the Buckeye State’s rich wildlife heritage on your 2025–26 hunt.