Ohio Hunting Season Dates
Recorded hunting windows for Ohio, including historical and unverified entries.
Recorded dates, not hunting permission
Status assessment: 2026-10-14 UTC (static build snapshot). Static activity badges and day counts use this build assessment, not a live check. Interactive finder results show their own UTC assessment day.
2 of 8 recorded windows have date-review evidence. Other rows remain unverified. Historical records are retained and are not a current-season promise.
Check your current agency regulations, GMU or zone, hunt code, license and access restrictions before hunting. An agency link or successful publication fetch does not verify a row. Reviewed base dates do not cover every license-specific exception.
Date evidence: Official date source. Review dates apply only to the stated row scope, not an entire state or current license eligibility.
Ohio Hunting Season Calendar
Find all hunting season dates for Ohio including deer, elk, turkey, and waterfowl. Filter by species and hunting method.
Coming Up in Ohio
Seasons opening in the next 60 days
Nov 30 - Dec 6, 2026
Opens in 47 days
Recorded Season Windows
All Ohio hunting seasons organized by species
Deer 6 seasons
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shotgun | Nov 30 - Dec 6, 2026 Date window reviewed 2026-10-09; verify license-specific exceptions Official date source | Athens County private-land legal-antlered shotgun — Gun, either-sex permit | Upcoming | Actual agency-hosted2026–27 guide printed/PDF6 Gun Nov30–Dec6 and Bonus Gun Dec19–20, separate windows with no December gap bridge. Only Athens County private-land legal-antlered shotgun subset under valid hunting license/either-sex deer permit reviewed; not individual permission. Only one antlered deer statewide across all seasons, not one each window; at least one antler3 inches. Printed/PDF8 shotgun10 gauge or smaller, one ball or rifled slug per barrel, no more than three shells chamber/magazine combined; one hunting implement subject to concealed-handgun exception. Hours30 minutes before sunrise–30 minutes after sunset. Current license/permit/exemptions, county/state bag, property boundaries, firearm/ammunition/orange/hours/tag/check/reporting/CWD/local/access/closures/amendments need checks. No other county/method/sex/youth/DSA/archery/muzzleloader/public/controlled hunts verified. Agency publication entry404, title/body unknown; PDF directly read, not inferred from failed entry. Six history rows/license metadata unverified; summary not complete laws. | |
| Shotgun | Dec 19-20, 2026 Date window reviewed 2026-10-09; verify license-specific exceptions Official date source | Athens County private-land legal-antlered shotgun — Bonus Gun, either-sex permit | Upcoming | Actual agency-hosted2026–27 guide printed/PDF6 Gun Nov30–Dec6 and Bonus Gun Dec19–20, separate windows with no December gap bridge. Only Athens County private-land legal-antlered shotgun subset under valid hunting license/either-sex deer permit reviewed; not individual permission. Only one antlered deer statewide across all seasons, not one each window; at least one antler3 inches. Printed/PDF8 shotgun10 gauge or smaller, one ball or rifled slug per barrel, no more than three shells chamber/magazine combined; one hunting implement subject to concealed-handgun exception. Hours30 minutes before sunrise–30 minutes after sunset. Current license/permit/exemptions, county/state bag, property boundaries, firearm/ammunition/orange/hours/tag/check/reporting/CWD/local/access/closures/amendments need checks. No other county/method/sex/youth/DSA/archery/muzzleloader/public/controlled hunts verified. Agency publication entry404, title/body unknown; PDF directly read, not inferred from failed entry. Six history rows/license metadata unverified; summary not complete laws. | |
| Archery | Sep 27, 2025 - Feb 1, 2026 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Extended archery | |
| Shotgun | Nov 30 - Dec 7, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Gun week one | |
| Shotgun | Dec 13-14, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Gun week two | |
| Muzzleloader | Jan 3-6, 2026 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Muzzleloader only | |
Turkey 1 season
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Legal Method | Apr 20 - May 18, 2026 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Spring - zone dates vary | |
Waterfowl 1 season
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shotgun | Oct 25, 2025 - Jan 4, 2026 Unverified date record; agency review required | South Zone | Historical record | Duck season | |
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Ohio Hunting Regulations
License year, species, and agency information
- License Year
- Mar 1, 2025 - Feb 28, 2026
- Available Species
-
- Deer
- Turkey
- Waterfowl
- Hunting Methods
-
- Shotgun
- Archery
- Muzzleloader
- Any Legal Method
- Wildlife Agency
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife
This information is for reference only. Always verify regulations with your state wildlife agency before hunting or fishing.
Important Note for Ohio
Only Athens private legal-antlered shotgun Gun Nov30–Dec6 and Bonus Gun Dec19–20 reviewed from actual2026–27 guide, no gap bridge. Valid hunting license/either-sex permit, only one antlered statewide across all seasons,3-inch antler,10-gauge-or-smaller/slug/three-shell limits retained. Current license/permit/bag/boundaries/firearm/orange/hours/CWD/local/tag/check/access rules need checks. Other hunts/six history rows/license metadata unverified; agency publication entry404 explicit, not individual permission.
Hunting Method Legend
Ohio Hunting FAQ
Common questions about hunting seasons in Ohio
What are the hunting season dates for Ohio?
Recorded Ohio entries cover Deer, Turkey, Waterfowl. Dates include history and unverified records; the recorded license-year metadata is not current verification. Check row evidence and current agency regulations and your license.
When does deer season start in Ohio?
Recorded windows, not one continuous season: 2026-11-30 to 2026-12-06; 2026-12-19 to 2026-12-20; 2025-09-27 to 2026-02-01; 2025-11-30 to 2025-12-07; 2025-12-13 to 2025-12-14; 2026-01-03 to 2026-01-06. Historical and unverified records may be included. Check each row's evidence and your current GMU/hunt code and license before hunting.
Does Ohio require a draw for hunting?
Draw requirements depend on species, GMU or zone, hunt code and license type. Recorded date windows do not establish eligibility. Check the current Ohio agency rules and your actual license.
Which recorded windows include the assessment date 2026-10-14 UTC in Ohio?
The next recorded window is Deer starting Nov 30, 2026. Check its row evidence and current regulations; the record may be unverified.
What should I know about hunting in Ohio?
Only Athens private legal-antlered shotgun Gun Nov30–Dec6 and Bonus Gun Dec19–20 reviewed from actual2026–27 guide, no gap bridge. Valid hunting license/either-sex permit, only one antlered statewide across all seasons,3-inch antler,10-gauge-or-smaller/slug/three-shell limits retained. Current license/permit/bag/boundaries/firearm/orange/hours/CWD/local/tag/check/access rules need checks. Other hunts/six history rows/license metadata unverified; agency publication entry404 explicit, not individual permission.
Other States
Compare hunting seasons across states
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