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December 8, 2022
Every year, approximately 553,000 people suit up in their best hunting gear and head out to punch a tag in the vast fields of Ohio. The state has an excellent hunting season, with some counties allowing hunters to harvest four antlerless deer!
So whether you’re hoping to take home a white-tailed deer or participate in a different game hunt, Ohio has a great variety of wildlife to keep every hunt exciting.
The process for obtaining a license and necessary permits for Ohio hunting is easy: while permits will need to be renewed yearly, residents can purchase a lifelong hunting license to experience the thrills of the hunt during any open season they desire.
You’re hoping to participate in Ohio deer hunting season with the many hunters who go afield yearly. But what should you expect while hunting in Ohio? Here’s everything hunters need to know before embarking on their next hunt.
The Ohio deer season kicks off in late September and continues into early February, giving hunters a wide range of opportunities to punch a tag. However, if you’re hoping to use a firearm to take down the white-tailed deer, you’ll need to adhere to Ohio’s specific seasonal dates for guns and muzzleloaders.
The firearm season goes quickly, so mark your calendar with these hunting dates!
No matter where you are in Ohio, a beautiful public hunting ground is nearby. Here are some popular hunting locations among the locals:
Residents and visitors can explore additional public hunting areas near their location on Ohio’s Department of Natural Resources website.
Here’s a list of the approved methods of deer hunting for the archery and firearm season in Ohio:
If you have any questions about legal hunting equipment in Ohio, please consult the Hunting and Trapping Regulations for more information.
You can purchase hunting licenses in Ohio for one, three, five, or ten years. Depending upon the hunter’s age, youth (17 years or younger) and seniors (66 years and older) will receive a discounted rate.
* A ten-year license is not available for seniors.
In addition to obtaining a hunting license, you must purchase an Ohio hunting permit to harvest a buck or a doe. Deer hunting permit costs are broken up by age and residency status:
Improve your hunting experience with HECS clothing.
Unlike hunting licenses — which can remain valid for several years — hunting permits must be purchased during every deer season.
In the state of Ohio, only one antlered deer can be harvested during the entirety of deer hunting season. Each county sets limits for harvesting doe, so Ohio hunters need to check their area’s regulations. Most counties have a 2 to 4 antlerless deer bag limit.
According to the rules set by the Ohio Wildlife Council, hunters are free to begin 30 minutes before sunrise but must exit wildlife areas 30 minutes after sunset. While traversing the wild, outdoorsmen must wear an orange jacket, coat, coveralls, or vest for visibility.
In 2020, Ohio discovered that a small population of deer had contracted Chronic Wasting Disease. This disease is neurological, so the Department of Natural Resources recommends that outdoorsmen dispose of the brain, spinal cord, and other neurological tissues.
Under no circumstances should hunters consume the brain, eyes, spleen, or lymph nodes of deer with Chronic Wasting Disease. If you would like to get a tagged deer tested, contact the Ohio Department of Agriculture at 614-728-6220.
Deer hunting isn’t the only available open season in Ohio — some animals can be harvested all year round! Here are some additional hunting seasons that you might not find in other states:
If you’re hoping to hunt waterfowl such as geese, ducks, and coots, you’ll need to determine your hunting location. Ohio has three zones (North, South, and Lake Erie Marsh) with varying dates for open seasons on waterfowl.
Every year, outdoorsmen hunting in Ohio generate 1.4 billion dollars for the state’s economy! So whether you’re a local hunter or a visitor looking to punch a tag, the great outdoors of Ohio are guaranteed to deliver a hunt you’ll never forget.
Season dates will vary by county across the state. For specific dates, rules, and regulations in each Ohio county, visit the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website for more information.
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Mike Slinkard is a life long bow hunter, professional archer, successful entrepreneur, and self described science geek from the rural town of John Day Oregon. Mike has spent his life in close proximity to all types of animals. His grandfather was a well known cattle and horse rancher who first instilled Mike’s keen interest in animals and why they react the way they do in different situations. Mike’s insatiable curiosity in this realm led him to team with other professionals to make the HECS discovery in 2009. Mike has hunted all over the world and has taken over 30 species with archery gear including 48 elk to date. Mike currently hosts “Hunting with HECS TV” on the Pursuit Channel. He has also written many bow hunting and archery articles as well as being a guest on many different hunting podcasts.