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Ohio Hunting Season Dates 2026–27

Season openers, closers, and tag requirements by species. Always confirm against OH Dept of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife (ODNR) before you hunt. Dates can change.

License: resident $19 · nonresident $180.96. Species tags and permits are extra. See each section below.

White-tailed Deer Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Archery: StatewideSep 26, 2026Feb 7, 2027Deer Permit
Archery: Disease Surveillance Area (early opener): Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Area (DSA)Sep 12, 2026Feb 7, 2027Deer Permit
Early Gun: Disease Surveillance Area: Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Area (DSA)Oct 10, 2026Oct 12, 2026Deer Permit
Youth Gun: StatewideNov 21, 2026Nov 22, 2026Youth Deer Permit
Gun: StatewideNov 30, 2026Dec 6, 2026Deer Permit
Bonus Gun: StatewideDec 19, 2026Dec 20, 2026Deer Permit
Muzzleloader: StatewideJan 2, 2027Jan 5, 2027Deer Permit

Wild Turkey Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Fall (70 open counties)Oct 1, 2026Oct 25, 2026Fall Turkey Permit

Beaver Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
TrappingDec 26, 2026Feb 28, 2027Fur Taker Permit

Chukar Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularNov 6, 2026Jan 10, 2027Hunting License

Coyote Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Hunting: no closed season (regulation year Sept. 1, 2026 - Aug. 31, 2027)Sep 1, 2026Aug 31, 2027Hunting License
Trapping: no closed season (regulation year Sept. 1, 2026 - Aug. 31, 2027)Sep 1, 2026Aug 31, 2027Fur Taker Permit

American Crow Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (Friday, Saturday and Sunday only)Jun 5, 2026Mar 7, 2027Hunting License

Mourning Dove and Eurasian Collared-Dove Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (first segment)Sep 1, 2026Nov 8, 2026Hunting License + HIP Certification
Regular (second segment)Dec 12, 2026Jan 1, 2027Hunting License + HIP Certification

Fox (Red and Gray) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + Fur Taker Permit
TrappingNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027Fur Taker Permit

Gallinule (Moorhen) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026Hunting License + HIP Certification

Groundhog (Woodchuck) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
No closed season (regulation year Sept. 1, 2026 - Aug. 31, 2027)Sep 1, 2026Aug 31, 2027Hunting License

Mink and Muskrat Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
TrappingNov 10, 2026Feb 28, 2027Fur Taker Permit
Trapping: Lake Erie marsh counties (extended)Nov 10, 2026Mar 15, 2027Fur Taker Permit

Opossum, Skunk and Weasel Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + Fur Taker Permit
TrappingNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027Fur Taker Permit
Trapping: Lake Erie marsh counties (extended)Nov 10, 2026Mar 15, 2027Fur Taker Permit

Ring-necked Pheasant Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Youth Small Game (first weekend)Oct 24, 2026Oct 25, 2026Youth Hunting License
Youth Small Game (second weekend)Oct 31, 2026Nov 1, 2026Youth Hunting License
Regular (roosters only)Nov 6, 2026Jan 10, 2027Hunting License

Bobwhite Quail Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Youth Small Game (first weekend)Oct 24, 2026Oct 25, 2026Youth Hunting License
Youth Small Game (second weekend)Oct 31, 2026Nov 1, 2026Youth Hunting License
Regular (16 select counties and specific wildlife areas only)Nov 6, 2026Nov 29, 2026Hunting License

Cottontail Rabbit Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Youth Small Game (first weekend)Oct 24, 2026Oct 25, 2026Youth Hunting License
Youth Small Game (second weekend)Oct 31, 2026Nov 1, 2026Youth Hunting License
RegularNov 6, 2026Feb 28, 2027Hunting License

Raccoon Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + Fur Taker Permit
TrappingNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027Fur Taker Permit
Trapping: Lake Erie marsh counties (extended)Nov 10, 2026Mar 15, 2027Fur Taker Permit

Rail (Virginia and Sora) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026Hunting License + HIP Certification

River Otter Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
TrappingDec 26, 2026Feb 28, 2027Fur Taker Permit + River Otter Trapping Permit

Wilson's Snipe Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (first segment)Sep 1, 2026Nov 25, 2026Hunting License + HIP Certification
Regular (second segment)Dec 12, 2026Jan 1, 2027Hunting License + HIP Certification

Squirrel (Red, Gray and Fox) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularSep 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License

Waterfowl (ducks, coots, mergansers, geese, brant) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Early Canada Goose: StatewideSep 5, 2026Sep 13, 2026Hunting License + Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Early Teal (blue-winged, green-winged, cinnamon): StatewideSep 5, 2026Sep 13, 2026Hunting License + Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Youth Waterfowl (hunters 17 and younger): StatewideOct 3, 2026Oct 4, 2026Youth Hunting License + Federal Duck Stamp if 16 or older + HIP
Military and Veteran Waterfowl: StatewideOct 3, 2026Oct 4, 2026Hunting License + Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Duck, Coot and Merganser (first segment): Zone A: Waterfowl Zone AOct 17, 2026Nov 1, 2026Hunting License + Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Duck, Coot and Merganser (second segment): Zone A: Waterfowl Zone ANov 14, 2026Dec 27, 2026Hunting License + Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Duck, Coot and Merganser (first segment): Zone B: Waterfowl Zone BOct 17, 2026Oct 25, 2026Hunting License + Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Duck, Coot and Merganser (second segment): Zone B: Waterfowl Zone BNov 21, 2026Jan 10, 2027Hunting License + Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Duck, Coot and Merganser (first segment): Zone C: Waterfowl Zone COct 17, 2026Oct 25, 2026Hunting License + Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Duck, Coot and Merganser (second segment): Zone C: Waterfowl Zone CDec 12, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Goose (Canada, white-fronted, snow, blue, Ross's) and Brant (first segment): Zone A: Waterfowl Zone AOct 17, 2026Nov 1, 2026Hunting License + Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Goose (Canada, white-fronted, snow, blue, Ross's) and Brant (second segment): Zone A: Waterfowl Zone ANov 14, 2026Feb 1, 2027Hunting License + Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Goose (Canada, white-fronted, snow, blue, Ross's) and Brant (first segment): Zone B: Waterfowl Zone BOct 17, 2026Oct 25, 2026Hunting License + Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Goose (Canada, white-fronted, snow, blue, Ross's) and Brant (second segment): Zone B: Waterfowl Zone BNov 21, 2026Feb 15, 2027Hunting License + Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Goose (Canada, white-fronted, snow, blue, Ross's) and Brant (first segment): Zone C: Waterfowl Zone COct 17, 2026Oct 25, 2026Hunting License + Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Goose (Canada, white-fronted, snow, blue, Ross's) and Brant (second segment): Zone C: Waterfowl Zone CNov 21, 2026Feb 15, 2027Hunting License + Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP

American Woodcock Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularOct 16, 2026Nov 29, 2026Hunting License + HIP Certification
Verify before you hunt. These dates are compiled for planning and can change between when they're published and when the season opens, and many states vary dates by unit, zone, or WMU. Always confirm with OH Dept of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife (ODNR) before heading out. Nothing here is legal advice.
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