Heads up to all Ohio hunters! The 2024 outdoor game period is here, packed with thrilling chances to see our state’s varied scenery and chase a range of game species. No matter if you’ve been an outdoor enthusiast for years or you’re just getting started, Ohio has heaps of things for you to do

Let’s simplify your journey into the 2024 hunting season with this practical guide. You’ll find out important dates for different animals, discover top spots for the species, and gain useful resources for a secure, triumphant trip. It’s time to refresh your gears, fine-tune your skills, and prepare for an exciting journey in Ohio’s outdoor wonders.

OH Hunting Schedule

Big Games

Deer

Archery: Statewide, Sept. 28, 2024 – Feb. 2, 2025 (includes Disease Surveillance Areas)
Early Deer Gun: Disease Surveillance Areas only, Oct. 12-14, 2024
Youth Deer Gun: Statewide, Nov. 16-17, 2024
Deer Gun: Statewide, Dec. 2-8, 2024 & Dec. 21-22, 2024
Deer Muzzleloader: Statewide, Jan. 4-7, 2025

Turkey

Fall: October 1 – October 27, 2024 (70 counties)
Bag Limit: 1 turkey
Report your harvest online or call 1-800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) for any questions.

Feral Hog (Wild Boar)

Dates: 1-Jan – 31-Dec, 2024
No Bag Limit

Small Games

Woodchuck

Open for year-round with no bag limit.

Squirrel

Sept. 1, 2024 – Jan. 31, 2025.
Bag limit: 6 daily.

Cottontail Rabbit

Nov. 1, 2024 – Feb. 28, 2025.
Limit: 4 daily.

Youth Small Game

Oct. 19-20 & Oct. 26-27, 2024.
Limit: Same as species in season.

Furbearer Hunting and Trapping

Fox, Raccoon, Skunk, Opossum, Weasel

Nov. 10, 2024 – Jan. 31, 2025.

Coyote

Jan. 1 – Dec. 31

Mink, Muskrat Trapping

Nov. 10, 2024 – Feb. 28, 2025

Lake Erie Marsh Trapping

Mink, Muskrat, Skunk, Opossum, Weasel

Nov. 10, 2024 – March 15, 2025.

Beaver Trapping

Dec. 26, 2024 – Feb. 28, 2025

River Otter Trapping

Dec. 26, 2024 – Feb. 28, 2025.

Furbearer Bag Limit

No bag limit for all except river otter trapping limit of 3 total, with a maximum of 1 from Zone B.

Upland Birds

Chukar & Ring-necked Pheasant (roosters only)

Nov. 1, 2024 – Jan. 12, 2025.
2 daily for both.

Bobwhite Quail

Nov. 1, 2024 – Dec. 1, 2024
Open in 16 specific counties and areas.
2 daily.

Ruffed Grouse

Nov. 1, 2024 – Dec. 1, 2024
Open in 17 specific counties.
1 daily.

Migratory Birds

Mourning Dove

Sept. 1 – Nov. 3, 2024.
15 daily.

Crow

From June 7, 2024 to March 2, 2025.
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only
No bag limit.

Waterfowls

Duck, Coot, Merganser

Lake Erie Marsh Zone:
- Oct. 12-27, 2024
- Nov. 9-Dec. 22, 2024
North Zone:
- Oct. 19-27, 2024
- Nov. 16, 2024-Jan. 5, 2025
South Zone:
- Oct. 19-27, 2024
- Dec. 7, 2024-Jan. 26, 2025
Early Teal: Sept. 7-22, 2024. (6 daily)

Duck Bag Limits

Daily limit: 6 ducks total
Included in the 6:
- Up to 4 mallards (only 2 hens)
- 3 wood ducks
- 2 each of black ducks, redheads, canvasbacks, and mottled ducks
- 1 pintail
Scaup Limit:
- 1 daily for the first 15 days of the season
- 2 daily for the remaining 45 days of the season

Rail

Sept. 1 – Nov. 9, 2024
25 daily.

Gallinule (Moorhen)

Sept. 1 – Nov. 9, 2024
15 daily

American Woodcock

Oct. 12 – Nov. 25, 2024
3 daily

Youth & Veteran Rail Hunting Days

Sept. 28-29, 2024
Same as regular season

Ohio Hunter Licensing

Fees

Resident Licenses:

Youth (1-17 years old): $10 (1-year)
Apprentice Hunter (3 years): $10
Adult (18-69 years old):
- 1-year: $19
- 3-year: $54.08
- 5-year: $90.14
- 10-year: $180.27
- Lifetime: $449.28
Senior (70+ years old):
- 1-year: $10
- Apprentice Hunter (3 years): $10
- 3-year: $27.04
- 5-year: $45.07
- Lifetime: Free

Non-Resident Licenses:

1-Year: $180.96
3-Day: $40.56
Apprentice Hunter (1-year): $180.96

Permit and Stamp Costs

Here’s a simplified breakdown of permit and stamp costs for Ohio:

Permit/Stamp	Resident Adult	Resident Senior (Discounted)	Resident Youth	Non-Resident Adult
Either-Sex Deer Permit	$31.20	$12.00 / Free	$16.00	$76.96
Deer Management Permit	$15.00	Free	$15.00	$15.00
Fall/Spring Turkey Permit	$31.20	$12.00 / Free	$16.00	$38.48
Federal Migratory Bird Stamp	N/A	N/A	N/A	$25.00
Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp	$15.00	Free	N/A	$15.00
Fur Taker Permit	$15.00	$8.00 / Free	$8.00	$15.00
Fur Taker (Apprentice)	$8.00	$8.00 / Free	$8.00	$8.00
Shooting Range Permit (One-Year)	$24.00	N/A	N/A	$24.00
Shooting Range Permit (One-Day)	$5.00	N/A	N/A	$5.00
Annual Permit & Hunting License Combo	$29.12	N/A	N/A	N/A
Annual Permit & Apprentice Hunting License Combo	$29.12	N/A	N/A	N/Apen_spark

Note: Prices are subject to change. Refer to official hunting regulations for complete details.

Ohio Hunting Regulations

License Regulation:

Every hunters must carry a valid license, exempt cases excluded.
For migratory game birds like doves, ducks, geese, woodcock, rails, coots, snipe, your license should have mandatory Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification.

Migratory Bird:

Wetlands Habitat Stamp required for hunters 18 years old and older.
Federal Migratory Bird Stamp (Duck Stamp) required for hunters 16 years old and older.
Possession limit for migratory birds and ducks: 3 times the daily bag limit after the second day.
Hunters aged 18 and up need a Wetlands Habitat Stamp.
If you’re 16 or older, a Federal Migratory Bird Stamp (Duck Stamp) is mandatory.
After two days, you’re allowed to have three times the daily bag limit for migratory birds and ducks.

Wild Turkey:

No traps or live lures allowed.
Electronic callers are banned.
It’s against the law to shoot turkeys resting on trees.
Just one tool can be used for turkey.
A licensed hunter can assist others once they’ve used up their own permit.

Waterfowl:

Under 17s are permitted to hunt during Youth Waterfowl Weekend.
The Calendar earmarks October 1st and 2nd for taking waterfowl – strictly for active-duty military and veterans.

Deer:

No baiting allowed, unless it’s public land or disease-check areas.
You can’t use devices to communicate in deer hunts.
Always carry your deer permit—paper or digital.
Dogs on a leash can help find wounded deer.
If you have a deer permit and a valid license, you can also hunt feral swine and coyotes during the deer gun, youth deer gun, and deer muzzleloader seasons. During these times, hunters are required to wear either solid or camouflage orange

Shot Requirements:

When hunting ducks, geese (including brant), rails, snipe, moorhens, and coots, the shot used must be nontoxic.

Hunters have to look through the game rules. These are given by the Ohio Dep artment of Natural Resources (ODNR). It helps them stay aware and follow the law.

Top Ohio Game Locations

Ohio, full of different landscapes, brims with many animals. It’s a hunter’s paradise. Let’s look at some great spots for certain game, including public hunting grounds for easy access:

White-tailed Deer:

Mohican State Forest (Ashland County): Is a vast green space perfect for bow and gun. With its old trees and plentiful food, it’s a top-notch spot for white-tailed deer.
Shawnee State Forest (Scioto County): Has a good deer population. It’s a blend of woods and fields which makes it a favorite for deer games, especially when it’s breeding time.
Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area (Wyandot County): Is a large wetland scape perfect for deer due to its unique habitat. It’s ideal both for still hunting and stalking tactics.