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Ohio White-fronted Goose hunting for 2026-27: dates, limits and public land
White-fronted Goose in Ohio: every 2026-27 season row with its source.
Photo: Fdy3k (CC BY-SA 4.0)
White-fronted Goose: what ODNR sets for 2026-27
Opening day for white-fronted geese was October 17, 2026 and the last legal day is February 15, 2027; right now the season is set to open on November 14, 2026.
- The bag (white-fronted geese): Within the 5 dark-goose daily limit.
- Dates in short (white-fronted geese): Zones A/B/C goose seasons.
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 19, OAC 1501:31-7-06 and ODNR hunting regulations page; checked November 6, 2026.
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White-fronted Goose: all Ohio dates
6 rows for white-fronted geese, each with its own area, dates and limit, from the 2026-27 digest and season list.
| Row | Area | Open | Close | Length | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geese (split 1) | Zone A | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 16 | Within the 5 dark-goose daily limit | |
| Geese (split 2) | Zone A | Nov 14, 2026 | Feb 1, 2027 | 80 | Within the 5 dark-goose daily limit | |
| Geese (split 1) | Zone B | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 9 | Within the 5 dark-goose daily limit | |
| Geese (split 2) | Zone B | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | 87 | Within the 5 dark-goose daily limit | |
| Geese (split 1) | Zone C | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 9 | Within the 5 dark-goose daily limit | |
| Geese (split 2) | Zone C | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | 87 | Within the 5 dark-goose daily limit |
- Geese (split 1) (white-fronted geese, Zone A): Hours 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset unless posted; Hunting license, HIP, Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp (18+) and signed federal duck stamp or E-stamp (16+); New zones A, B and C take effect in 2026-27 (OAC 1501:31-7-07); Falconers may take ducks, geese, mergansers and coots when the zone is open to geese; Zone A: Auglaize, Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Hardin, Henry, Marion, Mercer, Ottawa, Paulding, Sandusky, Shelby, Van Wert, Williams and Wyandot and Lucas outside zone B, out to the Lake Erie boundary line.
- Geese (split 1) (white-fronted geese, Zone B): Hours 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset unless posted; Hunting license, HIP, Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp (18+) and signed federal duck stamp or E-stamp (16+); New zones A, B and C take effect in 2026-27 (OAC 1501:31-7-07); Falconers may take ducks, geese, mergansers and coots when the zone is open to geese; Zone B: listed northern counties, Lucas south of US 24 and west of I-75, parts of Ashland, Wayne, Holmes, Stark and Columbiana north/west of the SR 3-SR 60-US 30-SR 226-SR 514-SR 754-SR 39-SR 241 line, and the remaining Lake Erie islands and waters.
- Geese (split 1) (white-fronted geese, Zone C): Hours 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset unless posted; Hunting license, HIP, Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp (18+) and signed federal duck stamp or E-stamp (16+); New zones A, B and C take effect in 2026-27 (OAC 1501:31-7-07); Falconers may take ducks, geese, mergansers and coots when the zone is open to geese; Zone C: rest of the state (includes the southern parts of Ashland, Wayne, Holmes, Stark and Columbiana).
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 19 and ODNR Division of Wildlife; checked November 6, 2026.
Where white-fronted geese may be hunted in Ohio
| Zone | Counties | Whole counties | Two splits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone A | 16 | 15 | Oct 17 to Nov 1, 2026 and Nov 14 to Feb 1, 2027 |
| Zone B | 25 | 19 | Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026 and Nov 21 to Feb 15, 2027 |
| Zone C | 53 | 48 | Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026 and Nov 21 to Feb 15, 2027 |
For white-fronted geese, Zone A holds the western Lake Erie marshes and the northwest, Zone B the north and northeast, Zone C the rest of the state.
Sources: OAC 1501:31-7-07 and 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 19; checked November 6, 2026.
White-fronted Goose harvest numbers
Statewide survey numbers for white-fronted geese; ODNR publishes no county breakdown.
Statewide specklebelly survey, 2022-23
| Species | Estimated hunters | Days afield (mean) | Estimated harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geese | 22,320 | – | – |
Sources: ODNR 2022-23 small game summary; checked November 6, 2026.
How many white-fronted geese you can take
Every limit that applies to white-fronted geese, row by row and rule by rule.
- From the rows (white-fronted geese): 5 daily: Canada, cackling and white-fronted geese and brant combined, maximum 1 brant.
- Geese and brant (white-fronted geese page): 5 daily: Canada, cackling and white-fronted geese and brant combined, maximum 1 brant; 10 daily light geese (snow, blue, Ross's); Possession 15 dark geese, 3 brant, 30 light geese.
- Migratory possession (white-fronted geese page): Possession after the second day = 3 times the daily limit; on opening day no more than the daily limit.
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 19 and 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 18; checked November 6, 2026.
Buying a license for white-fronted geese
Goose hunters need a hunting license, yearly HIP certification, the Ohio wetlands stamp (18+) and the federal duck stamp (16+). These specklebelly prices are the 2026-27 digest figures, slightly above the base fees in ORC 1533.10 because they include the writing fee.
| Permit | Buyer | Fee | Valid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident license | Resident | $19.00 | License year |
| Nonresident license | Nonresident | $180.96 | License year |
| Youth license | Resident and nonresident | $10.00 | License year |
| Resident senior license | Resident | $10.00 | License year |
| Federal duck stamp | Resident and nonresident | $25.00 | Federal July-June; Ohio license year |
| Ohio wetlands habitat stamp | Resident and nonresident | $15.00 | License year |
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 29, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 30 and 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 28; checked November 6, 2026.
White-fronted Goose: what you may hunt with
- Geese (split 1) (white-fronted geese): Shotgun 10 gauge or smaller (including muzzleloading), plugged to hold no more than 3 shells; longbow; Nontoxic shot required for ducks, geese, brant, rails, snipe, gallinules and coots; doves and woodcock may be taken with lead; No crossbows, rifles, electronic calls, bait, live decoys or motorized pursuit.
- Migratory birds (white-fronted geese), fine to use: Shotgun 10 gauge or smaller plugged to 3 shells; longbow; nontoxic shot for waterfowl, rails, snipe, gallinules (lead OK for dove and woodcock).
- Migratory birds (white-fronted geese), off limits: Crossbow, rifle, pistol, sinkbox, motor vehicles/aircraft, electronic calls, live decoys, bait.
- General (white-fronted geese), fine to use: Guns up to 10 gauge, bow and arrow, with or without dogs (ORC 1533.16); falconry and crossbows for any game (not migratory birds with crossbows).
- General (white-fronted geese), off limits: Blowguns are not guns; deadfalls; fully automatic firearms and tracer ammunition on wildlife areas.
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 22, ORC 1533.16 and 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 19; checked November 6, 2026.
Rules that apply on an Ohio specklebelly hunt
- Visibility (white-fronted geese): White-fronted geese hunters fall under the waterfowl exemption: waterfowl hunters are exempt and may use any shot size.
- Hunting hours (white-fronted geese): 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset during the regular, youth and military seasons, unless posted; Early teal and early Canada goose seasons: sunrise to sunset.
- Feed and bait (white-fronted geese): Bait is off limits for white-fronted geese under federal rules: federal baiting rules: no waterfowl or doves over bait; normal agricultural planting, harvest and manipulation (mowing, bush-hogging) and natural vegetation are allowed; grain removed from or stored on the field and then distributed is bait.
- Check and tag (white-fronted geese): HIP certification annually; migratory birds left with others must carry a signed tag (address, number and species, date).
- Written permission (white-fronted geese): No hunting or trapping on another's land without written permission of the owner or agent; carry it and show on request (also for deer recovery and shed hunting).
- Electronic calls (white-fronted geese): Legal except for migratory game birds and wild turkeys; legal for crows.
- Wildlife areas (white-fronted geese): No firearms except while hunting/trapping or on designated ranges; no vehicles off designated roads; no bait or feed; camping only at designated sites.
- Sunday rule (white-fronted geese): No statewide Sunday hunting restriction appears in the 2026-27 digest or the OAC 1501:31 and ORC 1533 sections read.
- Safety course (white-fronted geese): All first-time hunting license buyers except apprentice license buyers must complete a hunter education course (or show a previously held license, or attest they are 21+ and previously held a license in any state).
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 5, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 6, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 9, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 14, ORC 1533.17, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 33, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 34, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 4 and 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 29; checked November 6, 2026.
White-fronted Goose: the largest public areas
The land data ties white-fronted geese to 92 public places (waterfowl); by district: District 1 14, District 2 17, District 3 25, District 4 14, District 5 20. Big state forests and the Wayne hold the most ground, but small wildlife areas can sit closer to home.
| Place (district) | Type | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Hills WA | Wildlife area | Guernsey +3 | 35,396 |
| Zaleski SF | State forest | Athens +1 | 27,822 |
| Egypt Valley WA | Wildlife area | Belmont +1 | 22,663 |
| Ohio Landowner/Hunter Access Partnership (OLHAP) | Access program | Allen +45 | 18,058 |
| Salt Fork SP | State park | Guernsey | 17,229 |
| Killdeer Plains WA | Wildlife area | Marion +1 | 9,054 |
| Mosquito Creek WA | Wildlife area | Trumbull | 9,021 |
| Berlin Lake WA | Wildlife area | Mahoning +2 | 8,518 |
| Ladue Hunting Area | Public hunting area | Geauga +1 | 8,427 |
| Grand River WA | Wildlife area | Ashtabula +1 | 7,664 |
| Big Island WA | Wildlife area | Marion | 5,872 |
| Paint Creek SP | State park | Highland +1 | 5,652 |
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 6 and 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 13 and the ODNR property pages linked from each land page; checked November 6, 2026.
Hours for white-fronted geese by place
Times for white-fronted geese use the NOAA solar formula at the centre of Lucas, Franklin, Hamilton and Washington counties. Rule: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset during the regular, youth and military seasons, unless posted; Early teal and early Canada goose seasons: sunrise to sunset.
| When | Point | Toledo area | Columbus area | Cincinnati area | Marietta area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 6, 2026 | Check date | 6:41 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Geese (split 2) opens | 6:51 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Geese (split 2) opens | 7:00 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. |
| Feb 1, 2027 | Geese (split 2) closes | 7:17 a.m. to 5:47 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 5:49 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 5:57 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:44 p.m. |
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 6; checked November 6, 2026.
Canada goose leading newly hatched goslings across a pond in Newark, Licking County. Photo: James St. John (CC BY 2.0)
Canada geese on the sandy shore at Conneaut Harbor on Lake Erie, Ashtabula County. Photo: Pbalson8204 (English Wikipedia) (Public domain)
Flock of Canada geese swimming on a lake. Photo: Fabian Roudra Baroi (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Answers about white-fronted geese
Is specklebelly season open on Sundays?
Sunday is an ordinary hunting day for white-fronted geese: no statewide Sunday hunting restriction appears in the 2026-27 digest or the OAC 1501:31 and ORC 1533 sections read.
Do specklebelly rules change by county in Ohio?
White-fronted geese follow the new Zones A, B and C: Zone A covers 16 counties in the northwest and the Lake Erie marshes, Zone B 25 in the north and northeast, Zone C 53 in central and southern Ohio; split counties follow the boundary roads.
What is the daily limit for white-fronted geese in Ohio?
Within the 5 dark-goose daily limit; the regulations add: 5 daily: Canada, cackling and white-fronted geese and brant combined, maximum 1 brant; 10 daily light geese (snow, blue, Ross’s); Possession 15 dark geese, 3 brant, 30 light geese.
When is specklebelly season in Ohio for 2026-27?
Geese (split 1) for white-fronted geese, Zone A: October 17 to November 1, 2026; Geese (split 2) for white-fronted geese, Zone A: November 14, 2026 to February 1, 2027; Geese (split 1) for white-fronted geese, Zone B: October 17 to October 25, 2026; Geese (split 2) for white-fronted geese, Zone B: November 21, 2026 to February 15, 2027; Geese (split 1) for white-fronted geese, Zone C: October 17 to October 25, 2026; Geese (split 2) for white-fronted geese, Zone C: November 21, 2026 to February 15, 2027. On November 6, 2026 the specklebelly season is set to open on November 14, 2026.
What weapons are legal for white-fronted geese in Ohio?
For white-fronted geese: shotgun 10 gauge or smaller (including muzzleloading), plugged to hold no more than 3 shells; longbow; Nontoxic shot required for ducks, geese, brant, rails, snipe, gallinules and coots; doves and woodcock may be taken with lead; No crossbows, rifles, electronic calls, bait, live decoys or motorized pursuit.
What license do I need to hunt white-fronted geese in Ohio?
For white-fronted geese you need a hunting license, HIP certification, the federal duck stamp (16+) and the Ohio wetlands stamp (18+). Prices for white-fronted geese: Resident license $19.00; Nonresident license $180.96; Youth license $10.00; Resident senior license $10.00; Federal duck stamp $25.00.
Where can I hunt white-fronted geese on public land in Ohio?
92 public places in this guide list white-fronted geese or a matching game group, mostly 40 state parks, 38 wildlife areas and 5 public hunting areas; the largest are Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area, Zaleski State Forest and Egypt Valley Wildlife Area. Private land for white-fronted geese needs written permission; enrolled L/HAP farms take an online check-in.
What are the hunting hours for Ohio white-fronted geese?
For white-fronted geese: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset during the regular, youth and military seasons, unless posted; Early teal and early Canada goose seasons: sunrise to sunset. ODNR prints no sunrise table, so the specklebelly times on this page are worked out with the NOAA solar formula.
Does Ohio allow bait for white-fronted geese?
Bait is off limits for white-fronted geese under federal rules: federal baiting rules: no waterfowl or doves over bait; normal agricultural planting, harvest and manipulation (mowing, bush-hogging) and natural vegetation are allowed; grain removed from or stored on the field and then distributed is bait.
Is hunter orange required for white-fronted geese?
White-fronted geese hunters fall under the waterfowl exemption: waterfowl hunters are exempt and may use any shot size.
How do I report a specklebelly harvest in Ohio?
For white-fronted geese: HIP certification annually; migratory birds left with others must carry a signed tag (address, number and species, date).
Other photos on this page: James St. John (CC BY 2.0); Pbalson8204 (English Wikipedia) (Public domain); Fabian Roudra Baroi (CC BY-SA 4.0).