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2026-27 county guide
Mahoning County Hunt Planner
What changes in Mahoning County and what does not: the county deer limit of 3, the Northeast Ohio district office, waterfowl Zone B, public ground by owner, towns, shops and legal shooting light.
Photo: Erik Drost (CC BY 2.0)
Deer limit and harvest record for Mahoning County
ODNR lists Mahoning County as a 3-deer county for 2026-27, so no hunter may tag more than 3 deer inside its lines this season. The limit holds across the county line; each Ohio neighbour is also at 3. Across all counties a hunter may take six deer in total, and only one of them antlered, meaning an antler 3 inches or longer.
An either-sex deer permit costs $31.20 for residents and $218.40 for nonresidents; the $15.00 deer management permit (antlerless only) is now good for the whole season. Lottery controlled hunts add deer beyond the county figure.
Mahoning County deer health and DSA lines
CWD rules for the DSA do not reach Mahoning County, which has no wild detections on the ODNR list through June 2026. The DSA edge nearest Mahoning County is in Morrow, around 111 miles between county centres. Carcass rules still apply statewide to deer brought back from the DSA or from other states.
Deer checked in Mahoning County from 2022-23 to 2025-26
Hunters checked 2,768 deer in Mahoning County in 2025-26, up 9% from 2,537 the season before. The total ranks 32nd statewide for 2025-26. The split was 53% archery, with antlered deer 43% of the total. This season, 865 deer had been checked in Mahoning County by November 3, 2026 (412 antlered). By season type, crossbow hunters took the most in 2025 (1,125).
| Season | Deer | Antlered | Antlerless | Archery total | Gun total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 2,074 | 902 | 1,172 | 1,211 | — |
| 2023-24 | 2,409 | 959 | 1,450 | 1,433 | — |
| 2024-25 | 2,537 | 993 | 1,544 | 1,374 | 1,163 |
| 2025-26 | 2,768 | 1,177 | 1,591 | 1,465 | 1,303 |
Season-by-season deer, Mahoning County 2025
| Type | Bucks | Does | Buttons | Total | 3-year mean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gun | 321 | 453 | 129 | 903 | 642 |
| Crossbow | 616 | 406 | 103 | 1,125 | 1,030 |
| Longbow | 159 | 136 | 23 | 318 | 294 |
| Bonus Gun | 57 | 106 | 18 | 181 | 173 |
| Muzzleloader | 40 | 93 | 23 | 156 | 113 |
| Youth | 29 | 19 | 5 | 53 | 58 |
| Total | 1,228 | 1,234 | 306 | 2,768 | 2,340 |
Bag limit from the 2026-27 deer bag limit map and deer rules (digest pp. 6-11); DSA from OAC 1501:31-19-03 and CWD rules; detections from the ODNR CWD page and tests from the 2025-26 CWD summary; harvest from the 2022-23 final weekly report; 2023-24 final weekly report; 2024-25 final weekly report; 2025-26 final weekly report, the 2026-27 report through Nov. 3 and the 2025-26 deer summary; permit prices from the license list. Checked November 6, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Mahoning County Hunting Guide
What is open when around Mahoning County
For Mahoning County the table lists 51 seasons for 2026-27: deer, turkey, small game, upland birds, waterfowl, doves, woodcock and furbearers.
| Species | Hunt | Area | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| Deer | Youth gun | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Gun | Statewide | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Deer | Bonus gun | Statewide | Dec 19, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 5, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall | Fall counties | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Squirrels | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Regular | Statewide | Nov 6, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular | Statewide | Nov 6, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Chukar | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Chukar | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Chukar | Regular | Statewide | Nov 6, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Mourning dove | Dove | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Mourning dove | Dove | Statewide | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Veterans and military | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Youth waterfowl | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Ducks (split 1) | Zone B | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Ducks (split 2) | Zone B | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Geese and brant | Geese (split 1) | Zone B | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Geese and brant | Geese (split 2) | Zone B | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock | Statewide | Oct 16, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Snipe | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 25, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Snipe | Statewide | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Rails | Rail | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Gallinule | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Crow (Fri-Sun) | Statewide | Jun 5, 2026 | Mar 7, 2027 | |
| Groundhog | No closed season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting (no closed season) | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Trapping (no closed season) | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Mink | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Muskrat | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| River otter | Trapping | Otter Zone A | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Beaver | Trapping | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
From the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations and the 2026-27 hunting seasons list (ODNR Division of Wildlife), checked November 6, 2026.
Mahoning County waterfowl, turkey and small game
Duck and goose zone dates for Mahoning County
Zone B covers the whole county, so there is no zone line to watch for waterfowl. The longer Zone B duck split starts November 21 and ends January 10, 2027. Geese stay open in Zone B until February 15, 2027. Early teal plus early Canada goose, September 5 to September 13, 2026, and youth and veterans waterfowl, October 3 to October 4, 2026, apply in Mahoning County as everywhere. Two dove windows (September 1 to November 8, 2026; December 12, 2026 to January 1, 2027) and one woodcock season (October 16 to November 29, 2026) cover the county. Duck and goose hunters 16 and older carry the $25.00 federal duck stamp and the $15.00 Ohio wetlands stamp, plus HIP certification each year.
| Zone | Duck dates | Goose dates |
|---|---|---|
| Zone B | Oct 17-25 Nov 21-Jan 10 | Oct 17-25 Nov 21-Feb 15 |
Gobblers in Mahoning County
Spring turkey here follows the South zone. Its 2026 dates were April 25 to May 24, 2026; treat them as last year's until ODNR posts 2027. In 2026, young hunters in the South zone went first, on April 18 to April 19, 2026. ODNR's 2026 spring results list 216 birds for Mahoning County (rank 34 of 88), compared with 194 in 2023. Fall turkey is open in Mahoning County, October 1 to October 25, 2026, one bird of either sex, and for 2026-27 only shotguns with shotshells are legal. Fall 2025 results: 8 birds from the county.
| Season | Total | Adults | Jakes | Bearded females |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 194 | 164 | 28 | 2 |
| 2024 | 201 | 150 | 49 | 2 |
| 2025 | 244 | 212 | 27 | 5 |
| 2026 | 216 | 192 | 23 | 1 |
| Fall | Total |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 8 |
Upland and fur seasons, Mahoning County
The county is not on the quail list. Squirrel season runs September 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027; rabbit, pheasant and chukar open together on November 6. Furbearer hunting and trapping run November 10, 2026 to January 31, 2027, and beaver and river otter trapping December 26, 2026 to February 28, 2027; Mahoning County is in otter Zone A. ODNR sets the otter limit at 3 total, max. 1 from Zone B. Mink and muskrat stay open to February 28, 2027.
Zones from OAC 1501:31-7-07 and the digest waterfowl pages; seasons from the 2026-27 season dates; turkey from the turkey rules with spring and fall results (2023 spring; 2024 spring; 2025 spring; 2026 spring; 2023 fall; 2024 fall; 2025 fall); quail from OAC 1501:31-15-21; otter zones from the trapping pages; stamps from the license list. Checked November 6, 2026.
Hunting land open to the public in Mahoning County
ODNR and federal GIS layers map about 1,599 acres of public hunting ground in Mahoning County, roughly 0.6% of its land area and 57th among the 88 counties. The largest place on our list that reaches the county is Berlin Lake Wildlife Area, wildlife area, 8,518 acres in all. Park land open to some hunting covers near 1,033 acres: Lake Milton State Park.
| Public ground | GIS acres |
|---|---|
| State wildlife areas | 1,599 |
| State parks (hunting) | 1,033 |
83 acres of state nature preserve land sit outside the total because they are closed to hunters. 2 properties in Mahoning County take L/HAP hunters with a free endorsement and daily permit. Apply for 1 controlled hunt on Berlin Lake Wildlife Area; each application is $3.
Mahoning County public tracts
Hunting tracts over the Mahoning County line
- Warren Wildlife Area12 miles · Trumbull County
- Firestone/Yeagley Wildlife Area15 miles · Columbiana County
- Guilford Lake State Park16 miles · Columbiana County
- Braceville Hunting Area17 miles · Trumbull County
- Elm Road Hunting Area19 miles · Trumbull County
- Zepernick Wildlife Area19 miles · Columbiana County
GIS acres from the ODNR lands layer, PAD-US 4.1 and the Census county file as compiled in counties.json (polygons, not official acreage; large water removed); lands and acreage from each land record; L/HAP counts from the ODNR L/HAP page; controlled hunts from the 2026 controlled hunt list. Checked November 6, 2026.
Mahoning County hunting calendar and results
County count as of November 5, 2026: 0 ahead, 1 already held (youth pheasant hunt).
| Day | Event | Grounds | Who won | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 24–25, 2026 | Youth Pheasant Hunt at New Middletown Farmers and Sportsmen Club · youth pheasant hunt, New Middletown | Source |
Mahoning County district office, towns and processors
For ODNR, Mahoning County is a Northeast Ohio county; the Wildlife District 3 office sits in Akron with Pete Novotny as manager. For a violation or a question in the field, the Mahoning County wildlife officer is Tom Frank at (330) 245-3038. Deerfield hosts the nearest wildlife area headquarters, Berlin Lake Wildlife Area headquarters, around 13 miles away.
Mahoning County covers 411 square miles of land; Youngstown is its seat and the 2024 population estimate is 225,786.
Mahoning County towns with pages
Town pages for Mahoning County: 1, listed by size after the seat.
- Youngstown59,123 people
Our directory lists 1 deer processor, 2 taxidermists and 18 sporting goods stores in Mahoning County.
Mahoning County venison processing
Mahoning County mount makers
Shops for ammo and bows around Mahoning County
District offices, officers and wildlife area headquarters from the digest wildlife officer page and the ODNR county contacts and work units layers (counties.json); population from the Census 2024 estimates; services from store locators, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry and Yellow Pages listings (not individually verified). Checked November 6, 2026.
Benches, bays and trap houses for Mahoning County
Up to six Mahoning County ranges appear as cards, any others in the table beneath.
Nearest range on the ODNR list: Berlin Lake Wildlife Area Shooting Range in Portage County, about 17 miles from the Mahoning County centre. Hours
Local match calendar
| Date, shoot | Format | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 19-20, 2026 | Gun show | Listing |
Ranges from ODNR’s public range list, ranges’ own sites, the ATA club list and directory listings, checked November 6, 2026.
Mahoning County hours on key season dates
Around Mahoning County, deer light opens 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 30 minutes after sunset; rabbit and pheasant hunters keep strict sunrise to sunset.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer window | Ducks and squirrels | Sunrise birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:13 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall turkey | 7:18 a.m. | 7:07 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 7:37 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 7:07 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. to 7:07 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 6:59 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:17 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:27 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:44 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. | 7:44 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:48 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 7:48 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
Hours rules from the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations; sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula (Eastern Time); checked November 6, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Mahoning County hunter checklist
The base license is $19.00 for an Ohioan and $180.96 for a visitor; youth and resident seniors pay $10.00. Any hunter afield in a gun or muzzleloader deer season needs a hunter orange vest, jacket, coat or coveralls; waterfowl hunters are exempt.
The baiting rule: legal for deer on private land outside the DSA, illegal on public areas and for turkeys and migratory birds. Every deer is game checked by noon the day after it is taken, and each turkey by 11:30 p.m. on its day. Sunday is a normal hunting day in Ohio. Hunter education is required for a first license; the apprentice license lets a beginner skip it while accompanied by a licensed hunter 21 or older. For a record-book whitetail, contact the Buckeye Big Buck Club; ODNR keeps harvest counts, not records.
From the license and permit list, hunter orange rule, baiting rules, game check, season calendar, hunter education and the Buckeye Big Buck Club notice in the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked November 6, 2026.
Mahoning County questions hunters ask
How does Mahoning County stack up against other counties for deer?
32nd of 88 in 2025-26.
Who takes a poaching tip from Mahoning County?
The county officer, Tom Frank, or the Northeast Ohio district office.
Must archers in Mahoning County wear orange during gun seasons?
Yes, in the youth gun, gun and muzzleloader seasons.
Can turkey hunters in Mahoning County use bait?
No, turkey baiting is illegal statewide.
When does legal deer light begin and end in Mahoning County?
30 minutes before sunrise to 30 after sunset.
Do Mahoning County trappers get the Lake Erie marsh extension?
No.
Do the CWD surveillance rules cover any of Mahoning County?
No, the county lies outside the DSA lines.
Do controlled-hunt deer eat into the Mahoning County county limit?
No. Deer from a controlled hunt are kept apart from the county cap of 3.
Which spring turkey zone holds Mahoning County?
The South zone.
On what date do geese close in Mahoning County?
Goose hunting in Zone B closes February 15, 2027.
Answers from the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, the deer bag limit map, the DSA rule, the waterfowl zone rule, shooting hours and the sources above. Checked November 6, 2026.
Last check for Mahoning County
Check the official digest before you go: ODNR can change a rule, and the officer for Mahoning County has the final word in the field.
Other photos on this page: James St. John (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Art Anderson (CC BY-SA 3.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).