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District 1: Central Ohio
Marion County Hunting Guide
Marion County, Ohio: four seasons of deer harvest, the 2026-27 season table, waterfowl Zone A, fall turkey closed, wildlife areas and forests, and the county wildlife officer.
Photo: Nyttend (Public domain)
Marion County deer limit, CWD and harvest
The county bag limit in Marion County is 6 deer per hunter for the 2026-27 season. ODNR raised the limit to six across the Disease Surveillance Area, which takes in all of this county plus Allen, Hardin and Wyandot. Statewide the ceiling is six deer per hunter, with a single antlered deer (any antler of 3 inches or more) in the mix.
Deer permits: $31.20 resident or $218.40 nonresident for either sex, or $15.00 for an antlerless-only deer management permit valid all season in 2026-27. Deer checked from a controlled hunt are not counted against this limit.
Chronic wasting disease and Marion County deer
Two sampling windows apply in the DSA, the opening pair of days of the early gun season and of the regular gun week, and baiting is off the table. DSA hunters open archery on September 12 and carry guns again from October 10 to October 12, 2026. The 2025-26 surveillance summary lists 444 tests here, with 9 positive. ODNR has tied 23 wild CWD detections to Marion County as of June 2026.
Marion County final deer harvest by license year
The 2025-26 final report shows 1,384 deer from Marion County, against 1,289 a year earlier (+7%). Statewide, the county finished 63rd in 2025-26. Archery hunters checked 33% of the deer; bucks with antlers were 42%. The 2026-27 count reached 417 by November 3, 2026, 240 of them antlerless. The 2025 deer summary credits the gun season with the largest share, 498 deer.
| License year | Checked | With antlers | Without | Archery | Firearm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 988 | 456 | 532 | 345 | — |
| 2023-24 | 1,060 | 504 | 556 | 393 | — |
| 2024-25 | 1,289 | 590 | 699 | 419 | 870 |
| 2025-26 | 1,384 | 579 | 805 | 455 | 929 |
Marion County: 2025 deer per season
| Season | Bucks | Does | Young bucks | Total | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gun | 186 | 243 | 69 | 498 | 372 |
| Crossbow | 156 | 98 | 18 | 272 | 220 |
| Longbow | 82 | 47 | 3 | 132 | 126 |
| Bonus Gun | 38 | 58 | 23 | 119 | 83 |
| Muzzleloader | 20 | 33 | 5 | 58 | 53 |
| Youth | 28 | 12 | 10 | 50 | 42 |
| DSA Early Archery | 18 | 25 | 4 | 47 | 36 |
| DSA Early Gun | 71 | 98 | 26 | 195 | 170 |
| Total | 602 | 623 | 161 | 1,386 | 1,112 |
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 Marion County Hunting Guide
Marion County season dates for 2026-27
Ohio runs one statewide calendar for most game, so the rows that change around Marion County are the waterfowl zone, the turkey zone and the deer bag limit, which is 6 here.
| Quarry | Season type | Where | Begins | Ends | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery (DSA) | DSA | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| Deer | Archery | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| Deer | Early gun (DSA) | DSA | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 A | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Ducks (split 2) | Zone A | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Geese and brant | Geese (split 1) | Zone A | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Geese and brant | Geese (split 2) | Zone A | Nov 14, 2026 | Feb 1, 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 B | 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.
Birds, rabbits and fur in Marion County
Marion County waterfowl zone
Only one waterfowl zone reaches Marion County: Zone A, new with the 2026-27 season. In Zone A the second duck split opens November 14, 2026 and closes December 27, 2026. The Zone A goose season ends February 1, 2027. Statewide, early teal and early Canada goose run September 5 to September 13, 2026, and the youth and veterans waterfowl days fall on October 3 to October 4, 2026. Woodcock hunters get October 16 to November 29, 2026; dove hunters get a September opener on September 1 and a December split. Waterfowl licensing: HIP every year, the $15.00 Ohio wetlands stamp and the $25.00 federal stamp for hunters 16 and up.
| Zone | Ducks, coots | Geese, brant |
|---|---|---|
| Zone A | Oct 17-Nov 1 Nov 14-Dec 27 | Oct 17-Nov 1 Nov 14-Feb 1 |
Spring and fall turkey rules for Marion County
The South zone covers Marion County in spring. The 2026 dates (April 25 to May 24, 2026) are shown because ODNR had not announced spring 2027. Youth gobbler days in 2026: April 18 to April 19, 2026. In 2026, Marion County hunters checked 55 spring gobblers and jakes, placing it 71st of 88; four seasons earlier the total was 35. ODNR keeps Marion County closed to fall turkey hunting.
| Spring | Turkeys | Toms | Jakes | Bearded hens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 35 | 22 | 12 | 1 |
| 2024 | 44 | 29 | 13 | 2 |
| 2025 | 58 | 43 | 14 | 1 |
| 2026 | 55 | 40 | 14 | 1 |
Marion County squirrels to otters
Quail are closed in Marion County; ODNR opens them in only 16 counties and two wildlife areas. Expect squirrel hunters from September 1 and rabbit and pheasant hunters from November 6. Trappers here work fox, raccoon and other furbearers from November 10 to January 31, 2027, and beaver and otter from December 26; the county is otter Zone B. Season otter limit: 3 total, max. 1 from Zone B. Trappers can run mink and muskrat sets until 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); quail from OAC 1501:31-15-21; otter zones from the trapping pages; stamps from the license list. Checked November 6, 2026.
Mapped public hunting acres of Marion County
Public ground open to hunting in Marion County measures about 9,870 acres on the GIS layers, near 3.8% of the county, which ranks 22nd in Ohio. Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area is the biggest listed tract touching Marion County at 9,054 acres overall. There are no L/HAP private-land enrollments in Marion County.
| Public land kind | GIS acres |
|---|---|
| State wildlife areas | 9,187 |
| Corps of Engineers land | 1,771 |
Controlled hunting access lotteries cover 17 hunts here, at Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Big Island Wildlife Area and Delaware Wildlife Area.
Places to hunt inside Marion County
Over the line from Marion County
- Delaware State Park15 miles · Delaware County
- Mt Gilead State Park19 miles · Morrow County
- Andreoff Wildlife Area21 miles · Hardin County
- Lawrence Woods Wildlife Area23 miles · Hardin 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.
Marion County event dates and winners
This county lists 1 date ahead, starting with ODNR Hunter Education Class (Waldo) on November 19, and 1 past row.
| When | Title | Location | Register or details | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 19, 2026 | ODNR Hunter Education Class (Waldo) · hunter education class, Waldo | Register | Source |
Past listings
| Date run | Event | Where held | Result | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 28, 2026 | Marion County DU Sportsman's Night Out · DU dinner, Waldo | Waldo, Marion County | Source |
Offices, towns and shops serving Marion County
District staff for Marion County work out of Columbus, home of the Central Ohio office of the Division of Wildlife. ODNR's county contact layer names Chad Grote as the wildlife officer here; the number is (614) 902-4217. About 6 miles from Marion County, Big Island Wildlife Area headquarters is the closest area office.
With 64,976 residents (2024) and 404 land square miles, Marion County keeps its courthouse in Marion.
Hunting near Marion County towns
4 Marion County towns have a hunting guide of their own.
- Marion35,576 people
- New Bloomington414 people
- Morral369 people
- Waldo317 people
Inside Marion County we count 4 sporting goods stores. We found no deer processor and taxidermist in Marion County; the cards include neighbouring counties.
Across the line from Marion County: deer processors
Neighbouring-county taxidermists for Marion County
Sporting goods counters for Marion County
Guide or preserves serving Marion County from next door
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.
Marion County: gun clubs, trap fields and public ranges
Every Marion County card names who may shoot and where the details came from (1 range in all).
Marion County shooters wanting a public line drive 13 miles to Delaware Wildlife Area Shooting Range in Delaware County. See the range
Ranges from ODNR’s public range list, ranges’ own sites, the ATA club list and directory listings, checked November 6, 2026.
Marion County legal shooting light
Furbearers have no hour limit in Ohio, but in the deer gun and muzzleloader weeks coyote hunting near Marion County keeps to deer hours.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Deer | Waterfowl | Small game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | DSA archery opens | 7:09 a.m. | 7:49 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 8:19 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 7:49 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 7:49 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:23 a.m. | 7:25 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 7:55 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | DSA early gun | 7:37 a.m. | 7:02 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 7:02 p.m. | 7:37 a.m. to 7:02 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:08 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:17 a.m. | 5:17 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 5:47 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:36 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 7:36 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:53 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 7:53 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:56 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 7:26 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 7:26 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 7:56 a.m. to 5:16 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.
Licenses and statewide rules for Marion County hunters
Hunting licenses run $19.00 (resident) and $180.96 (nonresident) for the license year that starts March 1. Ohio sets no square-inch figure: the rule is a hunter orange vest, coat, jacket or coveralls, solid or camo, in the firearm deer weeks.
No feeding or baiting deer in the DSA; turkey and waterfowl baiting is illegal everywhere, as is any bait on public hunting land. Use the HuntFish OH app, HuntFishOH.gov, the phone line or an agent: deer by noon next day, turkeys by 11:30 p.m. Ohio has no statewide ban on Sunday hunting; crow season is the one hunt limited to Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. New hunters take the hunter education course, or start on an apprentice license alongside a licensed hunter at least 21. The state publishes harvest statistics; trophy deer records belong to the private Buckeye Big Buck Club.
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.
Short answers for hunters heading to Marion County
What share of Marion County deer fall to bows and crossbows?
33% in 2025-26.
What do federal bait rules mean for Marion County ducks and doves?
No hunting over bait; normal farming practices are fine.
Are Marion County waterfowl hunters exempt from orange?
Yes, waterfowl hunters are exempt.
Is there any closed season on Marion County coyotes?
No, coyotes and groundhogs have none.
How early may Marion County duck hunters shoot?
30 minutes before sunrise; they stop at sunset.
How many does and button bucks are allowed from Marion County?
Up to the county cap of 6, less any antlered deer, inside the statewide six.
Has chronic wasting disease turned up in wild Marion County deer?
ODNR counts 23 wild positives through June 2026.
Which stamps go in a Marion County duck hunter's wallet?
HIP, the $15.00 Ohio wetlands stamp and the $25.00 federal duck stamp from age 16.
How many gobblers came out of Marion County last spring?
55 in 2026.
Can I hunt L/HAP private land in Marion County?
Not at present.
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.
Marion County page notes
Every number on this Marion County page has a source link and the date we last checked it.
Other photos on this page: Scott Bauer, USDA NRCS (Public domain); James St. John (CC BY 2.0); OhioOakTree (CC BY-SA 4.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).