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Seat: Medina
Medina County for Hunters
Hunting Medina County in 2026-27: bag limit, Disease Surveillance Area status, zone lines for ducks and gobblers, 776 mapped public acres and the services nearest Medina.
Photo: Erik Drost (CC BY 2.0)
Deer in Medina County: limit, DSA and numbers
Up to 3 deer may come from Medina County per hunter in 2026-27; that is the county cap on the ODNR bag limit map. Next door the number changes, with Cuyahoga (4) and Summit (4) on the map. County limits stack only up to the statewide six, and one antlered deer is the most anyone may take in Ohio.
The antlerless deer management permit is $15.00 and, new this season, valid from the archery opener to the last muzzleloader day; either-sex permits run $31.20 and $218.40. Deer taken on a controlled hunt do not count toward the county limit.
Medina County and chronic wasting disease
Medina County is outside the Disease Surveillance Area, and the ODNR county list of wild CWD detections through June 2026 does not include it. Crawford, about 57 miles away, is the nearest county with DSA land. Deer heads and spines from the DSA or out of state fall under the carcass transport rules.
Medina County deer counts from ODNR reports
Medina County gave up 3,133 deer in 2025-26; the previous season produced 3,000, a rise of 4%. No. 25 of 88 by deer checked in 2025-26. Roughly 57% fell to archery tackle and 39% were antlered. So far in 2026-27: 867 deer through November 3, 2026. Crossbow was the busiest season for Medina County in the 2025 summary, at 1,295 deer.
| Season | Total | Antlered | Antlerless | Bows | Guns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 2,790 | 1,098 | 1,692 | 1,588 | — |
| 2023-24 | 2,721 | 1,102 | 1,619 | 1,627 | — |
| 2024-25 | 3,000 | 1,146 | 1,854 | 1,630 | 1,370 |
| 2025-26 | 3,133 | 1,214 | 1,919 | 1,774 | 1,359 |
Medina County deer by season, 2025
| Method | Bucks | Does | Button bucks | Sum | 3-yr average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gun | 319 | 535 | 112 | 966 | 770 |
| Crossbow | 590 | 585 | 120 | 1,295 | 1,194 |
| Longbow | 205 | 208 | 28 | 441 | 398 |
| Bonus Gun | 51 | 117 | 20 | 188 | 206 |
| Muzzleloader | 34 | 81 | 20 | 135 | 154 |
| Youth | 52 | 17 | 9 | 78 | 79 |
| Total | 1,259 | 1,565 | 312 | 3,136 | 2,837 |
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 Medina County Hunting Guide
Ohio seasons that reach Medina County
ODNR splits duck and goose hunting into Zones A, B and C for 2026-27, which is why the bird rows for Medina County show zone dates and not statewide ones.
| Animal | Kind of hunt | Covers | Start | Finish | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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.
Medina County zones for ducks and turkeys
Waterfowl dates for Medina County
Medina County lies wholly inside waterfowl Zone B for ducks, geese, mergansers and coots. The late duck split for Zone B runs November 21, 2026 to January 10, 2027. Goose hunting in Zone B runs out on February 15, 2027. Every zone shares the September teal and Canada goose window (September 5 to September 13, 2026) and the youth, veteran and active-military days of October 3 to October 4, 2026. Doves open September 1, 2026 and come back for a second split from December 12, 2026 to January 1, 2027; woodcock run October 16 to November 29, 2026. Add HIP, a $15.00 Ohio wetlands stamp and the $25.00 federal duck stamp to the hunting license before a duck hunt.
| Zone | Duck season | Goose season |
|---|---|---|
| Zone B | Oct 17-25 Nov 21-Jan 10 | Oct 17-25 Nov 21-Feb 15 |
Turkey seasons in Medina County
Gobbler hunters in Medina County use the South zone calendar: April 25 to May 24, 2026 in 2026, with 2027 still to be announced. The South zone youth weekend in 2026 fell on April 18 to April 19, 2026. Spring hunters checked 135 turkeys in Medina County in 2026, against 91 in 2023, 46th among the 88 counties. Fall birds are legal here from October 1 to October 25, 2026; ODNR dropped archery from the fall season for 2026-27. The 2025 fall count for the county was 12.
| Spring of | Birds tagged | Adult toms | Jakes | Bearded hens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 91 | 71 | 19 | 1 |
| 2024 | 119 | 88 | 30 | 1 |
| 2025 | 113 | 98 | 15 | 0 |
| 2026 | 135 | 118 | 17 | 0 |
| Fall | Harvest |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 12 |
Trapping and small game, Medina County
There is no bobwhite season in Medina County. The squirrel opener is September 1, 2026; the rabbit and pheasant opener is November 6, 2026. For otters, Medina County counts as Zone B; beaver and otter trapping is December 26, 2026 to February 28, 2027, after the general furbearer opener of November 10. The otter cap is 3 total, max. 1 from Zone B. The mink and muskrat season closes 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.
Medina County public land by owner
By GIS measure Medina County holds some 776 public hunting acres (0.3% of its land), the 61st largest total of any county. Top of the list by size is Spencer Lake Wildlife Area (618 acres across its counties). Keep 20 acres of state nature preserve land off the plan; they do not allow hunting.
| Owner or kind | Acres (GIS) |
|---|---|
| State wildlife areas | 776 |
L/HAP private access does not reach Medina County yet. 1 controlled hunt (Spencer Lake Wildlife Area) run by lottery on land in the county; applications cost $3.
Public tracts that reach into Medina County
More public acres close to Medina County
- Findley State Park16 miles · Lorain County
- Wellington Wildlife Area17 miles · Lorain County
- Portage Path Conservation Area20 miles · Summit County
- Portage Lakes State Park21 miles · Summit County
- Nimisila Reservoir23 miles · Summit 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.
Hunting gatherings in Medina County
Upcoming here: 0. Held earlier: 1.
| Day | Event | Grounds | Who won | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 2026 | Medina County Banquet · DU dinner, Seville | Seville, Medina County | Source |
ODNR contacts, towns and services covering Medina County
Wildlife District 3 (Northeast Ohio) covers Medina County; questions go to the Akron district office, managed by Pete Novotny. Wildlife officer for the county: Eric Moore, reachable at (330) 245-3043. The nearest wildlife area headquarters is Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area headquarters in Shreve, about 30 miles away.
County seat Medina; population 184,625 in the 2024 estimate; land area 421 square miles.
Medina County town list
Each Medina County town below has a page with nearby wildlife areas and forests.
Listed in the county: 2 taxidermists and 10 sporting goods stores. Gaps in the county list (deer processor) are filled from the counties next door.
Deer processors in counties next to Medina County
Medina County taxidermists
Medina County outdoor stores
Neighbouring-county guide or preserves for Medina 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.
Medina County shooters: ranges and match dates
Medina County has 6 ranges in this guide; Spencer Lake Wildlife Area Shooting Range is the public one on the ODNR list.
Upcoming here
| When, name | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 7-8, 2026 | Gun show | Source page |
| Dec 12-13, 2026 | Gun show | Source page |
Ranges from ODNR’s public range list, ranges’ own sites, the ATA club list and directory listings, checked November 6, 2026.
Medina County hours on key season dates
Ohio deer hunters may shoot from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; ducks, geese, squirrels and fall turkeys stop at sunset; rabbits, pheasants, quail and doves wait for sunrise.
| Date | Opener | Sunrise | Sunset | Big game | Duck window | Pheasant window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:18 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall turkey | 7:23 a.m. | 7:12 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 7:42 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:04 a.m. | 5:19 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:49 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:22 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:32 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 7:32 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:49 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 7:49 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:53 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 7:53 a.m. to 5:09 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.
What Medina County hunters buy and follow
Plan on $19.00 for a resident license or $180.96 as a nonresident; hunters under 18 and resident seniors pay $10.00. In the youth gun, gun, bonus gun, DSA early gun and muzzleloader seasons every hunter except waterfowl hunters wears a vest, coat, jacket or coveralls in solid or camouflage hunter orange.
On private land here, deer may be hunted over bait; bait is banned on all public hunting areas and for turkeys, doves and waterfowl. Deer must be game checked through the HuntFish OH app, online, by phone or at a license agent by noon the day after harvest; turkeys by 11:30 p.m. that day. Sunday hunting is allowed statewide, and season rows run every day of the week. An apprentice license is the way to try hunting before the course, with a licensed companion of 21 or more. Deer records in Ohio are a Buckeye Big Buck Club matter; ODNR names the club but does not keep a book.
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.
Medina County FAQ
Does camouflage orange satisfy the rule in Medina County?
Yes, solid or camo orange both count.
Is a corn feeder for deer allowed in Medina County?
On private land, yes; not on public areas.
Do Medina County pheasant hunters keep different hours?
Yes, sunrise to sunset.
Can bobwhite quail be hunted in Medina County?
No.
Must Medina County hunters bring deer in for CWD sampling?
Not mandatory; the DSA sampling days do not reach this county.
How many deer may one hunter tag inside Medina County this season?
3, the county limit for 2026-27 (three-deer); the statewide total stays at six with one antlered.
May I carry a bow for fall turkeys in Medina County?
No; for 2026-27 only shotguns firing shotshells are legal in fall.
Is there a September teal opener in Medina County?
Yes, early teal runs September 5 to September 13, 2026 in every zone.
What number reaches the district office for Medina County?
(330) 644-2293.
How many acres of public hunting ground does Medina County hold?
Roughly 776 acres, measured from mapped polygons.
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.
Sources behind the Medina County page
If something here disagrees with the printed digest, trust the digest and tell us so we can fix the Medina County page.
Other photos on this page: Matthew Dillon (CC BY 2.0); Art Anderson (CC BY-SA 3.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Scott Bauer, USDA NRCS (Public domain).