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2026-27 county guide
Seneca County Hunting Rules and Places
What changes in Seneca County and what does not: the county deer limit of 3, the Northwest Ohio district office, waterfowl Zone B, public ground by owner, towns, shops and legal shooting light.
Photo: peardg (CC BY 2.0)
Deer limit and harvest record for Seneca County
ODNR lists Seneca County as a 3-deer county for 2026-27, so no hunter may tag more than 3 deer inside its lines this season. Hunters who straddle the boundary should note Wyandot (6) for the neighbours. 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.
Seneca County deer health and DSA lines
CWD rules for the DSA do not reach Seneca County, which has no wild detections on the ODNR list through June 2026. The DSA edge nearest Seneca County is in Crawford, around 22 miles between county centres. Carcass rules still apply statewide to deer brought back from the DSA or from other states.
Deer checked in Seneca County from 2022-23 to 2025-26
Hunters checked 3,017 deer in Seneca County in 2025-26, up 5% from 2,881 the season before. The total ranks 27th statewide for 2025-26. The split was 38% archery, with antlered deer 42% of the total. This season, 595 deer had been checked in Seneca County by November 3, 2026 (291 antlered). By season type, gun hunters took the most in 2025 (1,332).
| Season | Deer | Antlered | Antlerless | Archery total | Gun total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 2,275 | 969 | 1,306 | 878 | — |
| 2023-24 | 2,448 | 1,085 | 1,363 | 1,005 | — |
| 2024-25 | 2,881 | 1,198 | 1,683 | 1,062 | 1,819 |
| 2025-26 | 3,017 | 1,265 | 1,752 | 1,132 | 1,885 |
Season-by-season deer, Seneca County 2025
| Type | Bucks | Does | Buttons | Total | 3-year mean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gun | 495 | 684 | 153 | 1,332 | 1,047 |
| Crossbow | 491 | 355 | 65 | 911 | 765 |
| Longbow | 94 | 109 | 10 | 213 | 211 |
| Bonus Gun | 85 | 143 | 23 | 251 | 205 |
| Muzzleloader | 38 | 73 | 18 | 129 | 130 |
| Youth | 86 | 65 | 20 | 171 | 159 |
| Total | 1,294 | 1,433 | 291 | 3,018 | 2,535 |
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 Seneca County Hunting Guide
Ohio seasons that reach Seneca County
Deer gun, youth gun, bonus gun and muzzleloader dates are the same in all 88 counties; the Seneca County deer limit is what differs.
| 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 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.
Seneca County waterfowl, turkey and small game
Duck and goose zone dates for Seneca 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 Seneca 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 Seneca 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 129 birds for Seneca County (rank 49 of 88), compared with 119 in 2023. Fall turkey is open in Seneca 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: 4 birds from the county.
| Season | Total | Adults | Jakes | Bearded females |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 119 | 78 | 35 | 6 |
| 2024 | 123 | 87 | 34 | 2 |
| 2025 | 137 | 94 | 39 | 4 |
| 2026 | 129 | 96 | 33 | 0 |
| Fall | Total |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 4 |
Upland and fur seasons, Seneca 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; Seneca County is in otter Zone B. 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 Seneca County
ODNR and federal GIS layers map about 477 acres of public hunting ground in Seneca County, roughly 0.1% of its land area and 67th among the 88 counties. The largest place on our list that reaches the county is Kildow Sandusky Scenic River Area, scenic river area, 188 acres in all. 616 acres of state nature preserve land sit outside the total because they are closed to hunters.
| Public ground | GIS acres |
|---|---|
| State wildlife areas | 420 |
| Public hunting areas | 57 |
1 property in Seneca County take L/HAP hunters with a free endorsement and daily permit.
Seneca County public tracts
Hunting tracts over the Seneca County line
- Ron Abraham Forest10 miles · Sandusky County
- Sandusky County Wildlife Area 411 miles · Sandusky County
- Sandusky County Wildlife Area 216 miles · Sandusky County
- Sandusky County Wildlife Area 116 miles · Sandusky County
- Sandusky County Wildlife Area 517 miles · Sandusky County
- Wyandot Wildlife Area19 miles · Wyandot 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 events in Seneca County, ahead and held
County count as of November 5, 2026: 0 ahead, 1 already held (hunter education class).
| Day | Event | Grounds | Who won | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17, 2026 | ODNR Hunter Education Class (Green Springs) · hunter education class, Green Springs | Source |
Seneca County district office, towns and processors
For ODNR, Seneca County is a Northwest Ohio county; the Wildlife District 2 office sits in Findlay with Scott Butterworth as manager. For a violation or a question in the field, the Seneca County wildlife officer is Brock Williamson at (419) 429-8394. Vickery hosts the nearest wildlife area headquarters, Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area headquarters, around 23 miles away.
Seneca County covers 551 square miles of land; Tiffin is its seat and the 2024 population estimate is 54,730.
Seneca County towns with pages
Town pages for Seneca County: 1, listed by size after the seat.
- Tiffin17,729 people
Our directory lists 1 deer processor and 7 sporting goods stores in Seneca County. No taxidermist turned up inside the county, so the nearest ones across the line are shown.
Seneca County venison processing
Taxidermists serving Seneca County from next door
Shops for ammo and bows around Seneca County
Closest guide or preserves beyond Seneca 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.
Sighting in a deer gun around Seneca County
3 ranges turn up inside Seneca County, from conservation league benches to indoor bays.
Wyandot Wildlife Area Shooting Range is the ODNR-listed range nearest Seneca County, 19 miles away; entry is the shooting range permit for adults ($5.00 a day). Hours
Local match calendar
| Date, shoot | Format | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 14-15, 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.
Seneca County hours on key season dates
Around Seneca 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 | 7:23 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 1, 2026 | Fall turkey | 7:28 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. | 7:28 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:09 a.m. | 5:24 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 5:54 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:27 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:37 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:37 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:54 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 7:54 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:58 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 7:28 a.m. to 5:44 p.m. | 7:28 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 7:58 a.m. to 5:14 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.
Seneca 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.
Seneca County questions hunters ask
Must archers in Seneca County wear orange during gun seasons?
Yes, in the youth gun, gun and muzzleloader seasons.
Can turkey hunters in Seneca County use bait?
No, turkey baiting is illegal statewide.
When does legal deer light begin and end in Seneca County?
30 minutes before sunrise to 30 after sunset.
Do Seneca County trappers get the Lake Erie marsh extension?
No.
Do the CWD surveillance rules cover any of Seneca County?
No, the county lies outside the DSA lines.
Do controlled-hunt deer eat into the Seneca County county limit?
No. Deer from a controlled hunt are kept apart from the county cap of 3.
Which spring turkey zone holds Seneca County?
The South zone.
On what date do geese close in Seneca County?
Goose hunting in Zone B closes February 15, 2027.
Who takes a poaching tip from Seneca County?
The county officer, Brock Williamson, or the Northwest Ohio district office.
Does the Wayne National Forest reach into Seneca County?
No.
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 Seneca County
Check the official digest before you go: ODNR can change a rule, and the officer for Seneca County has the final word in the field.
Other photos on this page: Scott Bauer, USDA NRCS (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Art Anderson (CC BY-SA 3.0).