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Ohio Hunting Seasons 2026-27

All 77 ODNR season rows for 2026-27, grouped by species, with zones, limits and a live open-now check.

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77Rows
17Open now

Photo: Ibagli (Public domain)

Ohio hunting seasons for 2026-27 at a glance

All 77 season rows in the 2026-27 ODNR data, grouped by species. On November 6, 2026, 17 rows are open, including bobwhite quail, chukar, cottontail, coyote, crow, deer, falconry and gallinule; the next openers are red fox (hunting, November 10), red fox (trapping, November 10), gray fox (hunting, November 10) and gray fox (trapping, November 10). Most Ohio seasons run statewide in all 88 counties. The exceptions are the deer rows for the Disease Surveillance Area, the duck and goose splits in Zones A, B and C, fall turkey in 70 counties, the two spring turkey zones (shown with 2026 dates because spring 2027 was not yet published), bobwhite quail in 16 counties and two wildlife areas, river otter Zones A and B and the Lake Erie marsh trapping extension.

77Season rows
30Species strings
17Open on Nov 6
47Statewide rows

Sources: ODNR Division of Wildlife, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 4 and 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 5; checked November 6, 2026.

Deer and turkey: Ohio dates for 2026-27

County deer limits apply to every statewide deer row; spring turkey rows are the 2026 dates (2027 not published). Deer archery opened September 26, 2026.

SpeciesSeasonWhereOpensClosesLimitToday
DeerArchery (DSA)DSA (9 counties)Sep 12, 2026Feb 7, 20276 deer in the DSA
DeerArcheryStatewideSep 26, 2026Feb 7, 2027County limit (2 to 6)
DeerEarly gun (DSA)DSA (9 counties)Oct 10, 2026Oct 12, 20266 deer in the DSA
DeerYouth gunStatewideNov 21, 2026Nov 22, 2026County limit (2 to 6)
DeerGunStatewideNov 30, 2026Dec 6, 2026County limit (2 to 6)
DeerBonus gunStatewideDec 19, 2026Dec 20, 2026County limit (2 to 6)
DeerMuzzleloaderStatewideJan 2, 2027Jan 5, 2027County limit (2 to 6)
Wild turkeyYouth spring (2026 dates; 2027 not published)South zoneApr 18, 2026Apr 19, 20261 bearded turkey (counts toward the spring limit)2027 TBA
Wild turkeySpring (2026 dates; 2027 not published)South zoneApr 25, 2026May 24, 20261 bearded turkey per spring season2027 TBA
Wild turkeyYouth spring (2026 dates; 2027 not published)Northeast zoneApr 25, 2026Apr 26, 20261 bearded turkey (counts toward the spring limit)2027 TBA
Wild turkeySpring (2026 dates; 2027 not published)Northeast zoneMay 2, 2026May 31, 20261 bearded turkey per spring season2027 TBA
Wild turkeyFall70 fall countiesOct 1, 2026Oct 25, 20261 turkey of either sex per fall season

Small game and upland birds: Ohio dates for 2026-27

Youth small game weekends open rabbit, pheasant, chukar and (in its counties) quail for hunters 17 and younger with a non-hunting adult.

SpeciesSeasonWhereOpensClosesLimitToday
SquirrelsRegularStatewideSep 1, 2026Jan 31, 20276 daily (singly or combined)
CottontailYouth small game weekendStatewideOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 20264 daily (same as regular season)
CottontailYouth small game weekendStatewideOct 31, 2026Nov 1, 20264 daily (same as regular season)
CottontailRegularStatewideNov 6, 2026Feb 28, 20274 daily
PheasantYouth small game weekendStatewideOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 20262 roosters daily (same as regular season)
PheasantYouth small game weekendStatewideOct 31, 2026Nov 1, 20262 roosters daily (same as regular season)
PheasantRegularStatewideNov 6, 2026Jan 10, 20272 roosters daily
ChukarYouth small game weekendStatewideOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 20264 daily (same as regular season)
ChukarYouth small game weekendStatewideOct 31, 2026Nov 1, 20264 daily (same as regular season)
ChukarRegularStatewideNov 6, 2026Jan 10, 20274 daily
Bobwhite quailYouth small game weekend16 counties + 2 areasOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 20262 daily, open quail counties and areas only
Bobwhite quailYouth small game weekend16 counties + 2 areasOct 31, 2026Nov 1, 20262 daily, open quail counties and areas only
Bobwhite quailRegular16 open counties + Tri-Valley Nov 6, 2026Nov 29, 20262 daily
CrowCrow (Fri-Sun)StatewideJun 5, 2026Mar 7, 2027No limit
CrowCrow (Fri-Sun), next seasonStatewideJun 4, 2027Mar 5, 2028No limit
GroundhogNo closed seasonStatewideNo closed season–No limitYear-round

Ducks, geese and early waterfowl: Ohio dates for 2026-27

Regular duck and goose splits differ by zone; the September teal and Canada goose seasons and the youth and veterans weekend are statewide.

SpeciesSeasonWhereOpensClosesLimitToday
TealEarly tealStatewideSep 5, 2026Sep 13, 20266 daily
Canada gooseEarly Canada gooseStatewideSep 5, 2026Sep 13, 20265 daily (Canada and cackling combined)
DucksVeterans and active military waterfowlStatewideOct 3, 2026Oct 4, 2026Same as the regular season (ducks, geese, mergansers, coots)
DucksYouth waterfowlStatewideOct 3, 2026Oct 4, 2026Same as the regular season (ducks, geese, mergansers, coots)
DucksDucks (split 1)Zone AOct 17, 2026Nov 1, 20266 ducks daily, maximum 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks
DucksDucks (split 1)Zone BOct 17, 2026Oct 25, 20266 ducks daily, maximum 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks
DucksDucks (split 1)Zone COct 17, 2026Oct 25, 20266 ducks daily, maximum 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks
DucksDucks (split 2)Zone ANov 14, 2026Dec 27, 20266 ducks daily, maximum 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks
DucksDucks (split 2)Zone BNov 21, 2026Jan 10, 20276 ducks daily, maximum 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks
DucksDucks (split 2)Zone CDec 12, 2026Jan 31, 20276 ducks daily, maximum 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks
Geese and brantGeese (split 1)Zone AOct 17, 2026Nov 1, 20265 daily: Canada, cackling and white-fronted geese and brant
Geese and brantGeese (split 1)Zone BOct 17, 2026Oct 25, 20265 daily: Canada, cackling and white-fronted geese and brant
Geese and brantGeese (split 1)Zone COct 17, 2026Oct 25, 20265 daily: Canada, cackling and white-fronted geese and brant
Geese and brantGeese (split 2)Zone ANov 14, 2026Feb 1, 20275 daily: Canada, cackling and white-fronted geese and brant
Geese and brantGeese (split 2)Zone BNov 21, 2026Feb 15, 20275 daily: Canada, cackling and white-fronted geese and brant
Geese and brantGeese (split 2)Zone CNov 21, 2026Feb 15, 20275 daily: Canada, cackling and white-fronted geese and brant

Doves, rails, snipe and woodcock: Ohio dates for 2026-27

All statewide, sunrise to sunset, with HIP certification; lead shot stays legal for doves and woodcock.

SpeciesSeasonWhereOpensClosesLimitToday
Mourning doveDoveStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 8, 202615 daily (mourning and Eurasian collared-doves combined)
Mourning doveDoveStatewideDec 12, 2026Jan 1, 202715 daily (mourning and Eurasian collared-doves combined)
RailsRailStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 202625 daily (singly or combined)
GallinuleGallinuleStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 202615 daily
SnipeSnipeStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 25, 20268 daily
SnipeSnipeStatewideDec 12, 2026Jan 1, 20278 daily
WoodcockWoodcockStatewideOct 16, 2026Nov 29, 20263 daily

Furbearers and trapping: Ohio dates for 2026-27

Coyote rows use the regulation period (September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027) because the season never closes; the fur taker permit is not needed for coyotes.

SpeciesSeasonWhereOpensClosesLimitToday
CoyoteHunting (no closed season)StatewideNo closed season–No limitYear-round
CoyoteTrapping (no closed season)StatewideNo closed season–No limitYear-round
Red foxHuntingStatewideNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027No limit
Red foxTrappingStatewideNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027No limit
Gray foxHuntingStatewideNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027No limit
Gray foxTrappingStatewideNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027No limit
RaccoonHuntingStatewideNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027No limit
RaccoonLake Erie marsh trapping extensionLake Erie marsh countiesNov 10, 2026Mar 15, 2027No limit
RaccoonTrappingStatewideNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027No limit
SkunkHuntingStatewideNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027No limit
SkunkLake Erie marsh trapping extensionLake Erie marsh countiesNov 10, 2026Mar 15, 2027No limit
SkunkTrappingStatewideNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027No limit
OpossumHuntingStatewideNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027No limit
OpossumLake Erie marsh trapping extensionLake Erie marsh countiesNov 10, 2026Mar 15, 2027No limit
OpossumTrappingStatewideNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027No limit
WeaselHuntingStatewideNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027No limit
WeaselLake Erie marsh trapping extensionLake Erie marsh countiesNov 10, 2026Mar 15, 2027No limit
WeaselTrappingStatewideNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027No limit
MinkLake Erie marsh trapping extensionLake Erie marsh countiesNov 10, 2026Mar 15, 2027No limit
MinkTrappingStatewideNov 10, 2026Feb 28, 2027No limit
MuskratLake Erie marsh trapping extensionLake Erie marsh countiesNov 10, 2026Mar 15, 2027No limit
MuskratTrappingStatewideNov 10, 2026Feb 28, 2027No limit
BeaverTrappingStatewideDec 26, 2026Feb 28, 2027No limit
River otterTrappingOtter Zone ADec 26, 2026Feb 28, 2027Season limit 3 otters total (all may come from Zone A)
River otterTrappingOtter Zone BDec 26, 2026Feb 28, 2027No more than 1 of the season limit of 3 may come from Zone B

Falconry: Ohio dates for 2026-27

The extended falconry season covers small game; grouse and quail stay limited to their own areas and permits.

SpeciesSeasonWhereOpensClosesLimitToday
FalconryExtended falconry seasonStatewideSep 1, 2026Mar 10, 2027Regular daily and possession limits

Ohio openers still ahead in 2026-27

The next Ohio openers after the check date.

OpensSpeciesSeasonWhere
Nov 10, 2026Red foxHuntingStatewide
Nov 10, 2026Red foxTrappingStatewide
Nov 10, 2026Gray foxHuntingStatewide
Nov 10, 2026Gray foxTrappingStatewide
Nov 10, 2026RaccoonHuntingStatewide
Nov 10, 2026RaccoonTrappingStatewide
Nov 10, 2026SkunkHuntingStatewide
Nov 10, 2026SkunkTrappingStatewide
Nov 10, 2026OpossumHuntingStatewide
Nov 10, 2026OpossumTrappingStatewide
Nov 10, 2026WeaselHuntingStatewide
Nov 10, 2026WeaselTrappingStatewide
Nov 10, 2026MinkTrappingStatewide
Nov 10, 2026MuskratTrappingStatewide

Sources: ODNR Division of Wildlife; checked November 6, 2026.

Statewide rules behind the Ohio season dates

  • Deer hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset (all deer seasons).
  • Waterfowl hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset during the regular, youth and military seasons, unless posted.
  • Squirrel and crow hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.
  • Rabbit, pheasant, chukar and quail hours: Sunrise to sunset.
  • Furbearer hours: No restriction on hours (continuous white light at night; single beam of any color when calling fox, coyote or raccoon); During deer gun and muzzleloader seasons coyote hunting is limited to deer hours.
  • Other game in the deer gun weeks: From 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset during the youth deer gun, deer gun and muzzleloader seasons, other game only with a shotgun and number 4 shot or smaller (waterfowl excepted).
  • Hunter orange: Hunting any wild animal (except waterfowl) from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset during the youth deer gun, deer gun (including bonus gun and DSA early gun) and deer muzzleloader seasons requires a visible vest, coat, jacket or coveralls in solid hunter orange or camouflage hunter orange, statewide on public and private land.
  • Sunday hunting: No statewide Sunday hunting restriction appears in the 2026-27 digest or the OAC 1501:31 and ORC 1533 sections read; season rows run every day; Exceptions by day of week: crow season is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only; controlled waterfowl permits are issued for Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; controlled deer gun permits are for one Saturday or Sunday; Class A shooting ranges are open Wednesday-Sunday.
  • License year: Annual hunting licenses valid March 1 to the last day of February.

Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 6, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 5, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 4 and 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 28; checked November 6, 2026.

White-tailed fawn bedded down among green plants near Newark, Licking County
Typical Ohio ground.

White-tailed fawn bedded down among green plants near Newark, Licking County. Photo: James St. John (CC BY 2.0)

White-tailed doe and two fawns at a wooded field edge, Cuyahoga County
Next look.

White-tailed doe and two fawns at a wooded field edge, Cuyahoga County. Photo: Andrew Bardwell (CC BY-SA 2.0)

White-tailed doe behind blooming daffodils on Daffodil Hill, Cuyahoga County
Last scene.

White-tailed doe behind blooming daffodils on Daffodil Hill, Cuyahoga County. Photo: Erik Drost (CC BY 2.0)

Keep going from Every season date

Deer limits by county

Guide

88 counties, limits 2 to 6

Waterfowl Zones A, B and C

Season guide

Three new duck and goose zones

Turkey zones and counties

Season guide

70 fall counties, two spring zones

Trapping seasons

Ohio guide

Furbearers, beaver and otter

Ohio hunting lawsControlled hunt lotteriesYouth and veteran seasons

Ohio Hunting Seasons 2026-27, in short answers

Has the 2027 Ohio spring gobbler calendar been set?

No. The spring rows on this page are the 2026 dates; the digest lists 2027 as to be announced.

Which Ohio game never goes out of season?

Coyote hunting and trapping and groundhog hunting have no closed season; crows have a long season but only Fridays to Sundays.

Which Ohio rules change from one county to the next?

Most are statewide. Deer limits, the Disease Surveillance Area, waterfowl zones, turkey zones and fall counties, quail counties, otter zones and the Lake Erie trapping extension change by county.

What day do Ohio cottontail and rooster pheasant hunting start?

November 6, 2026, after two youth weekends in late October.

Which week is the Ohio deer gun season in 2026?

November 30 to December 6, 2026; youth gun is November 21 to November 22, 2026 and bonus gun December 19 to December 20, 2026.

How many ODNR season rows cover 2026-27?

77 rows across 30 species strings in the ODNR data, from deer to falconry.

Other photos on this page: James St. John (CC BY 2.0); Andrew Bardwell (CC BY-SA 2.0); Erik Drost (CC BY 2.0).