Ohio › Hunting seasons › Ohio Trapping Seasons 2026-27
Furbearers
Ohio Trapping Seasons 2026-27
Every Ohio furbearer hunting and trapping season for 2026-27: fur taker permit, otter zones and limit, Lake Erie extension and beaver.
Photo: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0)
Every Ohio furbearer and trapping season
Ohio furbearer hunting and trapping opens November 10, 2026 for raccoon, red and gray fox, striped skunk, opossum and weasel and closes January 31, 2027. Mink and muskrat trapping runs to March 15, 2027, and to March 15 in the Lake Erie marsh counties (Erie, Lucas, Ottawa and Sandusky; Lucas only east of the Maumee River). Beaver and river otter open December 26, 2026. Coyotes have no closed season. Every trapper needs a hunting license and a fur taker permit, except for coyotes.
| Species | Season | Where | Opens | Closes | Limit | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coyote | Hunting (no closed season) | Statewide | No closed season | – | No limit | Year-round |
| Coyote | Trapping (no closed season) | Statewide | No closed season | – | No limit | Year-round |
| Red fox | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No limit | |
| Red fox | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No limit | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No limit | |
| Gray fox | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No limit | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No limit | |
| Raccoon | Lake Erie marsh trapping extension | Lake Erie marsh counties | Nov 10, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | No limit | |
| Raccoon | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No limit | |
| Skunk | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No limit | |
| Skunk | Lake Erie marsh trapping extension | Lake Erie marsh counties | Nov 10, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | No limit | |
| Skunk | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No limit | |
| Opossum | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No limit | |
| Opossum | Lake Erie marsh trapping extension | Lake Erie marsh counties | Nov 10, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | No limit | |
| Opossum | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No limit | |
| Weasel | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No limit | |
| Weasel | Lake Erie marsh trapping extension | Lake Erie marsh counties | Nov 10, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | No limit | |
| Weasel | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No limit | |
| Mink | Lake Erie marsh trapping extension | Lake Erie marsh counties | Nov 10, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | No limit | |
| Mink | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | No limit | |
| Muskrat | Lake Erie marsh trapping extension | Lake Erie marsh counties | Nov 10, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | No limit | |
| Muskrat | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | No limit | |
| Beaver | Trapping | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | No limit | |
| River otter | Trapping | Otter Zone A | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | Season limit 3 otters total (all may come from Zone A) | |
| River otter | Trapping | Otter Zone B | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | No more than 1 of the season limit of 3 may come from Zone B |
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 23 and 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 16; checked November 6, 2026.
Ohio fur taker permits and trapper education
| License or permit | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fur taker permit, adult | $15.00 | Required (with hunting license) to hunt or trap furbearers except coyote |
| Fur taker permit, youth | $8.00 | Required (with hunting license) to hunt or trap furbearers except coyote |
| Fur taker permit, senior (resident) | $8.00 | Required (with hunting license) to hunt or trap furbearers except coyote |
| Apprentice fur taker permit, adult | $15.00 | Required (with hunting license) to hunt or trap furbearers except coyote |
| Resident license | $19.00 | Includes writing fee; transaction fee may apply online/in-app |
| Nonresident license | $180.96 | – |
Trapper education: Trapper education (after hunter education) is required for a regular fur taker permit. Apprentice permits: apprentice hunting licenses and apprentice fur taker permits (residents and nonresidents, youth and adults) allow hunting/trapping without the course while accompanied by a licensed hunter/trapper 21+ (maximum 2 apprentices each).
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 29; checked November 6, 2026.
Ohio river otter zones and limit
Otter Zone A (22): Ashtabula, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Geauga, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, Lake, Mahoning, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Portage, Stark, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Washington, Wayne
Otter Zone B (66): Adams, Allen, Ashland, Athens, Auglaize, Brown, Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Darke, Defiance, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Gallia, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Highland, Hocking, Huron, Jackson, Knox, Lawrence, Licking, Logan, Lorain, Lucas, Madison, Marion, Medina, Meigs, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Morrow, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Preble, Putnam, Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Shelby, Summit, Union, Van Wert, Vinton, Warren, Williams, Wood, Wyandot
Season limit: 3 total, max. 1 from Zone B. Checking: river otter pelts checked and tagged within 5 business days by appointment (wildlife officer, otter check station or district office); trapper presents own otter with fur taker permit copy. Over the limit: trappers at the limit must release live otters and leave dead ones in the trap and call the county wildlife officer.
Sources: OAC 1501:31-15-18 and 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 14; checked November 6, 2026.
Ohio trapping rules, traps and lotteries
- Night furbearer hunting: Continuous white light visible 1/4 mile; one beam of any color when calling fox, coyote or raccoon from a stationary position.
- Trap tags and checks: Traps and snares tagged with name and address or customer ID; checked and animals removed every calendar day; none within 150 ft of an occupied residence without advising the resident.
- Wildlife areas: No firearms except while hunting/trapping or on designated ranges; no vehicles off designated roads; no bait or feed; camping only at designated sites.
- Trap types: Foothold, foot-encapsulating, body-gripping and cage traps and cable snares under the jaw-size, swivel, tagging and daily-check rules; deadfalls and toothed traps illegal; body-gripping traps over 7 inches only fully submerged and only in beaver/otter season; snares (relaxing lock, 15 inches max loop) staked, not on public hunting areas except beaver/otter permits.
- Beaver on state land: Beaver trapping on state wildlife areas, state parks and state forests only with a special beaver/otter trapping permit (in-person lottery the first Saturday in October).
- Lotteries: Beaver/otter permits valid December 26, 2026-February 28, 2027; furbearer permits split first/second half of the season; apply in one district only.
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 33, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 23, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 34 and 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 26; checked November 6, 2026.
Ohio furbearer harvest estimates
| Season | Raccoon | Muskrat | Coyote | Beaver | Opossum | Mink | Red fox | Skunk | Gray fox | Weasel | Otter (registered) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 205,346 | 127,712 | 34,610 | 10,913 | 16,398 | 7,386 | 4,796 | 2,127 | 696 | 45 | 256 |
| 2020-21 | 127,609 | 97,650 | 29,561 | 8,035 | 8,031 | 4,733 | 3,792 | 1,654 | 378 | 38 | 210 |
| 2021-22 | 123,364 | 104,589 | 24,087 | 6,667 | 7,720 | 7,148 | 3,392 | 1,177 | 220 | 42 | 163 |
| 2022-23 | 122,264 | 86,624 | 30,128 | 11,799 | 10,300 | 4,812 | 3,198 | 1,714 | 375 | 48 | 310 |
| 2023-24 | 112,789 | 88,884 | 17,317 | 21,693 | 9,564 | 5,801 | 3,621 | 1,559 | 315 | 39 | 346 |
Estimates from a survey of fur taker permit holders (statewide only); otters are registered counts. The 2024 report runs through 2023-24.
Sources: ODNR furbearer monitoring report; checked November 6, 2026.
Young red fox standing under pine boughs, Cuyahoga County. Photo: David Waldron (CC0 1.0)
Red fox climbing onto a flat rock, Cuyahoga County. Photo: David Waldron (CC0 1.0)
Red fox standing alert in grass, Cuyahoga County. Photo: David Waldron (CC0 1.0)
Ohio Trapping Seasons 2026-27, in short answers
Is a fur taker permit needed to take Ohio coyotes?
No; coyotes need only a hunting license. All other furbearers need the fur taker permit as well.
What is the Ohio otter season limit by zone?
3 total, max. 1 from Zone B.
How often do Ohio trappers have to run their sets?
Traps and snares tagged with name and address or customer ID; checked and animals removed every calendar day; none within 150 ft of an occupied residence without advising the resident.
Is beaver trapping allowed on Ohio state land?
Beaver trapping on state wildlife areas, state parks and state forests only with a special beaver/otter trapping permit (in-person lottery the first Saturday in October).
What date does Ohio furbearer trapping start?
November 10, 2026 for most furbearers; beaver and river otter December 26, 2026; coyotes all year.
How late can Ohio muskrats be trapped?
March 15, 2027, or March 15 in Erie, Lucas, Ottawa and Sandusky (Lucas east of the Maumee).
Other photos on this page: David Waldron (CC0 1.0); David Waldron (CC0 1.0); David Waldron (CC0 1.0).