Division of Wildlife hour rules with NOAA times for each county centre
Ohio Legal Shooting Hours by Game and County
The ODNR legal hours for deer, spring and fall turkey, squirrels and crows, rabbits and upland birds, waterfowl, the early migratory seasons and furbearers, the rules that tie other hunting to the deer gun weeks, and hunting hours worked out with the NOAA solar formula for the centre of all 88 counties on 6 key dates of the 2026-27 seasons.
Photo: USFWS/Southeast (Public domain)
Ohio legal shooting light today, county by county
Switch the county and the week below redraws, showing the ODNR half-hour window for deer on both ends of the day. Where the rules below say sunset, use the sunset figure on the card rather than the closing time.
Seven days of sunrise, sunset and legal light for Franklin County load here.
Each county uses its center point and local clock time; the full ODNR rules follow below.
How Ohio handles legal hours by kind of game
Three windows cover nearly every Ohio hunt. Deer get the widest, from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; squirrels, crows, fall turkeys and ducks start at the same time but stop at sunset; rabbits, pheasants, doves and the early teal and goose seasons keep strictly to sunrise and sunset.
| Game | Legal hours |
|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset (all deer seasons). |
| Fall turkey | 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. |
| Spring turkey | Spring 2026: 30 minutes before sunrise to noon for the first 9 days of each zone's season, then 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset; youth season to sunset. Spring 2027 hours to be announced. |
| Squirrel and crow | 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. |
| Rabbit, pheasant, chukar, quail | Sunrise to sunset. |
| Ducks and geese | 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset during the regular, youth and military seasons, unless posted. |
| Early goose and teal, dove, rails, snipe, woodcock, gallinule | Sunrise to sunset. |
| Furbearers | 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. |
Sources: Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27, p. 6; Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27, p. 12; Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27, p. 16; Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27, p. 19; Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27, p. 21; OAC 1501:31-7-06. Checked: every link reopened on November 6, 2026.
Lights, nights and gun-week hours
Furbearer hunters may work at night with a light, raccoon hunters most of all, but once the deer gun or muzzleloader season opens, coyote hunting keeps to deer hours and other small game hunters switch to shotguns with No. 4 shot or smaller.
Other game in the 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 No. 4 shot or smaller (waterfowl excepted).
Wildlife area closing hours
Wildlife areas closed to all activity other than hunting, trapping and fishing 8 p.m.-6 a.m. September 1-May 1 and 10 p.m.-6 a.m. May 2-August 31.
Orange in deer hours
Coyote and furbearer hunters wear hunter orange during legal deer hours of deer gun seasons; not required from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.
Lights for furbearers
Continuous white light visible 1/4 mile; one beam of any color when calling fox, coyote or raccoon from a stationary position.
Spotlighting
No casting a spotlight or headlights from a vehicle into fields or woods while possessing a hunting device or to locate wild animals.
Loaded guns after hours
Deer hunters may not carry a loaded firearm outside legal hours during the gun seasons.
Sources: Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27, p. 34; OAC 1501:31-15-15; Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27, p. 5; Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27, p. 33; ORC 1533.161; Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27, p. 6. Checked: every link reopened on November 6, 2026.
Franklin County sunrise, sunset and legal hours
ODNR prints no sunrise/sunset table; the digest refers hunters to the HuntFish OH app, NOAA solar calculator and U.S. Naval Observatory, and accepts any reliable source. Every time on this page is worked out with the NOAA solar formula for a county centre point and rounded to the minute; Franklin County, home of Columbus, is the worked example.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer open | Deer close | Ducks close | Rabbits open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 21, 2026 | Youth deer gun opens | 7:23 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. | 5:43 p.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week opens | 7:33 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. | 5:39 p.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 7:33 a.m. |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Zone C ducks reopen | 7:44 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. | 5:37 p.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 7:44 a.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:50 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. | 5:40 p.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 7:50 a.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader opens | 7:54 a.m. | 5:17 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. | 5:47 p.m. | 5:17 p.m. | 7:54 a.m. |
| Feb 7, 2027 | Last archery day | 7:35 a.m. | 5:57 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. | 6:27 p.m. | 5:57 p.m. | 7:35 a.m. |
Sunrise and sunset from the NOAA solar formula for the Census internal point of Franklin County, Eastern Time with daylight saving where it applies. Sources: Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27, p. 6. Checked: every link reopened on November 6, 2026.
Hours for every Ohio county (88)
On December 21, 2026 the sun comes up first over Belmont County and last over Williams County, 19 minutes later, so a deer hunter on the western line waits noticeably longer for legal light. Clocks fell back to Eastern Standard Time on November 1 and spring forward again on March 14, 2027.
| County | District | Sunrise Dec 21 | Nov 21: deer hours | Nov 30: deer hours | Dec 12: waterfowl hours | Dec 21: deer hours | Jan 2: deer hours | Feb 7: deer hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | District 5 | 7:48 a.m. | 6:53 to 5:48 p.m. | 7:02 to 5:44 p.m. | 7:13 to 5:13 p.m. | 7:18 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:22 to 5:52 p.m. | 7:05 to 6:31 p.m. |
| Allen | District 2 | 7:57 a.m. | 7:00 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:10 to 5:41 p.m. | 7:21 to 5:09 p.m. | 7:27 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:30 to 5:49 p.m. | 7:11 to 6:29 p.m. |
| Ashland | District 3 | 7:50 a.m. | 6:53 to 5:38 p.m. | 7:03 to 5:33 p.m. | 7:14 to 5:02 p.m. | 7:20 to 5:34 p.m. | 7:23 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:04 to 6:22 p.m. |
| Ashtabula | District 3 | 7:47 a.m. | 6:49 to 5:29 p.m. | 7:00 to 5:24 p.m. | 7:11 to 4:52 p.m. | 7:17 to 5:25 p.m. | 7:21 to 5:32 p.m. | 7:00 to 6:14 p.m. |
| Athens | District 4 | 7:44 a.m. | 6:48 to 5:41 p.m. | 6:58 to 5:37 p.m. | 7:08 to 5:05 p.m. | 7:14 to 5:38 p.m. | 7:18 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:00 to 6:24 p.m. |
| Auglaize | District 5 | 7:57 a.m. | 7:00 to 5:46 p.m. | 7:10 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:21 to 5:10 p.m. | 7:27 to 5:43 p.m. | 7:30 to 5:50 p.m. | 7:11 to 6:30 p.m. |
| Belmont | District 4 | 7:42 a.m. | 6:45 to 5:35 p.m. | 6:55 to 5:30 p.m. | 7:06 to 4:59 p.m. | 7:12 to 5:31 p.m. | 7:16 to 5:39 p.m. | 6:57 to 6:18 p.m. |
| Brown | District 5 | 7:50 a.m. | 6:54 to 5:49 p.m. | 7:04 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:15 to 5:14 p.m. | 7:20 to 5:46 p.m. | 7:24 to 5:54 p.m. | 7:07 to 6:32 p.m. |
| Butler | District 5 | 7:55 a.m. | 6:58 to 5:50 p.m. | 7:08 to 5:46 p.m. | 7:19 to 5:15 p.m. | 7:25 to 5:48 p.m. | 7:28 to 5:55 p.m. | 7:11 to 6:34 p.m. |
| Carroll | District 3 | 7:44 a.m. | 6:47 to 5:34 p.m. | 6:57 to 5:29 p.m. | 7:08 to 4:58 p.m. | 7:14 to 5:30 p.m. | 7:18 to 5:38 p.m. | 6:59 to 6:18 p.m. |
| Champaign | District 1 | 7:53 a.m. | 6:57 to 5:46 p.m. | 7:07 to 5:41 p.m. | 7:18 to 5:10 p.m. | 7:23 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:27 to 5:50 p.m. | 7:09 to 6:29 p.m. |
| Clark | District 5 | 7:53 a.m. | 6:56 to 5:46 p.m. | 7:06 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:17 to 5:11 p.m. | 7:23 to 5:43 p.m. | 7:27 to 5:50 p.m. | 7:08 to 6:30 p.m. |
| Clermont | District 5 | 7:52 a.m. | 6:56 to 5:50 p.m. | 7:05 to 5:46 p.m. | 7:16 to 5:15 p.m. | 7:22 to 5:47 p.m. | 7:25 to 5:54 p.m. | 7:08 to 6:33 p.m. |
| Clinton | District 5 | 7:51 a.m. | 6:55 to 5:47 p.m. | 7:05 to 5:43 p.m. | 7:16 to 5:12 p.m. | 7:21 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:25 to 5:52 p.m. | 7:08 to 6:31 p.m. |
| Columbiana | District 3 | 7:44 a.m. | 6:47 to 5:32 p.m. | 6:57 to 5:28 p.m. | 7:08 to 4:56 p.m. | 7:14 to 5:28 p.m. | 7:17 to 5:36 p.m. | 6:58 to 6:16 p.m. |
| Coshocton | District 4 | 7:47 a.m. | 6:50 to 5:38 p.m. | 7:00 to 5:33 p.m. | 7:11 to 5:02 p.m. | 7:17 to 5:34 p.m. | 7:20 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:02 to 6:22 p.m. |
| Crawford | District 2 | 7:52 a.m. | 6:55 to 5:40 p.m. | 7:05 to 5:36 p.m. | 7:17 to 5:04 p.m. | 7:22 to 5:37 p.m. | 7:26 to 5:44 p.m. | 7:07 to 6:25 p.m. |
| Cuyahoga | District 3 | 7:49 a.m. | 6:52 to 5:33 p.m. | 7:02 to 5:29 p.m. | 7:13 to 4:57 p.m. | 7:19 to 5:29 p.m. | 7:23 to 5:37 p.m. | 7:03 to 6:18 p.m. |
| Darke | District 5 | 7:57 a.m. | 7:00 to 5:49 p.m. | 7:10 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:21 to 5:13 p.m. | 7:27 to 5:46 p.m. | 7:31 to 5:53 p.m. | 7:12 to 6:33 p.m. |
| Defiance | District 2 | 8:00 a.m. | 7:03 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:13 to 5:41 p.m. | 7:24 to 5:09 p.m. | 7:30 to 5:41 p.m. | 7:34 to 5:49 p.m. | 7:14 to 6:30 p.m. |
| Delaware | District 1 | 7:51 a.m. | 6:54 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:04 to 5:38 p.m. | 7:15 to 5:06 p.m. | 7:21 to 5:39 p.m. | 7:25 to 5:46 p.m. | 7:06 to 6:26 p.m. |
| Erie | District 2 | 7:53 a.m. | 6:55 to 5:38 p.m. | 7:06 to 5:33 p.m. | 7:17 to 5:01 p.m. | 7:23 to 5:34 p.m. | 7:26 to 5:41 p.m. | 7:06 to 6:22 p.m. |
| Fairfield | District 1 | 7:48 a.m. | 6:51 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:01 to 5:38 p.m. | 7:12 to 5:07 p.m. | 7:18 to 5:39 p.m. | 7:21 to 5:46 p.m. | 7:03 to 6:25 p.m. |
| Fayette | District 1 | 7:51 a.m. | 6:54 to 5:46 p.m. | 7:04 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:15 to 5:10 p.m. | 7:21 to 5:43 p.m. | 7:24 to 5:50 p.m. | 7:06 to 6:29 p.m. |
| Franklin | District 1 | 7:50 a.m. | 6:53 to 5:43 p.m. | 7:03 to 5:39 p.m. | 7:14 to 5:07 p.m. | 7:20 to 5:40 p.m. | 7:24 to 5:47 p.m. | 7:05 to 6:27 p.m. |
| Fulton | District 2 | 8:00 a.m. | 7:02 to 5:43 p.m. | 7:12 to 5:39 p.m. | 7:24 to 5:07 p.m. | 7:30 to 5:39 p.m. | 7:33 to 5:47 p.m. | 7:13 to 6:28 p.m. |
| Gallia | District 4 | 7:44 a.m. | 6:48 to 5:43 p.m. | 6:57 to 5:39 p.m. | 7:08 to 5:08 p.m. | 7:14 to 5:40 p.m. | 7:17 to 5:48 p.m. | 7:00 to 6:26 p.m. |
| Geauga | District 3 | 7:47 a.m. | 6:50 to 5:32 p.m. | 7:00 to 5:27 p.m. | 7:12 to 4:55 p.m. | 7:17 to 5:28 p.m. | 7:21 to 5:35 p.m. | 7:01 to 6:16 p.m. |
| Greene | District 5 | 7:53 a.m. | 6:56 to 5:47 p.m. | 7:06 to 5:43 p.m. | 7:17 to 5:12 p.m. | 7:23 to 5:44 p.m. | 7:26 to 5:52 p.m. | 7:08 to 6:31 p.m. |
| Guernsey | District 4 | 7:44 a.m. | 6:48 to 5:37 p.m. | 6:57 to 5:32 p.m. | 7:08 to 5:01 p.m. | 7:14 to 5:33 p.m. | 7:18 to 5:41 p.m. | 6:59 to 6:20 p.m. |
| Hamilton | District 5 | 7:54 a.m. | 6:58 to 5:51 p.m. | 7:07 to 5:47 p.m. | 7:18 to 5:16 p.m. | 7:24 to 5:48 p.m. | 7:27 to 5:56 p.m. | 7:10 to 6:34 p.m. |
| Hancock | District 2 | 7:56 a.m. | 6:59 to 5:43 p.m. | 7:09 to 5:38 p.m. | 7:20 to 5:07 p.m. | 7:26 to 5:39 p.m. | 7:29 to 5:47 p.m. | 7:10 to 6:27 p.m. |
| Hardin | District 2 | 7:55 a.m. | 6:58 to 5:44 p.m. | 7:08 to 5:39 p.m. | 7:19 to 5:08 p.m. | 7:25 to 5:40 p.m. | 7:28 to 5:48 p.m. | 7:09 to 6:28 p.m. |
| Harrison | District 3 | 7:43 a.m. | 6:47 to 5:34 p.m. | 6:56 to 5:30 p.m. | 7:07 to 4:59 p.m. | 7:13 to 5:31 p.m. | 7:17 to 5:38 p.m. | 6:58 to 6:18 p.m. |
| Henry | District 2 | 7:58 a.m. | 7:01 to 5:44 p.m. | 7:11 to 5:39 p.m. | 7:23 to 5:07 p.m. | 7:28 to 5:40 p.m. | 7:32 to 5:47 p.m. | 7:12 to 6:28 p.m. |
| Highland | District 5 | 7:50 a.m. | 6:54 to 5:47 p.m. | 7:04 to 5:43 p.m. | 7:14 to 5:12 p.m. | 7:20 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:24 to 5:52 p.m. | 7:06 to 6:30 p.m. |
| Hocking | District 4 | 7:46 a.m. | 6:50 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:00 to 5:38 p.m. | 7:11 to 5:07 p.m. | 7:16 to 5:39 p.m. | 7:20 to 5:46 p.m. | 7:02 to 6:25 p.m. |
| Holmes | District 3 | 7:47 a.m. | 6:51 to 5:37 p.m. | 7:01 to 5:33 p.m. | 7:12 to 5:01 p.m. | 7:17 to 5:34 p.m. | 7:21 to 5:41 p.m. | 7:02 to 6:21 p.m. |
| Huron | District 2 | 7:52 a.m. | 6:55 to 5:38 p.m. | 7:05 to 5:34 p.m. | 7:16 to 5:02 p.m. | 7:22 to 5:34 p.m. | 7:26 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:06 to 6:23 p.m. |
| Jackson | District 4 | 7:45 a.m. | 6:50 to 5:44 p.m. | 6:59 to 5:40 p.m. | 7:10 to 5:09 p.m. | 7:15 to 5:41 p.m. | 7:19 to 5:48 p.m. | 7:02 to 6:27 p.m. |
| Jefferson | District 3 | 7:42 a.m. | 6:46 to 5:33 p.m. | 6:55 to 5:28 p.m. | 7:06 to 4:57 p.m. | 7:12 to 5:29 p.m. | 7:16 to 5:37 p.m. | 6:57 to 6:17 p.m. |
| Knox | District 1 | 7:49 a.m. | 6:52 to 5:40 p.m. | 7:02 to 5:35 p.m. | 7:13 to 5:04 p.m. | 7:19 to 5:36 p.m. | 7:23 to 5:43 p.m. | 7:04 to 6:23 p.m. |
| Lake | District 3 | 7:48 a.m. | 6:51 to 5:31 p.m. | 7:01 to 5:26 p.m. | 7:13 to 4:55 p.m. | 7:18 to 5:27 p.m. | 7:22 to 5:34 p.m. | 7:02 to 6:16 p.m. |
| Lawrence | District 4 | 7:44 a.m. | 6:48 to 5:44 p.m. | 6:58 to 5:40 p.m. | 7:08 to 5:09 p.m. | 7:14 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:18 to 5:49 p.m. | 7:01 to 6:27 p.m. |
| Licking | District 1 | 7:48 a.m. | 6:52 to 5:41 p.m. | 7:02 to 5:36 p.m. | 7:12 to 5:05 p.m. | 7:18 to 5:37 p.m. | 7:22 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:03 to 6:24 p.m. |
| Logan | District 1 | 7:54 a.m. | 6:58 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:07 to 5:41 p.m. | 7:18 to 5:09 p.m. | 7:24 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:28 to 5:49 p.m. | 7:09 to 6:29 p.m. |
| Lorain | District 3 | 7:51 a.m. | 6:54 to 5:36 p.m. | 7:04 to 5:31 p.m. | 7:15 to 5:00 p.m. | 7:21 to 5:32 p.m. | 7:25 to 5:39 p.m. | 7:05 to 6:20 p.m. |
| Lucas | District 2 | 7:57 a.m. | 7:00 to 5:40 p.m. | 7:10 to 5:36 p.m. | 7:21 to 5:04 p.m. | 7:27 to 5:36 p.m. | 7:31 to 5:44 p.m. | 7:10 to 6:25 p.m. |
| Madison | District 1 | 7:51 a.m. | 6:55 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:05 to 5:40 p.m. | 7:16 to 5:09 p.m. | 7:21 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:25 to 5:49 p.m. | 7:07 to 6:28 p.m. |
| Mahoning | District 3 | 7:44 a.m. | 6:47 to 5:31 p.m. | 6:57 to 5:27 p.m. | 7:08 to 4:55 p.m. | 7:14 to 5:28 p.m. | 7:18 to 5:35 p.m. | 6:58 to 6:16 p.m. |
| Marion | District 1 | 7:53 a.m. | 6:56 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:06 to 5:38 p.m. | 7:17 to 5:06 p.m. | 7:23 to 5:38 p.m. | 7:26 to 5:46 p.m. | 7:07 to 6:26 p.m. |
| Medina | District 3 | 7:49 a.m. | 6:52 to 5:36 p.m. | 7:02 to 5:31 p.m. | 7:13 to 4:59 p.m. | 7:19 to 5:32 p.m. | 7:23 to 5:39 p.m. | 7:03 to 6:20 p.m. |
| Meigs | District 4 | 7:43 a.m. | 6:47 to 5:41 p.m. | 6:57 to 5:37 p.m. | 7:08 to 5:06 p.m. | 7:13 to 5:39 p.m. | 7:17 to 5:46 p.m. | 7:00 to 6:24 p.m. |
| Mercer | District 5 | 7:58 a.m. | 7:01 to 5:48 p.m. | 7:11 to 5:44 p.m. | 7:22 to 5:12 p.m. | 7:28 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:32 to 5:52 p.m. | 7:13 to 6:32 p.m. |
| Miami | District 5 | 7:55 a.m. | 6:59 to 5:48 p.m. | 7:08 to 5:43 p.m. | 7:19 to 5:12 p.m. | 7:25 to 5:44 p.m. | 7:29 to 5:52 p.m. | 7:10 to 6:31 p.m. |
| Monroe | District 4 | 7:42 a.m. | 6:45 to 5:36 p.m. | 6:55 to 5:32 p.m. | 7:06 to 5:00 p.m. | 7:12 to 5:33 p.m. | 7:15 to 5:40 p.m. | 6:57 to 6:19 p.m. |
| Montgomery | District 5 | 7:54 a.m. | 6:58 to 5:49 p.m. | 7:08 to 5:44 p.m. | 7:19 to 5:13 p.m. | 7:24 to 5:46 p.m. | 7:28 to 5:53 p.m. | 7:10 to 6:32 p.m. |
| Morgan | District 4 | 7:44 a.m. | 6:48 to 5:39 p.m. | 6:58 to 5:35 p.m. | 7:09 to 5:04 p.m. | 7:14 to 5:36 p.m. | 7:18 to 5:44 p.m. | 7:00 to 6:23 p.m. |
| Morrow | District 1 | 7:51 a.m. | 6:54 to 5:41 p.m. | 7:04 to 5:36 p.m. | 7:15 to 5:05 p.m. | 7:21 to 5:37 p.m. | 7:24 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:06 to 6:25 p.m. |
| Muskingum | District 4 | 7:46 a.m. | 6:49 to 5:39 p.m. | 6:59 to 5:34 p.m. | 7:10 to 5:03 p.m. | 7:16 to 5:36 p.m. | 7:19 to 5:43 p.m. | 7:01 to 6:22 p.m. |
| Noble | District 4 | 7:43 a.m. | 6:47 to 5:37 p.m. | 6:56 to 5:33 p.m. | 7:07 to 5:02 p.m. | 7:13 to 5:34 p.m. | 7:17 to 5:42 p.m. | 6:59 to 6:21 p.m. |
| Ottawa | District 2 | 7:55 a.m. | 6:57 to 5:39 p.m. | 7:08 to 5:34 p.m. | 7:19 to 5:03 p.m. | 7:25 to 5:35 p.m. | 7:28 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:08 to 6:24 p.m. |
| Paulding | District 2 | 8:00 a.m. | 7:03 to 5:46 p.m. | 7:13 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:24 to 5:10 p.m. | 7:30 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:33 to 5:50 p.m. | 7:14 to 6:31 p.m. |
| Perry | District 4 | 7:46 a.m. | 6:50 to 5:40 p.m. | 7:00 to 5:36 p.m. | 7:10 to 5:05 p.m. | 7:16 to 5:37 p.m. | 7:20 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:02 to 6:24 p.m. |
| Pickaway | District 1 | 7:49 a.m. | 6:53 to 5:44 p.m. | 7:03 to 5:40 p.m. | 7:13 to 5:09 p.m. | 7:19 to 5:41 p.m. | 7:23 to 5:48 p.m. | 7:05 to 6:27 p.m. |
| Pike | District 4 | 7:47 a.m. | 6:51 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:01 to 5:41 p.m. | 7:12 to 5:10 p.m. | 7:17 to 5:43 p.m. | 7:21 to 5:50 p.m. | 7:04 to 6:28 p.m. |
| Portage | District 3 | 7:46 a.m. | 6:49 to 5:33 p.m. | 6:59 to 5:28 p.m. | 7:11 to 4:56 p.m. | 7:16 to 5:29 p.m. | 7:20 to 5:36 p.m. | 7:00 to 6:17 p.m. |
| Preble | District 5 | 7:56 a.m. | 6:59 to 5:50 p.m. | 7:09 to 5:46 p.m. | 7:20 to 5:15 p.m. | 7:26 to 5:47 p.m. | 7:29 to 5:54 p.m. | 7:11 to 6:34 p.m. |
| Putnam | District 2 | 7:58 a.m. | 7:01 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:11 to 5:40 p.m. | 7:22 to 5:09 p.m. | 7:28 to 5:41 p.m. | 7:31 to 5:48 p.m. | 7:12 to 6:29 p.m. |
| Richland | District 2 | 7:51 a.m. | 6:54 to 5:39 p.m. | 7:04 to 5:35 p.m. | 7:15 to 5:03 p.m. | 7:21 to 5:35 p.m. | 7:24 to 5:43 p.m. | 7:05 to 6:23 p.m. |
| Ross | District 4 | 7:48 a.m. | 6:52 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:02 to 5:41 p.m. | 7:12 to 5:09 p.m. | 7:18 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:22 to 5:49 p.m. | 7:04 to 6:28 p.m. |
| Sandusky | District 2 | 7:55 a.m. | 6:58 to 5:40 p.m. | 7:08 to 5:35 p.m. | 7:19 to 5:04 p.m. | 7:25 to 5:36 p.m. | 7:28 to 5:43 p.m. | 7:09 to 6:24 p.m. |
| Scioto | District 4 | 7:46 a.m. | 6:51 to 5:46 p.m. | 7:00 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:11 to 5:11 p.m. | 7:16 to 5:43 p.m. | 7:20 to 5:50 p.m. | 7:03 to 6:29 p.m. |
| Seneca | District 2 | 7:54 a.m. | 6:57 to 5:41 p.m. | 7:07 to 5:36 p.m. | 7:18 to 5:04 p.m. | 7:24 to 5:37 p.m. | 7:28 to 5:44 p.m. | 7:08 to 6:25 p.m. |
| Shelby | District 5 | 7:56 a.m. | 6:59 to 5:47 p.m. | 7:09 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:20 to 5:11 p.m. | 7:26 to 5:43 p.m. | 7:30 to 5:51 p.m. | 7:11 to 6:31 p.m. |
| Stark | District 3 | 7:46 a.m. | 6:49 to 5:34 p.m. | 6:59 to 5:30 p.m. | 7:10 to 4:58 p.m. | 7:16 to 5:31 p.m. | 7:20 to 5:38 p.m. | 7:00 to 6:18 p.m. |
| Summit | District 3 | 7:48 a.m. | 6:50 to 5:34 p.m. | 7:01 to 5:30 p.m. | 7:12 to 4:58 p.m. | 7:18 to 5:30 p.m. | 7:21 to 5:38 p.m. | 7:02 to 6:19 p.m. |
| Trumbull | District 3 | 7:45 a.m. | 6:48 to 5:31 p.m. | 6:58 to 5:26 p.m. | 7:09 to 4:54 p.m. | 7:15 to 5:27 p.m. | 7:19 to 5:34 p.m. | 6:59 to 6:15 p.m. |
| Tuscarawas | District 3 | 7:45 a.m. | 6:49 to 5:36 p.m. | 6:58 to 5:31 p.m. | 7:09 to 5:00 p.m. | 7:15 to 5:32 p.m. | 7:19 to 5:40 p.m. | 7:00 to 6:20 p.m. |
| Union | District 1 | 7:52 a.m. | 6:56 to 5:44 p.m. | 7:06 to 5:39 p.m. | 7:17 to 5:08 p.m. | 7:22 to 5:40 p.m. | 7:26 to 5:48 p.m. | 7:07 to 6:27 p.m. |
| Van Wert | District 2 | 7:59 a.m. | 7:02 to 5:47 p.m. | 7:12 to 5:43 p.m. | 7:23 to 5:11 p.m. | 7:29 to 5:43 p.m. | 7:33 to 5:51 p.m. | 7:13 to 6:31 p.m. |
| Vinton | District 4 | 7:46 a.m. | 6:50 to 5:43 p.m. | 6:59 to 5:39 p.m. | 7:10 to 5:07 p.m. | 7:16 to 5:40 p.m. | 7:19 to 5:47 p.m. | 7:02 to 6:26 p.m. |
| Warren | District 5 | 7:53 a.m. | 6:57 to 5:49 p.m. | 7:06 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:17 to 5:14 p.m. | 7:23 to 5:46 p.m. | 7:27 to 5:53 p.m. | 7:09 to 6:32 p.m. |
| Washington | District 4 | 7:42 a.m. | 6:46 to 5:38 p.m. | 6:56 to 5:34 p.m. | 7:07 to 5:03 p.m. | 7:12 to 5:35 p.m. | 7:16 to 5:43 p.m. | 6:58 to 6:22 p.m. |
| Wayne | District 3 | 7:48 a.m. | 6:51 to 5:36 p.m. | 7:01 to 5:32 p.m. | 7:12 to 5:00 p.m. | 7:18 to 5:33 p.m. | 7:22 to 5:40 p.m. | 7:02 to 6:20 p.m. |
| Williams | District 2 | 8:01 a.m. | 7:04 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:14 to 5:40 p.m. | 7:25 to 5:09 p.m. | 7:31 to 5:41 p.m. | 7:35 to 5:49 p.m. | 7:15 to 6:30 p.m. |
| Wood | District 2 | 7:57 a.m. | 6:59 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:10 to 5:37 p.m. | 7:21 to 5:06 p.m. | 7:27 to 5:38 p.m. | 7:30 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:10 to 6:26 p.m. |
| Wyandot | District 2 | 7:54 a.m. | 6:57 to 5:42 p.m. | 7:07 to 5:37 p.m. | 7:18 to 5:06 p.m. | 7:24 to 5:38 p.m. | 7:27 to 5:46 p.m. | 7:08 to 6:26 p.m. |
Worked out with the NOAA solar formula for each county centre, Eastern Time. Deer columns end 30 minutes after sunset; the waterfowl column ends at sunset. Sources: Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27, p. 6; Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27, p. 19. Checked: every link reopened on November 6, 2026.
Ohio shooting hours questions
When does legal deer hunting start in Ohio?
Half an hour before sunrise, in every deer season; it ends half an hour after sunset.
What time do Ohio duck hunters stop shooting?
At sunset in the regular, youth and military seasons; the early teal and goose seasons run sunrise to sunset.
Do squirrel hunters get the half hour before sunrise?
30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.
What are the hours for rabbits and pheasants?
Sunrise to sunset.
Where should an Ohio hunter look up sunrise?
ODNR prints no sunrise/sunset table; the digest refers hunters to the HuntFish OH app, NOAA solar calculator and U.S. Naval Observatory, and accepts any reliable source.
On December 21, 2026, when may a Columbus deer hunter shoot?
7:20 a.m. until 5:40 p.m. at the Franklin County centre (sunrise 7:50 a.m., sunset 5:10 p.m.).
How far apart are sunrise times from the Indiana line to the Ohio River?
On December 21, 2026 about 19 minutes: Belmont County sees it first and Williams County last.
Is night coyote hunting open in Ohio, and with what light?
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.
What are the 2027 spring turkey hours?
Spring 2026: 30 minutes before sunrise to noon for the first 9 days of each zone's season, then 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset; youth season to sunset. Spring 2027 hours to be announced.
When do wildlife areas close at night?
Wildlife areas closed to all activity other than hunting, trapping and fishing 8 p.m.-6 a.m. September 1-May 1 and 10 p.m.-6 a.m. May 2-August 31.
Open the 2026-27 digest
Waterfowl Zones A, B and C are new for 2026-27 and follow roads, so a hunter near the Zone B and C line in Ashland, Columbiana, Holmes, Stark and Wayne should read the boundary text first.
Other photos on this page: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0); 小福 (CC BY-SA 2.0); Fabian Roudra Baroi (CC BY-SA 4.0); James St. John (CC BY 2.0); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain).