Furbearer
Ohio river otter trapping: 2026-27 seasons and rules
River Otter in Ohio: every 2026-27 season row with its source.
Photo: James St. John (CC BY 2.0)
River Otter: what ODNR sets for 2026-27
Every 2026-27 Ohio date for river otters is below, 2 rows from the ODNR digest, with limits, permits and public land.
- Limit summary (river otters): 3 per season, maximum 1 from Zone B.
- Dates and methods (river otters): Trapping December 26-February 28; pelt check and tag within 5 business days.
- ODNR note (river otters): 2023-24 registered harvest 346.
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 24, OAC 1501:31-15-18, ODNR furbearer monitoring report and ODNR hunting regulations page; checked November 6, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Ohio otter season table
One line per Ohio otter season; the filter box searches seasons and zones, and the last column checks each row against today.
| Season | Zone or area | Starts | Ends | Days | Daily bag | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trapping | Otter Zone A | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 65 | Season limit 3 otters total (all may come from Zone A) | |
| Trapping | Otter Zone B | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 65 | No more than 1 of the season limit of 3 may come from Zone B |
- Trapping (river otters, Otter Zone A): Pelts checked and tagged within 5 business days (by appointment); Permit needed on state-managed areas.
- Trapping (river otters, Otter Zone B): Pelts checked and tagged within 5 business days; Zone B = all counties not in Zone A.
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 23 and ODNR Division of Wildlife; checked November 6, 2026.
River Otter by county and zone
- Zone A (river otters, 22): Ashtabula, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Geauga, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, Lake, Mahoning, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Portage, Stark, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Washington, Wayne.
- Zone B (river otters, 66): Adams, Allen, Ashland, Athens, Auglaize, Brown, Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Darke, Defiance, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin and 46 more.
Beaver and river otters open together on December 26 and close February 28.
Sources: OAC 1501:31-15-18; checked November 6, 2026.
Ohio otter harvest statistics
The chart counts every otter presented for tagging.
Sources: ODNR furbearer monitoring report; checked November 6, 2026.
River Otter limits by row
Daily, possession and season limits for river otters; possession for migratory birds is three daily limits after opening day.
- Daily bag (river otters): Season limit 3 otters total (all may come from Zone A).
- From the rows (river otters): No more than 1 of the season limit of 3 may come from Zone B.
- River otter (river otters page): 3 per season, maximum 1 from Zone B.
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 24; checked November 6, 2026.
River Otter costs for 2026-27
Trapping furbearers takes a hunting license plus a fur taker permit; first-time trappers take trapper education first. Licenses for river otters can be bought on HuntFish OH, online or from a license agent and shown on a phone.
| What | Who | Price | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident license | Resident | $19.00 | License year |
| Nonresident license | Nonresident | $180.96 | License year |
| Youth license | Resident and nonresident | $10.00 | License year |
| Resident senior license | Resident | $10.00 | License year |
| Fur taker permit, adult | Resident and nonresident | $15.00 | License year |
| Fur taker permit, youth | Resident and nonresident | $8.00 | License year |
| Fur taker permit, senior | Resident | $8.00 | License year |
| Apprentice fur taker permit, adult | Resident and nonresident | $15.00 | License year |
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 29, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 30 and 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 28; checked November 6, 2026.
What you can carry for river otters
- Trapping (river otters): 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.
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 23; checked November 6, 2026.
Rules that apply on an Ohio otter hunt
- Orange in gun weeks (river otters): Trappers setting for river otters carry no orange rule of their own, but anyone hunting during the deer gun weeks must follow it: 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.
- Harvest reporting (river otters): 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.
- Written permission (river otters): No hunting or trapping on another's land without written permission of the owner or agent; carry it and show on request (also for deer recovery and shed hunting).
- Trap tags and checks (river otters): 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 (river otters): No firearms except while hunting/trapping or on designated ranges; no vehicles off designated roads; no bait or feed; camping only at designated sites.
- Weekends (river otters): No statewide Sunday hunting restriction appears in the 2026-27 digest or the OAC 1501:31 and ORC 1533 sections read.
- Education card (river otters): All first-time hunting license buyers except apprentice license buyers must complete a hunter education course (or show a previously held license, or attest they are 21+ and previously held a license in any state).
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 5, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 14, ORC 1533.17, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 23, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 34, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 4 and 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 29; checked November 6, 2026.
River Otter: drawn hunts for 2026-27
Lottery hunts give access to closed or limited ground for river otters; 102 are listed for 2026-27.
River otters hunts: Beaver/otter permits valid December 26, 2026-February 28, 2027; furbearer permits split first/second half of the season; apply in one district only.
| No. | Hunt | Land page | List |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2801 | Alum Creek SP beaver/otter trapping | Alum Creek SP | Furbearer Lotteries – District 1 – Central Ohio |
| 2802 | deer Creek WA beaver/otter trapping | Deer Creek WA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 1 – Central Ohio |
| 2803 | A. W. Marion SP beaver/otter trapping | A W Marion SP | Furbearer Lotteries – District 1 – Central Ohio |
| 2804 | Indian Lake SP beaver/otter trapping | Indian Lake SP | Furbearer Lotteries – District 1 – Central Ohio |
| 2805 | Mt Gilead State Park beaver/otter trapping | Mt Gilead SP | Furbearer Lotteries – District 1 – Central Ohio |
| 2909 | Kiser Lake State Park beaver/otter trapping | Kiser Lake SP | Furbearer Lotteries – District 1 – Central Ohio |
| 2915 | Delaware Wildlife Area beaver/otter trapping | Delaware WA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 1 – Central Ohio |
| 2920 | Big Island WA beaver/otter trapping | Big Island WA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 1 – Central Ohio |
| 2921 | Rock Mill Lake WA beaver/otter trapping | Rock Mill Lake WA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 1 – Central Ohio |
| 2930 | deer Creek State Park beaver/otter trapping | Deer Creek SP | Furbearer Lotteries – District 1 – Central Ohio |
| 2931 | Delaware State Park beaver/otter trapping | Delaware SP | Furbearer Lotteries – District 1 – Central Ohio |
| 2936 | Madison Lake SP beaver/otter trapping | Madison Lake SP | Furbearer Lotteries – District 1 – Central Ohio |
| 2941 | Oakthorpe Lake beaver/otter trapping | Oakthorpe Lake PHFA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 1 – Central Ohio |
| 2945 | Rush Creek Lake beaver/otter trapping | Rush Creek Lake PHFA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 1 – Central Ohio |
| 8000 | Fayette County WA 3 beaver/otter trapping | Fayette County Wildlife Area 3 | Furbearer Lotteries – District 1 – Central Ohio |
| 8001 | Fayette County WA 8 beaver/otter trapping | Fayette County Wildlife Area 8 | Furbearer Lotteries – District 1 – Central Ohio |
| 8004 | Knox Lake beaver-otter trapping | Knox Lake WA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 1 – Central Ohio |
| 8005 | Kokosing Lake beaver-otter trapping | Kokosing Lake WA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 1 – Central Ohio |
| 2799 | Parkersburg WA beaver/otter trapping | Parkersburg WA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 2 – Northwest Ohio |
| 2800 | Oxbow Lake WA beaver/otter trapping | Oxbow Lake WA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 2 – Northwest Ohio |
| 2806 | Toussaint Creek WA beaver/otter trapping | Toussaint Creek WA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 2 – Northwest Ohio |
| 2807 | Lake La Su An WA beaver/otter trapping | Lake La Su An WA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 2 – Northwest Ohio |
| 2808 | St Joseph River WA beaver/otter trapping | St Joseph River WA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 2 – Northwest Ohio |
| 2809 | Tiffin River WA beaver/otter trapping | Tiffin River WA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 2 – Northwest Ohio |
| 2811 | Mallard Club WA beaver/otter trapping | Mallard Club WA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 2 – Northwest Ohio |
| 2933 | Fish Creek WA beaver/otter trapping | Fish Creek WA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 2 – Northwest Ohio |
| 2938 | Metzger Marsh WA beaver/otter trapping | Metzger Marsh WA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 2 – Northwest Ohio |
| 2940 | North Turkeyfoot WA beaver/otter trapping | North Turkeyfoot WA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 2 – Northwest Ohio |
| 2943 | Pickerel Creek beaver/otter trapping | Pickerel Creek WA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 2 – Northwest Ohio |
| 2950 | Willow Point Wildlife beaver/otter trapping | Willow Point WA | Furbearer Lotteries – District 2 – Northwest Ohio |
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 26, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 27 and ODNR controlled hunting page; checked November 6, 2026.
Ohio public land that lists river otters
168 places list furbearer trapping; the table shows the twelve largest by acreage for river otters. Every place links to its own page with acres, county, zones, access and controlled hunts.
| Public land | Kind | Counties | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens Ranger District (Wayne National Forest) | Ranger district | Athens +7 | 137,168 |
| Ironton Ranger District (Wayne National Forest) | Ranger district | Gallia +3 | 107,002 |
| Appalachian Hills WA | Wildlife area | Guernsey +3 | 35,396 |
| Zaleski SF | State forest | Athens +1 | 27,822 |
| Egypt Valley WA | Wildlife area | Belmont +1 | 22,663 |
| Woodbury WA | Wildlife area | Coshocton | 19,252 |
| Salt Fork SP | State park | Guernsey | 17,229 |
| Tri-Valley WA | Wildlife area | Coshocton +1 | 16,200 |
| Vinton Furnace Experimental Forest | State forest | Vinton | 12,331 |
| Crown City WA | Wildlife area | Gallia +1 | 11,120 |
| Hocking SF | State forest | Hocking | 9,815 |
| Killdeer Plains WA | Wildlife area | Marion +1 | 9,054 |
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 6 and 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 13 and the ODNR property pages linked from each land page; checked November 6, 2026.
Beech-maple forest floor covered in yellow fall leaves in Ohio. Photo: OhioOakTree (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Amish farm and red barns under big summer clouds in Ohio. Photo: Art Anderson (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Red sunrise behind a windmill and farm pond in northeast Ohio. Photo: Scott Bauer, USDA NRCS (Public domain)
River Otter questions
Which Ohio public areas hold river otters?
168 public places in this guide list river otters or a matching game group, mostly 83 wildlife areas, 54 state parks and 20 public hunting areas; the largest are Athens Ranger District (Wayne National Forest), Ironton Ranger District (Wayne National Forest) and Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area. Private land for river otters needs written permission; enrolled L/HAP farms take an online check-in.
When must Ohio otter hunters wear orange?
Trappers setting for river otters carry no orange rule of their own, but anyone hunting during the deer gun weeks must follow it: 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.
How do I report a otter harvest in Ohio?
For river otters: 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.
Where in Ohio do otter limits differ?
Zone A is 22 eastern counties and Zone B the other 66; 3 total, max. 1 from Zone B.
Are there controlled hunts for river otters in Ohio?
The 2026-27 lists hold 102 hunts for river otters, such as Alum Creek SP beaver/otter trapping, deer Creek WA beaver/otter trapping and A. W. Marion SP beaver/otter trapping. Apply in the ODNR controlled hunting lotteries for river otters; the fee is $3 per hunt.
How big is the otter harvest in Ohio?
ODNR registered 346 river otters in 2023-24 (2024 furbearer monitoring report, the latest found).
Is otter season open on Sundays?
Sunday is an ordinary hunting day for river otters: no statewide Sunday hunting restriction appears in the 2026-27 digest or the OAC 1501:31 and ORC 1533 sections read.
When does otter season open in Ohio?
Trapping for river otters, Otter Zone A: December 26, 2026 to February 28, 2027; Trapping for river otters, Otter Zone B: December 26, 2026 to February 28, 2027. On November 6, 2026 the otter season is set to open on December 26, 2026.
Is there a limit on river otters in Ohio?
3 per season, maximum 1 from Zone B.
Which permits cover river otters in Ohio?
For river otters you need a hunting license plus a fur taker permit. Prices for river otters: Resident license $19.00; Nonresident license $180.96; Youth license $10.00; Resident senior license $10.00; Fur taker permit, adult $15.00.
How may river otters be taken in Ohio?
For river otters: 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.
Other photos on this page: OhioOakTree (CC BY-SA 4.0); Art Anderson (CC BY-SA 3.0); Scott Bauer, USDA NRCS (Public domain).