OHIO LAWS & REGULATIONS

What are the Laws and Regulations for Hunting in Ohio?

The Department of Natural Resources of Ohio mission is to protect, preserve, perpetuate and manage Idaho’s wildlife resources. When hunting seasons begin in Ohio, all hunters must have a valid hunting license along with other required permits depending on the hunted specie and to take a hunter education class if born after January 1, 1975. As a hunter, you must have permission to lawfully hunt on private land. It is unlawful to party hunt or fulfill someone else’s tag as well as hunt without a valid hunting license. It is also illegal to shoot across road ways, shoot from a powered on vehicle, and use any aircraft to locate game.

*Visit Ohio Hunting and Trapping Guidebook for More Information*

FEATURED ANIMALS

TURKEY

Wild turkey can be found about anywhere in Ohio. To have a successful turkey season, all hunters must have a valid Ohio hunting license and fall turkey permit are required, unless exempted. All successful hunters must make a game tag with the hunter’s name, date, time, and county of kill, attach the completed game tag to the wild turkey at the place where it fell, and lastly fill in the wild turkey permit with the date, time, and county of kill. A harvested wild turkey must be checked by 11:30 p.m. on the day of kill. Daily bag limits varies on the hunted season.

General Season: Oct. 10, 2020 – May 30, 2021

*Seasons differ based on sex, antlerless and buck hunts in different zones – Visit Ohio’s Turkey Seasons and Bag Limits for more information*

WHITE-TAILED DEER

The white-tailed deer hunt is one of Ohio’s most popular big game animal hunt in the state. In addition to your valid Ohio hunting license, hunters must purchase an either-sex deer permit or a deer management permit to hunt deer in Ohio, unless exempted. A hunter may kill no more than the bag limit for the county they are hunting in. An antlered deer has at least one antler 3 inches or longer in length.

General Season: Nov. 21, 2020 – Jan. 5, 2021
Archery Season: Sept. 26, 2020 – Feb. 7, 2021

*Seasons differ based on hunting method – Visit Ohio’s Deer Season and Bag Limits for more information*

MOURNING DOVE

Mourning doves can be a difficult bird to shoot, however many Ohio hunters love to hunt them due to their delicious taste. All dove hunters are required to have a valid hunting license and a Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification. No hunter shall exceed the daily limit of 15 doves per day.