This week marked the start of autumn, meaning the daylight hours are getting shorter and the nights longer. The transition also means that hunting season has arrived in Ohio.
It’s time to set your alarm clocks for the crack of dawn, because the first fall hunting season begins with squirrels on Sept. 1 and runs until Jan. 31, 2023.
But if hunting squirrels isn’t exactly your bag of nuts, then you won’t have to wait long for the next season to begin.
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There are four hunting seasons for white-tailed deer in Ohio, with deer archery kicking off Sept. 24.
Here’s what you need to know about Ohio’s deer hunting seasons.
When is white-tailed deer hunting season in Ohio?
- Archery: Sept. 24, 2022-Feb. 5, 2023.
- Youth gun: Nov. 19, 2022-Feb. 5, 2023.
- Gun: Nov. 28, 2022-Dec. 4, 2022.
- Muzzleloader: Jan. 7, 2023-Jan. 10, 2023.
Ohio deer hunting rules
If you hunt for white-tailed deer in Ohio, here are the rules to follow:
- Hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
- Hunters must complete the game-check process after killing a deer. See ohiodnr.gov for more details.
- Hunters cannot kill more than one antlered deer during the 2022-23 season regardless of how or where it was killed.
- An antlered deer has at least one antler three inches or longer in length.
- You need an Ohio hunting license to participate in the season. But you also need a deer hunting permit. There are two permits available: the either-sex permit, which is valid from Sept. 24-Feb. 5, 2023, and the deer management permit, which is valid from Sept. 24-Nov. 27.
- No more than one deer without antlers may be taken from public hunting areas per license year.
Where are the public hunting areas in Ohio?
Public hunting areas in Ohio can be found on the ohiodnr.gov website.
What guns and equipment can I use during hunting season?
Here is a list of legal equipment that can be used:
- Longbow or bow.
- Crossbow.
- Shotgun.
- Straight-walled cartridge rifles.
- Muzzleloading rifle, .38 caliber or larger.
- Muzzleloading shotgun, 10-gauge or smaller using one ball per barrel.
- Handgun, 5-inch minimum length barrel using straight-walled cartridges .357 caliber or larger.
For more details on the equipment requirements, see ohiodnr.gov.
What are the deer hunting bag limits for Ohio counties?
Different counties specify how many deer can be harvested by a single hunter in a given season.
Two-deer counties: Geuga, Harrison, Jefferson, Belmont, Monroe, Warren, Clinton, Greene, Fayette, Pickaway, Hocking, Vinton, Jackson, Galia and Lawrence.
Four-deer counties: Hamilton, Franklin, Lucas, Cuyahoga and Summit.
The remaining counties in Ohio are three-deer counties.
Do you need a hunting license in Ohio?
Yes, you need a license to hunt in Ohio. Here are the different types:
- Youth: For anyone 17 years old and younger.
- Resident adult: For Ohio residents age 18-65.
- Nonresident adult: For all nonresidents 18 years old and older.
- Apprentice: For residents and nonresidents accompanied by a licensed hunter.
- Resident senior: For Ohio residents age 66 and older born on or after Jan. 1, 1939.
- Resident free senior: For Ohio residents born on or before Dec. 31, 1938.
Hunting licenses can be purchased from authorized agents or on the wildohio.gov website and the HuntFish Oh mobile app.
How much does an Ohio hunting license cost?
Youth licenses range from $10 for one year to $430.56 for a resident youth lifetime hunting license. Adult licenses range from $19 for a resident one year license to $449.28 for a resident lifetime hunting license.
Either-sex deer permits costs are:
- Adult permit, resident: $31.20.
- Adult permit, nonresident: $76.96.
- Youth permit, resident and nonresident: $16.00.
- Senior permit, resident only: $12.00.
- Free senior permit, resident only: Free.
For certain exemptions, visit ohiodnr.gov. To report a wildlife violation, call: 1-800-POACHER (1-800-762-2437).
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When is white-tailed deer hunting season in Kentucky?
- Archery: Sept. 3, 2022-Jan. 16, 2023.
- Youth/senior crossbow: Sept. 3, 2022-Jan. 16, 2023.
- Crossbow: Sept. 17, 2022-Jan. 16, 2023.
- Youth-only gun: Oct. 8-9.
- Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-16, Dec. 10-18.
- Modern gun: Nov. 12-27.
A free youth hunting weekend will take place Dec. 31, 2022- Jan. 1, 2023.
For more information on rules, requirements and licensing, visit fw.ky.gov.
When is white-tailed deer hunting season in Indiana?
- Reduction Zone: Sept. 15, 2022-Jan. 31, 2023.
- Youth season: Sept. 24-25.
- Archery: Oct. 1, 2022- Jan. 1, 2023.
- Firearm: Nov. 12-27.
- Muzzleloader: Dec. 3-18.
For more information on rules, requirements and licensing, visit in.gov.
