What are the laws for hunting fox in Ohio? This article covers many of the fundamental laws you will need to know to get started. It also provides information such as seasons, harvest limits, and required permits for bobcat hunting in Ohio. It is not a legal document and is not intended to cover all hunting laws and regulations.
In Ohio, the fox hunting season runs from Nov. 10, 2022 Jan. 31, 2023. A valid hunting license is required and there are no bag limits. Suppressors are permitted. Night hunting, with special safety precautions mandatory, is also permitted.
Purchase an Ohio hunting license here.
Check out all the Ohio Hunting Seasons.
First time hunting fox? Check out these articles:
Read: How to call in a fox.
Read: How to use tracks and scat to hunt a fox.
Related: Read the laws for hunting coyotes in Ohio.
Hunting fox in Ohio.
Using lights to hunt fox in Ohio.
Lights. (A) It shall be unlawful for a person to hunt, trap, take or possess furbearing animals throughout the state, except according to this rule and other rules in the Administrative Code or the Revised Code.
(B) There is no bag limit or possession limit on fox, skunk, weasel, raccoon, opossum, mink, coyotes, beaver, or muskrat.
(C) It shall be unlawful for any person to pursue, hunt, or trap furbearing animals from sunset to sunrise, without carrying a continuous white light visible for a distance of at least one-quarter of a mile. However, persons hunting fox, raccoon, or coyote call from a stationary position may use a continuous single beam light of any color. When two or more persons are hunting or trapping together for such animals, one light only is required and may be carried by any member of the party.
(D) It shall be unlawful for any person to train dogs pursuing furbearing animals during the closed season except from six p.m. to six a.m. daily.
Yes, fox hunting night hours are part of a separate fox hunting season in North Dakota.
If this is your first time hunting fox at night, I recommend the following articles:
- What color light to use for hunting predators—click here.
- The best infrared scope for new predator hunters—click here.
- The best thermal scope for new predator hunters.
Legal implements for hunting fox in Ohio.
Small Game and Furbearers legal firearms
- Longbow or bow: This includes compound bows and recurves bows.
- Crossbow
- Handgun: Any caliber.
- Rifle: Any caliber.
- Shotgun: 10 gauge or smaller.
- Airgun.
You can use electronic callers when fox hunting in Ohio.
Electronic callers may be used while hunting, except while hunting migratory game birds (waterfowl, rails, and shorebirds) and wild turkeys. It is lawful to use electronic callers for crow hunting.
If you are unfamiliar with mouth and hand calls, here’s two articles with instructional videos that will help you learn to use them.
Check electronic predator caller prices here.
Need more land to hunt? Read here to discover 8 ways to get permission to hunt private property.
Can you carry a pistol while hunting fox in Ohio?
A person possessing a valid Ohio concealed handgun license may carry their concealed handgun while hunting and trapping, but it may not be used to shoot, shoot at, or kill any wild animal. For more information, go to ohioattorneygeneral.gov.
Legal to use a suppressor while fox hunting in Ohio.
A person authorized through Ohio state and federal law to own a firearm noise suppressor is permitted to use it for hunting legal game animals. A valid hunting license is required to hunt with a suppressor. A suppressor is also called a silencer.
Hunting fox on all wildlife areas in Ohio.
Portions of Deer Creek, Killdeer Plains, Rest- haven, Lake La Su An, Berlin Lake, Big Island, Delaware, Grand River, Brush Creek, Waterloo, Cooper Hollow, East Fork, Woodbury, Spring Valley, and Fallsville wildlife areas will be open for persons with severe mobility impairments to drive their cars, trucks, or an all-purpose vehicle to designated interior areas for hunting. Disabled persons are required to have an all-purpose vehicle permit. Find more information or download a permit application at wildohio.gov.
It is unlawful to hunt with or possess any shot except a nontoxic shot at Metzger Marsh, Mallard Club, Pipe Creek, Magee Marsh, Toussaint, and Little Portage wildlife areas.
All hunting and trapping on Andreoff Wildlife Area, Eagle Creek Wildlife Area, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, and Urbana Wildlife Area is by permit only.
It is illegal to sit, stand, or otherwise be in contact with oil or gas production or transmission wells, pumps, tanks, pipes, and other equipment.
Camping is prohibited in state wildlife areas, except primitive campgrounds located in Crown City and Woodbury wildlife areas. All campers must possess a valid hunting license, fishing license, or fur taker permit. Call 1-800-WILDLIFE (1-800-945- 3543) for more information.
It is unlawful to use a rifle, pistol, revolver, or a shotgun using slugs at any time on Greenfield Dam, Auburn Marsh, and Grant Lake wildlife areas. Deer and wild turkey hunting at Greenfield Dam, Auburn Marsh, and Grant Lake wildlife areas are lawful using archery equipment only.
All wildlife areas are closed to all activities other than hunting, trapping, and fishing from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. September 1 through May 1, and from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. May 2 through August 31 of each year.
State parks have special hunting and trapping regulations. Some are not open to hunting or trapping. A permit is required to build a duck blind on state park lakes.
It is unlawful to operate or park any vehicle on properties administered by the Division of Wildlife, except on designated roads and parking areas.
