Ohio Hunting and Trapping Seasons


After you have checked out the current Ohio hunting and trapping seasons, don’t forget the other things to do in Ohio, the amusement rides and water parks, and the Arts and Cultures the state has to offer.

Purchase an Ohio hunting license here.

For those interested in predator hunting, check out these specific pages:

Coyote hunting in Ohio.

Fox hunting in Ohio.

Ohio Hunting and Trapping Seasons
Ohio Hunting and Trapping Seasons.

Ohio Hunting and Trapping Seasons.

Ohio hunting season for deer.

 The deer hunting season dates for 2022-23 include:

  • Deer archery: Sept. 24, 2022-Feb. 5, 2023.
  • Youth deer gun: Nov. 19-20, 2022.
  • Deer gun: Nov. 28-Dec. 4, 2022; Dec. 17-18, 2022.\
  • Deer muzzleloader: Jan. 7-10, 2023.
  • Hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

Bag limits will increase in 18 counties. Three counties will increase to two deer (from one deer): Clinton, Fayette, and Pickaway. Fifteen counties will increase to three deer (from two deer): Allen, Auglaize, Champaign, Clark, Darke, Mercer, Miami, Morrow, Muskingum, Perry, Preble, Putnam, Shelby, Van Wert, and Washington. Deer bag limit increases are designed to slow herd growth and provide additional hunting opportunities.

Ohio hunting season for deer in disease surveillance areas.

Deer seasons in the disease surveillance area: 
• Deer archery: Sept. 10, 2022-Feb. 5, 2023.
• Early deer gun: Oct. 8-10, 2022.
• Youth deer gun: Nov. 19-20, 2022.
• Deer gun: Nov. 28-Dec. 4, 2022; Dec. 17-18, 2022.
• Deer muzzleloader: Jan. 7-10, 2023.
• Hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
Further, public land deer hunting restrictions are removed at Big Island, Andreoff, and Wyandot wildlife areas. Public land restrictions were previously removed at Killdeer Plains and Lake La Su An wildlife areas.

Turkey hunting season in Ohio.

The spring 2023 turkey hunting dates: 

  • Youth season: April 15-16, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.
  • South zone: 
    • April 22-April 30, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to noon.
    • May 1-21, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.
  • Northeast zone: 
    • April 29-May 7, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to noon.
    • May 8-28, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.

Proposed 2022-2023 Ohio hunting seasons.

The proposed daily bag limit is 6 ducks, not to include more than 4 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 black ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 1 mottled duck, 1 pintail, or 1 mottled duck.

Scaup are also included in the daily bag limit of 6 ducks. Scaup has a 1 bird daily bag limit for the first 15 days of the duck season, regardless of zone. The scaup bag limit is 2 birds for the final 45 days of duck season, regardless of zone.

Dennis V. Gilmore Jr.

Dennis V. Gilmore Jr. is a former Marine Sergeant and the author of several books, including two on night hunting coyotes and red and gray fox. He has written several hundred articles on predator hunting for ThePredatorHunter.com.

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