Ohio Hunting Seasons 2024-25: Dates, Regulations, Licenses

Ohio Deer Hunting: Permits, Rules, and Regulations

Bag limit:

• Statewide limit: 6 deer; only 1 may be antlered. Antlered deer must have at least 1 antler 3 inches or longer.
• Hunters may combine county harvests to meet the statewide limit.
• Two Deer Counties: Harvest limit of 2 deer using:
  • 2 either-sex permits, or
  • 2 deer management permits, or
  • 1 of each.
• Three Deer Counties: Harvest limit of 3 deer using:
  • 3 either-sex permits, or
  • 3 deer management permits, or
  • Any combination.
• Four Deer Counties: Harvest limit of 4 deer using:
  • 4 either-sex permits, or
  • 4 deer management permits, or
  • Any combination.
• Hunting on public land:
  • Limit of 1 antlerless deer per license year.
  • Public hunting areas list available at wildohio.gov.
  • Exemptions: Authorized Division of Wildlife controlled hunts; Andreoff, Big Island, Wyandot, Lake La Su An, and Killdeer Plains wildlife areas.

Hunting Hours:

30 minutes before sunrise – 30 minutes after sunset.

Deer Hunting Permits:

• Hunters in Ohio must have a valid hunting license and purchase either an either-sex deer permit or a deer management permit, unless exempt.
• Either-sex deer permit:
  • Can be used to hunt either antlered or antlerless deer.
  • Valid statewide: Sept. 28, 2024 – Feb. 2, 2025
  • Valid in DSA: Sept. 14, 2024 – Feb. 2, 2025
  • Purchase individually throughout the deer season.
• Deer management permit:
  • For taking antlerless deer only.
  • Valid during all deer hunting seasons and controlled hunts.
  • Valid statewide: Sept. 28 – Dec. 22, 2024
  • Valid in DSA: Sept. 14 – Dec. 22, 2024
  • Not valid in public hunting areas, except:
    • Andreoff
    • Big Island
    • Killdeer Plains
    • Lake La Su An
    • Wyandot wildlife areas
    • Authorized controlled hunts

Either-Sex Deer Permit Fees

Deer Management Permit Fees

Tag & Check:

• See game check guide

Legal Deer Hunting Equipment

You can carry only 1 hunting implement while hunting deer.

Archery Season:

• Longbow or Bow: Minimum draw weight of 40 pounds; arrow tip must have at least 2 cutting edges and a minimum width of 3/4-inch; expandable and mechanical broadheads are legal.
• Crossbow: Minimum draw weight of 75 pounds; arrow tip must have at least 2 cutting edges and a minimum width of 3/4-inch; expandable and mechanical broadheads are legal.

Gun Season:

• Shotgun: 10 gauge or smaller, using 1 ball or 1 rifled slug per barrel (rifled shotgun barrels permitted for shotgun slug ammo).
• Straight-walled cartridge rifles: All calibers from .357 to .50 (includes .350 Legend); no more than 3 shells in the chamber and magazine combined.
• Archery equipment legal during the Archery Season.
• Muzzleloading rifle: .38 caliber or larger.
• Muzzleloading shotgun: 10-gauge or smaller using 1 ball per barrel.
• Handgun: Minimum barrel length of 5 inches using straight-walled cartridges of .357 caliber or larger.

Muzzleloader Season:

• Muzzleloading rifle: .38 caliber or larger.
• Muzzleloading shotgun: 10-gauge or smaller using one ball per barrel.
• Archery equipment legal during the Archery Season.

Deer Hunting Regulations Highlights:

• Youth Season Blaze Orange: All youths and non-hunting adults must wear required hunter orange clothing during the youth season.
• Public Hunts: Hunters cannot hunt deer over bait in public hunting areas.
• DSA Rules:
  • Bait (salt, minerals, food) use to attract deer within DSA boundaries is prohibited.
  • Normal agricultural activities and hunting deer over crops or food plots are allowed in the DSA.
• Protect Ohio’s Deer Herd:
  • Dispose of deer carcasses properly; double-bag high-risk parts (brain, spinal cord, eyes, lymphoid tissues) in household trash.
  • It is illegal to bring high-risk carcass parts into Ohio or remove them from a DSA unless delivered to certified wildlife processor or taxidermist within 24 hours.
  • Report sick or abnormal-acting deer or those with visible ear tags to the Division of Wildlife.
• Hunting Other Game During Deer Firearm Seasons:
  • Waterfowl: No hunter orange required; all shot sizes allowed.
  • Coyote and Feral Swine: Hunter orange required; hunt only during legal deer season hours with legal deer hunting equipment and valid permits.
  • Furbearers (except Coyote): Hunt with a shotgun using No. 4 shot or smaller during legal deer season hours; hunter orange required. Exempt 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise.
  • All Other Game: Hunt with a shotgun using No. 4 shot or smaller; hunter orange required.
• Mandatory Sampling for Deer Harvested within the DSA
  • Required for ALL deer harvested on Oct. 12-13 and Dec. 2-3.
  • Staffed sampling locations available on mandatory days at specified addresses.
  • Self-serve kiosks available for deer drop-off throughout the season.
  • Participation is voluntary outside the four mandatory days.
  • Kiosk locations and operating dates can be found at wildohio.gov.
  • Instructions for sample submission provided at kiosks.
• Sampling Locations:
  • Big Island Wildlife Area Headquarters: 5389 Larue-Prospect Rd West, New Bloomington, OH 43341
  • Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area Headquarters: 19100 CH 115 Harpster, OH 43323
  • Wyandot County Fairgrounds: 10171 OH 53 Upper Sandusky, OH 43351
  • Rural King: 233 American Blvd Marion, OH 43302
  • Hardin County Fairgrounds: 14134 County Road 140 Kenton, OH 43326
  • McGuffey Conservation Club: 6950 Township Road 55 Ada, OH 45810

A DEER HUNTER MAY DO THE FOLLOWING:

• A successful deer hunter may assist another hunter if the deer permit is completed, no hunting implements are carried, and a valid hunting license is held. Those exempt from needing a hunting license and deer permit on their property must obtain these to aid another hunter or hunt deer off their property.
• Harvest more than 1 deer per day if recorded on the permit or submitted to game check.
• Hunt deer over bait (not on public land or in DSA).
• Leave deer or parts with taxidermists, fur buyers, or processors, ensuring a confirmation code is attached.
• Carry a printed or electronic copy of the deer permit.
• Possess a communication device.
• Use a leashed dog to recover a wounded deer.
• Archery hunt during youth deer gun season if not accompanying another hunter and wearing hunter orange.

A DEER HUNTER MAY NOT DO THE FOLLOWING:

• Pursue wounded or recover dead deer, including shed antlers, from private property without landowner permission.
• Hunt with a shotgun or rifle loaded with more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined. Doesn’t apply to handguns.
• Possess a loaded firearm during deer firearms seasons only from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Muzzleloading firearms are deemed unloaded if the cap, priming powder, or battery is removed.
• Hunt deer with a muzzleloading handgun.
• Carry more than 1 hunting firearm when hunting deer.
• Attach any mechanical, electrical, or electronic device that projects a visible beam of light to a longbow or crossbow, except for non-visible light devices like range finders.
• Possess shotshells containing shot during deer gun seasons.
• Use dogs to hunt deer.
• Use permits purchased after the deer was harvested for checking.
• Construct or place permanent tree stands or alter trees on public or private lands without permission.
• Check a deer as a landowner if the hunter is a tenant, unless they live on the rented property and derive most of their income from agricultural production on that land.
• Submit game checks under another person’s account.
• Carry a firearm while hunting with a longbow or crossbow (except concealed handguns).
• Use drones or aircraft in hunting, except for recovering harvested deer.

Deer Carcass Regulations

• Possessing high-risk carcass parts from Cervids (deer, moose, elk, caribou) harvested outside Ohio or from a disease surveillance area is prohibited to minimize CWD spread.
• Permissible parts from imported Cervids or those removed from a disease surveillance area include:
  • De-boned meat
  • Meat cut and securely wrapped (no spinal column or head)
  • Quarters or portions of meat (no spinal column or head)
  • Antlers
  • Antlers attached to a skull cap (all soft tissue removed)
  • Upper canine teeth (all soft tissue removed)
  • Hides and capes (no head or lymph nodes)
  • Finished taxidermy mounts
  • Soft body tissue wrapped for diagnostic research
• Out-of-state hunters in Ohio may possess Cervid carcasses (or parts) if not off-loaded from the vehicle.
• Returning hunters with complete Cervid carcasses or parts not on the list must present them to a certified taxidermist or processor within 24 hours of entering Ohio or leaving a disease surveillance area.