Hunting seasons announced
The Ohio Wildlife Council has approved 2026-27 hunting seasons, with waterfowl, small game, migratory birds, and fall wild turkey season dates similar to previous years.
Ruffed grouse hunting will be limited to controlled hunting on four designated areas, for which hunters may apply in July. Wild turkey hunting during the fall season is permitted only with shotguns using shotshells, with no fall turkey hunting with archery equipment allowed.
Waterfowl hunting seasons will be split into three zones with new boundaries that were approved in 2025.
The 2026-27 deer hunting seasons will be similar to last year:
- Deer archery: Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, to Sunday, Feb. 7, 2027
- Youth deer gun: Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, and Sunday, Nov. 22, 2026
- Deer gun: Monday, Nov. 30, 2026, to Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026; Saturday, Dec. 19, 2026, and Sunday, Dec. 20, 2026
- Deer muzzleloader: Saturday, Jan. 2, 2027, to Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027
Deer management permits were approved for use throughout the hunting season on both private land and public hunting areas, which may only be used to take antlerless deer.… Continue reading