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Hunting / Deer Hunting

Deer Hunter’s Checklist
Hunter Orange Requirement
Deer Hunting Zones
Urban Deer Units
Deer Hunting Permits - Including the Antlerless Deer Permit
Deer Hunting Hours
Deer Tagging
Deer Permits Purchased Over the Internet
Deer Checking
Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact
Tree Stands
Allowable Hunting Equipment
A Deer Hunter CANNOT do...
A Hunter CAN do...
Hunting Other Game During Youth Deer Gun, Deer Gun, and Muzzleloader Seasons
Division of Wildlife Controlled Deer Hunts
Youth Deer Gun Season

Deer Hunter’s Checklist:

Avoid Problems, Be Prepared!

Get the landowner’s permission to hunt.
Buy your annual hunting license and deer permit early.
Make sure your gun is plugged and not capable of holding more than three (3) shells.
Make sure you meet hunter orange requirements.
Know how to attach your temporary tag. Carry a piece of string, watch, and pencil or pen.
Know the rules for use of communication devices.
Know your APV laws.
Know the season dates, hours, and Deer Zones.
Follow proper check station procedures.
Hunt safely!

Hunter Orange Requirement

Hunting any wild animal (except waterfowl) from 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset during
the youth deer gun season, deer gun season, the statewide muzzleloader deer season, and on designated areas during the early muzzleloader deer season is unlawful unless the hunter is visibly wearing a vest, coat, jacket, or coveralls that are either solid hunter orange or camouflage hunter orange. This requirement applies statewide on both public and private land.

Camouflage Ground Blinds
Use caution when hunting from a camouflaged ground blind. For your safety, mark it with a hunter orange flag or band.

hunter orange vests

Deer Hunting Zones

The state has been divided into three zones for deer hunting. Please review them carefully to determine the bag limits and boundaries for each zone.

09-10 Deer Hunting Zones

Zone A will have a two-deer (2) bag limit for the early part of the archery season, ending the day before gun season begins.

One (1) antlerless deer permit may be used in Zone A during this early portion of the season.
Beginning on opening day of gun season and continuing through the end of the season, the bag limit will be one (1) deer. Antlerless deer permits may not be used in Zone A during this late portion of the season.

Zone B will have a four-deer (4) bag limit for the early part of the archery season, ending the day before gun season begins.

Two (2) antlerless deer permits may be used in Zone B during this early portion of the season.
Beginning on opening day of gun season and continuing through the end of the season, the bag limit will then be two (2) deer. Antlerless permits may not be used in Zone B during this late portion of the season.

Zone C will have a six-deer (6) bag limit for the early part of the archery season, ending the last of the one full week of gun season.

Three (3) antlerless deer permits may be used in Zone C during this early portion of the season.
Beginning on the first day after gun season and continuing through the end of the season, the bag limit will then be three (3) deer. Antlerless deer permits may not be used in Zone C during this late portion of the season.

Urban Deer Units and Division of Wildlife controlled hunts will have a bag limit of siz (6) deer.

This limit will not count toward the zone limits. Antlerless deer permits may be used for the entire season in Urban Deer Units or Division of Wildlife controlled hunts.

Urban Deer Units

These units include several of the larger metropolitan areas throughout Ohio. Please refer to the Ohio Urban Deer Units publication.

Hunters may take up to 6 antlerless deer within the Urban Deer Units using either the Antlerless Deer Permit ($15) or Deer Permit ($24). Antlerless deer taken within the Urban
Deer Units will not count towards your zone bag limit listed on page 6.

The Antlerless Deer Permits are valid in the Urban Units from September 26 - February 7.
Antlerless Deer Permits ($15) can only be purchased until November 29, 2009.

The designation of an Urban Deer Unit in no way supersedes existing firearms or archery
regulations, or community prohibitions. It is the responsibility of the hunter to check with local authorities and obey all existing local ordinances and regulations. Hunters must obtain written permission before hunting on private land.

Deer Hunting Permits

Deer Permit ($24)

In addition to your annual hunting license, you must purchase a Deer Permit ($24) to hunt deer in Ohio. The Deer Permit ($24) is good for an antlered or antlerless deer and is valid statewide. No more than one (1) antlered deer may be taken per license year. It may be used during any of the deer hunting seasons, for controlled hunts or in designated Urban Units. These permits may be purchased individually throughout the entire deer season. Please refer to the section above to determine the number of Deer Permits ($24) you can use in each deer hunting zone.

Antlerless Deer Permit ($15)

Hunters must buy a Deer Permit ($24) before purchasing any Antlerless Deer Permits ($15). Antlerless Deer Permits ($15) may be used ONLY to take antlerless deer. These permits may be purchased individually until November 29, 2009.

Antlered deer are deer with antlers 3 inches or longer in length; antlerless deer include deer without antlers and deer with antlers less than 3 inches in length.

Antlerless deer permits are valid statewide during the archery season between September 26 and November 29. Antlerless Deer Permits ($15) may be used in Zone C through December 6. The Antlerless Deer Permit ($15) is also valid at Division of Wildlife controlled hunts, the early muzzleloader season, and within designated Urban Deer Units (see Urban Deer Units). No more than 4 Antlerless Deer Permits ($15) can be used in a license year. Please refer to the section above to determine the number of Antlerless Deer Permits ($15) you can use in each deer hunting
zone.

Deer Hunting Hours

Archery season hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.

Hours for deer hunting are 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset for the Youth Deer Gun Season, Deer Gun Season, and Statewide Muzzleloader Season.

Deer Tagging

Every person who kills a deer must immediately fill out the temporary tag with the name and address of the hunter and date and time the deer was killed, detach the temporary tag from their deer permit, and immediately attach that tag to the dead deer at the place where it fell. Your temporary deer tag must be separated from the deer permit and tied to the deer.

The material used to produce the licenses and permits has changed and will need to be protected from the elements. You may choose to purchase a reusable license/tag protective holder available at the license vendor or many office supply stores or make your own. Attach a piece of string, wire, etc. to your temporary tag and protective holder before you hunt.

Carry a pen or pencil and a watch with you to fill out your temporary tag. The temporary tag must remain on the deer until it is taken to an official deer check station for permanent tagging. See Deer Check Station Locations online. Once a temporary tag is detached from the permit, it is illegal to hunt or pursue deer with a hunting device without purchasing an additional valid deer permit (See Concealed Carry information). For multiple deer permit holders, the first deer taken in the day must have been temporarily tagged before hunting or pursuing another deer.

Hunters with deer permits must use the temporary tag from the permit. Landowners and tenants who take a deer on their land and any other person not required to purchase a deer permit as well as hunters who purchase a deer permit over the Internet must make and attach their own tag with their name, address, and date and time killed. This tag must be attached to the dead deer immediately in the field at the place were it fell.

temporary tag instructions

Fill out all necessary information on the tag.
Tear off tag from the deer permit.
Place the tag into a protective tag holder.
Attach the tag and protective holder to the deer with a string, twist-tie, or wire.

Deer Permits Purchased Over the Internet

Hunters who purchase a deer permit over the Internet must fill in the date, time, and county where the deer was killed on the bottom portion of the permit they are carrying. This must be completed and kept by the hunter. DO NOT DETACH. The hunter then must make and attach their own temporary tag with their name, address, and date and time the deer was killed and attach it to the deer in the field at the place were it fell.

Take something with you to make a sturdy temporary tag and something to tie it on with when packing gear for your hunt.

Deer Checking

Only the person who kills the deer can present it to the check station. All deer must be checked in the county of harvest or an adjacent county, except an antlerless deer taken within an Urban Deer Unit with an Antlerless Deer Permit ($15) must be checked in the Urban Unit where killed. It is unlawful to attach a temporary tag to a deer taken by another person.

Deer must be checked by 8:00 p.m. on the day after harvest, except a deer taken on the last day of the archery season (Feb. 7), the youth gun season (Nov. 22), the gun season (Dec. 6 and Dec. 20), the early muzzleloader season (Oct 24), or the statewide muzzleloader season (Jan 12) must be checked by 8:00 p.m. that day.

Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact

Ohio is a member of the agreement between states that if a person loses their hunting, trapping, or fishing privileges in one of those states, they may lose those privileges in all of the member states. If you lose your right to hunt, trap or fish in Ohio, it is YOUR responsibility to check with any other state before you hunt, trap or fish there to ensure you have not lost your privileges in that state as well.

Tree Stands

It is unlawful to construct, place or use a permanent-type tree stand, or to place spikes, nails, wires or other metal objects into a tree to act as steps or to hold a tree stand on public hunting lands. It is also unlawful to do any of these things on private property without first getting the permission of the landowner or the landowner’s authorized agent.

Allowable Hunting Equipment

Archery Season - Longbow or bow means a device for propelling an arrow by means of limbs, and a string which is hand-held, hand-drawn, and held in a drawn position by hand or hand-held mechanical release. This would include compound bows and recurve bows: minimum draw weight 40 lbs. Crossbow means a device for propelling an arrow by means of traverse limbs and a string, mounted on a stock of at least 25 inches in length, and having a working safety: draw weight not less than 75 lbs. The arrow tip shall have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed and minimum 3/4-inch width. Expandable and mechanical broadheads are legal. Poisoned or explosive arrows are illegal.

Gun Season and Youth Deer Gun Season - 10 gauge or smaller shotgun using one ball or
one rifled slug per barrel (rifled shotgun barrels are permitted when using shotgun slug ammunition); or muzzleloading rifle .38 caliber or larger; or handgun with 5-in. minimum length barrel, using straight-walled cartridges .357 caliber or larger, or longbow, crossbow (draw weight limitations same as for Archery Season). Shotguns cannot be capable of holding more than three shells.

Statewide Muzzleloader Season - Longbow, crossbow (draw weight limitations same as for archery season), muzzleloading rifle .38 caliber or larger, or muzzleloading shotgun of 10 gauge or smaller using one ball per barrel.

Hunters cannot carry more than one firearm while hunting deer. See Concealed Carry information.

A Deer Hunter CANNOT do any of the following:

Hunt or take a deer with a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells. This means you may not hunt with a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler which limits the capacity of the gun to three shells. The filler must be such that it cannot be removed without disassembling the gun.
Hunt with any rifle other than a muzzleloading rifle .38 caliber or larger during the deer gun, the youth deer gun, the early muzzleloader hunts (Salt Fork Wildlife Area, Wildcat Hollow, and Shawnee State Forest), and the statewide muzzleloader seasons.
Hunt or take a deer with a gun or possess a loaded firearm while going to and from deer hunting during the deer gun, youth deer gun, and the statewide muzzleloader seasons, at anytime other than 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset. NOTE: Muzzleloading firearms are considered unloaded when the cap is removed or priming powder is removed from the pan. See Concealed Carry information.
Carry a handgun while hunting deer during the early muzzleloader season (on designated areas), the statewide muzzleloader season, and archery season; have more than one firearm while hunting deer; carry a handgun concealed while hunting deer. See Concealed Carry information.
Use a muzzleloading handgun for deer hunting.
Hunt deer with a longbow having a draw weight of less than 40 pounds, or with a crossbow having a draw weight of less than 75 pounds or more than 200 pounds. Expandable and mechanical broadheads are legal. Poisoned or explosive arrows are illegal.
Carry a firearm while deer hunting with a longbow or crossbow. See Concealed Carry information.
Have attached to a longbow or crossbow any mechanical, electrical or electronic device capable of projecting a beam of light.
Use dogs to hunt deer. Leashed dogs may be used to track wounded deer.
Possess shotshells containing shot during the deer gun season, unless waterfowl hunting when the season is open.
Hunt coyote or boar at night during the deer gun season.
Use any device capable of transmitting or receiving a person’s voice to aid in the hunting or taking of deer.
Pursue wounded deer or other wild animals or recover dead deer or other wild animals from private property without the written permission of the landowner.
Download Permission to Hunt Form
Carry the deer permit of another person.
Receive or possess a deer or parts of a deer unless such deer or deer part is tagged as required or unless the deer or part of a deer has a statement showing when and where legally taken, the date received, and from whom received; or a Division of Wildlife tag, seal, or certificate or other proof of ownership which shows the deer was killed by a motor vehicle in Ohio; or an official tag or seal and valid nonresident license issued by another state if taken from outside Ohio; or certificate of ownership or receipt issued by a wildlife officer.

A Hunter CAN do the following:

Field dress a deer before transporting to an official deer check station for final inspection and tagging as long as the head remains attached to the body.
Aid or assist another hunter who is hunting deer if the temporary tag has been removed from their deer permit as long as he or she does not carry any hunting device commonly used to kill wild animals and has a valid hunting license. Those persons exempted from having a hunting license and deer permits for deer hunting on their property are required to have a hunting license and deer permit to aid another hunter or hunt deer off of their property. See Concealed Carry information.
Use certain handguns during the youth deer gun season and deer gun season. These handguns must: (a) have a barrel length of not less than 5 inches, (b) use straight-walled cartridges and (c) be .357 caliber or larger.
Leave a deer or deer parts with a taxidermist, fur buyer, cold storage, locker plant, or meat processing plant as long as a tag or seal is attached to it that lists the owner’s name and address and the date and place where the deer was killed. Persons receiving deer from another person must keep records with the owner’s name and address, the date, time, and place where the deer was legally taken and the date it was received.
Take more than one deer per day as long as each deer has been tagged with a temporary tag before hunting for the next deer.
Hunt deer over bait.
Possess a communication device for purposes other than aiding a person in pursuing or taking of deer.
Hunt coyote and wild boar during the deer gun season and statewide muzzleloader deer season with a hunting license and a valid deer permit, using firearms legal for deer hunting and you must visibly wear a vest, coat, jacket or coverall colored solid hunter orange or camouflage hunter orange. A valid deer permit is a deer permit, with temporary tag attached, and valid for the zone or unit being hunted.
Use a leashed dog to recover wounded deer.

Hunting Other Game During the Youth Deer Gun, Deer Gun, and Muzzleloader Seasons

Youth Deer Gun Season – It is lawful to hunt legal game and furbearers (including coyote and wild boar). It is unlawful to use or possess slugs except youth hunters hunting deer. Waterfowl hunting and the night hunting of furbearers is also permitted when the season is open. All persons (except waterfowl hunters) hunting during the youth deer gun season are required to wear hunter orange.

Deer Gun Season - It is unlawful to hunt any wild animal except deer, coyote, wild boar, or waterfowl statewide from 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset. Hunters must possess a deer permit with the temporary tag attached that is valid for the zone or unit being hunted. Hunters may not possess rifle ammunition or shot shells (except waterfowl hunters), however, hunters using a muzzleloading rifle, .38 caliber or larger may possess ammunition for that rifle. Night hunting of furbearers, except coyote and wild boar, is also permitted when the deer gun season is open. All persons (except waterfowl hunters) hunting during the deer gun season are required to wear hunter orange.

Statewide Muzzleloader Deer Season - It is lawful to hunt legal game and furbearers (including coyote and wild boar) with shot shells containing shot no larger than #4 (except waterfowl hunters may use larger steel shot). If you are hunting coyote during the statewide muzzleloader deer season with a device that is lawful for deer hunting, you must also have a deer permit with the temporary tag attached that is valid for the zone or unit being hunted. Waterfowl hunting and the night hunting of furbearers is also permitted when the season is open. All persons (except waterfowl hunters) hunting during the statewide muzzleloader deer gun season are required to wear hunter orange.

Division of Wildlife Controlled Deer Hunts

The Ohio Division of Wildlife conducts annual controlled hunts on a number of managed areas that are not normally open to hunting. The dates and locations of the hunts vary from year to year. In an effort to encourage participation by non-traditional user groups, some of the controlled hunts are dedicated to "mobility impaired" persons, youths, or women. However, most of the hunts do not carry any particular designation. For more specific information, please view the Controlled Hunt Section of our Web site or call 1-800-WILDLIFE.

Participation is determined by computer-generated random drawings. The application period is June 1 through July 31. Hunters may apply online using a credit card. If you prefer to submit an application via U.S. mail, hard-copies of the application are available at 1-800-WILDLIFE.

Other controlled deer hunts are held at various locations around Ohio, including certain state parks and Metro parks. The Ohio Division of Wildlife is not involved in the management or administration of many of these hunts. Often times these hunts are subject to special rules and regulations. For specific information, hunters must contact the individual areas.

Early Muzzleloader Deer Season
Hunters are not required to apply for a special permit to participate in this season.
Hunters are required to have a valid hunting license and Deer Permit to participate in
the early muzzleloader deer season (October 19-24, 2009; Wildcat Hollow, Shawnee State
Forest, and Salt Fork Wildlife Area only). Either a Deer Permit ($24) or the Antlerless Deer Permit ($15) can be used for this hunt. It is unlawful to hunt any animal except deer, coyote, wild boar, or waterfowl from 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset on these areas during this special season. Persons hunting on these 3 designated areas are required to wear hunter orange except for waterfowl hunters. Bag limit 1 deer of either sex and deer harvested during this season count towards the hunter's zone bag limit.

Deer taken during these hunts must be checked at the respective wildlife area headquarters: Salt Fork Wildlife Area Office (Salt Fork Wildlife Area) and Wolf Creek Wildlife Area Office (Wildcat Hollow). Hunters must check deer at the Boland's Mini-Mart (check station 7315) when hunting at Shawnee State Forest during the early muzzleloader season.

Allowable hunting equipment includes longbow, crossbow (draw weight limitations same
as Archery Season), muzzleloading rifle .38 caliber or larger, or muzzleloading shotgun of
10 gauge or smaller using one ball per barrel. If a hunter kills an antlered deer on a controlled hunt, he or she may not kill another antlered deer during the same license year in Ohio.

Youth Deer Hunts
The Ohio Division of Wildlife conducts several controlled deer hunts for young hunters. The dates and locations of the hunts vary from year to year. See the Youth Hunting Section for details on these hunts and other youth hunting opportunities.

Youth Deer Gun Season

A youth deer gun season will be open statewide, November 21 and 22, 2009 on public and
private land. Young hunters 17 years old and younger at the time they purchase their Youth Deer Permit ($12) and who are accompanied by a non-hunting adult may hunt. Accompany means to go along with another person while staying within a distance from the person that enables uninterrupted, unaided visual and auditory communications. See the Youth Hunting Section for details.