Hunting / General Information
Ohio Administrative Code
Concealed Carry
Hunting with Permission
Hunting Methods
Share the Bounty
Public Hunting Lands
On All Wildlife Areas
Possession
Ginseng
Dog Training
Shooting Ranges
Shooting Range Hours of Operation
Ohio Administrative Code
The Ohio Administrative Code contains the details of these regulations and is available for review
at each District Wildlife Office or Online at:
http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/1531 (ORC - Division of Wildlife)
http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/1533 (ORC - Hunting & Fishing)
http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/1501%3A31 (OAC - Division of Wildlife Rules and Regulations)
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Concealed Carry
A person possessing a valid Ohio issued Concealed Carry license may carry their concealed weapon but it may not be used to shoot, shoot at, or kill any wild animal.
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Hunting with Permission
The landowner’s written permission is required for hunting and trapping on private land, regardless of whether the land is posted. Permission slips are available at Division of Wildlife district offices and some license outlets.
The Penalty for Hunting Without Written Permission
The maximum penalty for hunting without written permission of the landowner for a first offense is 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. The maximum penalty for a second offense is 90 days in jail and a $750 fine.
A person must carry written permission at all times while engaging in hunting or trapping on private land and exhibit it upon request to a state wildlife officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, police officer, other law enforcement officer, owner of the land, or the landowner’s authorized agent.
Download the Permission to Hunt Form
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Hunting Methods
Unless otherwise indicated, game may be taken with longbow, crossbow, or any caliber handgun, rifle, shotgun (10 gauge or smaller), or airgun. Be safe and choose the appropriate method for the species.
Game birds and game quadrupeds may not be taken by trapping.
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.
It shall be unlawful to use any device capable of transmitting or receiving a person’s voice to aid in the hunting or taking of deer.
Spotlighting of wild animals from vehicles, including illuminating with headlights, is prohibited. Spotlighting is illegal whether hunting implements are carried in the vehicle or not.
Persons hunting, trapping, or pursuing furbearing animals at night must carry a continuous white light visible for at least 1/4 mile. When two or more persons are hunting or trapping together for furbearing animals, only one light is required and may be carried by any member of the party. Persons hunting foxes or coyotes with a call from a stationary position may use a single beam light.
It is unlawful to possess a hunting device while training or working a dog pursuing coyotes from sunset to sunrise.
All hunting from motor vehicles, except boats and machinery being used in farm operations is prohibited. Hunters who are physically handicapped to the extent that they cannot walk, may hunt from a stationary vehicle in a field except on a public hunting area. Hunting small game and furbearers except mink, muskrat, and beaver is lawful from a boat or powercraft. All hunting from aircraft is prohibited.
It is unlawful to shoot from, on, across, or along a public road or highway.
During the statewide muzzleloader season and youth deer gun season it is unlawful to hunt legal game with shot shells containing shot larger than #4. Waterfowl hunters must use nontoxic shot of any size.
During the youth deer gun season, deer gun season, and the muzzleloader deer season all hunters must visibly wear a vest, jacket, coat, or coveralls that are solid hunter orange or hunter orange camo, except waterfowl hunters.
Longbows and crossbows may be used to take legal game. However, crossbows may not be used to hunt migratory game birds. Longbow hunters may use a hand-held mechanical release. Crossbows may be cocked with a device, but must have a working safety and a stock more than 25 inches long.
Arrows for longbow and crossbow must be tipped with a broadhead not less than 3/4 inch wide while hunting deer or turkey. The arrow tip must have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed.
It is unlawful to hunt deer or turkey 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.
Poisoned or explosive arrows are unlawful. While hunting, it is unlawful to have attached to a longbow or crossbow any mechanical, electrical, or electronic device capable of projecting a beam of light.
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Share the Bounty
There are several organizations in Ohio fighting hunger by helping hunters donate a portion or all of their venison to folks who need it.
Please call 1-800-WILDLIFE or the nearest wildlife district office for details.
The Division of Wildlife wishes to thank you, the Ohio hunter, for making a difference by donating your venison to the hungry of our state.
SPORTSMEN AGAINST HUNGER
This program helps share nature's bounty with the hungry. This program is active in all 50 states of the U.S., in parts of Canada, and in several countries around the world.
Deer hunters wishing to help fight hunger and homelessness may donate venison to Ohio food pantries by telephoning 1-800-WILDLIFE. Deer meat will be accepted during any of the Ohio deer seasons.
Call for drop-off locations 1-800-WILDLIFE
FARMERS AND HUNTERS FEEDING THE HUNGRY
(FHFH) is an outreach ministry called upon to help feed venison and other big game to the hungry among us. This program began in 1997 and continues to grow, with representation in more than one-half of the United States.
To make a donation, contact FHFH. Go to the national Website (www.fhfh.org), go to (Ohio) and find an active chapter. Check out what processors are available for that chapter. All our processors will give the FHFH discounted price to the hunter. Each chapter has a contact person and the processor's name and address.
http://fhfh.org/cgi-bin/aff_oh.asp
WHITETAILS UNLIMITED
Whitetails Unlimited (WTU) is a national non-profit organization with over 30 chapters in Ohio. WTU's purpose is to raise funds in support of education, habitat conservation, and the preservation of the hunting tradition for the direct benefit of the white-tailed deer and other wildlife.
Local WTU chapters use local funds for programs such as venison donation to the needy, youth archery and shooting sports activities, conservation club grants, and hunting promotion. Go to the national Website (www.whitetailsunlimited.com) to find a local chapter or for info on starting a chapter in your area. You can also call 1-800-274-5471 for more information.
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Public Hunting Lands
It is unlawful for any person to use a rifle, pistol, revolver, shotgun or other firearm at any time on any land or water area, controlled or administered by the Division of Wildlife except while lawfully trapping, or hunting wild animals, or target practicing on a designated Division of Wildlife target range.
Portions of Deer Creek, Resthaven, La Su An, Grand River, Brush Creek, Waterloo, Cooper Hollow, East Fork, and Fallsville wildlife areas will be open for disabled persons to drive their cars or trucks to designated interior areas for hunting. Disabled persons are required to have a physician’s statement listing the illness or disability that prohibits them from walking. It remains unlawful to shoot from any motorized vehicle.
It is unlawful to hunt with or possess any shot except nontoxic shot at Metzger Marsh, Mallard Club, Pipe Creek, Magee Marsh, Toussaint, and Little Portage wildlife areas.
All hunting and trapping on Magee Marsh Wildlife Area is by permit only.
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On All Wildlife Areas
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.
Roadside camping is prohibited on all state wildlife areas. Primitive campgrounds are located on Woodbury, Tycoon, Wolf Creek, and Monroe wildlife areas.
It is unlawful for any person to use or hunt with a rifle, pistol, or revolver from October 15 through January 1 during the daylight hours on any lands owned, administered or under agreement with the Division of Wildlife, except when properly used on a designated Division of Wildlife target range or when hunting squirrels with a rimfire rifle, pistol, or revolver or when deer hunting with a muzzleloading rifle or legal pistol or revolver during the youth deer gun season, deer gun season, statewide muzzleloader season, and the early muzzleloader season.
On Auburn Marsh Wildlife Area it is unlawful to use a rifle, pistol, revolver, or a shotgun using slugs at any time. Deer hunting at Auburn Marsh Wildlife Area is lawful using archery equipment only.
All wildlife areas are closed to all activity 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.
Beaver and river otter trapping are prohibited on all state public hunting areas including state parks and forests without a special permit from the Division of Wildlife. Consult our district offices or website for information on how these permits can be obtained.
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. Consult the Division of Parks and Recreation, 2045 Morse Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43229 or the park manager.
It is unlawful to operate or park any vehicle on properties administered by the Division of Wildlife except on designated roads and parking areas.
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Possession
Live furbearing animals, amphibians, reptiles, game quadrupeds, or game birds may not be held in captivity or sold except by propagation permit.
Hides of fur-bearing animals taken legally during the open season may be sold during that open season.
Furbearers may not be taken alive during open hunting and trapping seasons.
Persons desiring to buy green or dried fur must have a fur dealer’s permit.
It is unlawful to buy, sell or possess nongame birds or their parts, dead or alive.
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Ginseng
No person shall dig, harvest, or otherwise collect wild ginseng from its natural habitat except during the season of September 1 through December 31 of each year. Ginseng plants with unripened berries, or which have less than three-leaf stems (prongs) cannot be harvested. Seeds from wild ginseng plants shall be immediately replanted at the place where the plants were collected. Any person collecting ginseng is required to keep accurate records showing the number of pounds and ounces of ginseng, both green and/or dry weight, collected in each Ohio county by date of collection. Dealers and buyers shall acquire a state dealer’s registration permit each year prior to purchasing or otherwise acquiring Ohio ginseng. No person shall harvest wild or cultivated ginseng from private or public property without first obtaining written permission from the landowner or his agent.
For more information on ginseng harvest, contact the Division of Wildlife.
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Dog Training
The Division of Wildlife has established designated dog training areas on some of its wildlife areas. Dogs may not be trained or exercised on state public hunting areas from May 1 through August 31, except on these designated dog training areas. A nonresident may not train, work, or exercise a dog in Ohio at any time Ohio residents are not permitted to train, work, or exercise dogs in the nonresident’s state. Training dogs while pursing furbearing animals is permitted only from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Firearms may not be carried by persons training or working dogs during the closed season for furbearing animals. See information on Concealed Carry licenses.
Designated dog training areas are located on portions of the Auburn Marsh, Berlin, Caesar Creek, Delaware, Fallsville, Grand River, Highlandtown, Indian Creek, Killdeer Plains, Lake La Su An, Maumee State Forest, Oxbow, Resthaven, Rush Run, Spencer, and Woodbury wildlife areas.
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Shooting Ranges
The Division of Wildlife operates five Class A ranges. All persons age 18 and older shooting on Class A ranges must purchase a Shooting Range Permit which is available at all hunting and fishing license outlets and on the License and Permit Finder page. Permits are not sold at the shooting ranges.
Shooters age 17 and under are not required to purchase a permit, but must be accompanied and directly monitored by an adult (age 18 years or older) holding a valid Shooting Range Permit.
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Shooting Range Hours of Operation
CLASS “A” RANGES - Hours of operation vary. All ranges are closed on Monday and Tuesday as well as the following dates: New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Contact the wildlife areas for detailed information:
• Delaware Wildlife Area*
8589 Horseshoe Rd., Ashley
(614) 644-3925
• Deer Creek Wildlife Area*
12552 Post Rd., Route 1 Mt. Sterling
(614) 644-3925
• Spring Valley Wildlife Area
1863 Rox - N Burlington Rd. Waynesville
(937) 862-5162
• Grand River Wildlife Area*
6686 S.R. 534 Farmington
(330) 889-3280
• Woodbury Wildlife Area*
23371 S.R. 60 S, Warsaw
(740) 824-3211
*Closed during January and February
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