| The 2026-27 Ohio hunting and trapping season dates that begin this fall were proposed to the Ohio Wildlife Council earlier this week, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. White-tailed deer, waterfowl, and small game hunting seasons were included in the proposals.
A complete list of proposed rule changes for 2026-27 hunting and trapping seasons will be available at wildohio.gov on Monday, March 2. Comments for Division of Wildlife proposals are accepted online at wildohio.gov from Monday, March 2 to Wednesday, April 1. A statewide hearing on all proposed rules will be held on Wednesday, April 8. If approved, the proposed rules take effect on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Deer hunting proposals
The deer proposals included expanding the use of deer management permits throughout the season. Deer management permits can only be used to take antlerless deer. Bag limits were proposed to increase to three deer in Defiance, Paulding, and Warren counties. The bag limit in Athens, Meigs, and Washington counties, areas affected by an unprecedented outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease in 2025, was proposed to be two deer, no more than one of which may be an antlerless deer. The Wildlife Council also received a proposal for the season bag limit in the CWD surveillance area to be six deer. Wednesday’s proposals also entailed expanding the Chronic Wasting Disease surveillance area to include all of Allen County, Van Buren Township in Hancock County, and Holmes Township in Crawford County. Hunters in the disease surveillance area will have additional opportunities to harvest deer, if approved:
Additional hunting proposals Ruffed grouse hunting is proposed to be limited to controlled hunting only on four designated areas. Hunters may apply for those limited permits in July. Wild turkey hunting during the fall season is proposed to be limited to hunting only with shotguns using shotshells. No fall turkey hunting with archery equipment will be allowed. Waterfowl hunting seasons will be split into three zones with new boundaries that were approved in 2025. Find the full list of proposed hunting season dates at wildohio.gov. Endangered and threatened species The American barn owl was proposed to be downlisted from threatened to a species of concern after genetic testing revealed the species likely has a larger contiguous Midwest population. The blackchin shiner was also proposed to be downlisted from extirpated to endangered following its re-establishment in specific Ohio lakes. Further changes include the proposed addition of 17 bees and 16 aquatic invertebrates that were previously unlisted to the state’s threatened and endangered list following comprehensive surveys. Find the complete list of proposed species changes at wildohio.gov. Ohio Wildlife Council The mission of the Division of Wildlife is to conserve and improve fish and wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all. Visit wildohio.gov to find out more. ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.
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Ohio’s 2026-27 hunting and trapping seasons proposed to Wildlife Council
Photo Credit: Ohio Department of Natural Resources
