Ohio · Deer · 2026–27 Edition
Ohio Deer Season 2026–27: Dates, Zones & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons by method
| Method | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Statewide | Sep 26 – Feb 7 |
| Youth gun | Statewide | Nov 21 – Nov 22 |
| Gun | Statewide | Nov 30 – Dec 6 |
| Gun (bonus) | Statewide | Dec 19 – Dec 20 |
| Muzzleloader | Statewide | Jan 2 – Jan 5 |
| Early archery | CWD surveillance area (all of Allen County, Van Buren Township in Hancock County, Holmes Township in Crawford County) | Sep 12 – Feb 7 |
| Early gun | CWD surveillance area (all of Allen County, Van Buren Township in Hancock County, Holmes Township in Crawford County) | Oct 10 – Oct 12 |
02 — Bag limits
| Statewide | 1 antlered deer max (any method or location) |
|---|---|
| By county | Antlerless/total limits vary — e.g. 3 (Defiance, Paulding, Warren); 2 (Athens, Meigs, Washington); 6 (CWD surveillance area — Allen County, Van Buren Twp./Hancock, Holmes Twp./Crawford). See agency. |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 12, 2026) 06:39 — 20:13
Rule: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, per the Wildlife Council's own approval summary. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Ohio sun times for any other date.
04 — License
An Ohio hunting license and deer permit are required. Costs, age rules and where to buy are on our license page below.
Ohio hunting license cost & deer permits →
Where to hunt public land in Ohio — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — Scouting gear
Scouting a property before Ohio's opener usually means glassing terrain and running a trail camera through the summer and early fall.
- Hunting binoculars on Amazon →
- Trail cameras on Amazon →
- Trail camera SD cards — class, capacity & format explained →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. These are category links, not a single named pick — we run no product tests of our own.
06 — FAQ
When does deer season start in Ohio?
The earliest 2026–27 opener is September 12, 2026 — Early archery, limited to CWD surveillance area (all of Allen County, Van Buren Township in Hancock County, Holmes Township in Crawford County). Other weapons and zones start later — see the table above.
When does deer season end in Ohio?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is February 7, 2027. Individual methods and zones close on their own dates.
When does bow season start for deer in Ohio?
Early archery opens September 12, 2026 (CWD surveillance area (all of Allen County, Van Buren Township in Hancock County, Holmes Township in Crawford County)). Later segments may follow — see the seasons table.
When does rifle season start for deer in Ohio?
Early gun opens October 10, 2026 (CWD surveillance area (all of Allen County, Van Buren Township in Hancock County, Holmes Township in Crawford County)). Later segments may follow — see the seasons table.
When does muzzleloader season start for deer in Ohio?
Muzzleloader opens January 2, 2027 (Statewide). Later segments may follow — see the seasons table.
How many deer can you shoot in Ohio?
2026–27 bag limits: Statewide — 1 antlered deer max (any method or location). By county — Antlerless/total limits vary — e.g. 3 (Defiance, Paulding, Warren); 2 (Athens, Meigs, Washington); 6 (CWD surveillance area — Allen County, Van Buren Twp./Hancock, Holmes Twp./Crawford). See agency. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting deer in Ohio?
On opening day (September 12, 2026) legal light runs 06:39 to 20:13. The rule is: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, per the Wildlife Council's own approval summary. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Ohio sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt deer on my own land in Ohio without a license?
Ohio residents who own land — plus their parents, children, and grandchildren under 18 — may hunt it without a hunting license; the same applies to tenants and their children. Deer and turkey still need their own permit.
Verified · Ohio Division of Wildlife · Last verified 2026-08-16
Publisher's note. Statewide dates as approved by the Ohio Wildlife Council (April 29, 2026); all seven rows confirmed against the Council's own approval summary. The CWD surveillance area was expanded for 2026-27 to cover all of Allen County, Van Buren Township in Hancock County, and Holmes Township in Crawford County — those are the specific boundaries behind the 'CWD surveillance area' zone label used in the rows below. Confirm county-specific antlerless bag limits (outside the CWD area) in the current Ohio hunting regulations before hunting.