Ohio Hunting License Cost 2026: Fees, Deer & Turkey Permits

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.

A resident annual Ohio hunting license costs $19, and the nonresident annual license costs $180.96. Species permits for deer, turkey and waterfowl are charged on top — see the tables above. Prices are set by Ohio Division of Wildlife and were read from their own license document on Aug 1, 2026.

$180.96 for the annual nonresident license. The cheapest short-term option is the Nonresident 3-Day Hunt Small Game at $40.56. Species permits come on top of the base license.

Deer Permit, Either Sex — $31.20. Deer Permit, Antlerless Only — $15. Senior Deer Permit, Either Sex — $12. Senior Deer Permit, Antlerless Only — $15. Youth Deer Permit, Either Sex — $16. Nonresident Deer Permit, Either Sex — $76.96. Nonresident Deer Permit, Antlerless Only — $15. A deer permit is charged on top of the base hunting license.

Ohio requires a hunter education certificate for most first-time license buyers. Licenses are sold through Wild Ohio / ohiolicenseagent.com, the state's official portal. Ohio hunting licenses are valid March 1 through the last day of February the following year (per ODNR license terms).

Yes, for most first-time buyers. No birth-year cutoff — under ORC 1533.10(G)(2), anyone without a prior hunting license, a hunter education certificate, or evidence of equivalent training cannot buy a license other than an apprentice license. New hunters can instead start on an apprentice license and hunt under a certified adult before taking the course.