Ohio Whitetail Hunting
Plan your Ohio whitetail hunt with season dates, license options, and hunting opportunities organized by unit. Browse available private-land hunts and book access directly from landowners.
Last updated by Aricin Rotarius
Find Hunts by Unit
Browse private-land whitetail hunts across Ohio, organized by unit, and book directly with landowners.
Ohio Whitetail Seasons
These dates represent the “general” season dates. Check the individual hunting unit regulations for the most accurate season dates and regulations.
Dsa Archery
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Archery
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Dsa Early Gun
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Rifle
Gun
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Rifle · Youth hunters
Gun Season Early
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Rifle
Gun Season First Week
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Rifle
Statewide limit is six deer. Only one may be antlered. Hunters may combine individual county harvests to reach the statewide limit.
Gun Season Late
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Rifle
Gun Season Second Week
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Rifle
Statewide limit is six deer. Only one may be antlered. Hunters may combine individual county harvests to reach the statewide limit.
Muzzleloader
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Gun
Dates vary by unit
Rifle · Youth hunters
Deer taken by youth hunters during the youth deer gun season count toward the county and statewide bag limits. All youths and nonhunting adults must visibly wear the required hunter orange clothing.
Ohio Whitetail Licenses
Resident Licenses
| License | Availability | Eligibility | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Management Permit: Free Senior Resident | — | Senior hunters | $0.00 |
Resident only. Free senior permit. A transaction fee may apply for online and in-app license and permit sales. | |||
| Deer Management Permit: Senior Resident | — | Senior hunters | $15.00 |
Resident only. A transaction fee may apply for online and in-app license and permit sales. | |||
| Either-Sex Deer Permit: Adult Resident | — | — | $31.20 |
A transaction fee may apply for online and in-app license and permit sales. | |||
| Either-Sex Deer Permit: Free Senior Resident | — | Senior hunters | $0.00 |
Resident only. Free senior permit. A transaction fee may apply for online and in-app license and permit sales. | |||
| Either-Sex Deer Permit: Senior Resident | — | Senior hunters | $12.00 |
Resident only. A transaction fee may apply for online and in-app license and permit sales. | |||
Nonresident Licenses
| License | Availability | Eligibility | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Either-Sex Deer Permit: Adult Nonresident | — | — | $218.40 |
A transaction fee may apply for online and in-app license and permit sales. | |||
Other Licenses
| License | Availability | Eligibility | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Management Permit: Adult and Youth | — | Youth hunters | $15.00 |
Available to both resident and nonresident adults and youth. A transaction fee may apply for online and in-app license and permit sales. | |||
| Either-Sex Deer Permit: Youth | — | Youth hunters | $16.00 |
Available to both resident and nonresident youth. A transaction fee may apply for online and in-app license and permit sales. | |||
Frequently Asked Questions
Whitetail season in Ohio includes several phases with different methods and dates. Archery seasons run approximately September 13 through February 1, 2026 for dedicated season archery and approximately September 27 through February 1, 2026 for general archery. Rifle seasons include a dedicated early gun phase approximately October 11–13, 2025, a general gun season approximately November 22–23, 2025, an early gun season approximately December 1–7, 2025, and a late gun season approximately December 20–21, 2025. A muzzleloader season runs approximately January 3–6, 2026. During the first and second weeks of the gun season, the statewide limit is six deer with only one antlered, and hunters may combine individual county harvests to reach the statewide limit. Youth hunters and nonhunting adults must visibly wear required hunter orange clothing during the youth deer gun season, and deer taken by youth hunters count toward county and statewide bag limits.
