Ohio’s 2020 Fall Hunting Seasons Just Around the Corner

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Hunting season is fast approaching, and Ohio’s hunters are invited to kick off the year beginning Tuesday, Sept. 1 with opening days for squirrel, mourning dove, and more, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

“Fall in Ohio is an exciting time with so many hunting opportunities available,” said Division of Wildlife Chief Kendra Wecker. “We encourage experienced hunters to take someone new with them this year and wish everyone a safe, successful, and enjoyable fall hunting season.”

Hunters are reminded to check regulations for changes to season dates and bag limits as the 2020 fall seasons begin. A summary of Ohio’s hunting and trapping regulations is available where licenses are sold and at wildohio.gov.

The Division of Wildlife now has a free mobile app, HuntFish OH, available to download. The app allows customers to conveniently purchase fishing and hunting licenses, check game, view wildlife area maps, and much more. The HuntFish OH mobile app is available for Android and iOS users and can be found in the app store. Users can access the Division of Wildlife’s online system to check harvested white-tailed deer and wild turkey while out in the field, even without a Wi-Fi connection.

Squirrel (fox, gray, and red squirrels), dove, rail, snipe, and gallinule seasons open the 2020 fall hunting season on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Doves may be hunted sunrise to sunset, except for areas posted otherwise, until Sunday, Nov. 8. The season is open again from Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020 to Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. The daily bag limit is 15 doves, with a possession limit of 45 after the second day.

The early Canada goose and teal seasons begin Saturday, Sept. 5. Canada geese may be hunted from Saturday, Sept. 5 to Sunday, Sept. 13 with a daily bag limit of five birds. Teal may be hunted from Saturday, Sept. 5 to Sunday, Sept. 20 with a daily bag limit of six birds. Hours for early Canada goose and teal seasons are sunrise to sunset, unless posted. Possession limits after the second day for both teal and Canada geese are three times the daily bag limit. New this year, active duty military and veterans may hunt waterfowl during the two-day youth waterfowl weekend, Oct. 3-4.

Ohio’s popular archery season for deer begins on Saturday, Sept. 26, and runs through Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021. Deer hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. The statewide bag limit is six deer, and only one deer may be antlered regardless of location or method of take. Deer bag limits are determined by county, and hunters cannot exceed a county bag limit. Additional details and requirements for deer hunting, including on public land, can be found in the 2020-2021 Hunting and Trapping Regulation Guidebook.

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.