2013-2014 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Season Dates Announced

COLUMBUS, OH - The 2013-2014 Ohio hunting and trapping season dates have been released by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The seasons include changes to address deer management on a county level, and increase hunting opportunities through extended hours and a new early muzzleloader season.

2013-2014 hunting and trapping seasons:

• Deer archery: Sept. 28 - Feb. 2, 2014
• Antlerless deer muzzleloader: Oct. 12-13
• Youth deer: Nov. 23-24
• Deer gun: Dec. 2-8
• Deer muzzleloader: Jan. 4-7, 2014
• Squirrel (gray, red and fox): Sept. 1 - Jan. 31, 2014
• Ruffed grouse: Oct. 12 - Jan. 31, 2014
• Fall wild turkey: Oct. 14 - Dec. 1
• Youth upland game: Oct. 19-20, Oct. 26-27
• Cottontail rabbit: Nov. 1 -Feb. 28, 2014
• Ring-necked pheasant: Nov. 1 - Jan. 5, 2014
• Bobwhite quail: Nov. 1 - Dec. 1
• Fox, raccoon, opossum, skunk and weasel: Nov. 10 - Jan. 31, 2014
• Mink and muskrat: Nov. 10 - Feb. 28, 2014
• Mink, muskrat, raccoon, opossum, skunk and weasel (Erie, Ottawa and Sandusky counties, and Lucas County east of the Maumee River): Nov. 10 - March 15, 2014
• Beaver: Dec. 26 - Feb. 28, 2014
• River otter: Dec. 26 - Feb. 28, 2014
• Crow: June 7 - March 8, 2014; June 6, 2014 - March 7, 2015 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday only)
• Youth spring wild turkey: April 19-20, 2014
• Spring wild turkey: April 21, 2014 - May 18, 2014
• Coyote and feral swine (wild boar): No closed season
• Groundhog: Closed only during deer gun season

Deer bag limits are now determined by county. Deer bag limits, by county:

One either-sex permit, one antlerless permit (eight counties): Darke, Erie, Fayette, Hancock, Madison, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood.

Two either-sex permits, one antlerless permit (23 counties): Auglaize, Butler, Champaign, Clark, Gallia, Harrison, Henry, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Logan, Meigs, Mercer, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Preble, Ross, Shelby, Van Wert and Washington.

Three either-sex permits, one antlerless permit (57 counties): Adams, Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Belmont, Brown, Carroll, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Defiance, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Fulton, Geauga, Greene, Guernsey, Hamilton, Hardin, Highland, Holmes, Huron, Knox, Lake, Licking, Lorain, Lucas, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Paulding, Pickaway, Pike, Portage, Putnam, Richland, Scioto, Seneca, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Vinton, Warren, Wayne, Williams and Wyandot.

Deer hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes past sunset for all deer seasons. Antlerless permits will be valid until Dec. 1, the Sunday before the deer-gun season.

Hunters may harvest only one buck in Ohio, regardless of method of take or location. The statewide bag limit is nine deer, but a hunter cannot exceed a county bag limit. Additional controlled hunting opportunities do not count against the statewide bag limit.

The antlerless deer muzzleloader season was added in October. The December bonus gun weekend, the early muzzleloader season at three public hunting areas (Salt Fork Wildlife Area, Shawnee State Forest and Wildcat Hollow), and urban hunting zones are discontinued.

The fall wild turkey season begins on Oct. 14, the Monday following the antlerless deer muzzleloader season. Butler, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Hamilton, Huron, Seneca and Warren counties are added to the list of counties open for fall turkey hunting.

Deer and fall turkey permits will go on sale July 1.

Cottontail rabbit hunting restrictions are removed in the snowshoe hare protected area in Geauga and Ashtabula counties. Remaining snowshoe hares are still protected as a state-endangered species, and it remains illegal to kill them in Ohio.

Season dates and bag limits for migratory birds, including mourning dove, Canada goose, rail, moorhen, snipe, woodcock and waterfowl will be set in August in compliance with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2013-2014 framework.

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.