COLUMBUS, Ohio (WJW) — Ohio hunting season begins Thursday, Sept. 1.
“Many Ohioans are looking forward to the start of the fall hunting season,” Governor Mike DeWine is quoted as saying in a press release from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. “Great public and private land can be found throughout Ohio, creating great places to hunt squirrels, doves and waterfowl in September. This is also a great time to introduce someone new to the hunt and make new memories.”
As of September 1, you can hunt:
- Fox squirrel, gray squirrel and red squirrel
- Pigeon
- Lane
- Snipe
- Gallinule
Squirrels are the state’s favorite small game species, according to ODNR. At the beginning of the hunting season, they can be found in forests and groves with beech, oak and hickory trees.
Pigeons are a popular game bird in Ohio, according to ODNR. They are abundant in early September before migrating south.
Starting Saturday, September 3, you can also start hunting waterfowl, including Canada Geese and Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal and Cinnamon Teal.
The birds are “some of the first migratory waterfowl to arrive in Ohio’s wetlands,” according to ODNR. “They can be hunted in agricultural fields, from the banks of wetlands or ponds, or from a boat.”
Waterfowl hunters should use the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s identification guide before looking for waterfowl, according to the ODNR.
Here are other ODNR resources to use this hunting season:
Archery Season for Whitetail Deer begins September 24 and September 10 in Hardin, Marion, and Wyandot counties. See the 2022-23 Hunting and Trapping Regulations for more details on hunting hours, permit and tagging requirements, and other rules.
Do you need a permit? You can use ODNR’s HuntFish OH app on iOS and Android to purchase hunting and fishing licenses, view wildlife area maps, and check deer and wild turkey harvests.
Hunting on private land: Through the Ohio Hunter and Landowner Access Association, hunters can gain access to hunt on private land, and private landowners can get incentives for allowing it.
Where to start? Looking to learn more about the lifestyle or find a recipe for wild game? Wild Ohio Harvest Community offers online learning and hands-on workshops for new and experienced hunters alike.