Fall hunting season for some Ohio wildlife begins Sept. 1, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Five species of wild animals can be pursued for harvest: squirrel, dove, rail (Virginia and sora), snipe and gallinule.
Canada goose and teal seasons open Sept. 5 throughout the Buckeye State.
Deer archery season will start at the end of the month on Sept. 26.
Most remaining seasons begin statewide in October and November.
Hunters should consult the latest edition of the Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations before taking to the woods, fields, or wetlands.
Squirrel season runs through Jan. 31, 2027
Squirrel season in Ohio runs Sept. 1 to Jan. 31, 2027.
Hunters are limited to six squirrels harvested per day, regardless of breed (fox, red, gray and black).
Squirrels can be found statewide, although fox squirrels are more abundant in western Ohio and gray squirrels are most abundant in eastern counties.
Early in the hunting season, squirrels are found in forests and woodlands that have beech, oak and hickory trees.
Doves hunted during two different seasons
Dove season in Ohio runs Sept. 1 to Nov. 8. A second dove season runs Dec. 12 to Jan. 1, 2027.
Hunters are limited to 15 doves harvested per day, regardless of breed (mourning and Eurasian collared).
Doves have been a popular game bird in Ohio since 1995.
Doves are abundant during the start of the season, especially in agricultural areas and open fields, and migrate to southern habitats for the winter.
Waterfowl hunting seasons in Ohio
Waterfowl identification is important in the early season when similar species are not legal game, ODNR noted, so it is a good idea to review an identification guide before an early season hunt.
Rail season runs Sept. 1 to Nov. 9. The daily limit is 25 birds.
Common gallinule season runs Sept. 1 to Nov. 9. The daily limit is 15 birds.
Wilson’s snipe season is split into two parts. The first season runs Sept. 1 to Nov. 25. The second season runs Dec. 12 to Jan. 1, 2027. The daily limit during both seasons is eight birds.
Early Canada goose season runs Sept. 5-13. The daily limit is five birds.
Early teal season runs Sept. 5 to Sept. 13. The daily limit is six birds.
“All hunters, including landowners, who plan to hunt migratory game birds, including mourning doves, ducks, geese, woodcock, rails, coots and snipe must have a Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification number on their hunting license,” according to state regulations. “To complete the HIP certification requirement, call 1-877-HIP-OHIO (1-877-447-6446), go to wildohio.gov, or use the HuntFish OH app and answer the survey questions.”
Contact Zach Tuggle at 419-564-3508. Follow him on X at @zachtuggle.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Hunting seasons start soon in Ohio. The starting days for each species
Reporting by Zach Tuggle, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Zach Tuggle, Mansfield News Journal | USA TODAY Network
