White-Tailed Deer Hunting in Ohio

White-tailed deer hunters in Ohio have a chance to take a trophy buck.

The State of Ohio is one of the largest producers of trophy white-tailed bucks that qualify for the Boone and Crockett Club's record books, making it a popular deer hunting location. White-tailed deer hunting in Ohio is a great experience for many reasons including the availability of unlimited hunting licenses, plenty of public hunting land and a hunter-friendly culture.

Licenses

Ohio's unlimited licenses can be purchased via a simple online system.

The online application service provided by the state of Ohio is simple and user friendly for both resident hunters and nonresident hunters. Licenses may also be purchased in person at vendors across the state or by mail.

Deer hunters in Ohio will need a hunting license and a deer permit that will entitle the holder to take either a antlered deer or an antlerless deer. An additional anterless deer permit may be purchased as well. Special licenses are also available for youth and senior hunters.

Legal Hunting Weapons

Shotguns are popular for white-tailed deer hunting in Ohio as centerfire rifles are not allowed.

The State of Ohio does not allow hunting with centerfire rifles, but there are a number of other choices. Shotguns that are plugged to not hold more than three shells in the magazine and are not larger than 10 gauge may be used to hunt deer in Ohio.

Pistols using a straight-walled cartridge of at least .357 Magnum and having at least a 5-inch-long barrel may be used. Hunters may also hunt with muzzleloaders of .38 caliber or larger. Bows with a draw weight of at least 40 pounds and crossbows of at least 75 pounds are legal to use as well.

Public Hunting Land

Ohio offers many public hunting areas including national forest land.

Ohio has a lot of public access hunting land available for deer hunting. The state offers about 100 Wildlife Areas that allow public hunting, and most will accommodate deer hunting.

In addition to the Wildlife Areas, many state parks and forest offer public hunting opportunity. The Wayne National Forest in Ohio also provides about 250,000 acres of public hunting.

Some areas of the state parks, state forests and national forest may be closed to hunting. Deer hunters will need to consult with park or forest staff for area-specific information.

Private Land Hunting

Getting permission to hunt private land can be difficult, but options are available.

Acquiring permission to hunt private land can be difficult, especially for nonresident hunters who are unlikely to have a network of local connections. However, hunting leases on private land are a popular option for many but can be expensive.

Hunters may personally lease land or join a hunting club to gain access to the club's leased land. Ohio requires written permission from the landowner to be carried by all hunters on private land.

Accomodations and Services

Hunters will find many Ohio businesses opening early and closing late to accommodate hunters.

Ohio is generally hunter friendly, especially the smaller towns located near hunting land. Many business owners in popular deer-hunting areas will open earlier and close later to better serve deer hunters. Deer processing services and taxidermists will not be difficult to find either.

Hotels, motels, and sporting good retailers are available across the state. Campgrounds for tent and RV camping, rental cabins, and other accommodation choices are provided in the state parks as well as by private businesses.

References

• Boone and Crockett Club: A Georgraphic Analysis
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources: Hunting / General Information
• Licenses and Permits
• USDA Forest Service: Wayne National Forest

Resources

• Permission for Hunting, Fishing or Trapping