Ohio Reviews Hunting Season Changes

Proposals for the 2026-2027 hunting seasons include several county-specific adjustments to deer bag limits. Bag limits could increase to three deer in Defiance, Paulding, and Warren counties. Conversely, in Athens, Meigs, and Washington counties, the proposed bag limit is two deer, with only one being antlerless, following a significant outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease in 2025. A key focus of the proposed changes is the management of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The CWD surveillance area is slated for expansion to include all of Allen County, as well as townships in Hancock and Crawford counties. Within this designated zone, the season bag limit for deer may be increased to six. Hunters within the expanded CWD surveillance area could also see extended hunting opportunities. The proposals include an earlier start for the archery season on September 12, 2026, and an early gun season running from October 10 to October 12, 2026. These measures are designed to help manage the deer population in the area affected by the disease. Other notable changes have been proposed for fall turkey and ruffed grouse seasons. Fall turkey hunting might be restricted to shotguns with shotshells only, eliminating the use of archery equipment. Ruffed grouse hunting is proposed to become a limited, controlled hunt by permit only in four designated areas. The Ohio Wildlife Council, an eight-member board, is responsible for approving all proposed rules and regulations from the Division of Wildlife. The public has an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposals online via the Division of Wildlife's website from March 2 to April 1, with a statewide hearing scheduled for April 8. If approved, the new rules will take effect on June 30, 2026. These potential changes come at a time when hunting plays a significant role in Ohio's economy. A 2022 report showed that hunting activities generated $1.9 billion in spending and supported 12,000 jobs in the state. Approximately 500,000 hunters in Ohio each spent an average of $3,500 that year. Nationally, hunting license sales saw a surge during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, with an increase of about 5% over 2019. However, sales have since seen a decline, returning to pre-pandemic levels. Tracking these trends is crucial for state wildlife agencies that rely on license fees for funding.