The Ohio Wildlife Council has made its decision regarding the 2025-26 hunting and trapping seasons, setting the stage for sportsmen and conservation efforts across the state. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife recently announced the approval of dates for the pursuit of white-tailed deer, small game, migratory birds, and furbearers. This year's deer season schedules are not bringing any drastic changes, keeping with the tradition of past years. In a notable adjustment, the council has authorized an increase of the antlerless deer limit from one to two on public lands, and permits for deer management can now be used in these areas as well.
The designated archery season is all set to commence on Saturday, September 27, and will extend until Sunday, February 1, 2026. Youth hunters can look forward to their exclusive window with firearms on November 22-23, while the general gun season spans from December 1-7 and includes an additional weekend on December 20-21. Muzzleloader enthusiasts have a slot scheduled from January 3 to January 6, 2026. All these dates mirror last year's setup, promising familiar routines for the hunting community.
In response to changing wildlife populations, the council has also made county-specific changes, lowering the bag limit to two deer in Defiance and Paulding counties. However, they've cast a wider net for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) surveillance, an effort that encompasses multiple townships across Hardin, Marion, and Wyandot counties, among others. Townships in Allen, Crawford, Delaware, Hancock, Morrow, and Union counties also fall within the area of increased scrutiny for this debilitating disease that affects cervids.
Special hunting opportunities are available within the CWD surveillance zone, offering an earlier start to archery season on September 13, and an early gun season taking place from October 11 to October 13. As outlined on the ODNR website, the goal is to manage the deer population effectively while also mitigating the spread of CWD, a task that requires the cooperation of Ohio's hunters and the diligent work of wildlife officials. For those eager to plan their hunting trips, the full details are available on the ODNR website.
