Ohio's hunting and trapping dates for the 2024-25 seasons have been finalized

Zach Tuggle, Mansfield News Journal

Hunting and trapping dates for the Ohio 2024-25 seasons of white-tailed deer, migratory birds, small game and furbearers have been finalized.

Members of the Ohio Wildlife Council approved those season dates April 10, according to a news release provided by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Several changes will go into effect next season − hunters should always refer to the Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations to ensure they are compliant.

Ohio deer hunting seasons for 2024-25

Deer season dates will remain similar to previous years.

Hunters may only harvest one antlered deer in Ohio throughout the season, regardless of how or where it is taken.

Hunting hours will remain 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

Deer seasons statewide will have the following dates:

  • Deer archery: Sept. 28-Feb. 2

  • Youth deer gun: Nov. 16-17

  • Deer gun: Dec. 2-Dec. 8 and Dec. 21-22

  • Deer muzzleloader: Jan. 4-7

Deer bag limits will increase from two deer to three for hunters in six counties: Butler, Clinton, Fayette, Greene, Madison and Pickaway.

"Deer management permits have been extended and are valid until Dec. 22, 2024, the last day of the bonus deer gun hunting weekend," the news release reads. "The permit is now available for use during the weeklong and bonus deer gun hunting weekend."

A buck white-tailed deer bounds through an Ohio field.
A buck white-tailed deer bounds through an Ohio field.

Ohio is expanding its Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) disease surveillance area of Hardin, Marion and Wyandot counties to include Auglaize and Jackson townships in Allen County.

"A CWD-positive deer was discovered in Allen County in 2023," the news release reads.

Hunters in the disease surveillance area have an expanded archery season of Sept. 14-Feb. 2, as well as an extra gun season running Oct. 12-14.

"Hunters within the disease surveillance area are required to submit samples for testing during the first two days of the early disease surveillance area gun season (Oct. 12-13) and the first two days of the weeklong deer gun season (Dec. 2-3)," the news release reads. "The Division of Wildlife will continue to offer voluntary testing drop-off locations and monitor for CWD within and around the disease surveillance area."

Other hunting seasons in Ohio for next year

The fall wild turkey hunting season will be open in 70 counties Oct. 1-27. The season limit will be one bird.

Spring 2025 wild turkey seasons will be announced later.

Kelly Schott, left, and her daughter, Sarah Schott, wear their hunter's orange as they hunt together at Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area in Sandusky County. Joining them on the hunt are their dogs Tippy and Retta.
Kelly Schott, left, and her daughter, Sarah Schott, wear their hunter's orange as they hunt together at Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area in Sandusky County. Joining them on the hunt are their dogs Tippy and Retta.

Ruffed grouse hunting season will run Nov. 1-Dec. 1 in 17 southern and eastern counties: Adams, Athens, Belmont, Gallia, Guernsey, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Vinton and Washington. The daily limit will be one bird.The state's river otter trapping zones were renamed. The river otter season limit is three, with no more than one coming from Zone B. Zone A (formerly Zone C) is comprised of 22 eastern counties. A zone map will be available in the 2024-25 regulations.

Waterfowl hunting seasons also were approved. The second split of duck, coot and merganser hunting dates are one week later than last season in the north zone and Lake Erie marsh zone. The north zone duck, coot and merganser hunting season are open Oct. 19-27, then again Nov. 16-Jan. 5. The Lake Erie marsh zone duck, coot and merganser hunting season dates are Oct. 12-27, then again Nov. 9-Dec. 22. Goose and Brant hunting season dates were approved in the Lake Erie marsh zone for Oct. 12-27, then again Nov. 16-Feb. 3. The youth and military waterfowl hunting weekend will be Sept. 28-29. A complete list of hunting and trapping seasons dates for 2024-25 is available at wildohio.gov.

ztuggle@gannett.com

419-564-3508

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Hunting and trapping dates for the 2024-25 seasons in Ohio released

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