Ohio’s traditional deer-gun hunting season begins Nov. 30

COLUMBUS — Deer hunting is a popular activity for sportsmen and women statewide and Ohio’s white-tailed deer continue to provide hunters across the state with excellent opportunities for success as they head out into the field, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Ohio’s deer-gun season opens Nov. 30 to provide opportunities for outdoor sports enthusiasts and the most effective management tool for maintaining Ohio’s healthy deer population, according to the ODNR.

Wildlife Hotline

Hunters and others who have questions about hunting may contact the ODNR Division of Wildlife at 800-945-3543.

The white-tailed deer-gun hunting seasons occur typically at a time when many Ohio hunters have last-minute questions, and ODNR Division of Wildlife will be available to assist.

Special call center hours include 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 20-21 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 22 for youth deer-gun season; and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 28 through Dec. 5 for deer-gun season.

The hotline will be closed Thanksgiving Day.

Poacher Hotline

Ohioans are encouraged to help enforce state wildlife laws by reporting violations to the division’s Turn-In-a-Poacher hotline by calling 800-762-2437.

Established in 1982, the TIP program allows individuals to anonymously call toll-free to report wildlife violations.

The hotline is open for calls 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.

Tips concerning wildlife violations also may be submitted at www.wildohio.gov.

Tipsters may be eligible to receive a cash award.

Hunting Season Details, Dates, Hours and Bag Limits

Ohio’s annual youth white-tailed deer hunting season gives young hunters the opportunity to pursue the state’s most popular big-game animal Nov. 21-22, and is open to hunters with a valid youth hunting license and a deer permit.

During the deer-gun seasons, deer can be hunted with a shotgun, a muzzleloader .38 caliber or larger, a handgun .357 caliber or larger, specific pistol-cartridge rifles or bows from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6.

Details about deer hunting rules are contained in the 2015-2016 Ohio Hunting Regulations, available where licenses are sold or at www.wildohio.gov.

Only either-sex permits may be used after Nov. 29, unless hunting in an ODNR Division of Wildlife authorized controlled hunt.

Deer bag limits are determined by county, and a hunter cannot exceed a county bag limit.

The statewide bag limit is six deer.

Additional ODNR Division of Wildlife-authorized controlled hunting opportunities do not count against county bag limits.

Hunters may harvest only one buck in Ohio, regardless of method of take or location.

Hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.