Grab your Guns! Hunting Seasons and Rules Approved for Ohio

Drum roll please……….HUNTING SEASONS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED!!

The Ohio Wildlife Council held a meeting to decide seasons and rules for the 2017-2018 years. Bag limits for deer hunting is still the same for Erie, Ottawa, Sandusky, and Huron counties. However there have been modifications for several other counties.

Here is the overview for 2017 and 2018:

Deer archery: Sept. 30, 2017-Feb. 4, 2018

Youth deer gun: Nov. 18-19, 2017

Deer gun: Nov. 27-Dec. 3, 2017; Dec. 16-17, 2017

Deer muzzleloader: Jan. 6-9, 2018

An increase in the bag limit, from two deer per county to three deer per county, was approved for Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Coshocton, Fairfield, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Tuscarawas, Vinton and Washington counties. These changes are designed to slow the rate of herd growth, while still allowing herds to increase.

As for waterfowl, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will vote on regulations in April, which is six months sooner than pervious years.

The youth waterfowl age limit has been lowered to include more young hunters. Anyone who is 17 or younger may now participate in the youth waterfowl hunts. The previous age limit was 15 or younger. The youth waterfowl weekend is Oct. 7-8.

For a complete list of season dates and bag limits, click here