Hunting News

Wildlife Council approves 2021-22 hunting regulations

Wildlife Council approves 2021-22 hunting regulations

By Ohio Department of Natural Resources

All 2021-22 hunting regulations proposed by Division of Wildlife biologists were approved April 7 by the Wildlife Council during its regularly scheduled meeting.

Regulations for the 2021-22 white-tailed deer hunting seasons were also approved. As in years past, a hunter may take no more than one antlered deer regardless of where or how it is taken, and a hunter cannot exceed a county bag limit. All county bag limits remain identical to last season.

The deer hunting season dates for 2021-22 include Deer archery: Sept. 25, 2021-Feb. 6, 2022; Youth deer gun: Nov. 20-21, 2021; Deer gun: Nov. 29-Dec. 5, 2021; Dec. 18-19, 2021; Deer muzzleloader: Jan. 8-11, 2022. Hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

Antlerless deer may be taken from all public hunting areas from Sept. 25, 2021, to Feb. 6, 2022, provided a hunter takes only one antlerless deer from these lands per license year.

Deer management permits have been expanded to all 88 Ohio counties and may be used from Sept. 25 to Nov. 28, 2021. Hunters can use the deer management permit up to the county bag limit. The permit does not include public hunting areas, except Lake La Su An Wildlife Area, Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, and during controlled hunts. Only antlerless deer may be harvested with a deer management permit. An antlerless deer in Ohio is defined as any deer without antlers, or with antlers less than 3 inches long.

Deer populations in Ohio have shown increased growth over the last several years. Expanding the use of deer management permits statewide on private lands helps keep populations near targeted numbers while also maintaining a healthy and robust deer population on public lands. This also simplifies where hunters can use the permit and allows for more targeted harvest in counties where necessary.

Ohio’s wild turkey hunting seasons for 2022 maintain a 30-day spring turkey season in the south zone and northeast zone, with opening days on Saturdays.

Public land wild turkey hunters are limited to one bearded wild turkey during the 2022 spring season. This new regulation is in response to several below average reproductive years, and is designed to maintain healthy wild turkey populations on public lands. The statewide limit during the spring remains two bearded birds.

For a complete list of Ohio 2021-22 hunting seasons click here.

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