ODNR Division of Wildlife - Hunting & Trapping - Allowable Hunting Equipment

Allowable Hunting Equipment

 

Please see Ohio's hunting regulations for specific regulations, season dates, times, locations, equipment, etc.

It is unlawful for any person to use a rifle, pistol, or revolver at any time on any land or water area, controlled or administered by the Division of Wildlife, except while lawfully trapping, or hunting wild animals, or target practicing on a designated Division of Wildlife target range.

Scroll down, or click species name to view allowable hunting equipment.

White-tailed Deer

Wild Turkey

Coyote

Wild Boar

Groundhog

Squirrel

Cottontail Rabbit

Mourning Dove

Waterfowl and Migratory Game Birds

Ring-necked Pheasant

Bobwhite Quail

Ruffed Grouse

Fox

Raccoon

Skunk

Opossum

Weasel

Crow

  

 

 

 

White-tailed Deer

Early Muzzleloader Season

Longbow – min. draw weight 40 lbs., includes compound and recurve bows. The arrow tip shall have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed minimum 3/4 inch width. Expandable and mechanical broadheads are legal. Poisoned or explosive arrows are illegal.           
                                     
Crossbow – draw weight no less than 75 lbs. The arrow tip shall have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed minimum 3/4 inch width. Expandable and mechanical broadheads are legal. Poisoned or explosive arrows are illegal.         
 
Muzzleloading rifle – .38 caliber or larger
 
Muzzleloading shotgun – 10 gauge or smaller using one ball per barrel

Archery Season

Longbow – min. draw weight 40 lbs., includes compound and recurve bows. The arrow tip shall have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed minimum 3/4 inch width. Expandable and mechanical broadheads are legal. Poisoned or explosive arrows are illegal.         
 
Crossbow – draw weight no less than 75 lbs. The arrow tip shall have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed minimum 3/4 inch width. Expandable and mechanical broadheads are legal. Poisoned or explosive arrows are illegal.        

Gun Season and
Youth Gun Season

Shotgun – 10 gauge or smaller using one ball or one rifled slug per barrel (rifled shotgun barrels are permitted when using shotgun slug ammunition) – the shotgun cannot be capable of holding more than 3 shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler which limits the capacity of the gun to 3 shells. The filler must be such that it cannot be removed without disassembling the gun. 
           
Muzzleloading rifle - .38 caliber or larger
 
Handgun – 5-in. min. length barrel, using straight-walled cartridges .357 caliber or larger
 
Longbow – min. draw weight 40 lbs., includes compound and recurve bows. The arrow tip shall have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed minimum 3/4 inch width. Expandable and mechanical broadheads are legal. Poisoned or explosive arrows are illegal.         
 
Crossbow – draw weight no less than 75 lbs. The arrow tip shall have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed minimum 3/4 inch width. Expandable and mechanical broadheads are legal. Poisoned or explosive arrows are illegal.         

Statewide Muzzleloader Season

Longbow – min. draw weight 40 lbs., includes compound and recurve bows.  The arrow tip shall have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed minimum 3/4 inch width. Expandable and mechanical broadheads are legal. Poisoned or explosive arrows are illegal.        
 
Crossbow – draw weight no less than 75 lbs. The arrow tip shall have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed minimum 3/4 inch width. Expandable and mechanical broadheads are legal. Poisoned or explosive arrows are illegal.         
 
Muzzleloading rifle - .38 caliber or larger
 
Muzzleloading shotgun - 10 gauge or smaller using one ball per barrel

 

*** A deer hunter cannot hunt with any rifle other than a muzzleloading rifle .38 caliber or larger ***
The only exception to this would be if you are hunting at a high fence operation that is licensed by  the Ohio Division of Wildlife as a Commercial Hunting Preserve.

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Wild Turkey

Spring/Fall Season

Longbow - min. draw weight 40 lbs., includes compound and recurve bows. The arrow tip shall have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed minimum 3/4 inch width. Expandable and mechanical broadheads are legal. Poisoned or explosive arrows are illegal.
 
Crossbow - draw weight no less than 75 lbs. The arrow tip shall have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed minimum 3/4 inch width. Expandable and mechanical broadheads are legal. Poisoned or explosive arrows are illegal.
 
Shotgun - including muzzleloading shotguns, using shot

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Coyote

No Closed Season
(See Hunting Regulations if hunting during any of the deer seasons)

Longbow - includes compound and recurve bows
 
Crossbow
 
Handgun – any caliber
 
Rifle – any caliber
 
Shotgun – 10 gauge or smaller
 
Airgun

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Wild Boar

No Closed Season
(See Hunting Regulations if hunting during any of the deer seasons)

Longbow - includes compound and recurve bows
 
Crossbow
 
Handgun – any caliber
 
Rifle – any caliber
 
Shotgun – 10 gauge or smaller
 
Airgun

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Groundhog

Closed for
Deer Gun Season Only

Longbow - includes compound and recurve bows
 
Crossbow
 
Handgun – any caliber
 
Rifle – any caliber
 
Shotgun – 10 gauge or smaller
 
Airgun

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Fox, Raccoon, Skunk, Opossum, Weasel, Squirrel,
   Cottontail Rabbit, Ring-necked Pheasant, Ruffed
   Grouse, Bobwhite Quail, and Crow 

Refer to Hunting Regulations for Season Dates

Longbow - includes compound and recurve bows
 
Crossbow
 
Handgun – any caliber
 
Rifle – any caliber
 
Shotgun – 10 gauge or smaller
 
Airgun

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Mourning Dove

Refer to Hunting Regulations for Season Datess

Shotgun – 10 gauge or smaller; cannot hold more than 3 shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler which limits the capacity of the gun to 3 shells. The filler must be such that it cannot be removed without disassembling the gun. May be taken with lead shot. 
 
Longbow - includes compound and recurve bows

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Waterfowl/Migratory Game Birds

Refer to Hunting Regulations for Season Dates

Shotgun – 10 gauge or smaller; cannot hold more than 3 shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler which limits the capacity of the gun to 3 shells. The filler must be such that it cannot be removed without disassembling the gun. Only nontoxic shot may be used to take waterfowl, rails, snipe, and gallinules.
 
Longbow - includes compound and recurve bows

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