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. 

Rifles
(other than a muzzleloading rifle .38 caliber or larger) are not allowed for hunting deer in Ohio.        

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 - 10-gauge or smaller shotgun using shot, including muzzleloading shotguns

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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

Poisoned or explosive arrows are unlawful. While hunting, it is unlawful to have attached to a longbow or crossbow any mechanical, electrical, or electronic device capable of projecting a beam of light.
 
Handgun – any caliber
 
Rifle – any caliber

It is unlawful for any person to use or hunt with any rifle during the deer gun, the youth deer gun, the early muzzleloader hunts (Salt Fork Wildlife Area, Wildcat Hollow, and Shawnee State Forest), and the statewide muzzleloader seasons other than a muzzleloading rifle .38 caliber or larger.
 
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

Poisoned or explosive arrows are unlawful. While hunting, it is unlawful to have attached to a longbow or crossbow any mechanical, electrical, or electronic device capable of projecting a beam of light.
 
Handgun – any caliber
 
Rifle – any caliber

It is unlawful for any person to use or hunt with any rifle during the deer gun, the youth deer gun, the early muzzleloader hunts (Salt Fork Wildlife Area, Wildcat Hollow, and Shawnee State Forest), and the statewide muzzleloader seasons other than a muzzleloading rifle .38 caliber or larger.
 
Shotgun – 10 gauge or smaller
 
Airgun

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Groundhog

Closed for
Deer Gun Season Only

Longbow - includes compound and recurve bows
 
Crossbow
 
Poisoned or explosive arrows are unlawful. While hunting, it is unlawful to have attached to a longbow or crossbow any mechanical, electrical, or electronic device capable of projecting a beam of light.

Handgun – any caliber
 
Rifle – any caliber

It is unlawful for any person to use or hunt with any rifle during the deer gun, the youth deer gun, the early muzzleloader hunts (Salt Fork Wildlife Area, Wildcat Hollow, and Shawnee State Forest), and the statewide muzzleloader seasons other than a muzzleloading rifle .38 caliber or larger.
 
Shotgun – 10 gauge or smaller
 
Airgun

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

Refer to Hunting Regulations for Season Dates

Longbow - includes compound and recurve bows
 
Crossbow

Poisoned or explosive arrows are unlawful. While hunting, it is unlawful to have attached to a longbow or crossbow any mechanical, electrical, or electronic device capable of projecting a beam of light.

Handgun
– any caliber
 
Rifle – any caliber

It is unlawful for any person to use or hunt with any rifle during the deer gun, the youth deer gun, the early muzzleloader hunts (Salt Fork Wildlife Area, Wildcat Hollow, and Shawnee State Forest), and the statewide muzzleloader seasons other than a muzzleloading rifle .38 caliber or larger.
 
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

Poisoned or explosive arrows are unlawful. While hunting, it is unlawful to have attached to a longbow or crossbow any mechanical, electrical, or electronic device capable of projecting a beam of light.

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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

Poisoned or explosive arrows are unlawful. While hunting, it is unlawful to have attached to a longbow or crossbow any mechanical, electrical, or electronic device capable of projecting a beam of light.

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