Ohio Deer Season Dates 2026–27
Ohio runs one long bow season with three short gun windows dropped into it, plus a four-day muzzleloader hunt after New Year’s. Every date below was read on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ own release, season PDF or administrative code.
When does deer season start in Ohio?
In Ohio, the 2026–27 deer season starts with Archery (crossbow included) on Sept 26, 2026. Some limited hunts open earlier: Disease Surveillance Area archery on Sept 12, 2026 (see the notes for who and where). The regular firearms opener is Nov 30, 2026. Every season, with its zone notes and agency source, is in the table below.
Ohio season table
| Season | Dates | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disease Surveillance Area archery | Sept 12, 2026 – Feb 7, 2027 | Only inside the CWD Disease Surveillance Area. | Agency |
| Archery (crossbow included) | Sept 26, 2026 – Feb 7, 2027 | Statewide. Crossbows are legal all archery season; Ohio has no separate crossbow season. | Agency |
| Disease Surveillance Area early gun | Oct 10–12, 2026 | Only inside the Disease Surveillance Area. | Agency |
| Youth deer gun | Nov 21–22, 2026 | Weekend before gun week, for youth hunters with an adult. | Agency |
| Deer gun week | Nov 30 – Dec 6, 2026 | Regular firearms opener is Monday, Nov 30. | Agency |
| Bonus gun weekend | Dec 19–20, 2026 | Two-day weekend in December. | Agency |
| Muzzleloader | Jan 2–5, 2027 | Four days, Saturday through Tuesday. | Agency |
Dates checked Oct 10, 2026 against: ODNR — 2026–27 hunting seasons approved; ODNR — 2026–27 season dates (PDF); Ohio Administrative Code 1501:31-15-11. Confirm with the agency for zone/county rules, bag limits and license requirements before you hunt.
Open right now
As of Oct 13, 2026, these are open (some only in certain zones or for certain hunters — see the notes):
- Disease Surveillance Area archery (through Feb 7, 2027)
- Archery (crossbow included) (through Feb 7, 2027)
Next to open: Youth deer gun on Nov 21, 2026.
What sets Ohio’s calendar apart
Ohio is an archery state first: bowhunters get from Sept 26 all the way to Feb 7, more than four months. Gun hunters get shorter, defined slices instead of one long firearm month, so check ODNR’s legal-equipment list before you pick a gun.
- Gun week starts on a Monday. The regular firearms opener is Monday, Nov 30, the Monday after Thanksgiving, so plan vacation days around that week.
- Youth go first. The youth deer gun weekend, Nov 21–22, lands the Saturday and Sunday before Thanksgiving.
- A December encore. The bonus gun weekend, Dec 19–20, gives a second firearm chance right before Christmas.
- Muzzleloader in January. Jan 2–5, 2027, Saturday through Tuesday, after the New Year’s holiday.
- Disease Surveillance Area. Hunters inside Ohio’s CWD Disease Surveillance Area start archery two weeks early (Sept 12) and get an early gun hunt Oct 10–12. Carcass and testing rules apply there.
- Antlerless limits are set county by county on ODNR’s bag-limit map rather than by a separate late antlerless season.
Legal hunting hours in Ohio
Ohio deer hours run from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, calculated for where you are standing (Ohio Administrative Code 1501:31-15-11). Sunrise in Steubenville and sunrise in Celina are several minutes apart, so use your own spot’s times rather than a statewide number.
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FAQ
When does Ohio deer gun season start in 2026?
Ohio's deer gun week runs Monday, Nov 30 through Sunday, Dec 6, 2026. The youth deer gun weekend is Nov 21–22 and the bonus gun weekend is Dec 19–20.
Can I use a crossbow during Ohio archery season?
Yes. Crossbows are legal for the entire Ohio archery season, Sept 26, 2026 to Feb 7, 2027. There is no separate crossbow season.
When is Ohio muzzleloader season?
Ohio's muzzleloader season is Jan 2–5, 2027, according to ODNR's 2026–27 season dates.