Hunting in Ohio: 9 Animals to Hunt During the Winter

The Buckeye State offers a great variety of winter hunting.  Here are some of the most sought-after game animals in Ohio during the winter months.

1. Deer

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, “Ohio’s most popular deer hunting season is the traditional gun season. During this period, not only shotgun users, but bow and crossbow hunters, handgun hunters, and muzzleloader hunters may all participate.”

Deer season typically begins in early December and runs through early January.

2. Cottontail Rabbit

The rabbit season typically kicks off in early November and lasts until the end of February, and the bag limit is four. In the kind of wet weather typical for Ohio at this time of year, hunters can be advised to look for rabbits in “tall timber with downed tree tops, old farm machinery that's dry underneath, and hollow logs where (rabbits) can get in out of the rain and snow,” according to the Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum.

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3. Ringneck Pheasant/Chukar

Pheasant hunting remains highly popular in the state of Ohio with a number of hunting clubs, farms, and preserves in existence. Pheasant/chukar season’s approximate start date is also early November; however, the end date is roughly two months earlier than rabbit season’s. It concludes during the early portions of January. There is also a bag limit of two, according to Ultimate Pheasant Hunting.

4. Others: Fox (Red, Gray), Raccoon, Skunk, Opossum, Weasel

The season for these animals begins during the early portions of November and runs through the end of January. No bag limits exist at this time.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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