Hunting in Ohio: Animals to Hunt During the Fall Months

The state of Ohio remains one of the most popular and prosperous for hunting, particularly during the fall months, and there are a bevy of game options available. Here are some of them:

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1. Turkey
Perhaps the most popular type of hunting to indulge in during this time. Typically, the fall turkey season in Ohio opens during the early parts of October and lasts through the end of November, just in time for Thanksgiving dinners.

According to trekohio.com,there are approximately 180,000 turkeys in the state. Hunting is permitted “on certain public lands on limited dates with a proper permit.”

Hunters may use a longbow, crossbow, or a shotgun to hunt for turkey.  According to Wildlife Ohio, the minimum draw weight for the longbow is 40 lbs. For crossbow hunting, the draw weight must be no less than 75 lbs., while the shotgun must be 10-gauge or smaller.

2. Deer
Deer season revs up in the latter portion of autumn just before the winter solstice. According to fallcolor.ohiodnr.gov, “While the regular deer gun season doesn’t begin until December ... younger hunters (age 17 and under) get an early shot during the youth deer gun season (in) November.”

To hunt white-tailed deer, the longbow, crossbow, muzzleloading rifle, muzzleloading shotgun are permitted.

3. Doves
Fortunately, Ohio dove hunting regulations are not very stringent. Hunters can pursue doves throughout the day, from sunrise to sunset.

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4. Squirrels
The bag limit is six squirrels per day, so the hunting is bountiful for those more inclined to hunt smaller game.

5. Feral Pigs
It’s a bonus to know that opportunities to hunt more unusual game can be had in the state of Ohio. According to wideopenspaces.com, “Many landowners offering private deer hunts – farmers especially – will throw in a bag limit for feral pigs as well, just in an effort to reduce burgeoning populations.”

6. Other options
There are also plenty of game besides deer and turkey to hunt during the fall months. Hunting and trapping season for fox, raccoon, skunk, opossum, weasel, mink, and muskrat also begins in the early part of November, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Clearly, with all of these options available, it’s no wonder that hunters in Ohio and surrounding parts cast an eager eye towards the autumn months. While beating the heat of the summer, it’s comforting to know that outdoor gaming waits just around the corner.

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

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