The first signs of Ohio’s fall hunting season will appear before the leaves begin to change. Beginning Tuesday, September 1, hunters will return to forests, farm fields and woodland edges as the state’s squirrel and mourning dove seasons get underway. Early opportunities for Canada goose and teal follow four days later, while Ohio’s statewide white-tailed deer archery season opens near the end of the month.
The staggered openings create a September calendar filled with opportunities for both experienced hunters and those heading into the field for the first time.
Squirrel Season Opens September 1
Ohio’s squirrel season runs from Tuesday, Sept. 1 through Sunday, Jan. 31, 2027. Squirrels are plentiful throughout the state, although hunters are likely to encounter different species depending on where they go. Fox squirrels are generally more abundant in western Ohio, while gray squirrels are more common in eastern counties.
The best habitat typically includes forests and woodlands containing mature beech, oak and hickory trees. Those trees provide nuts that become an important food source as summer gives way to fall. The lengthy season also gives hunters several months to pursue squirrels under changing conditions, from the dense foliage of early September to the bare woods of winter.
Dove Hunting Returns to Ohio Fields
Mourning dove season also begins September 1 and continues through Sunday, Nov. 8. A second season will run from December 12 through January 1, 2027.
Doves have been a popular Ohio game bird since 1995. They are especially abundant during the opening weeks of the season, when hunters commonly find them near agricultural fields, open ground and feeding areas. As temperatures fall, many doves migrate south for the winter, making the beginning of the season one of the year’s best opportunities to find them in large numbers.
Early Waterfowl Seasons Begin September 5
Ohio’s early Canada goose and teal seasons will run from Saturday, September 5 through Sunday, September 13.Blue-winged teal, green-winged teal and Canada geese are among the earliest waterfowl encountered around Ohio wetlands during the migration season. Hunters often pursue them from agricultural fields, the edges of wetlands and ponds, or from boats.Because several waterfowl species can look similar in flight, hunters are encouraged to review the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s waterfowl identification guide before heading out. Correct identification is particularly important during the early season, when some similar-looking species are not legal game.New waterfowl hunting zones take effect in Ohio this year. Hunters should determine which zone includes their hunting location before the regular waterfowl seasons begin in October.
Deer Archery Season Follows Later in the Month
Ohio’s statewide white-tailed deer archery season opens Saturday, Sept. 26 and continues through Sunday, February 7, 2027.
Hunters within the state’s designated disease surveillance area may begin archery hunting two weeks earlier, on Saturday, September 12. The boundaries and special requirements for that area are included in the state’s 2026-27 hunting regulations.
A notable change this year allows deer management permits, which are valid for antlerless deer, to be used on both public hunting areas and private land throughout the season. Hunters should consult the regulations booklet for permit rules, county limits and other requirements before hunting.
More Private Land Available to Hunters
The Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership has added properties for the 2026-27 season. The program provides hunters with access to participating private land while offering incentives to landowners who make their property available. Hunters may use enrolled properties after obtaining a free daily permit.
Property listings, enrollment information and permits are available through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Before entering the field, hunters should check current season dates, zones, daily limits and other rules through the regulations booklet, wildohio.gov or the free HuntFish OH app.
Available for Apple and Android devices, the app allows users to purchase licenses, view wildlife area maps and report deer and wild turkey harvests. Harvest information can be entered through the app even when an internet connection is unavailable.
Source, Photo: ODNR