COLUMBUS, Ohio (AVC News) — Ohio’s white-tailed deer archery hunting season begins Saturday, Sept. 26, and will run through Feb. 7, 2027, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
Hunters may use crossbows, compound bows, recurve bows and longbows during the archery season.
Hunters must have a valid hunting license and deer permit before hunting. The ODNR said license and permit sales help fund wildlife research, management, habitat restoration, land acquisition and education programs across the state.
Bowhunting remains a significant part of Ohio’s deer harvest. During the 2025-26 hunting seasons, hunters harvested 232,142 deer, with 107,738 — about 46% — taken with a bow.
October and November are typically popular months for bowhunting as deer activity increases during the breeding season.
A new discounted deer permit package is available this year for Ohio residents ages 18 through 64 at the time of purchase. The package includes two deer permits for $43.89 and may be used to harvest either antlered or antlerless deer.
Ohio’s other deer hunting opportunities this season include:
- Youth gun season: Nov. 21-22
- Statewide gun season: Nov. 30-Dec. 6
- Additional statewide gun season: Dec. 19-20
- Muzzleloader season: Jan. 2-5, 2027
Deer management permits are valid for antlerless deer only, while either-sex permits may be used for antlered or antlerless deer. Both types of permits are available through Feb. 7, 2027.
Hunters can purchase licenses and permits through the free HuntFish OH mobile app, online through Ohio’s Wildlife Licensing System or at a license sales agent. The HuntFish OH app also provides access to hunting regulations, public hunting area maps and sunrise and sunset times.
The ODNR Division of Wildlife also posts statewide deer harvest totals each Wednesday throughout the season.
According to a report cited by ODNR, Ohio hunters generated approximately $1.9 billion in economic spending in 2022 and supported about 12,000 jobs.
More information about Ohio’s deer hunting seasons, regulations and harvest totals is available through ODNR’s Division of Wildlife.
Last Updated on September 25, 2026 by AVC News
