Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-15-11 - [Effective until 6/30/2025] Deer regulations
It shall be unlawful to hunt, take, or possess deer except in accordance with Chapter 1531 or 1533 of the Revised Code, division 1501:31 of the Administrative Code, or as otherwise authorized by the chief of the division of wildlife or the chief's designee.
(A) Season dates
(1) Deer archery season is open in disease
surveillance areas established under rule
1501:31-19-03 of the
Administrative Code from the second Saturday in September through the first
Sunday in February.
(2) Deer
archery season is open statewide from the last Saturday of September through
the first Sunday of February.
(3)
Deer gun season is open in established disease surveillance areas from October
7
12 through
October 9
14,
2023
2024. All
deer gun season rules apply to these dates within established disease
surveillance areas.
(4) Youth deer
gun season is open November 18
16 and 19
17, 2023
2024, for persons seventeen years of age and younger.
All deer gun season rules apply to these dates.
(5) Deer gun season is open from the first
Monday after Thanksgiving through the following Sunday and is open on December
16
21 and
17
22,
2023
2024.
(6)
Deer muzzleloading season is open from the first Saturday after New Years day
through the following Tuesday.
(7)
The chief of the division of wildlife may provide a permit which allows the
taking of deer from division owned or administered lands to young or
handicapped hunters prior to or after the opening of deer gun season. Provided
further, all provisions of this rule or any other division of wildlife rule
apply to all persons issued said permit.
(B) Bag limits
(1) It shall be unlawful to take more than
six deer per license year, regardless of method of take or location taken,
except as provided in paragraphs (B)(7), (B)(8) and (B)(9) of this
rule.
(2) It shall be unlawful to
take more than one antlered deer per license year, regardless of method of take
or location. For purposes of this rule an antlered deer is any deer with
antlers three inches in height or greater. An antlerless deer is any deer with
no antlers or antlers less than three inches in height.
(3) It shall be unlawful to take an antlered
deer with a deer management permit.
(4) It shall be unlawful to hunt or take more
than two deer per license year from the following counties:
Butler, Clinton, Fayette, Greene, Hocking,
Jackson, Lawrence, Madison, Pickaway,
Vinton, and Warren counties, provided further,
(a) It shall be unlawful to hunt or take more
than two deer per license year under the authority of a deer permit or deer
management permit outside of a division of wildlife authorized controlled hunt,
from the following counties: Butler, Clinton,
Fayette, Greene, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence,
Madison, Pickaway, Vinton, and Warren
counties.
(5) It shall
be unlawful to hunt or take more than three deer per license year from the
following counties: Adams, Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Auglaize,
Belmont, Brown, Butler, Carroll, Champaign,
Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton,
Crawford, Darke, Defiance, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Fulton, Gallia, Geauga,
Greene, Guernsey, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison,
Henry, Highland, Holmes, Huron, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Licking, Logan, Lorain,
Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Meigs, Mercer,
Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding,
Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Portage, Preble, Putnam,
Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Shelby, Stark, Trumbull, Tuscarawas,
Union, Van Wert, Washington, Wayne, Williams, Wood, and Wyandot counties,
provided further,
(a) It shall be unlawful to
hunt or take more than three deer per license year under the authority of a
deer permit or deer management permit, outside of a division of wildlife
authorized controlled hunt, from the following counties: Adams, Allen, Ashland,
Ashtabula, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Brown, Butler, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clermont,
Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Darke,
Defiance, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette,
Fulton, Gallia, Geauga, Greene, Guernsey,
Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Highland, Holmes, Huron, Jefferson, Knox,
Lake, Licking, Logan, Lorain, Madison, Mahoning,
Marion, Medina, Meigs, Mercer, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Morrow,
Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Portage, Preble, Putnam, Richland,
Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Shelby, Stark, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Van
Wert, Washington, Wayne, Williams, Wood and Wyandot counties.
(6) It shall be unlawful to hunt
or take more than four deer per license year from the following counties:
Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Lucas, and Summit, counties, provided further,
(a) It shall be unlawful to hunt or take more
than four deer per license year under the authority of a deer permit or deer
management permit, outside of a division of wildlife authorized controlled
hunt
access
opportunity, from the following counties: Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton,
Lucas, and Summit counties.
(7) It shall be unlawful for any person to
hunt or take more than six deer per license year from controlled access
opportunities where the taking of additional deer has been authorized by the
chief of the division of wildlife. Said deer may be taken in addition to any
other deer taken in that county and in addition to the limit of six deer taken
per license year as indicated in paragraph (B)(1) of this rule.
(8) It shall be unlawful to take an
antlerless deer under the authority of a deer management permit from any
state-owned or administered lands designated as public hunting areas in rule
1501:31-15-04 of the
Administrative Code, except:
(a) The lake La
Su An public hunting area.
(b)
Public hunting areas located within established disease surveillance areas,
except the Delaware wildlife area.
(c) Division of wildlife authorized
controlled hunts
access opportunities.
(9) It shall be unlawful to take more than
one antlerless deer per license year from state-owned or administered lands
designated as public hunting areas in rule
1501:31-15-04 of the
Administrative Code, except:
(a) The lake La
Su An public hunting area.
(b)
Public hunting areas located within established disease surveillance areas,
except the Delaware wildlife area.
(c) Division of wildlife authorized
controlled hunts
access opportunities.
(C) Hunting implements
(1) Archery
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to
hunt deer with any archery equipment except:
(i) A longbow and arrow.
(ii) Crossbow and arrow having a working
safety and a shoulder-mount stock. Cocking levers and other cocking devices may
be used on crossbows.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to
hunt or take deer while being in possession of, or take a deer with, explosive
or poisoned arrows.
(c) It shall be
unlawful for any person to hunt or take deer with a longbow having a draw
weight less than forty pounds, or with a crossbow having a draw weight less
than seventy-five pounds.
(d) It
shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or take a deer with a broadhead having
less than two cutting edges measuring less than three quarters inch
wide.
(e) It shall be unlawful for
any person to hunt or take a deer during the deer archery season with any
hunting implement other than the archery equipment described in paragraph
(C)(1) of this rule.
(2)
Firearms
(a) It shall be unlawful for any
person to hunt or take deer with any firearm except:
(i) A shotgun no larger than ten-gauge or
smaller than .410 caliber firing a single projectile per barrel.
It shall be unlawful for any person hunting deer to use any shell casing which is necked down or made totally of metal for any of the shotguns listed.
(ii) A
muzzleloading rifle or muzzleloading shotgun, .38 caliber or larger using a
single projectile per barrel.
(iii)
A handgun with the following criteria:(A)(a) Chambered for .357
caliber magnum or larger.
(B)(b) Using a
straight-walled cartridge.
(C)(c) Single barrel not
less than five inches in length, as measured from the front of the cylinder or
chamber to the end of the barrel.
(iv) A rifle with the following criteria:
Chambered for a straight-walled cartridge with a minimum caliber of .357 to a maximum caliber of .515.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person
hunting deer to use in any rifle or possess any rifle cartridge which is necked
down.
(c) It shall be unlawful for
any person hunting deer during any deer gun season, to possess or use any
shotgun or rifle which is loaded with more than three shells or cartridges in
the magazine and chamber combined.
(d) It shall be unlawful for any person to
hunt or take deer during the deer gun season with any hunting implement other
than described in paragraph (C) of this rule.
(e) It shall be unlawful for any person to
possess or carry a rifle, pistol, revolver or any other type of firearm while
hunting deer or when assisting or accompanying a person that is hunting deer
during the archery season, outside of the youth deer gun season, deer gun
season and deer muzzleloading season.
This paragraph does not prohibit a person from legally carrying a concealed handgun in accordance with law.
(f) It shall be unlawful for any person to
possess rifle cartridges while hunting during the deer muzzleloading
season.
(g) It shall be unlawful to
possess shotgun shells, containing shot, while hunting during the youth deer
gun season, deer gun season and deer muzzleloading season except:
(i) Persons hunting waterfowl may possess
shotgun shells containing non-toxic shot.
(ii) Persons hunting other legal game may
possess shotgun shells containing shot not larger than number four.
(iii) It shall be unlawful for any person to
hunt or take a coyotes and wild boar during the youth deer gun season or the
deer gun season without using a hunting implement described in paragraph (C) of
this rule.
(h) It shall
be unlawful for any person hunting during the deer muzzleloading season to
possess shotgun slugs or rifle ammunition.
(i) It shall be unlawful for any person to be
in possession of shotgun slugs or rifle ammunition while hunting during the
youth deer gun season, except youth hunters hunting deer.
(j) It shall be unlawful for any person to
hunt or take deer during the deer muzzleloading season with any hunting
implement other than the archery equipment described in paragraph (C)(1) of
this rule or a muzzleloader as described in paragraph (C)(2)(a)(ii) of this
rule.
(3) It shall be
unlawful for any person to possess more than one hunting implement, singly or
in the aggregate, to include a firearm, longbow or crossbow while hunting deer.
This paragraph does not prohibit a person from legally carrying a concealed handgun in accordance with law.
(D) Hunting methods and hours.
It shall be unlawful to:
(1)
It shall be
unlawful for any person to hunt
Hunt or
take deer at any time except from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour
after sunset.
;
(2)
It shall be unlawful for any person to
hunt
Hunt or take wild animals from
one-half hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset, except deer,
waterfowl, wild boar, and coyotes during the youth deer season, deer gun season
and muzzleloading season with any hunting implement other than a shotgun using
shot not larger then number four. Waterfowl may only be hunted during the hours
specified in rule
1501:31-7-06 of the
Administrative Code.
;
(3)
It shall be unlawful for any person to
hunt
Hunt or take wild boar or coyotes at
any time other than from one-half hour before sunrise to one half- hour after
sunset during the youth deer gun season, deer gun season and deer muzzleloading
season.
;
(4)
It shall be unlawful for any person to
hunt
Hunt or take coyotes and wild boar
from one-half hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset during the
youth deer gun season, deer gun season and the deer muzzleloading season
without possessing both a valid hunting license and valid deer permit or
management permit.
;
(5)
It shall be unlawful for any person to
hunt
Hunt or take coyotes and wild boar
during the deer muzzleloading season without using a muzzleloader as described
in paragraph (C)(2)(a)(ii) of this rule or any archery equipment described in
paragraph (C)(1) of this rule.
;
(6)
It shall be unlawful for any person to
possess
Possess a loaded hunting
implement while going to or coming from hunting deer, wild boar or coyote at
any time except between one-half hour before sunrise to one half-hour after
sunset during the youth deer gun season, deer gun season or the deer
muzzleloading season.
;
(7)
It shall be unlawful for any person to
hunt
Hunt or take any wild animal except
waterfowl, from one-half hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset,
during the youth deer gun season, deer gun season or the deer muzzleloading
season, unless such person is visibly wearing a vest, jacket or coveralls
colored solid hunter orange, or camouflage hunter orange.
;
(8)
It shall be
unlawful for any person to hunt
Hunt or
take deer by the aid of dog, except wounded deer may be tracked using a dog
that is leashed.
;
(9)
It shall be unlawful for any person to
hunt
Hunt or take coyotes by the aid of a
dog during the deer gun season and deer muzzleloading season from one-half hour
before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset.
;
(10)
It shall be
unlawful for any person to hunt
Hunt or
take a deer that is in the water.
;
(11)
It shall be unlawful for any person to
construct
Construct, place, or use
permanent-type tree stands, or place spikes, nails, wires, or other metal
objects to hold tree stands or as steps to tree stands on any property except
with the landowner's permission.
(E) Permits.
It shall be unlawful for any person to:
(1)
It shall be unlawful for any person to
hunt
Hunt or take a deer without
possessing a valid electronic or printed deer permit or deer management permit
during any of the open deer seasons.
;
(2)
It shall be unlawful for any person to
hunt
Hunt with or carry an electronic or
printed deer permit or deer management permit of another.
;
(3)
It shall be
unlawful for any person to hunt
Hunt or
take deer or aid another person in the hunting of deer, while having in their
possession a hunting implement, while being solely in possession of a deer
permit or deer management permit for which a game check confirmation number has
been issued or the date, time and county of kill have been written on the deer
permit or deer management permit.
;
(4)
It shall be unlawful for any person to
hunt
Hunt or take a deer under the
authority of a deer management permit, except from the first day of the
deer archery season through the
Sunday following Thanksgiving day
last day of the deer gun season. Deer management
permits may be used at any time in division of wildlife administered or
authorized controlled hunts.
(F) Tagging and game checking.
It shall be unlawful:
(1)
It shall be
unlawful to
To hunt or take a subsequent
deer before the date, time and county of kill are written on the corresponding
deer permit, deer management permit or landowner deer tag or the date, time and
county of kill have been submitted to the game check system for the deer that
was taken.
;
(2)
It shall be unlawful to
To attach, affix, or otherwise
use a deer permit, deer management permit, landowner deer tag, or a game
check confirmation number to
on or for a deer or parts of a deer, taken by another
person.
;
(3)
It shall be unlawful to
To attach, affix, or otherwise
use an antlerless game check confirmation number
to
on or for
an antlered deer.
;
(4)
It shall be unlawful to
To attach, affix, or
otherwise use a deer permit or deer management permit on or for any deer that
was taken before the permit was purchased or otherwise obtained.
;
(5)
It shall be
unlawful to
To manufacture, counterfeit,
sell, trade, distribute, forge and/or falsify a deer permit, deer management
permit, landowner deer tag, or a game check confirmation number.
;
(6)
It shall be
unlawful to
To possess, attach, affix or
otherwise use a counterfeit or falsified deer permit, deer management permit,
landowner deer tag, or game check confirmation number on or for any deer.
;
(7)
It shall be
unlawful to
To possess any deer, or part
thereof, which has attached or affixed a
counterfeit or otherwise falsified deer permit, deer management permit,
landowner deer tag or game check confirmation number attached, affixed, or otherwise used on or for the deer or
parts thereof.
;
(8)
It shall be unlawful after
After killing a deer to fail to immediately complete a
deer permit, deer management permit, or landowner deer tag with the hunters
name, date, time, and county of kill prior to moving the carcass from the place
where it fell or fail to game check your deer prior to moving the carcass from
the place it fell.
;
(9)
It shall be unlawful to
To leave a deer that has been killed unattended, or
with another person, without first attaching or
affixing a completed deer permit, deer management permit, or landowner
deer tag with the hunters name, date, time and county of kill to the deer or a
game check confirmation number to the deer.
;
(10)
It shall be
unlawful to
To fail to immediately attach
or affix your deer permit, deer management permit
or landowner deer tag with the hunters name, date, time and county of kill, or
the game check confirmation number to a harvested deer upon arrival at a
personal or temporary abode.
;
(11)
It shall be unlawful to
To obtain a game check confirmation number with a deer
management permit for any deer hunted or taken in any county in which a deer
management permit is not valid, outside of a division of wildlife authorized
controlled hunt.
;
(12)
It shall be unlawful to
To remove a deer permit, deer management permit, or
landowner deer tag from any deer until the deer has been game checked and a
valid game check confirmation number has been attached
or affixed to the deer.
;
(13)
It shall be unlawful to
To skin or remove the head of a deer until the deer
has been game checked and tagged with a
valid game check confirmation number has been attached
or affixed to the deer.
;
(14)
It shall be unlawful
For each person who kills a deer to fail to game check
and attach or affix a game check confirmation
number to a deer, taken during any open deer season, by noon of the day
following the date the deer was killed. Provided further, it shall be unlawful
to fail to game check and attach or affix a game
check confirmation number to a deer taken by eleven-thirty p.m. on the final
day of the archery season, youth deer gun season, deer gun season and deer
muzzleloading season.
;
(15)
It shall be unlawful to
To provide false information or data when game
checking any deer.
;
(16)
It shall be unlawful to
To game check a deer that has been killed within a
wild animal hunting preserve as described in section
1533.731 of the Revised
Code.
;
(17)
It shall be unlawful, while
While at any personal or temporary abode, for any
person to fail to immediately and permanently attach or
affix their valid game check confirmation number to the deer after it has
been game checked.
;
(18)
It shall be unlawful to
To attach, affix, or otherwise
use an invalid or falsified game check number to
on or for any deer
or parts thereof.
;
(19)
It shall be
unlawful to
To attach, affix or otherwise
use a game check confirmation number for a deer, or parts thereof, other than
for the deer the game check confirmation number was issued to at the time of
game checking.
;
(20)
It shall be unlawful for
For any person to leave the state of Ohio with a deer
that was taken by hunting that has not been game checked and the game check
confirmation number permanently attached or
affixed.
;
(21)
To possess a dead deer, or any part thereof, unless
such deer, or parts thereof, are accompanied by an attached valid permit, tag,
seal, certificate of legal ownership, statement or receipt,
With the exception of
except naturally shed antlers, and a hunter harvested deer prior to reaching a
personal or temporary abode, it shall be unlawful to
possess a dead deer, or any part thereof, unless such deer, or parts thereof,
are accompanied by an attached valid permit, tag, seal, certificate of legal
ownership, statement or receipt. For the purposes of this section a
valid permit, tag, seal, certificate for legal ownership, statement or receipt
for any deer, or part thereof is any one or more of the following:
(a) A valid Ohio division of wildlife deer
permit, deer management permit, landowner deer tag, permanent deer tag or
permanent deer tag number or game check confirmation number.
(b) An Ohio division of wildlife deer damage
control permit temporary tag or a receipt for deer carcass-deer damage control
tag or the tag number.
(c) An Ohio
division of wildlife approved tag or seal under the authority of section
1533.74 of the Revised Code if
the deer or parts thereof were sold for food.
(d) A signed statement or receipt, legible in
the English language, which states the previous owners name, address and phone
number and the valid commercial propagation permit number if the deer or parts
thereof were sold or given away under the authority of section
1533.71 of the Revised
Code.
(e) A certificate for legal
ownership issued under the authority of section
1533.121 of the Revised
Code.
(f) A tag as described in
division (G) of section
1533.731 of the Revised
Code.
(g) A signed statement or
receipt, legible in the English language, which lists the owner or previous
owners name, address and phone number, the state and county of kill, the date
of kill and the assigned permanent deer tag number or game check confirmation
number, if applicable.
(h) An
official tag or seal, and an accompanying valid hunting license issued by
another state or province if the deer was killed outside of Ohio.
(i) A valid Ohio division of wildlife food
pantry stamp or seal on each package of meat distributed by a bona fide food
pantry or charitable organization.
(j) A certificate for legal ownership issued
by a law enforcement officer within their jurisdiction.
(k) A valid tag, seal, certificate for legal
ownership, statement or receipt or game check confirmation number for the
purposes of this rule is considered attached if it is physically affixed to the
deer, or parts thereof, in the following manner:
(i) In the case of antlers:(A)(a) The valid tag,
permanent tag number, seal, certificate for legal ownership, statement or
receipt or game check confirmation number must remain attached to the antlers
until the deer has been processed into a taxidermy product. At this time the
valid tag, seal, certificate for legal ownership, statement or receipt or game
check confirmation number may be removed from the antlers and placed in another
location on the taxidermy product which allows for visual inspection.
(B)(b) If
antlers are removed from the deer, but not processed into a taxidermy product,
the permanent tag or game check confirmation number may be removed from the
antlers provided the permanent deer tag number or game check confirmation
number is legibly written in permanent ink or inscribed on the antlers in a
location which allows for visual inspection. However, the valid tag, seal,
certificate of legal ownership, statement or receipt shall be maintained by the
owner and available for inspection.
(ii) When through the butchering process,
multiple packages of meat are produced, the valid tag, permanent tag number,
seal, certificate for legal ownership, statement or receipt or game check
confirmation number shall be maintained and available for inspection until the
entire deer has been consumed.
(iii) If through the taxidermy process
multiple taxidermy products are produced the permanent deer tag or permanent
tag number or game check confirmation number must remain attached to the
taxidermy product to which the antlers are connected. Any other products from
the same deer must have the permanent deer tag number or game check
confirmation number written legibly in permanent ink or inscribed on the item
in a location which allows for visual inspection.
(22)
It
shall be unlawful for
For any person to
place or leave a deer, or any part thereof, unattended or in the custody of
another person for the purpose of skinning, processing, taxidermy,
transportation, shipping, storage, including temporary storage, or any other
reason, unless such deer or parts thereof are accompanied by an attached
or affixed valid permit, tag, seal, certificate
for legal ownership, statement or receipt or game check confirmation
number.
;
(23)
It shall be unlawful to
To possess a deer, or parts thereof, that were taken
in violation of any division rule or the Ohio Revised Code.
(G) Sales
It shall be unlawful to buy, sell or offer for sale any deer, or part thereof, taken from the wild, except:
Legally acquired and possessed deer hides, feet, and antlers may be bought or sold at any time. At the time of the purchase or sale these deer parts must be accompanied by a signed statement or receipt, legible in the English language, which lists the previous owner's name, address and phone number, the state of kill(s) and the assigned game check confirmation number or tag, seal, certificate for legal ownership or permit number(s), if applicable, and the number of deer, from which the said deer parts originated, that were sold during the transaction. This information must remain with these parts until said deer parts are manufactured into a wildlife ornamental product.
(H) All
definitions set forth in rule
1501:31-1-02 of the
Administrative Code apply to this rule.
Notes
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 1531.06, 1531.08, 1531.10
Rule Amplifies: 1531.06, 1531.08, 1531.10, 1533.02
Prior Effective Dates: 06/01/1976, 06/01/1977, 06/01/1978, 06/01/1979, 06/01/1980, 06/01/1981, 10/16/1981, 06/01/1982, 05/31/1983, 05/31/1984, 06/01/1985, 06/01/1986, 11/21/1986 (Emer.), 04/20/1987, 09/12/1987, 06/01/1988, 07/01/1989, 07/31/1990, 08/11/1991, 07/31/1992, 10/31/1992, 06/07/1993, 06/30/1994, 08/15/1995, 10/10/1996, 08/10/1997, 08/13/1999, 11/12/1999, 08/01/2000, 07/22/2001, 07/19/2002, 06/04/2003, 06/30/2004, 09/20/2005, 07/01/2006, 07/01/2007, 07/01/2008, 07/01/2009, 07/01/2010, 07/01/2011, 12/21/2011 (Emer.), 07/01/2012, 01/01/2013, 07/11/2013, 07/01/2014, 07/01/2015, 11/09/2015, 07/01/2016, 07/01/2017, 07/07/2018, 07/01/2019, 07/01/2020, 07/01/2021, 07/01/2022, 06/30/2023
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
It shall be unlawful to hunt,
(A) Season dates
(1) Deer archery season is open in disease surveillance areas established under rule 1501:31-19-03 of the Administrative Code from the second Saturday in September through the first Sunday in February.
(2) Deer archery season is open statewide from the last Saturday of September through the first Sunday of February.
(3) Deer gun season is open in established disease surveillance areas from October 7 12 through October 9 14, 2023 2024. All deer gun season rules apply to these dates within established disease surveillance areas.
(4) Youth deer gun season is open November 18 16 and 19 17, 2023 2024, for persons seventeen years of age and younger. All deer gun season rules apply to these dates.
(5) Deer gun season is open from the first Monday after Thanksgiving through the following Sunday and is open on December 16 21 and 17 22, 2023 2024.
(6) Deer muzzleloading season is open from the first Saturday after New Years day through the following Tuesday.
(7) The chief of the division of wildlife may provide a permit which allows the taking of deer from division owned or administered lands to young or handicapped hunters prior to or after the opening of deer gun season. Provided further, all provisions of this rule or any other division of wildlife rule apply to all persons issued said permit.
(B) Bag limits
(1) It shall be unlawful to take more than six deer per license year, regardless of method of take or location taken, except as provided in paragraphs (B)(7), (B)(8) and (B)(9) of this rule.
(2) It shall be unlawful to take more than one antlered deer per license year, regardless of method of take or location. For purposes of this rule an antlered deer is any deer with antlers three inches in height or greater. An antlerless deer is any deer with no antlers or antlers less than three inches in height.
(3) It shall be unlawful to take an antlered deer with a deer management permit.
(4) It shall be unlawful to hunt or take more than two deer per license year from the following counties: Butler, Clinton, Fayette, Greene, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Madison, Pickaway, Vinton, and Warren counties, provided further,
(a) It shall be unlawful to hunt or take more than two deer per license year under the authority of a deer permit or deer management permit outside of a division of wildlife authorized controlled hunt, from the following counties: Butler, Clinton, Fayette, Greene, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Madison, Pickaway, Vinton, and Warren counties.
(5) It shall be unlawful to hunt or take more than three deer per license year from the following counties: Adams, Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Brown, Butler, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Darke, Defiance, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Fulton, Gallia, Geauga, Greene, Guernsey, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Highland, Holmes, Huron, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Licking, Logan, Lorain, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Meigs, Mercer, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Portage, Preble, Putnam, Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Shelby, Stark, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Van Wert, Washington, Wayne, Williams, Wood, and Wyandot counties, provided further,
(a) It shall be unlawful to hunt or take more than three deer per license year under the authority of a deer permit or deer management permit, outside of a division of wildlife authorized controlled hunt, from the following counties: Adams, Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Brown, Butler, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Darke, Defiance, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Fulton, Gallia, Geauga, Greene, Guernsey, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Highland, Holmes, Huron, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Licking, Logan, Lorain, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Meigs, Mercer, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Portage, Preble, Putnam, Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Shelby, Stark, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Van Wert, Washington, Wayne, Williams, Wood and Wyandot counties.
(6) It shall be unlawful to hunt or take more than four deer per license year from the following counties: Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Lucas, and Summit, counties, provided further,
(a) It shall be unlawful to hunt or take more than four deer per license year under the authority of a deer permit or deer management permit, outside of a division of wildlife authorized controlled hunt access opportunity, from the following counties: Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Lucas, and Summit counties.
(7) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or take more than six deer per license year from controlled access opportunities where the taking of additional deer has been authorized by the chief of the division of wildlife. Said deer may be taken in addition to any other deer taken in that county and in addition to the limit of six deer taken per license year as indicated in paragraph (B)(1) of this rule.
(8) It shall be unlawful to take an antlerless deer under the authority of a deer management permit from any state-owned or administered lands designated as public hunting areas in rule 1501:31-15-04 of the Administrative Code, except:
(a) The lake La Su An public hunting area.
(b) Public hunting areas located within established disease surveillance areas, except the Delaware wildlife area.
(c) Division of wildlife authorized controlled hunts access opportunities.
(9) It shall be unlawful to take more than one antlerless deer per license year from state-owned or administered lands designated as public hunting areas in rule 1501:31-15-04 of the Administrative Code, except:
(a) The lake La Su An public hunting area.
(b) Public hunting areas located within established disease surveillance areas, except the Delaware wildlife area.
(c) Division of wildlife authorized controlled hunts access opportunities.
(C) Hunting implements
(1) Archery
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt deer with any archery equipment except:
(i) A longbow and arrow.
(ii) Crossbow and arrow having a working safety and a shoulder-mount stock. Cocking levers and other cocking devices may be used on crossbows.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or take deer while being in possession of, or take a deer with, explosive or poisoned arrows.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or take deer with a longbow having a draw weight less than forty pounds, or with a crossbow having a draw weight less than seventy-five pounds.
(d) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or take a deer with a broadhead having less than two cutting edges measuring less than three quarters inch wide.
(e) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or take a deer during the deer archery season with any hunting implement other than the archery equipment described in paragraph (C)(1) of this rule.
(2) Firearms
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or take deer with any firearm except:
(i) A shotgun no larger than ten-gauge or smaller than .410 caliber firing a single projectile per barrel.
It shall be unlawful for any
(ii) A muzzleloading rifle or muzzleloading shotgun , .38 caliber or larger using a single projectile per barrel.
(iii) A handgun with the following criteria:(A)(a) Chambered for .357 caliber magnum or larger. (B)(b) Using a straight-walled cartridge. (C)(c) Single barrel not less than five inches in length, as measured from the front of the cylinder or chamber to the end of the barrel.
(iv) A rifle with the following criteria:
Chambered for a straight-walled cartridge with a minimum caliber of .357 to a maximum caliber of .515.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person hunting deer to use in any rifle or possess any rifle cartridge which is necked down.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person hunting deer during any deer gun season, to possess or use any shotgun or rifle which is loaded with more than three shells or cartridges in the magazine and chamber combined.
(d) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or take deer during the deer gun season with any hunting implement other than described in paragraph (C) of this rule.
(e) It shall be unlawful for any person to possess or carry a rifle, pistol, revolver or any other type of firearm while hunting deer or when assisting or accompanying a person that is hunting deer during the archery season, outside of the youth deer gun season, deer gun season and deer muzzleloading season.
This paragraph does not prohibit a
(f) It shall be unlawful for any person to possess rifle cartridges while hunting during the deer muzzleloading season.
(g) It shall be unlawful to possess shotgun shells, containing shot, while hunting during the youth deer gun season, deer gun season and deer muzzleloading season except:
(i) Persons hunting waterfowl may possess shotgun shells containing non-toxic shot .
(ii) Persons hunting other legal game may possess shotgun shells containing shot not larger than number four.
(iii) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or take a coyotes and wild boar during the youth deer gun season or the deer gun season without using a hunting implement described in paragraph (C) of this rule.
(h) It shall be unlawful for any person hunting during the deer muzzleloading season to possess shotgun slugs or rifle ammunition.
(i) It shall be unlawful for any person to be in possession of shotgun slugs or rifle ammunition while hunting during the youth deer gun season, except youth hunters hunting deer.
(j) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or take deer during the deer muzzleloading season with any hunting implement other than the archery equipment described in paragraph (C)(1) of this rule or a muzzleloader as described in paragraph (C)(2)(a)(ii) of this rule.
(3) It shall be unlawful for any person to possess more than one hunting implement, singly or in the aggregate, to include a firearm, longbow or crossbow while hunting deer.
This paragraph does not prohibit a
(D) Hunting methods and hours.
It shall be unlawful to:
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt Hunt or take deer at any time except from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. ;
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt Hunt or take wild animals from one-half hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset, except deer, waterfowl , wild boar , and coyotes during the youth deer season, deer gun season and muzzleloading season with any hunting implement other than a shotgun using shot not larger then number four. Waterfowl may only be hunted during the hours specified in rule 1501:31-7-06 of the Administrative Code. ;
(3) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt Hunt or take wild boar or coyotes at any time other than from one-half hour before sunrise to one half- hour after sunset during the youth deer gun season, deer gun season and deer muzzleloading season. ;
(4) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt Hunt or take coyotes and wild boar from one-half hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset during the youth deer gun season, deer gun season and the deer muzzleloading season without possessing both a valid hunting license and valid deer permit or management permit. ;
(5) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt Hunt or take coyotes and wild boar during the deer muzzleloading season without using a muzzleloader as described in paragraph (C)(2)(a)(ii) of this rule or any archery equipment described in paragraph (C)(1) of this rule. ;
(6) It shall be unlawful for any person to possess Possess a loaded hunting implement while going to or coming from hunting deer, wild boar or coyote at any time except between one-half hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset during the youth deer gun season, deer gun season or the deer muzzleloading season. ;
(7) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt Hunt or take any wild animal except waterfowl , from one-half hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset, during the youth deer gun season, deer gun season or the deer muzzleloading season, unless such person is visibly wearing a vest, jacket or coveralls colored solid hunter orange, or camouflage hunter orange. ;
(8) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt Hunt or take deer by the aid of dog, except wounded deer may be tracked using a dog that is leashed. ;
(9) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt Hunt or take coyotes by the aid of a dog during the deer gun season and deer muzzleloading season from one-half hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset. ;
(10) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt Hunt or take a deer that is in the water. ;
(11) It shall be unlawful for any person to construct Construct, place, or use permanent-type tree stands, or place spikes, nails, wires, or other metal objects to hold tree stands or as steps to tree stands on any property except with the landowner's permission.
(E) Permits.
It shall be unlawful for any
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt Hunt or take a deer without possessing a valid electronic or printed deer permit or deer management permit during any of the open deer seasons. ;
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt Hunt with or carry an electronic or printed deer permit or deer management permit of another. ;
(3) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt Hunt or take deer or aid another person in the hunting of deer, while having in their possession a hunting implement, while being solely in possession of a deer permit or deer management permit for which a game check confirmation number has been issued or the date, time and county of kill have been written on the deer permit or deer management permit. ;
(4) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt Hunt or take a deer under the authority of a deer management permit, except from the first day of the deer archery season through the Sunday following Thanksgiving day last day of the deer gun season. Deer management permits may be used at any time in division of wildlife administered or authorized controlled hunts.
(F) Tagging and game checking.
It shall be unlawful:
(1) It shall be unlawful to To hunt or take a subsequent deer before the date, time and county of kill are written on the corresponding deer permit, deer management permit or landowner deer tag or the date, time and county of kill have been submitted to the game check system for the deer that was take n. ;
(2) It shall be unlawful to To attach, affix, or otherwise use a deer permit, deer management permit, landowner deer tag, or a game check confirmation number to on or for a deer or parts of a deer, taken by another person . ;
(3) It shall be unlawful to To attach, affix, or otherwise use an antlerless game check confirmation number to on or for an antlered deer. ;
(4) It shall be unlawful to To attach, affix, or otherwise use a deer permit or deer management permit on or for any deer that was taken before the permit was purchased or otherwise obtained. ;
(5) It shall be unlawful to To manufacture, counterfeit, sell , trade, distribute, forge and/or falsify a deer permit, deer management permit, landowner deer tag, or a game check confirmation number. ;
(6) It shall be unlawful to To possess, attach, affix or otherwise use a counterfeit or falsified deer permit, deer management permit, landowner deer tag, or game check confirmation number on or for any deer. ;
(7) It shall be unlawful to To possess any deer, or part thereof, which has attached or affixed a counterfeit or otherwise falsified deer permit, deer management permit, landowner deer tag or game check confirmation number attached, affixed, or otherwise used on or for the deer or parts thereof. ;
(8) It shall be unlawful after After killing a deer to fail to immediately complete a deer permit, deer management permit, or landowner deer tag with the hunters name, date, time, and county of kill prior to moving the carcass from the place where it fell or fail to game check your deer prior to moving the carcass from the place it fell. ;
(9) It shall be unlawful to To leave a deer that has been killed unattended, or with another person , without first attaching or affixing a completed deer permit, deer management permit, or landowner deer tag with the hunters name, date, time and county of kill to the deer or a game check confirmation number to the deer. ;
(10) It shall be unlawful to To fail to immediately attach or affix your deer permit, deer management permit or landowner deer tag with the hunters name, date, time and county of kill, or the game check confirmation number to a harvested deer upon arrival at a personal or temporary abode. ;
(11) It shall be unlawful to To obtain a game check confirmation number with a deer management permit for any deer hunted or taken in any county in which a deer management permit is not valid, outside of a division of wildlife authorized controlled hunt. ;
(12) It shall be unlawful to To remove a deer permit, deer management permit, or landowner deer tag from any deer until the deer has been game checked and a valid game check confirmation number has been attached or affixed to the deer. ;
(13) It shall be unlawful to To skin or remove the head of a deer until the deer has been game checked and tagged with a valid game check confirmation number has been attached or affixed to the deer. ;
(14) It shall be unlawful For each person who kills a deer to fail to game check and attach or affix a game check confirmation number to a deer, taken during any open deer season, by noon of the day following the date the deer was killed. Provided further, it shall be unlawful to fail to game check and attach or affix a game check confirmation number to a deer taken by eleven-thirty p.m. on the final day of the archery season, youth deer gun season, deer gun season and deer muzzleloading season. ;
(15) It shall be unlawful to To provide false information or data when game checking any deer. ;
(16) It shall be unlawful to To game check a deer that has been killed within a wild animal hunting preserve as described in section 1533.731 of the Revised Code. ;
(17) It shall be unlawful, while While at any personal or temporary abode, for any person to fail to immediately and permanently attach or affix their valid game check confirmation number to the deer after it has been game checked. ;
(18) It shall be unlawful to To attach, affix, or otherwise use an invalid or falsified game check number to on or for any deer or parts thereof. ;
(19) It shall be unlawful to To attach, affix or otherwise use a game check confirmation number for a deer, or parts thereof, other than for the deer the game check confirmation number was issued to at the time of game checking. ;
(20) It shall be unlawful for For any person to leave the state of Ohio with a deer that was taken by hunting that has not been game checked and the game check confirmation number permanently attached or affixed. ;
(21) To possess a dead deer, or any part thereof, unless such deer, or parts thereof, are accompanied by an attached valid permit, tag, seal, certificate of legal ownership, statement or receipt, With the exception of except naturally shed antlers, and a hunter harvested deer prior to reaching a personal or temporary abode, it shall be unlawful to possess a dead deer, or any part thereof, unless such deer, or parts thereof, are accompanied by an attached valid permit, tag, seal, certificate of legal ownership, statement or receipt. For the purposes of this section a valid permit, tag, seal, certificate for legal ownership, statement or receipt for any deer, or part thereof is any one or more of the following:
(a) A valid Ohio division of wildlife deer permit, deer management permit, landowner deer tag, permanent deer tag or permanent deer tag number or game check confirmation number.
(b) An Ohio division of wildlife deer damage control permit temporary tag or a receipt for deer carcass-deer damage control tag or the tag number.
(c) An Ohio division of wildlife approved tag or seal under the authority of section 1533.74 of the Revised Code if the deer or parts thereof were sold for food.
(d) A signed statement or receipt, legible in the English language, which states the previous owners name, address and phone number and the valid commercial propagation permit number if the deer or parts thereof were sold or given away under the authority of section 1533.71 of the Revised Code.
(e) A certificate for legal ownership issued under the authority of section 1533.121 of the Revised Code.
(f) A tag as described in division (G) of section 1533.731 of the Revised Code.
(g) A signed statement or receipt, legible in the English language, which lists the owner or previous owners name, address and phone number, the state and county of kill, the date of kill and the assigned permanent deer tag number or game check confirmation number, if applicable.
(h) An official tag or seal, and an accompanying valid hunting license issued by another state or province if the deer was killed outside of Ohio.
(i) A valid Ohio division of wildlife food pantry stamp or seal on each package of meat distributed by a bona fide food pantry or charitable organization.
(j) A certificate for legal ownership issued by a law enforcement officer within their jurisdiction.
(k) A valid tag, seal, certificate for legal ownership, statement or receipt or game check confirmation number for the purposes of this rule is considered attached if it is physically affixed to the deer, or parts thereof, in the following manner:
(i) In the case of antlers:(A)(a) The valid tag, permanent tag number, seal, certificate for legal ownership, statement or receipt or game check confirmation number must remain attached to the antlers until the deer has been processed into a taxidermy product . At this time the valid tag, seal, certificate for legal ownership, statement or receipt or game check confirmation number may be removed from the antlers and placed in another location on the taxidermy product which allows for visual inspection. (B)(b) If antlers are removed from the deer, but not processed into a taxidermy product , the permanent tag or game check confirmation number may be removed from the antlers provided the permanent deer tag number or game check confirmation number is legibly written in permanent ink or inscribed on the antlers in a location which allows for visual inspection. However, the valid tag, seal, certificate of legal ownership, statement or receipt shall be maintained by the owner and available for inspection.
(ii) When through the butchering process, multiple packages of meat are produced, the valid tag, permanent tag number, seal, certificate for legal ownership, statement or receipt or game check confirmation number shall be maintained and available for inspection until the entire deer has been consumed.
(iii) If through the taxidermy process multiple taxidermy products are produced the permanent deer tag or permanent tag number or game check confirmation number must remain attached to the taxidermy product to which the antlers are connected. Any other products from the same deer must have the permanent deer tag number or game check confirmation number written legibly in permanent ink or inscribed on the item in a location which allows for visual inspection.
(22) It shall be unlawful for For any person to place or leave a deer, or any part thereof, unattended or in the custody of another person for the purpose of skinning, processing, taxidermy, transportation , shipping, storage, including temporary storage, or any other reason, unless such deer or parts thereof are accompanied by an attached or affixed valid permit, tag, seal, certificate for legal ownership, statement or receipt or game check confirmation number. ;
(23) It shall be unlawful to To possess a deer, or parts thereof, that were taken in violation of any division rule or the Ohio Revised Code.
(G) Sales
It shall be unlawful to buy,
Legally acquired and possessed deer hides, feet, and antlers may be bought or sold at any time. At the time of the purchase or
(H) All definitions set forth in rule 1501:31-1-02 of the Administrative Code apply to this rule.
Notes
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 1531.06, 1531.08, 1531.10
Rule Amplifies: 1531.06, 1531.08, 1531.10, 1533.02
Prior Effective Dates: 06/01/1976, 06/01/1977, 06/01/1978, 06/01/1979, 06/01/1980, 06/01/1981, 10/16/1981, 06/01/1982, 05/31/1983, 05/31/1984, 06/01/1985, 06/01/1986, 11/21/1986 (Emer.), 04/20/1987, 09/12/1987, 06/01/1988, 07/01/1989, 07/31/1990, 08/11/1991, 07/31/1992, 10/31/1992, 06/07/1993, 06/30/1994, 08/15/1995, 10/10/1996, 08/10/1997, 08/13/1999, 11/12/1999, 08/01/2000, 07/22/2001, 07/19/2002, 06/04/2003, 06/30/2004, 09/20/2005, 07/01/2006, 07/01/2007, 07/01/2008, 07/01/2009, 07/01/2010, 07/01/2011, 12/21/2011 (Emer.), 07/01/2012, 01/01/2013, 07/11/2013, 07/01/2014, 07/01/2015, 11/09/2015, 07/01/2016, 07/01/2017, 07/07/2018, 07/01/2019, 07/01/2020, 07/01/2021, 07/01/2022, 06/30/2023