Read from Department of Natural Resources on September 27, 2026.
Seasons and limits change, and corrections are issued mid-season. Confirm with Department of Natural Resources before you hunt.
Open the official Ohio regulationsHunting Ohio this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
Ohio is part of the Mississippi Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from September 1 through February 15, 2027, with 39 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Department of Natural Resources within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Season dates, bag limits, shooting hours, and other regulatory information are provided for convenience only, may be inaccurate or out of date, and do not constitute legal advice. You are solely responsible for verifying current regulations with your state or provincial wildlife agency before every hunt.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone A1,2,3 | Oct 17 – Nov 1 First Split | 6 No more than 4 mallards (only 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, or 1 mottled duck. 1 scaup during the first 15 days; 2 scaup during the next 45 days. | 18 |
| Nov 14 – Dec 27 Second Split | 6 No more than 4 mallards (only 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, or 1 mottled duck. 1 scaup during the first 15 days; 2 scaup during the next 45 days. | 18 | |
| Zone C1,4,5 | Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split | 6 No more than 4 mallards (only 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, or 1 mottled duck. 1 scaup during the first 15 days; 2 scaup during the next 45 days. | 18 |
| Dec 12 – Jan 31 Second Split | 6 No more than 4 mallards (only 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, or 1 mottled duck. 1 scaup during the first 15 days; 2 scaup during the next 45 days. | 18 | |
| Zone B1,6,7 | Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split | 6 No more than 4 mallards (only 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, or 1 mottled duck. 1 scaup during the first 15 days; 2 scaup during the next 45 days. | 18 |
| Nov 21 – Jan 10 Second Split | 6 No more than 4 mallards (only 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, or 1 mottled duck. 1 scaup during the first 15 days; 2 scaup during the next 45 days. | 18 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard No more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Black Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Mottled Duck | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup Zone C · Oct 17–Oct 25 | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup Zone B · Oct 17–Oct 25 | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup Zone A | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Zone B · Nov 21–Nov 26 | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup Zone C · Dec 12–Dec 17 | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup Zone B · Nov 27–Jan 10 | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Zone C · Dec 18–Jan 31 | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Zone A · 1 scaup first 15 days; 2 scaup next 45 days | 1 | 3 |
| Greater Scaup Zone C · Oct 17–Oct 25 · combined with Lesser Scaup (ODNR: scaup) | 1 | 3 |
| Greater Scaup Zone B · Oct 17–Oct 25 · combined with Lesser Scaup (ODNR: scaup) | 1 | 3 |
| Greater Scaup Zone A · Oct 17–Nov 1 · combined with Lesser Scaup (ODNR: scaup) | 1 | 3 |
| Greater Scaup Zone A · combined with Lesser Scaup (ODNR: scaup) | 2 | 6 |
| Greater Scaup Zone B · Nov 21–Nov 26 · combined with Lesser Scaup (ODNR: scaup) | 1 | 3 |
| Greater Scaup Zone C · Dec 12–Dec 17 · combined with Lesser Scaup (ODNR: scaup) | 1 | 3 |
| Greater Scaup Zone B · Nov 27–Jan 10 · combined with Lesser Scaup (ODNR: scaup) | 2 | 6 |
| Greater Scaup Zone C · Dec 18–Jan 31 · combined with Lesser Scaup (ODNR: scaup) | 2 | 6 |
1No more than 4 mallards (only 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, or 1 mottled duck. 1 scaup during the first 15 days; 2 scaup during the next 45 days.
2Zone A duck season split 1
3Zone A duck season split 2
4Zone C duck season split 1
5Zone C duck season split 2
6Zone B duck season split 1
7Zone B duck season split 2
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Sep 5 – Sep 13 Early Teal | 6 Blue-winged, Green-winged, and Cinnamon Teal only | 18 |
1Blue-winged, Green-winged, and Cinnamon Teal only
2Early teal season; statewide
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Sep 5 – Sep 13 Early Canada Goose | 5 Canada Goose only; early season statewide | 15 |
| Zone B3,4,5 | Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split | 5 5 combined Canada goose, white-fronted goose, and no more than 1 brant; 10 combined snow goose, blue goose, Ross's goose | 15 |
| Nov 21 – Feb 15 Second Split | 5 5 combined Canada goose, white-fronted goose, and no more than 1 brant; 10 combined snow goose, blue goose, Ross's goose | 15 | |
| Zone C3,6,7 | Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split | 5 5 combined Canada goose, white-fronted goose, and no more than 1 brant; 10 combined snow goose, blue goose, Ross's goose | 15 |
| Nov 21 – Feb 15 Second Split | 5 5 combined Canada goose, white-fronted goose, and no more than 1 brant; 10 combined snow goose, blue goose, Ross's goose | 15 | |
| Zone A3,8,9 | Oct 17 – Nov 1 First Split | 5 5 combined Canada goose, white-fronted goose, and no more than 1 brant; 10 combined snow goose, blue goose, Ross's goose | 15 |
| Nov 14 – Feb 1 Second Split | 5 5 combined Canada goose, white-fronted goose, and no more than 1 brant; 10 combined snow goose, blue goose, Ross's goose | 15 |
1Canada Goose only; early season statewide
2Early season statewide. Hunting hours per page 18: sunrise to sunset.
35 combined Canada goose, white-fronted goose, and no more than 1 brant; 10 combined snow goose, blue goose, Ross's goose
4Zone B goose season split 1; includes Canada, White-fronted, Snow, Blue, Ross's, Brant
5Zone B goose season split 2
6Zone C goose season split 1; includes Canada, White-fronted, Snow, Blue, Ross's, Brant
7Zone C goose season split 2
8Zone A goose season split 1; includes Canada, White-fronted, Snow, Blue, Ross's, Brant
9Zone A goose season split 2
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone C1,2,3 | Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split | 10 10 combined snow goose, blue goose, Ross's goose | 30 |
| Nov 21 – Feb 15 Second Split | 10 10 combined snow goose, blue goose, Ross's goose | 30 | |
| Zone B1,4,5 | Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split | 10 10 combined snow goose, blue goose, Ross's goose | 30 |
| Nov 21 – Feb 15 Second Split | 10 10 combined snow goose, blue goose, Ross's goose | 30 | |
| Zone A1,6,7 | Oct 17 – Nov 1 First Split | 10 10 combined snow goose, blue goose, Ross's goose | 30 |
| Nov 14 – Feb 1 Second Split | 10 10 combined snow goose, blue goose, Ross's goose | 30 |
110 combined snow goose, blue goose, Ross's goose
2Snow/Blue/Ross's goose sub-limit within Zone C goose season split 1
3Snow/Blue/Ross's goose sub-limit within Zone C goose season split 2
4Snow/Blue/Ross's goose sub-limit within Zone B goose season split 1
5Snow/Blue/Ross's goose sub-limit within Zone B goose season split 2
6Snow/Blue/Ross's goose sub-limit within Zone A goose season
7Snow/Blue/Ross's goose sub-limit within Zone A goose season split 2
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone A1,2 | Oct 17 – Nov 1 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 14 – Dec 27 Second Split | 15 | 45 | |
| Zone B3,4 | Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 21 – Jan 10 Second Split | 15 | 45 | |
| Zone C5,6 | Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Dec 12 – Jan 31 Second Split | 15 | 45 |
1Coot season runs concurrently with Zone A duck season split 1
2Coot season runs concurrently with Zone A duck season split 2
3Coot season runs concurrently with Zone B duck season split 1
4Coot season runs concurrently with Zone B duck season split 2
5Coot season runs concurrently with Zone C duck season split 1
6Coot season runs concurrently with Zone C duck season split 2
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Sep 1 – Nov 9 Gallinule | 15 | 45 |
1Gallinule (Common Gallinule) season; listed separately from zone duck/coot season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone A1,2,3 | Oct 17 – Nov 1 First Split | 5 5 mergansers, only 2 hooded mergansers | 15 |
| Nov 14 – Dec 27 Second Split | 5 5 mergansers, only 2 hooded mergansers | 15 | |
| Zone C1,4,5 | Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split | 5 5 mergansers, only 2 hooded mergansers | 15 |
| Dec 12 – Jan 31 Second Split | 5 5 mergansers, only 2 hooded mergansers | 15 | |
| Zone B1,6,7 | Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split | 5 5 mergansers, only 2 hooded mergansers | 15 |
| Nov 21 – Jan 10 Second Split | 5 5 mergansers, only 2 hooded mergansers | 15 |
15 mergansers, only 2 hooded mergansers
2Merganser season runs concurrently with Zone A duck season split 1
3Merganser season runs concurrently with Zone A duck season split 2
4Merganser season runs concurrently with Zone C duck season split 1
5Merganser season runs concurrently with Zone C duck season split 2
6Merganser season runs concurrently with Zone B duck season split 1
7Merganser season runs concurrently with Zone B duck season split 2
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 3 – Oct 4 Youth Waterfowl Season | – Hunters 17 years old or younger; bag limits same as regular season | – |
1Hunters 17 years old or younger; bag limits same as regular season
2Statewide; ducks, geese, and coots may be taken
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 3 – Oct 4 Military Waterfowl Season | – Active duty military and veterans; bag limits same as regular season | – |
1Active duty military and veterans; bag limits same as regular season
2Active duty military and veterans may hunt together with youth during this special season
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | Sep 1 – Nov 9 Rail (Virginia, Sora) | 25 | 75 |
| Sep 1 – Nov 25 Wilson's Snipe | 8 | 24 | |
| Oct 16 – Nov 29 American Woodcock | 3 | 9 | |
| Dec 12 – Jan 1 Wilson's Snipe | 8 | 24 |
Spring 2027 turkey seasonProposed
South Zone: Apr 24–May 23
Northeast Zone: May 1–30
Youth: South: Apr 17–18 · Northeast: Apr 24–25
Proposed rule, effective 1/1/2027
Source: state regulationsChecked October 16, 2026.
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See the turkey hunting appOfficial regulations
Ohio DNR Division of WildlifeThe state sets the deer seasons, limits and tags. Check its current regulations before you go.
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See the deer hunting appOfficial regulations
Ohio DNR Division of WildlifeThe state sets the upland bird seasons, limits and tags. Check its current regulations before you go.
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See the upland bird hunting appOfficial regulations
Hunting not allowedper Ohio DNR Division of Wildlife
Ohio DNR Division of WildlifeThe state sets the feral hog seasons, limits and tags. Check its current regulations before you go.
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See the feral hog hunting appSeason dates and bag limits are verified against official state wildlife agency publications and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Data shown is for the 2026-2027 season. This data was verified on September 27, 2026. Always confirm with the official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.