In Ohio, you can hunt squirrels until January 31 most years, so if you want to stay legal, you’ll need to plan those last trips before the end of January. Ohio’s open squirrel season usually runs from September 1 through January 31, and you can bag up to six squirrels a day.
If you’re looking for the details—hours, legal species, or local zone rules—this post breaks down the exact dates, limits, and where you should check current rules. That way, you can avoid fines and know which squirrel species count, what the hunting hours are, and how other seasons might affect your plans.
Ohio Squirrel Season Dates and Regulations
Ohio sets squirrel season in certain months, with daily bag limits, legal hunting hours, and license requirements. You’ll want to know the exact end date, how many squirrels you’re allowed, when you can hunt each day, and which license covers fox, gray, and red squirrels.
Squirrel Season End Date and Duration
Red, gray, black, and fox squirrel season in Ohio usually runs from September 1 through January 31. The Ohio Administrative Code lists January 31 as the end date for recent years (see the official rule listing).
So, you get the whole fall and most of the winter—September through January—to hunt. Before you head out, check the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for any temporary changes or local exceptions.
Bag Limits and Daily Possession
Ohio puts a daily bag limit and a possession limit on squirrels. Most years, you can take just a few squirrels per day, and your possession limit is usually a multiple of the daily bag limit.
All red, gray, black, and fox squirrels count toward your total. If you’re hunting with friends or transporting game, keep tags or records as the Ohio Department of Natural Resources requires, just to be safe.
Legal Hunting Hours
You may hunt squirrels from half an hour before sunrise until sunset during open season. Hunting at other times isn’t allowed.
Since sunrise and sunset change every day, check a reliable table for your county before you go. Bring a clock or your phone and stop hunting at sunset—no one wants a ticket for losing track of time.
Valid Ohio Hunting Licenses
You need a valid Ohio hunting license to hunt squirrels. Licenses come in different types—youth, adult, senior, and lifetime, depending on your age and residency.
Sometimes you need extra small-game permits or stamps, so double-check with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources before you go. Always have your physical or digital license (and any required permits) with you in the field.
Key Species, Hunting Zones, and Related Seasons
In Ohio, squirrel hunting focuses on just a few tree squirrel species, with bag limits and season dates that sometimes change by county or zone. It’s smart to know which squirrels are legal, where zone rules matter, and what other hunting seasons might be running at the same time.
Types of Squirrels You Can Hunt
You can legally hunt three tree squirrel species in Ohio: gray squirrels, fox squirrels, and red squirrels. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources lists these as small game.
Don’t hunt flying squirrels—they’re protected and you need special permits even to handle them. Tree squirrels have daily bag limits, usually six per day in recent years.
Ohio treats groundhogs differently; you can often take them year-round with no bag limit. Before you go, check ODNR for updates on species rules. Remember to carry a valid hunting license and follow youth or apprentice rules if they apply to you.
Geographic Differences in Season Dates
Season start and end dates sometimes change by county or by whether you’re on public or private land. Most squirrel seasons open in early September and run into winter, but some management zones set slightly different end dates.
A few areas offer youth-only small game weekends with unique dates. Urban or city rules can also limit hunting, even when the statewide season is open.
Always check the Ohio Department of Natural Resources hunting calendar and zone maps for the current year so you know the legal dates for your area.
Other Hunting Seasons Overlapping with Squirrel Season
Squirrel season lines up with a few other hunting seasons that might catch your interest. Early September usually brings the start of certain waterfowl seasons—think blue-winged teal and green-winged teal.
You’ll need to pay close attention to waterfowl identification. Duck season comes with daily bag limits, and the rules for specific species (like scaup) can change from early to late season.
A lot of hunters chase Canada geese at the same time in many zones. That means you’ll have to check separate bag limits and permit requirements.
Deer archery season tends to start later in September and stretches through much of the fall. When these seasons overlap, make sure you wear the required orange during deer gun weeks.
Always follow firearm restrictions in areas where small game hunting is allowed.
