What opens next: Ohio's fall calendar for ducks, doves, turkey and small game

Deer aren't the only thing in season. These are the next dates on Ohio's 2026-27 hunting calendar from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Birds

• Fall turkey: Opens Oct. 1 in 70 counties. Check ODNR's list to see whether your county is included.
• Mourning dove: Open through Nov. 8, then Dec. 12 to Jan. 1. The daily limit is 15.
• Woodcock: Oct. 16 to Nov. 29, with a limit of three a day.
• Youth, active military and veteran waterfowl days: Oct. 3-4.

Ducks

Regular duck season opens Oct. 17 in all three of Ohio's zones. After that the zones split:

• Zone A: Oct. 17-Nov. 1 and Nov. 14-Dec. 27
• Zone B: Oct. 17-25 and Nov. 21-Jan. 10, 2027
• Zone C: Oct. 17-25 and Dec. 12-Jan. 31, 2027

The daily limit is six ducks, with caps by species: no more than four mallards, and no more than two of those may be hens. Scaup count toward the six, with a one-bird limit for the first 15 days.

Ohio redrew its waterfowl zones this year, so check ODNR's zone map before you go.

Small game

• Squirrel: Sept. 1 to Jan. 31, six a day
• Rabbit: Nov. 6 to Feb. 28, four a day
• Pheasant (roosters only): Nov. 6 to Jan. 10, two a day
• Fox, raccoon and other furbearers: Nov. 10 to Jan. 31

The official season chart is the final word on dates and limits.