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Ohio Hunting Laws

Ohio is the main straight-wall-only state for deer: rifles must be chambered for a straight-walled cartridge between .357 and .515 caliber, bottleneck cartridges are explicitly illegal, and total capacity is capped at 3 rounds. Delaware also limits deer rifles to straight-wall cartridges, but only as a substitute for a shotgun or handgun.

Rules checked against Ohio Department of Natural Resources — Division of Wildlife regulations, October 12, 2026.

At a Glance

Wildlife Agency
Ohio Department of Natural Resources — Division of Wildlife
Regulations Year
2026
Coverage
Verified against primary sources
Verified Rules on File
14
Rules Pending Review
0
Zones With Special Rules
0
Official regulations → Verify with Ohio Department of Natural Resources — Division of Wildlife →

Check a Cartridge in Ohio

Results update as you choose.

Pick a state, species, and weapon — add a cartridge for a full check.

Sourced Rules

Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it.

Rifle

4 rules
White-tailed / Mule Deer

Deer rifles must be chambered for a straight-walled cartridge — necked-down (bottleneck) cartridges are illegal to use or even possess while deer hunting.

"Chambered for a straight-walled cartridge with a minimum caliber of .357 to a maximum caliber of .515… It shall be unlawful for any person hunting deer to use in any rifle or possess any rifle cartridge which is necke..."

OAC 1501:31-15-11 · verified Aug 2026

White-tailed / Mule Deer

Minimum caliber .357.

OAC 1501:31-15-11 · verified Aug 2026

White-tailed / Mule Deer

Maximum caliber .515.

OAC 1501:31-15-11 · verified Aug 2026

White-tailed / Mule Deer

Deer rifles are limited to 3 shells total capacity.

OAC 1501:31-15-11 · verified Aug 2026

Rifle and Handgun

1 rule
Wild Turkey

Turkeys may only be taken with a shotgun using shot (10 gauge or smaller). Ohio sets no numeric shot-size cap for turkey.

"It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or take wild turkeys with any firearm except: A shotgun using shot."

OAC 1501:31-15-10(C)(2) · verified Aug 2026

Shotgun

2 rules
White-tailed / Mule Deer

Shotguns 10 gauge or smaller with slugs or buckshot; no necked-down or all-metal-casing ammunition.

OAC 1501:31-15-11 · verified Aug 2026

Wild Turkey

Turkey shotguns must be 10 gauge or smaller, using shot. No numeric shot-size limit applies.

OAC 1501:31-15-10(C)(2) · verified Aug 2026

Handgun

3 rules
White-tailed / Mule Deer

Deer handguns must be chambered for a straight-walled cartridge.

OAC 1501:31-15-11 · verified Aug 2026

White-tailed / Mule Deer

Deer handguns must be chambered for .357 Magnum or larger. Unlike rifles, handguns have no maximum caliber.

"A handgun with the following criteria: (a) Chambered for .357 caliber magnum or larger. (b) Using a straight-walled cartridge. (c) Single barrel not less than five inches in length"

OAC 1501:31-15-11(C)(2)(a)(iii) · verified Oct 2026

White-tailed / Mule Deer

Handgun barrels must be at least 5 inches, measured from the front of the cylinder or chamber to the muzzle.

OAC 1501:31-15-11 · verified Aug 2026

Muzzleloader

1 rule
White-tailed / Mule Deer

Muzzleloading rifles must be at least .38 caliber; muzzleloading shotguns 10 gauge or smaller with a single projectile per barrel.

2026-27 hunting digest — deer equipment · verified Aug 2026

All Weapons

2 rules
All species

Ohio lets a licensed hunter use a suppressor on game birds and wild quadrupeds, but the hunting statute adds a condition the rest of the country does not: the suppressor must have been registered under the federal National Firearms Act. ATF stopped requiring that registration on 9 October 2026, so a can bought since then has no registration to show — Ohio's wording ('has registered the suppressor') is a completed act by the hunter, not just a legal status, and nothing in state law has changed to match. If you want to hunt with a suppressor in Ohio, file the free voluntary ATF registration first. The suppressor must also be on a gun that is legal for hunting under § 1533.16, which means nothing larger than 10 gauge.

Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices

"A person who holds a valid hunting license issued under this chapter and who hunts game birds or wild quadrupeds may use a suppressor attached to a gun that is authorized to be used for hunting by section 1533.16 of t..."

O.R.C. § 1533.04(A) · verified Oct 2026

All species

No gun larger than 10 gauge may be used for game birds or wild quadrupeds in Ohio. There is no statutory minimum caliber — the rest of the weapon limits come from Division of Wildlife rules for each species and season.

"No gun larger than ten gauge shall be used in taking game birds or wild quadrupeds."

O.R.C. § 1533.16 · verified Oct 2026

Federal Rules That Apply in Every State

These federal requirements apply in Ohio on top of state law.

Federal law: only USFWS-approved nontoxic shot may be used — or even possessed — while hunting waterfowl, coots, and aggregate-bag species. 50 CFR § 20.21(j)(1)–(3)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds are limited to 3 shells total (magazine + chamber) with a one-piece plug; limited light-goose and September Canada goose season exceptions exist. 50 CFR § 20.21(b)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds may be no larger than 10 gauge. 50 CFR § 20.21(a)
Federal law prohibits taking migratory birds with a rifle, pistol, or fully automatic firearm. 50 CFR § 20.21(a)
On Waterfowl Production Areas and designated National Wildlife Refuge lands, possessing shot other than approved nontoxic shot is prohibited; individual refuges may impose stricter rules. 50 CFR § 32.2(k)

Sources

Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-15-10 — Wild turkey hunting Ohio Legislative Service Commission · retrieved August 30, 2026
Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-15-11 — Deer hunting Ohio Legislative Service Commission · retrieved August 30, 2026
Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27 Ohio Department of Natural Resources · retrieved August 30, 2026
Ohio Revised Code § 1533.04 — Use of suppressor Ohio Legislative Service Commission (Ohio Laws) · retrieved October 11, 2026
Ohio Revised Code § 1533.16 — Weapons for taking game birds and wild quadrupeds Ohio Legislative Service Commission (Ohio Laws) · retrieved October 11, 2026

How to Use This Page

Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it. Rules marked needs review come from summaries rather than the regulation text, and never produce a green answer in the checker. The checker's energy figures are typical factory loads, so where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, check your own load's rating. This page covers equipment only, not seasons, tags or local ordinances, and it isn't legal advice. The current Ohio Department of Natural Resources — Division of Wildlife regulations are the final word.