For the 2026–27 Ohio license year, an adult resident hunting license costs $19 at checkout. A standard adult nonresident annual hunting license costs $180.96 for most nonresidents. Youth licenses are $10.
Those are base-license prices. Deer, turkey, waterfowl, and some furbearer activities require additional permits, stamps, or certifications, so the real cost depends on what you plan to hunt.
Ohio Hunting License Prices for 2026–27
- Resident adult annual hunting license: $19
- Nonresident adult annual hunting license: $180.96 for most nonresidents
- Nonresident 3-day tourist hunting license: $40.56
- Youth annual hunting license: $10
- Resident senior annual hunting license: $10
Ohio’s statutory base fees are slightly lower, but checkout prices include issuing fees. That is why you may see both an $18 statutory resident fee and a $19 retail price quoted for the same annual license.
The official HuntFish OH page from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources connects hunters with Ohio’s licensing system, digital licenses, game check, regulations, and public hunting information.
How Much Does It Cost to Hunt Deer in Ohio?
Deer hunters generally need both the base hunting license and the appropriate deer permit unless an exemption applies.
A resident adult either-sex deer permit is $31.20 at checkout, putting the basic resident license-plus-permit total at about $50.20. Ohio law raised the statutory nonresident deer-permit fee to $210, so nonresident deer hunters should verify the current checkout total before purchasing.
If deer hunting is new to you, our beginner deer-hunting guide covers hunter education, scouting, safe shot selection, tracking, and field care before opening morning.
Youth and Senior Deer Permits
The statutory base fee for a youth deer permit is $15 and the resident senior deer permit base fee is $11. Issuing fees can change the amount shown at checkout.
Ohio also has special free-license provisions for qualifying residents, including certain older residents. Check your eligibility in the state system instead of assuming the standard price applies.
Turkey Hunting Costs
Turkey hunters need the hunting license plus the appropriate turkey permit. Ohio law lists a $30 statutory resident turkey-permit fee and a $37 statutory nonresident fee, before applicable issuing charges.
Season dates, zones, and bag limits matter as much as the permit price. Buy for the hunt you are actually planning rather than grabbing a permit from memory.
Waterfowl Costs More Than the Base License
Duck and goose hunters may need the Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp, federal duck stamp, and HIP certification in addition to the Ohio hunting license, depending on age and the birds being hunted.
Federal and state migratory-bird requirements can change independently, so verify the complete waterfowl stack before the season instead of relying on last year’s wallet.
What Is the 3-Day Nonresident License For?
The $40.56 nonresident 3-day tourist license can make sense for a short small-game trip. It is not a shortcut for deer, turkey, or furbearer hunting, so check the restrictions before choosing it instead of the annual license.
Apprentice Hunting in Ohio
Ohio offers apprentice licenses for people who want to try hunting under qualified supervision before completing the standard hunter-education path. Apprentice hunters must follow Ohio’s supervision requirements in the field.
For anyone trying to turn hunting into more than an occasional trip, our guide to jobs in the hunting industry looks at guiding, wildlife work, gear companies, media, conservation, and other outdoor careers.
Landowner Exemptions
Ohio has license and permit exemptions for some qualifying landowners and family members hunting on eligible property. These rules are specific to ownership, relationship, residency, and where the hunting occurs.
Do not assume permission to hunt a relative’s farm automatically makes you license-exempt. Verify the current landowner rules first.
The License Is Only Part of the Trip Cost
Tags are only one line in a hunting budget. Fuel, lodging, food, boots, ammunition or arrows, meat care, and emergency gear can cost much more. Our hunting-trip cost guide puts those expenses into one practical budget.
Gear does not have to be bought all at once. This related guide to finding deals on hunting equipment is a useful reminder to spend first on equipment that solves a real field problem instead of chasing every new product.
Before You Buy
Confirm residency, age, hunter-education status, species, season, and the exact permit you need. Then use Ohio’s current licensing system for the final price and purchase.
A clean hunt starts before the shot. Carry the right license and permit, know the current rules, tag and report game correctly, respect property lines, and leave the woods better than you found them.