Ohio Non-Resident Hunting License Cost: Permits, Stamps, and Exemptions

A nonresident annual hunting license in Ohio costs $180.96, and that covers small game and upland birds only. Hunting deer, turkey, waterfowl, or furbearers requires additional permits on top of the license, so the Ohio nonresident hunting license cost you actually pay depends on what you plan to pursue. A nonresident deer hunter, for example, will spend $399.36 before stepping into the woods.¹

What a Nonresident License Costs

Ohio sells three license options for nonresident hunters age 18 and older:

Nonresident 1-Year Hunting License: $180.96, valid March 1 through the last day of February.
Nonresident 1-Year Apprentice Hunting License: $180.96, same price but no hunter education required (see below for the mentorship rule that comes with it).
Nonresident 3-Day Tourist Hunting License: $40.56, small game only. Not valid for deer, turkey, or furbearers.

Youth hunters age 17 and under pay $10.00 for a one-year license, standard or apprentice, regardless of residency.¹

Every listed price includes a small writing fee rolled into the total. The statutory base fee is $174.00, with the balance covering that surcharge.²

Permits and Stamps by Species

The license alone does not authorize you to take deer, turkey, waterfowl, or furbearers. Each requires its own permit or stamp.

Deer

A nonresident either-sex deer permit costs $218.40. Added to the $180.96 annual license, the minimum cost for a nonresident deer hunter is $399.36.¹ A deer management permit, which authorizes an additional antlerless deer, runs $15.00. It is valid on both private and public land, though county bag limits control how many you can actually fill, and no more than two antlerless deer total may be taken on public hunting areas in a license year regardless of permits held.³ The 3-day tourist license cannot be used for deer.

Turkey

Nonresident adult spring and fall turkey permits each cost $38.48 ($37.00 base plus $1.48 writing fee). Youth turkey permits are $16.00. The 3-day tourist license is not valid for turkey, so you need the full annual license.⁴

Waterfowl

Ducks, geese, and brant require two items beyond the license. The Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp is $15.00 for hunters age 18 and older and prints on the license itself. The Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp, known as the Duck Stamp, is $25.00 for hunters age 16 and older; the physical stamp or a valid e-stamp receipt must be carried in the field.¹ Waterfowl hunters also need free Harvest Information Program certification, obtained by calling 1-877-447-6446 and completing a short survey. Carry the resulting number while hunting.

Furbearers

A fur taker permit costs $15.00 for adults and $8.00 for youth. The 3-day tourist license is not valid for furbearers.¹

Total Cost by What You’re Hunting

Small game, 3-day trip: $40.56
Small game, full season: $180.96
Deer: $399.36 (license plus either-sex permit), plus $15.00 for each additional management permit
Turkey, one season: $219.44 (license plus one turkey permit)
Waterfowl: $220.96 (license plus wetlands stamp plus federal duck stamp)

All sales are final; the state issues no refunds.

Landowner and Reciprocal Exemptions

A nonresident who owns real property in Ohio, along with that owner’s spouse and children, may hunt on their own land without a license, but only if the owner’s home state extends the same courtesy to Ohio residents owning land there. Other family members still need licenses.⁵

Ohio statute also lists a reciprocal state rate of $18.00, matching the resident price, for nonresidents from states that have entered an agreement under Ohio Revised Code Section 1533.91.² In practice, the ODNR’s published price sheet shows a single nonresident rate of $180.96, so plan on paying the full fee unless you can confirm otherwise with the Division of Wildlife.

How To Buy

Licenses and permits are sold through the Ohio Wildlife Licensing System on the ODNR website or through the HuntFish OH mobile app for iOS and Android.⁶ Creating an account requires your full name, date of birth, gender, mailing address, physical descriptors (height, weight, hair and eye color), and Social Security number. Applicants without an SSN must affirm their status at the time of application.¹ You can print the license at home or display it on your phone in the app. Carry it, plus any required permits, while hunting and present them on request.

Hunter Education and the Apprentice Route

Ohio requires a hunter education certificate or evidence of a previously held hunting license from any state before issuing a standard license. Applicants age 21 and older can attest under oath that they have held a valid license before. Hunter education certifications from other states, provinces, or countries meeting International Hunter Education Association standards are generally accepted.¹

If you have no hunter education on record, the apprentice license costs the same $180.96 and waives the course requirement. The condition: an apprentice must be accompanied at all times by a licensed hunter at least 21 years old, meaning close enough for continuous unaided visual and auditory communication. A mentor may supervise no more than two apprentices at once. You can buy an apprentice license as many years as you like, but doing so never substitutes for the education course required to move to a standard license.²

1
Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Hunting Licenses and Permits
2
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Section 1533.10 – Hunting Licenses
3
Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations
4
Ohio Department of Natural Resources. License Offerings
5
Ohio Country Journal. Laws Landowners Need To Know
6
Ohio.gov. Hunting and Fishing Licenses