Guides · Feral hog laws by state · Checked September 30, 2026
Feral hog laws in Ohio
In Ohio, hunting and trapping feral swine are prohibited. Landowners, lessees and their agents can kill them on their own property without a hunting license.
The rules at a glance
- Legal status
- Hunting and trapping of wild boar and feral swine are prohibited in Ohio, per a July 2020 Division of Wildlife page. source
- Season
- None: hunting is prohibited. Only landowners, lessees and their agents may kill feral swine, on their own property, and they must report it. source
- License
- Landowners, lessees and their agents may kill wild boar or feral swine on their property without a hunting license, provided they report it to the Division of Wildlife as soon as practical and follow its instructions for handling, preserving for testing and disposing of the carcass. source
- Bag limit
- Not stated by the Ohio Division of Wildlife
- Trapping
- Trapping is prohibited, together with hunting. source
- Moving live hogs
- Not stated by the Ohio Division of Wildlife
- Night hunting
- Not stated by the Ohio Division of Wildlife
- Eradication or bounty
- Elimination efforts run through the USDA APHIS National Feral Swine Damage Management Program, created in 2014. source
What makes Ohio different
The Division says recreational hunting accounts for only 23% of feral swine removal in the U.S., and concludes hunting is not an acceptable population management tool.
Where to report hogs
Call 1-800-WILDLIFE or use the Division of Wildlife's feral swine reporting form. USDA APHIS Wildlife Services also takes reports and requests for help at 1-866-4USDA-WS.
Every state also has a USDA Wildlife Services office. The federal feral swine program (Squeal on Pigs!) links to yours.
Knowing the rules is half of it
Whether you hunt, trap or call it in, it helps to know what is actually on your land.
HogSight reads the trail-camera photos you already have and maps the sounder: group size, timing, and which individuals keep coming back. See how HogSight reads your camera roll →
Sources
Checked against these official pages on September 30, 2026. Due for a re-check by September 30, 2027.
Rules next door
This guide is informational. Wildlife and animal-health rules change and can vary by county. Always confirm current rules with the Ohio DNR Division of Wildlife before acting.