Central Ohio waterfowl
2026–27 seasons, limits, public water, and how the birds are likely acting today.
One-half hour before sunrise to sunset (early teal and early goose: sunrise to sunset).
Public water near Columbus
Wraps Delaware Reservoir north of Columbus; a 159-acre managed marsh at the south end is the waterfowl draw. Closest serious public duck water to the city.
Lake level & conditions on the map →Big managed marshes and grain fields that pull puddle ducks and geese moving down the state's interior. The region's marquee public waterfowl area — about an hour north.
Much of the waterfowl hunting runs through controlled hunts (typically Tue/Thu/Sat mornings) — check the current controlled-hunt schedule and permit rules before you go.
The Columbus city reservoirs (Hoover, O'Shaughnessy, Griggs) and Alum Creek Lake have restricted or permit-only waterfowl hunting managed by the City of Columbus / USACE — verify current rules before hunting them.
| Species | Daily | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Ducks (aggregate) No more than 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 black ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 1 mottled duck; scaup 1/day the first 15 days then 2/day. | 6 | 18 |
| Mergansers | 5 (2 hooded) | 15 (6 hooded) |
| Coots | 15 | 45 |
| Canada & cackling geese White-fronted geese count in the Canada goose aggregate. | 5 aggregate | 15 |
| Snow, blue & Ross's geese | 10 | 30 |
| Brant | 1 | 3 |
- • Ohio hunting license
- • Ohio wetlands habitat stamp
- • Federal migratory bird (duck) stamp — 16+
- • HIP certification (free, annual)
- • Non-toxic shot only for waterfowl
A convenience summary, not legal advice. Confirm dates, limits, zone boundaries, and area-specific rules with ODNR before every hunt. See our terms.