Feral Pig Hunting in Ohio: What Is Still Legal Under the 2026-27 Rules
November 6, 2026
Feral pig hunting in Ohio is no longer the open, year-round, license-only activity that older articles still describe. According to the Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27, effective September 1, 2026, hunting feral swine (wild boar) is prohibited.
That does not mean pigs are protected. The state wants them gone, and the law now channels that goal through landowners, their agents, and the Division of Wildlife instead of recreational hunters. If you read an older “shoot them anytime with a hunting license” guide, treat it as outdated.
This article walks you through what the law says, who can legally remove a feral pig, what you must report, and where you can still go if you want a hog hunt. Rules change, so the final section shows you how to confirm everything with the state before you act.
Important Note: Many websites and forum posts still say Ohio allows year-round feral hog hunting with a hunting license. That was the rule before the 2024 legislation. Rely on the current ODNR regulation booklet and the Ohio Revised Code, not older summaries.
Can You Hunt Feral Pigs in Ohio?
As a recreational hunter, no. The 2026-27 regulation booklet states plainly that hunting feral swine is prohibited, with a narrow exception for landowners and their agents.
The change came from House Bill 503. Ohio’s House passed the bill 89-0, backed by the Ohio Pork Council, which wanted to stop people from importing hogs for paid hunts and to protect domestic herds from diseases such as African swine fever.
Before the law, the Legislative Service Commission noted that Division of Wildlife rules allowed year-round wild boar hunting with a hunting license. The new framework replaced that with an eradication process.
Here is the quick version of who can do what:
- Landowners and their agents: May remove feral swine on property they own or lease, without a hunting license, if they follow the notification rules.
- Licensed hunters without landowner status: Cannot hunt feral swine for sport on public or private land.
- Anyone who sees a feral pig: Must report it to the Division of Wildlife within 24 hours.
If you hold a general license, check our Ohio hunting laws overview for how other species are handled.
Feral Pig Status and Classification in Ohio
Ohio treats feral swine as a non-native invasive species. The state’s regulation booklet says feral swine are also called wild boar, feral hogs, and feral pigs, so all of those names fall under the same rules.
The legal definition is broad. According to the Ohio Legislative Service Commission analysis, it covers wild pigs, wild hogs, feral hogs, feral pigs, old world swine, razorbacks, European and Russian wild boar, and any hybrids or crossbreeds.
The classification also changed. The bill removed wild boar from the “game quadruped” category, which ended the ability to hold and sell them under propagating licenses and reinforced that they cannot be hunted in a game preserve. They were added to “wild quadrupeds,” which keeps the Division of Wildlife’s authority to regulate them in the wild.
The animals themselves vary a lot. Ohio State University Extension reports that federal biologists have observed an average of 6.16 piglets per litter in Ohio, which is why populations can rebound quickly.
Feral Pig Hunting Season Dates or Year-Round Rules in Ohio
There is no feral pig hunting season in Ohio because recreational hunting is prohibited. The old year-round rule no longer applies to hunters.
The confusion is understandable. Older Ohio sources, including an OSU Extension fact sheet, say nuisance swine could be killed year-round by licensed hunters. Hunters on forums noticed the change when the 2025-26 booklet came out and asked whether the state had banned pig hunting entirely.
For landowners and agents, timing works differently. Under Ohio Revised Code 1533.751, they may eradicate feral swine immediately on property they own or lease, with no season window, but the 24-hour notification clock starts after the removal.
Your deer seasons are unaffected, but they do not open a loophole. Pigs are not a deer-season bonus animal for hunters. If you want season dates for legal species, see our guides to deer hunting season in Ohio and turkey hunting season in Ohio.
License and Permit Requirements for Feral Pig Hunting in Ohio
Landowners and their agents do not need a hunting license to remove feral swine on their own property. The Ohio Revised Code says they may act without a hunting license under section 1533.10 if they notify the Division of Wildlife and follow its instructions.
Everyone else has no license path to hunt feral swine. A hunting license, which used to be enough, does not authorize recreational pig hunting under the current regulations. Older price figures you may see online, such as an annual resident license listed on third-party sites, describe the former system and do not change this.
The agent part matters. The regulation booklet allows “the landowner or their agent,” but you should confirm with the Division of Wildlife how it defines an agent before you assist a neighbor or friend. Do not assume a verbal invitation is enough.
| Person | License Needed? | Main Duty |
|---|---|---|
| Landowner or tenant on own or leased property | No hunting license | Notify Division of Wildlife within 24 hours |
| Landowner’s agent | No hunting license | Notify Division and follow carcass instructions |
| Licensed hunter with no landowner link | License does not authorize pig hunting | Report sightings only |
For general licensing on other game, see our breakdown of hunting license requirements in Ohio.
Bag Limits and Possession Rules for Feral Pigs in Ohio
There is no bag limit to track, because there is no hunting season to apply one to. Older sources that list “no bag limit” refer to the former year-round system.
Possession is where you can get into real trouble. The Legislative Service Commission summary says the law prohibits knowingly importing, transporting, or possessing live wild boar or feral swine, and also bans purposely feeding them.
What happens to the carcass is also regulated. The landowner or agent must follow the division’s instructions for handling, preservation for testing, and disposal of the animal. That means you should call before you field dress, move, or bury anything.
The statute also bars anyone from profiting from the killing. Ohio Revised Code 1533.75 lists profiting from the releasing, hunting, trapping, or killing of feral swine as a prohibited act, so guided or paid pig hunts in the wild are out.
Common Mistake: Treating a harvested pig like a deer and taking it to a processor before calling the Division of Wildlife. The state may want the carcass preserved for disease testing, so make the call first.
Legal Weapons and Hunting Methods for Feral Pigs in Ohio
The current regulations do not publish a recreational weapon list for feral swine, because recreational hunting is prohibited. Instead, the landowner or agent follows the instructions the Division of Wildlife gives when they call.
Older guidance listed longbows, crossbows, handguns, rifles, shotguns of 10 gauge or smaller, and airguns. That list, which CityBeat reported under the former rules, should not be treated as current authorization for hunters.
Dogs and live trapping are also worth a careful look. OSU Extension says hunting feral swine with dogs disperses feral swine to new areas, and a fishing outfitter’s older guide notes that a live-trapped hog must be killed. Ask the division before you use either method, since both can run into the possession and release rules.
Ordinary firearm safety still applies. If you are legally removing a pig on your own land, the same basic rules you use for other species apply, including safe backstops and local discharge ordinances. For related method rules on other species, see bow hunting laws in Ohio and coyote hunting laws in Ohio.
Private Land and Public Land Feral Pig Hunting Rules in Ohio
On private land, the right to remove a feral pig belongs to the owner or tenant and their agent. Under Ohio Revised Code 1533.751, they must be on property they own or lease, notify the division within 24 hours of the eradication or attempt, and follow its carcass instructions.
On public land, the answer is a flat no. The regulation booklet states that wild boar and feral swine cannot be taken on public hunting areas. That includes the state wildlife areas where hunters used to look for them.
If you hunt other game on public land and spot a pig, do not shoot it. Photograph it from a distance if you can do so safely, note the location, and report it.
- Confirm you are not on a public hunting area or state-managed property.
- If you are on a friend’s farm, get clear permission to act as the landowner’s agent.
- Call the Division of Wildlife before or immediately after any removal.
- Follow the division’s instructions on the carcass.
Trespass rules still apply on posted ground. See the Ohio hunting laws page for general landowner permission basics.
Transport, Release, and Live Possession Rules for Feral Pigs in Ohio
This is the strictest part of the law. According to the Legislative Service Commission, the statute prohibits knowingly importing, transporting, or possessing live wild boar or feral swine, and it also bars releasing them or moving them to a new location.
The release ban targets a known cause of the problem. Ohio State University Extension states that intentionally releasing feral swine is illegal in Ohio, and the new statute added transport and import prohibitions on top of that.
Feeding is covered too. Ohio Revised Code 1533.75 says no person shall purposely feed a wild boar or feral swine, so baiting pigs on your property to hold them for a later shot is not safe ground.
Garbage feeding of domestic swine was tightened in the same law. The commission analysis says it eliminated the annual license for feeding treated garbage and now prohibits feeding any garbage to swine. If you keep domestic hogs, that change affects you.
Pro Tip: If you trap a pig on your own land, do not haul it anywhere. Call the Division of Wildlife first, because moving a live animal could count as prohibited transport or possession.
Where to Hunt Feral Pigs or Report Sightings in Ohio
You cannot hunt feral pigs on Ohio’s public hunting areas, so the practical question is where to report them. The regulation booklet asks you to notify the Division of Wildlife within 24 hours if you know feral swine are on public or private property.
OSU Extension encourages reporting to the Division of Wildlife at 1-800-WILDLIFE. Include the date, the county, a GPS point or road intersection, and photos or trail camera images if you have them.
Knowing where pigs live helps you spot them. According to A-Z Animals, the unglaciated part of southeast Ohio has the most verified breeding groups, with counties such as Adams, Athens, Gallia, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Scioto, and Vinton listed. That page is older, so treat the county list as background rather than a current map.
If you want to hunt hogs as a sport, your legal option is outside the wild. Hunters in Ohio sometimes travel to preserves in neighboring states, such as a Pennsylvania ranch that markets guided hog hunts to Ohio hunters. Check that state’s rules and the operator’s licensing before you book.
While you wait on pig opportunities, other seasons keep you in the field. Try dove hunting season in Ohio or duck hunting laws in Ohio.
How to Confirm Current Feral Pig Regulations With Ohio’s Wildlife Agency
Because this area changed recently and sources disagree, confirm before you act. Start with the current ODNR Division of Wildlife hunting and trapping regulations. The 2026-27 booklet is dated effective September 1, 2026.
Then check the statute itself. Section 1533.751 of the Ohio Revised Code sets out the notification and eradication process, and Section 1533.75 lists the prohibited acts.
Finally, call the division. Phone 1-800-WILDLIFE, and ask these questions:
- Who qualifies as a landowner’s agent on my property?
- What are the current handling, testing, and disposal instructions for the carcass?
- Do any division rules change the 24-hour notice requirement for my situation?
- Does a trapped live animal need any special handling?
Write down the date, the name of the person you spoke with, and what they told you. Related questions about other nuisance animals have their own rules, which we cover in our posts on feral dog laws in Ohio and feral cat laws in Ohio.
The short version: if you own or lease the land, you can act quickly, but you must call. If you do not, your job is to report, not to shoot.