How to Get Your Ohio Apprentice Hunting License

If you’re curious as to how to get your Ohio apprentice hunting license, you can purchase one through the Ohio Wildlife Licensing System. Hunters are not required to have completed a state-approved hunter education course to get an apprentice hunting license. 

Ohio created the apprentice hunting license as a “try before you buy” option that allows new hunters to explore the world of hunting under the guidance of an experienced adult mentor. This pathway allows you to temporarily skip the classroom and gain hands-on experience in the field. 

Let’s take a closer look at Ohio’s apprentice hunting license and everything you need to know to get one, use it properly, and transition to unsupervised hunts.

Ohio Apprentice Hunting License — Quick Facts
Where to Purchase Online, by Phone, or In Person	Valid March 1–last day of February	Hunter Education Not required
Rules Must hunt with a mentor	# of Uses Twice (lifetime)

How to Get Your Ohio Apprentice Hunting License

For a first-time hunter, Ohio’s apprentice hunting license allows you to quickly get in the field since you are not required to have completed a 10-12-hour hunter education course before purchasing the license.

Where to Purchase Your License

Ohio offers three options to purchase your apprentice hunting license:

How to Purchase the Ohio Apprentice Hunting License:

Online: The Ohio Wildlife Licensing System is available 24/7 from any web browser. Your transaction will process immediately, granting you instant digital access to your license without leaving the comfort of your home.  Mobile Access: You can purchase the license on your mobile device via the HuntFish OH app (available on iOS and Android). The app will store a digital version of your license. and processes your transaction immediately.  In Person: Licenses can also be purchased at several locations, including municipal clerk offices, local outfitters, and major sporting goods stores like Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, and Walmart.

For more details on purchasing the apprentice license and other licensing options, visit the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website.

What You’ll Need

To purchase an apprentice hunting license, you’ll need to have the following information for the apprentice hunter:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Mailing address
• Social Security Number (required by federal law for license issuance)

Having this personal information on hand at the time of purchase speeds up the process and prevents multiple trips to the retail location if you’re buying in person. 

What Is an Apprentice Hunting License?

The apprentice hunting license is a short-term, beginner-friendly license that enables new hunters to legally hunt during the season without completing the mandatory hunter education course required for adult licenses. 

Rather than starting aspiring hunters in a classroom, the apprentice license provides them with opportunities to gain firsthand field experience in a safe, supervised setting. 

This type of hunting license requires the apprentice to hunt with a mentor who must be at least 21 years old and hold a current Ohio hunting license. The mentor’s role is to provide guidance and coaching on hunting techniques, safety, shot placement, decision-making, and post-hunt game processing. 

Who Qualifies for an Apprentice License?

Adults and youth aged 17 or younger can purchase an Ohio apprentice license, and it is available to both residents and non-residents. However, the key qualifier for the apprentice license is that the license holder is a first-time hunter who has not completed a hunter education course.

If you already have a hunter education certificate from Ohio or another state, you will need to purchase a standard hunting license.

While many states have age requirements for hunter education and license types, Ohio has no minimum age requirement to obtain an apprentice hunting license. Your mentor plays a critical role in deciding when you are old enough to safely handle a firearm in the field and take responsible, accurate, and ethical shots. 

Cost Breakdown

When calculating the cost of how to get your Ohio apprentice hunting license, the math is straightforward.

Ohio Apprentice Hunting License Costs:

Residents: For a one-year apprentice license, Ohio residents are charged $10 for youth and $19 for adults. Non-resident Youth: $10 Non-resident Adults: $180.96

Note that purchasing an apprentice license also incurs a small processing fee, and all license sales are final. Make sure you have your mentor lined up before buying the license, because Ohio does not offer refunds if you change your mind or don’t use it. 

How to Use the Apprentice License Properly

Although getting an apprentice hunting license is straightforward, there are some rules you’ll need to follow to stay compliant and ensure a safe and productive hunting experience. 

Mentor Requirement

At the heart of the apprentice license program is the mentor. The mentor must hold a valid Ohio hunting license and be at least 21 years old.

Since the mentor’s role is to provide guidance and maintain safety standards during the hunt, the mentor must be within uninterrupted visual and auditory range at all times. 

Group Limits

Mentors may supervise up to two apprentice hunters at a time. This requirement helps maintain proper supervision and safety during the hunt while still providing an opportunity for small-group learning. 

Follow Best Practices

To make the most of your apprentice hunting experience, keep these best practices in mind.

Ohio Apprentice Hunting License Best Practices:

The most important decision you can make as an apprentice hunter is finding the right mentor. Choose someone who is not only experienced in hunting the species you want to pursue but who is also patient and invested in creating the optimal learning experience for you.  Instead of focusing on the harvest, treat each hunt as a problem-solving exercise. How do you find the game, make your approach, or select the best shot placement? Let your mentor help you come up with the best solutions. Follow Ohio hunting regulations, including season dates, bag and possession limits, equipment rules, shooting hours, and property restrictions.

Important Apprentice Hunting Limitations to Know

Before you take to the field with your mentor and apprentice license, there are a couple of key limitations you should understand. 

License Validity

An apprentice hunting license is a one-year license valid from March 1 through the last day of February, giving the holder one full season to use it.

Not a Permanent License Solution

Ohio’s apprentice license is designed to be an easily accessible, but temporary, entry point to hunting in the state. Once you’ve decided to continue hunting and want to do so without a mentor, you will need to complete a hunter education course and purchase a standard hunting license. 

💡Transition Tip

Think of the apprentice license as the first step along a fairly flat and easy path. You’ll have an experienced mentor as your guide so you can decide if that path is one you want to commit to and continue exploring on your own. To continue as a hunter and improve your skills, take a hunter safety course, purchase non-apprentice hunting licenses, and continue to hunt! You'll learn something new each time you step out into the field after wild game.

Take a Hunter Education Course to Hunt Safely in Ohio

While Ohio’s apprentice hunting license is designed to provide a simple, quickly attainable introduction to hunting, pairing it with a structured hunter education course enhances learning.

Although your mentor provides hands-on guidance and supervised field experiences, completing an Ohio-approved hunter ed course through ilearntohunt can give you the comprehensive knowledge and required certification you’ll need for independent hunting. These courses provide outstanding foundations in firearms safety, conservation principles, hunting ethics, Ohio hunting laws, and much more.

The apprentice license can get you started, but completing a hunter education course will unlock your full potential to be an independent hunter and transform your mentored field experiences into a comprehensive foundation that can serve you for decades of hunting. 

Frequently Asked Questions about the Ohio Apprentice Hunting License (FAQs)

Q: How to get an apprentice hunting license?

A: You can purchase an apprentice hunting license through your state's wildlife agency website, in person at a license vendor, or at a wildlife district office. Completing a hunter education course is not required to purchase an apprentice license. The apprentice license is designed to let beginners try hunting before committing to the full certification process. 

Q: Can you hunt with an apprentice license in Ohio?

A: Yes, you can hunt in Ohio with an apprentice license. However, you must be accompanied by a licensed adult hunter who is at least 18 years old. The accompanying adult must remain within arm's reach at all times and may not hold an apprentice license themselves. This mentored setup applies to all hunting activities permitted under the license.

Q: How much is an Ohio apprentice hunting license?

A: An Ohio adult apprentice hunting license costs $19 for residents and $180.96 for non-residents. Resident and non-resident apprentice licenses are both $10. This is a base hunting license, and additional permits or stamps may be required depending on the game you intend to hunt. Fees are subject to change, so it's a good idea to verify current pricing on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) website.

Q: How many times can you get an apprentice license in Ohio?

A: In Ohio, an individual may only use an apprentice hunting license twice in their lifetime. This two-time limit is intended to encourage apprentice hunters to complete a certified hunter education course and transition to a standard hunting license. After using both opportunities, completing the hunter education course becomes mandatory to continue hunting legally.

Q: What is the youngest you can hunt in Ohio?

A: There is no minimum age requirement to hunt in Ohio. Even very young children can participate under the mentored apprentice hunting program. However, apprentice or youth hunters must always be supervised by a qualified adult mentor.