Ohio deer hunting harvest during gun season highest in past decade

Local counties well below counties in eastern Ohio.
The white-tailed deer is perhaps Ohio’s best-known wildlife species, seen in the state’s wildlife areas, parks and nature preserves as well as in the backyards of rural and suburban residents. The deer also is susceptible to epizootic hemorrhagic disease.

Credit: Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Credit: Ohio Department of Natural Resources

The white-tailed deer is perhaps Ohio’s best-known wildlife species, seen in the state’s wildlife areas, parks and nature preserves as well as in the backyards of rural and suburban residents. The deer also is susceptible to epizootic hemorrhagic disease.
Local News
By Business Staff
Dec 10, 2024
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Ohio hunters checked 87,192 white-tailed deer during the weeklong gun season that concluded on Sunday, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

This is the highest total since 2011 (90,282). In 2023, hunters reported 70,103 deer during the seven-day gun season, and the three-year average is 70,806. During the deer gun week, hunters checked 28,606 antlered deer (33% of the total reported) and 58,586 antlerless deer (67%). Antlerless deer includes does and button bucks.

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The top 10 counties for deer taken during the gun season were:

  • Coshocton, 2,954 - Coshocton County also led the state in 2023 with 2,440 deer checked.
  • Tuscarawas, 2,673
  • Knox, 2,525
  • Muskingum, 2,515
  • Carroll, 2,399
  • Ashtabula, 2,281
  • Guernsey, 2,201
  • Washington, 1,970
  • Ashland, 1,893
  • Licking, 1,860

Local counties

  • Butler: 360
  • Clark: 260
  • Darke: 459
  • Greene: 315
  • Miami: 316
  • Montgomery: 185
  • Preble: 375
  • Warren: 359

Deer checked by hunting implement includes:

  • Straight-walled cartridge rifle, 64% (55,611 deer)
  • Shotgun, 30% (26,486 deer)
  • Muzzleloader, 4% (3,271 deer)
  • Archery equipment, 2% (1,357 deer)
  • Handgun, less than 1% (467 deer)

For all deer hunting seasons, archery and firearms hunters have reported 188,931 deer from Sept. 28 to Dec. 8. Hunters have another opportunity to take a deer with a firearm during the additional gun weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 21-22. The muzzleloader season is Jan. 4-7. The archery season remains open until Sunday, Feb. 2.

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