COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio’s archery hunters have taken 51,360 white-tailed deer through Sunday, Nov. 5, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The average bow harvest through the first weekend of November over the past three years is 50,939 deer. Through the first seven weekends of 2022, hunters checked 48,577 deer.
Ohio’s top 10 counties for archery harvest through Nov. 5 are: Coshocton (1,964), Tuscarawas (1,651), Holmes (1,598), Ashtabula (1,536), Trumbull (1,438), Licking (1,369), Knox (1,348), Muskingum (1,239), Guernsey (1,203), and Carroll (1,090).
The 2023 total thus far includes 25,908 antlered deer and 25,452 antlerless deer, a category which includes does and button bucks. The 2023-24 archery season began statewide on Saturday, Sept. 30 and continues through Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024.
Ohio’s archery hunters have checked 51,360 deer through Sunday, Nov. 5.
During the 2022-23 season, bow hunters checked 99,742 deer, the highest archery total on record and more deer than were taken during the seven-day gun season. A growing regiment of crossbow hunters took 72% (71,701) of those, while traditionally popular vertical bow users accounted for 28% (28,041) of the total archery harvest.
Bowhunting is available on both public and private land. Bowhunting hotspots are in the eastern and south-central portions of the state. Archers have additional opportunities to hunt private land through the Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership, which incentivizes landowners to open their property to hunters. A list of available properties and instructions for obtaining access, available by permit only, are available at wildohio.gov. OLHAP properties are not accessible to deer gun hunters.
Bowhunters are required to purchase a hunting license and deer permit, unless exempted. A one-year resident hunting license costs $19 and is valid through Feb. 29, 2024. Deer management permits, available for $15, can be used on private land through Nov. 26 and only for antlerless deer. Either-sex deer permits ($31.20 for resident adults) are available statewide through Feb. 4, 2024 and can be used on both antlered and antlerless deer. Last year, 409,672 deer permits were purchased. Licenses can be purchased through the Ohio Wildlife Licensing System, on the HuntFish OH mobile app, or at a license sales agent.
Successful deer hunters can check their game using the HuntFish OH mobile app, available for free in the Android and Apple app stores. Users can also explore public hunting areas, purchase hunting licenses or deer permits, and so much more. An update to the app allows users to view county bag limits on the app. Beyond the app, hunters can check game by visiting ohiogamecheck.com, calling 1-877-TAG-IT-OH (1-877-824-4864), visiting a license sales agent, or calling 1-866-703-1298 (landowner operator-assisted; fees apply).
Ohio offers many other opportunities for deer hunters to spend time in the field in the coming weeks. Young hunters can use firearms during the youth gun season on Nov. 18-19. A seven-day gun season opens statewide to all hunters on Monday, Nov. 27, and continues through Sunday, Dec. 3. An additional gun weekend occurs Dec. 16-17. The late muzzleloader hunting season will be Jan. 6-9, 2024. Find complete details in the 2023-24 Hunting and Trapping Regulations.
After your hunt, check out the Wild Ohio Harvest Community for delicious recipes to prepare. The Wild Ohio Harvest Community also offers new and experienced hunters with resources to get started hunting or find opportunities to get involved, all at wildohio.gov.
