COLUMBUS, Ohio – Over the weekend of December 21-22, hunters across Ohio successfully checked in 17,373 white-tailed deer during the state’s additional deer gun hunting weekend, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. This figure marks a significant increase from last year’s total of 15,470 deer and surpasses the three-year average of 13,417.
The breakdown of the harvest included 4,491 antlered deer, accounting for 26% of the total, while antlerless deer made up 74%, totaling 12,882. The antlerless category includes does, button bucks, and bucks with either shed antlers or antlers shorter than three inches.
The top ten counties for deer harvested during this year’s additional weekend were:
- Ashtabula: 580
- Coshocton: 574
- Tuscarawas: 515
- Knox: 491
- Licking: 454
- Richland: 447
- Carroll: 429
- Muskingum: 402
- Harrison: 400
- Guernsey: 380
Hunters utilized various legal equipment during the season, with straight-walled cartridge rifles being the most popular choice, accounting for 66% (11,413 deer) of the harvest. Shotguns followed at 27% (4,723 deer), while muzzleloaders, archery equipment, and handguns made up the remainder.
As of December 22, a total of 209,459 deer have been checked throughout the hunting season, which includes the youth season and nine days of gun hunting. Notably, youth hunters contributed 10,449 deer during their designated days in mid-November, while the week-long gun season totaled 87,192.
The demand for Ohio’s deer hunting opportunities is reflected in the purchase of 39,861 nonresident hunting licenses, with many hunters traveling from neighboring states. The top states represented include Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia.
For those looking to continue their hunting experience, the archery season remains open until February 2, 2025, and the muzzleloader season is scheduled for January 4-7, 2025. After December 22, an either-sex deer permit is required for hunters.
The ODNR emphasizes its mission to manage wildlife resources sustainably and encourages hunters to utilize the free HuntFish OH app for licenses, regulations, and more. For additional information, visit wildohio.gov.
