COLUMBUS, Ohio — The state's annual white-tailed deer gun hunting week had a strong start according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. 

Hunters checked 17,193 deer on Nov. 28, the first Monday after Thanksgiving. Ohio's gun season is open through Sunday, Dec. 4 and re-opens again on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17-18.

 

What You Need To Know

  • Hunters checked 17,193 deer on Nov. 28, the first Monday after Thanksgiving

  • Throughout the 2022-2023 deer season, both archery and firearms hunters have taken more than 109,000 deer through Nov. 28

  • Coshocton County led the state in 2021 with 850 deer taken on opening day

  • Hunters harvested 5,074 deer 50 years ago during the entire 1972 season

 

Between 2019 and 2021, 16,057 deer were harvested on average during the gun season opener. In 2021, 21,754 deer were harvested on the opening day, traditionally the Monday after Thanksgiving.

“It’s great to see thousands of hunters taking part during this year’s deer gun season,” said Division of Wildlife Chief Kendra Wecker in a news release. “The Ohio deer harvest provides food for thousands of people and venison is a staple for many families. The average adult deer harvested in Ohio provides about 60 pounds of meat that hunters can take home to their families.”

The top 10 counties for deer harvest on the opening day of Ohio’s gun season were: Coshocton (591), Tuscarawas (584), Muskingum (584), Ashtabula (548), Knox (474), Carroll (464), Guernsey (434), Licking (430), Columbiana (397), and Washington (373). 

Coshocton County led the state in 2021 too, with 850 deer taken on opening day.

Hunters harvested 5,074 deer 50 years ago during the entire 1972 season, far fewer than were checked on opening day alone this year. While hunting remains a tradition in Ohio, the deer population has not always been so large. 

Throughout the 2022-2023 deer season, both archery and firearms hunters have taken more than 109,000 deer through Nov. 28. The archery harvest represents 81,949 deer and during the youth gun season, youth hunters took 9,515 deer. 

Out-of-state hunters travel to Ohio to hunt as well, with more than 6,000 licenses being sold in Pennsylvania, more than 4,000 sold in Michigan and more than 3,000 licenses sold in North Carolina and West Virginia. More than 2,000 licenses were sold to New York hunters too.

This year residents, and nonresidents, purchased 346,212 deer permits with either-sex permits still on sale.

Once opening week closes on Dec. 4, firearms hunters will have another opportunity on Dec. 17 and Dec. 18. The muzzleloader season will be Saturday, Jan. 7, until Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. Bow hunting remains open until Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. Find complete details by clicking here.

In Ohio, all deer harvested are required to be checked in the Ohio Wildlife Licensing System. This required reporting gives the Division of Wildlife a long-term data set that aids biologists in monitoring deer health, distribution, and relative abundance.