OHIO — While some hunting began Sept. 1 for squirrels, dove, rail, snipe and gallinule, deer archery season begins this weekend.

The season opens on Sept. 28 and runs through Feb. 2. 

Crossbows, compound bows, recurve bows and longbows may be used during archery season. In the 2023-2024 archery season there were 100,951 deer checked. Overall, there were 213,928 deer taken in 2023-2024. 

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources deer are the state's most sought-after game and remain an important source of food for families.

ODNR said October and November remain the most popular months for deer to be checked because of their increased activity during their breeding season. Ohio tracks its deer season harvest totals here, with new totals posted each Wednesday of the season.

Besides archery season, other deer hunting options include gun season, with a two-day youth season Nov. 16-17 and seven-days statewide form Dec. 2 to Dec. 8. There is also an additional two-day gun season from Dec. 21 to Dec. 22. Muzzleloader hunting runs in late-season from Jan. 4 to Jan. 7, 2025.

While the official season begins Saturday, hunters in disease surveillance areas such as Hardin, Marion, Wyandot counties and Auglaize and Jackson townships in Allen County, were allowed to begin archery hunting on Sept. 14. Deer management permits, valid for antlerless deer, can be used through Dec. 22, the last day of bonus deer gun hunting season. 

Hunters must have a valid hunting license and deer permit. Deer management permits can offer cost savings over either-sex permits, can only be used on private land, in select hunting areas and during controlled hunts. Either-sex permits can be used until Feb. 2 for antlered or antlerless deer 

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