OHIO — It's November, which means the state's deer gun hunting seasons will soon begin.

What You Need To Know

  • Youth season, which is for hunters 17 and younger, is from Nov. 18 to Nov. 19

  • The weeklong gun season starts Monday, Nov. 27 for all hunters and runs through Sunday, Dec. 3

  • Deer gun weekend will be Dec. 16 and Dec. 17

Youth season, which is for hunters 17 and younger, is from Nov. 18 to Nov. 19. The weeklong gun season starts Monday, Nov. 27 for all hunters and runs through Sunday, Dec. 3. 

Deer gun weekend will be Dec. 16 and Dec. 17.

“Ohio’s deer gun hunting seasons are a valued tradition that create time outdoors with friends and family,” said Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife Chief Kendra Wecker. “The gun seasons are an excellent opportunity to harvest venison before the holidays.”

Last year, hunters harvested more than 96,000 deer, which includes the more than 71,000 deer taken in the weeklong gun season. During the 2022 youth weekend, there were 9,515 deer checked and another 15,163 in the gun weekend in December. 

ODNR said the three-year average for gun harvests during gun seasons is 92,108. 

When it comes to who harvests the most deer, that award goes to the eastern half of the state. Coshocton, Muskingum, Tuscarawas, Ashtabula and Knox counties led the state in harvests last year during the weeklong gun season.

The state's deer muzzleloader season is from Jan. 6 to Jan. 9, 2024, according to ODNR. 

All deer harvested in the state must be checked in the  Ohio Wildlife Licensing System. Hunters can check game using the HuntFish OH mobile app, visiting ohiogamecheck.com, calling 1-877-TAG-IT-OH (1-877-824-4864), visiting a license sales agent or call 1-866-703-1298.

There are weekly deer harvest reports at wildohio.gov for those wanting to track the season's harvest. 

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