COLUMBUS, Ohio — Hunters across Ohio checked 26,667 white-tailed deer on Monday, Dec. 2 during the opening day of the weeklong gun hunting season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. This is the highest harvest for opening day since 2012 (29,297). Ohio’s seven-day gun season is open until Sunday, Dec. 8, with an additional gun hunting weekend on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 21-22.
This year’s opening day harvest total includes 9,602 antlered deer and 17,065 antlerless deer (antlerless deer are does and button bucks). In 2023, hunters took 19,363 deer on opening day of the gun season, which traditionally falls on the Monday after Thanksgiving. From 2021 to 2023, hunters checked an average of 19,439 deer during the gun season opener.
The top 10 counties for deer checked on opening day were:
- Coshocton (1,053)
- Tuscarawas (954)
- Knox (881)
- Muskingum (852)
- Carroll (804)
- Guernsey (750)
- Ashtabula (686)
- Harrison (671)
- Ashland (653)
- Columbiana (592)
So far this deer season, archery and firearms hunters have taken a total of 128,408 deer through Monday, Dec. 2. Hunters ages 17 and younger checked 10,449 deer in the two-day youth season.
Ohio’s fantastic deer hunting opportunities are a fall tradition that draw both residents and nonresidents outdoors. Residents and nonresidents have purchased a combined 360,800 deer permits this year. Either-sex permits and deer management permits are on sale at license vendors, on the HuntFish OH mobile app, and at wildohio.gov. Under a newly expanded timeline for use, deer management permits are available for purchase and valid through Sunday, Dec. 22. These permits may be used on private land and select public hunting areas for antlerless deer. Either-sex permits are valid statewide through the end of the archery season.
The most popular states that nonresident hunters have visited from include:
- Pennsylvania (6,079 licenses sold)
- Michigan (4,477)
- West Virginia (2,777)
- North Carolina (2,773)
- New York (2,655)
In addition to the weeklong gun season and December gun weekend, the state hosts a muzzleloader season from Jan. 4-7, 2025. Finally, the archery season remains open statewide until Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025.
If you join the ranks of successful deer hunters, use the free HuntFish OH app to game check your harvest, even without a Wi-Fi connection. Hunters can also use the app to view public hunting area maps, buy hunting licenses and deer permits, check county bag limits, and much more. 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 1-866-703-1928 (landowner operator-assisted; fees apply).
The mission of the Division of Wildlife is to conserve and improve fish and wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all. Visit wildohio.gov to find out more.
In 2024, join ODNR as we celebrate 75 years of protecting Ohio’s natural resources and providing outstanding and award-winning recreational opportunities.
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov/.
A county list of all white-tailed deer checked by hunters during opening day of the 2024 deer gun hunting season is shown below. The first number following the county’s name shows the harvest numbers for opening day 2024. The three-year average of deer harvested on opening day in 2021, 2022, and 2023 is in parentheses. A three-year average provides a better overall comparison to this year’s numbers, eliminating year-to-year variation because of weather, misaligned season dates, timing of the crop harvest, and other unavoidable factors. Numbers below are raw data and subject to change.
Adams: 360 (254); Allen: 132 (92); Ashland: 653 (436); Ashtabula: 686 (630); Athens: 459 (333); Auglaize: 157 (128); Belmont: 456 (320); Brown: 262 (215); Butler: 91 (70); Carroll: 804 (547); Champaign: 165 (112); Clark: 73 (48); Clermont: 187 (144); Clinton: 118 (65); Columbiana: 592 (418); Coshocton: 1,053 (767); Crawford: 279 (183); Cuyahoga: 6 (8); Darke: 133 (78); Defiance: 244 (288); Delaware: 143 (105); Erie: 121 (77); Fairfield: 266 (207); Fayette: 62 (36); Franklin: 46 (39); Fulton: 193 (139); Gallia: 441 (269); Geauga: 258 (170); Greene: 68 (57); Guernsey: 750 (538); Hamilton: 30 (24); Hancock: 218 (162); Hardin: 176 (136); Harrison: 671 (419); Henry: 177 (148); Highland: 360 (270); Hocking: 386 (297); Holmes: 583 (498); Huron: 516 (351); Jackson: 342 (272); Jefferson: 432 (266); Knox: 881 (579); Lake: 22 (43); Lawrence: 252 (175); Licking: 538 (480); Logan: 230 (192); Lorain: 276 (179); Lucas: 49 (29); Madison: 77 (48); Mahoning: 213 (167); Marion: 148 (107); Medina: 260 (157); Meigs: 429 (316); Mercer: 164 (118); Miami: 74 (51); Monroe: 417 (281); Montgomery: 48 (44); Morgan: 467 (357); Morrow: 289 (189); Muskingum: 852 (630); Noble: 434 (338); Ottawa: 67 (48); Paulding: 162 (174); Perry: 364 (329); Pickaway: 132 (73); Pike: 233 (152); Portage: 232 (167); Preble: 99 (69); Putnam: 157 (131); Richland: 562 (361); Ross: 340 (241); Sandusky: 117 (75); Scioto: 262 (164); Seneca: 424 (293); Shelby: 145 (100); Stark: 335 (269); Summit: 44 (37); Trumbull: 558 (359); Tuscarawas: 954 (675); Union: 111 (100); Van Wert: 112 (72); Vinton: 231 (191); Warren: 101 (66); Washington: 537 (415); Wayne: 419 (217); Williams: 314 (266); Wood: 143 (93); Wyandot: 243 (206).
2024 total: 26,667
3-year average total: 19,439
