Deer bag limits reduced in Athens, Meigs, Morgan, Washington counties

The Ohio Wildlife Council approved new white-tailed deer hunting limits, as previously proposed, in Athens, Meigs, Morgan, and Washington counties for the remainder of the 2025-26 season during its meeting Nov. 12, according to a Nov. 13 news release from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.

Beginning Monday, Dec. 1, and coinciding with the opening day of the seven-day deer gun season, the bag limit for Athens, Meigs, and Washington counties is reduced to one deer. Also on Monday, Dec. 1, the bag limit in Morgan County is reduced to two deer. Deer bag limits are reduced in these counties in response to an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD).

See previous article: Further deer bag limit reductions proposed in specific southeast Ohio counties

The limit will remain in place until the close of the 2025-26 deer hunting season Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, according to the release. Athens, Meigs, Morgan, and Washington counties have a three-deer limit until Sunday, Nov. 30.

Deer bag limits in the rest of the state remain unchanged. View the 2025-26 Hunting and Trapping Regulations for more information on current limits in Ohio.

Ohio Wildlife Council

The Ohio Wildlife Council approves all Division of Wildlife proposed rules and regulations. Council meetings are open to the public. Individuals interested in providing comments are asked to call 614-265-6304 at least two days prior to the meeting to register. All comments are required to be three minutes or less.