Ohio hunters check 23,149 deer on opening day of 2025 gun season

Ohio hunters checked 23,149 white-tailed deer Monday, Dec. 1, during the opening day of the weeklong gun hunting season, according to a Dec. 2 news release from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Ohio’s seven-day gun season is open until Sunday, Dec. 7, with an additional gun hunting weekend Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 20 and 21.

Related article: Deer bag limits reduced in Athens, Meigs, Morgan, Washington counties

The Division of Wildlife annually reports deer harvest totals at notable points during the hunting season. This year’s opening-day harvest total includes 8,315 antlered deer and 14,834 antlerless deer.

In 2024, hunters harvested 26,670 deer on opening day of the gun season, which traditionally falls on the Monday after Thanksgiving. From 2022 to 2024, hunters checked an average of 21,075 deer during the gun season opener, according to the release.

The top 10 counties for deer checked on opening day were:

1. Ashtabula (1,122)
2. Coshocton (1,010)
3. Muskingum (801)
4. Tuscarawas (795)
5. Knox (784)
6. Carroll (692)
7. Trumbull (678)
8. Ashland (647)
9. Harrison (560)
10. Licking (558)

Thus far this deer season, archery and firearms hunters have taken a total of 124,984 deer through Dec. 1. Hunters ages 17 and younger checked 9,759 deer in the two-day youth season Nov. 22-23.