Ohio Hunters Check More Than 232,000 Deer During 2025–26 Season
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio hunters checked 232,142 white-tailed deer during the 2025–26 deer hunting season, which concluded Sunday, Feb. 1, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
The total includes deer harvested during archery, gun, muzzleloader, youth, and controlled firearm seasons since the season opened Sept. 13, 2025. The final tally marks the seventh-highest harvest on record and represents the fourth consecutive season topping 200,000 deer statewide.
For comparison, Ohio hunters checked 238,137 deer during the 2024–25 season. The three-year average from 2022 through 2024 stands at 221,013 deer.
Millions of Pounds of Venison Provided
Since opening day, Ohio hunters added an estimated 11 million pounds of venison to dinner tables and freezers. On average, a single deer yields about 50 pounds of nutritious meat, much of which is shared with families, friends, or donated to those in need.
The Division of Wildlife expanded its Deer Donation Days program during the season, partnering with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction’s Ohio Penal Industries meat processing facility at Pickaway Correctional Institution. Through that effort, 136 donated deer were processed into 5,328 pounds of venison for food pantries.
The Division also continues its partnership with Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, helping distribute donated venison to local food banks across Ohio.
EHD Impacts Southeastern Counties
Harvest totals were significantly lower than average in Athens, Meigs, Morgan, and Washington counties following an unprecedented Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) outbreak during the summer. Those four counties combined for 4,289 deer checked during the 2025–26 season, compared to 15,659 deer the previous year.
Historic Context
The 2025–26 season ranks among Ohio’s largest deer harvests on record. The highest totals include:
2009–10: 260,442
2008–09: 251,299
2010–11: 238,683
2024–25: 238,137
2006–07: 236,676
2007–08: 232,212
2025–26: 232,142
Harvest by Season
Archery: 104,731
Weeklong gun season: 85,448
Two-day gun season: 15,835
Four-day muzzleloader season: 13,055
Youth season: 9,759
Controlled firearm hunts: 3,314
Top 10 Counties
Coshocton County once again led the state with 8,527 deer checked, marking its 24th consecutive year atop the list. The remaining top counties were:
Coshocton – 8,527
Tuscarawas – 7,623
Ashtabula – 7,161
Knox – 6,704
Muskingum – 6,283
Carroll – 6,077
Licking – 5,770
Holmes – 5,717
Trumbull – 5,324
Columbiana – 5,245
Permits and Participation
A total of 424,241 deer permits were issued across all seasons. Hunters used:
30,532 deer management permits
138,677 either-sex permits
62,933 deer were checked by landowners hunting their own property, where no permit is required
Deer management permits were valid for antlerless deer on private land and public hunting areas through Dec. 21, 2025.
Most Popular Hunting Methods
Straight-walled cartridge rifles: 78,395 (34%)
Crossbows: 77,938 (33%)
Vertical bows: 29,845 (13%)
Shotguns: 29,800 (13%)
Muzzleloaders: 15,602 (6%)
Handguns: 562 (less than 1%)
Deer Checked by Type
Does: 111,921 (48%)
Antlered bucks: 95,998 (42%)
Button bucks: 21,257 (9%)
Bucks with shed or short antlers: 2,966 (1%)
Nonresident License Sales
Hunters from all 50 states purchased nonresident Ohio hunting licenses during the 2025–26 seasons. States with the highest sales included:
Pennsylvania – 6,768
Michigan – 4,426
North Carolina – 2,999
New York – 2,839
West Virginia – 2,750
