COLUMBUS, Ohio — December 2, 2025 — Ohio’s weeklong deer gun hunting season is off to a strong start, with hunters checking 23,149 white-tailed deer on opening day, Monday, Dec. 1, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The opening day total includes 8,315 antlered and 14,834 antlerless deer. This year’s harvest is slightly below last year’s total of 26,670 but remains above the recent three-year average of 21,075 deer taken on opening day.
Ohio’s seven-day gun season runs through Sunday, Dec. 7, with an additional bonus gun weekend scheduled for Dec. 20–21.
Top Harvest Counties
The counties reporting the highest opening day harvest numbers include:
Ashtabula — 1,122
Coshocton — 1,010
Muskingum — 801
Tuscarawas — 795
Knox — 784
Carroll — 692
Trumbull — 678
Ashland — 647
Harrison — 560
Licking — 558
Season Totals and Youth Participation
So far this season, Ohio hunters have checked 124,984 deer across archery and firearms seasons. Youth hunters ages 17 and under contributed significantly, checking 9,759 deer during the youth-only season held Nov. 22–23.
Deer hunting remains a beloved Ohio tradition, drawing residents and visitors alike. This year, hunters have purchased 354,052 deer permits, including both residents and nonresidents.
The top nonresident states purchasing Ohio hunting licenses are:
Pennsylvania (6,358)
Michigan (4,132)
North Carolina (2,816)
West Virginia (2,632)
New York (2,612)
Upcoming Hunting Dates
Hunters can look forward to more opportunities:
Bonus Gun Weekend: Dec. 20–21
Muzzleloader Season: Jan. 3–6, 2026
Archery Season: Open statewide through Feb. 1, 2026
Either-sex permits and deer management permits remain available through Feb. 1 and Dec. 21 respectively. Deer management permits, which apply to antlerless deer, may be used on both private and public lands.
Checking Game and Staying Informed
ODNR encourages hunters to use the free HuntFish OH app to check game, even offline, as well as access maps, purchase permits, and review county bag limits. Game can also be checked online at ohiogamecheck.com, by calling 1-877-TAG-IT-OH, visiting a license sales agent, or using the landowner operator-assisted line at 1-866-703-1928.
The ODNR Division of Wildlife continues its mission to conserve and protect Ohio’s natural resources while supporting recreation opportunities for all.
