COLUMBUS, Ohio — Wildlife officers across Ohio stayed busy during the 2025 white-tailed deer hunting seasons, with several enforcement actions and public service efforts reported — including multiple cases in Fairfield County and central Ohio.
Fairfield County: Deer Tagging Violations
During the 2025 white-tailed deer gun hunting season, State Wildlife Officer Jade Heizer, assigned to Fairfield County, patrolled Clear Creek Metro Park during a controlled hunt. Officer Heizer located several vehicles containing untagged deer and contacted a nearby group of hunters.
The investigation revealed the hunters had failed to complete the required game check process. Six hunters were each issued a summons for unlawfully leaving a harvested deer without first attaching a completed deer permit or tag. Each hunter paid $160 in fines.
Delaware County: Entangled Bucks Rescued
In neighboring Delaware County, State Wildlife Officer Maurice Irish responded to a report of two white-tailed deer bucks whose antlers had become locked together while fighting. One buck had netting tangled in its antlers, which further ensnared the second animal.
Unable to safely approach the deer, Officer Irish ensured a proper backstop and successfully shot off one entangled antler to free the pair. Both bucks were unharmed and able to leave the area safely.
Statewide Enforcement Efforts
Wildlife officers across Ohio handled a range of additional cases during the hunting season and beyond:
- In Mahoning and Columbiana counties, officers investigated a Turn In a Poacher (TIP) complaint involving hunting without permission. Three individuals were found guilty in Columbiana Municipal Court on charges including hunting without permission, deer tagging violations, and littering. They were ordered to pay more than $1,700 in fines and court costs.
- In Noble County, a hunter was cited for failing to properly tag a deer and ordered to pay $200 in fines and court costs.
- In southwest Ohio, officers cited a hunter who purchased a deer permit after harvesting the animal. The individual was convicted and paid $250 in fines and $136 in court costs.
- In Ottawa County, an ice angler fishing on Lake Erie was cited for fishing without a valid license and paid $145 in fines and court costs.
Community Outreach and Wildlife Assistance
Wildlife officers also engaged in community outreach and rescue efforts.
In Summit County, a barred owl trapped inside a homeowner’s chimney was safely removed and released back into the wild. Officers noted that barred owls often mistake uncapped chimneys for tree cavities.
Officers in northwest Ohio participated in the annual “Cops and Bobbers” event in Napoleon, where approximately 100 children enjoyed outdoor activities such as archery, BB shooting, and fishing education.
Additionally, wildlife supervisors and officers delivered hundreds of pounds of venison — forfeited during law enforcement investigations — to food pantries in Preble, Highland, and Meigs counties. The Ohio Division of Wildlife regularly donates usable venison to charitable organizations when possible.
Officials encourage residents to report wildlife violations by calling the TIP hotline at 1-800-POACHER (1-800-762-2437).
