Ohio’s Deer Gun Hunting Season Kicks Off Dec. 2
COLUMBUS, OH—The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife announces the commencement of Ohio’s weeklong deer gun hunting season, beginning Monday, December 2, and running through Sunday, December 8. This annual event, which traditionally starts the Monday following Thanksgiving, welcomes all hunters. In addition, a special deer gun weekend follows on December 21-22.
Ohio’s first deer gun season was introduced in 1943, and the tradition of hunting white-tailed deer has remained robust, particularly in eastern Ohio. During the 2023 season, the highest deer harvest totals were reported in Coshocton (2,440), Tuscarawas (2,260), Ashtabula (2,189), Muskingum (2,076), and Knox (1,878) counties.
In total, hunters harvested 95,606 deer across all 2023 gun seasons, with 70,103 deer taken during the main week. Younger hunters (17 and under) accounted for 10,033 deer during the youth weekend and 15,470 during the December weekend. The average harvest from 2021 to 2023 stands at 93,207, indicating steady interest.
As part of Ohio’s hunting regulations, all hunters must wear bright orange during the gun season. Legal hunting implements include shotguns, muzzleloaders, and archery equipment.
To aid wildlife management, all harvested deer must be checked in through the Ohio Wildlife Licensing System, providing valuable data for biologists. Hunters can also track their harvest through the HuntFish OH mobile app, where they can access resources about licenses and county regulations.
As part of ongoing wildlife health initiatives, hunters from designated counties are required to submit their harvests for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) testing. The ODNR encourages hunters to report any violations through the anonymous Turn-In-a-Poacher (TIP) hotline to help safeguard Ohio’s wildlife resources.
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Photo credit www.knoxpages.com
