Hunting And Outdoor Sports
Be Cautious This Deer Season
Ohio and West Virginia hunters urged to protect herds amid record EHD outbreak
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Athens, Ohio
Hunters across Southeast Ohio and the Mid-Ohio Valley are being warned to brace for a challenging deer season after state wildlife officials confirmed the regions largest-ever outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). The Ohio Division of Wildlife reports that hundreds of sick or dead deer have been found across Athens, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, and Washington counties, with significant impacts noted in neighboring West Virginia counties as well. Clint McCoy, a deer biologist with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, described this years EHD outbreak as the most severe he has seen in his career. Preseason scouting trips that typically reveal healthy trophy-class deer have instead turned up carcasses scattered across properties, raising concerns for herd health and population stability heading into the fall hunt. Weve got lots of mortality and so this fall will probably look quite a bit different for some of those folks in the most heavily, hardest hit areas, McCoy said. EHD, which is transmitted by biting midges, causes high fever, internal bleeding, and rapid death in deer. Outbreaks typically occur in late summer and early fall when midge populations peak. While deer herds can rebound over time, biologists are asking hunters to adjust their harvest strategies this year to give local populations a chance to recover. Specifically, hunters are encouraged to avoid taking antlerless deer in hard-hit areas, as protecting does will help stabilize future fawn recruitment. The guidance represents a shift in hunter management practices for some parts of Ohio and West Virginia, where antlerless harvests are commonly used as a tool to control overpopulation and crop damage. But in a year with such heavy natural mortality, wildlife managers believe restraint is necessary. Those males with antlers dont really matter when it comes to manipulating the population, McCoy explained, emphasizing that leaving does on the landscape is critical for herd recovery. Wildlife agencies are also asking hunters to report sightings of dead deer to help track the spread of the disease. The data collected will inform management decisions and could shape bag limits and season structures for the coming years. In addition, state officials are monitoring whether cold weather arrives early enough to kill off the biting midges and halt the spread of EHD before it claims more deer. Local hunting communities have responded with a mix of concern and cautious optimism. While some hunters fear disappointing seasons and fewer harvest opportunities, others see the situation as a call to action for stewardship and herd conservation. Landowners are also encouraged to work with wildlife biologists to evaluate deer numbers on their properties and consider adjusting hunting pressure accordingly.