Hunting And Outdoor Sports
Ohio hunters check 15,835 deer during bonus gun weekend
Ohio hunters check 15,835 deer during bonus gun weekend
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Ohio, USA
Ohio’s bonus gun hunting weekend, which took place on December 20-21, saw hunters registering a total of 15,835 white-tailed deer, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife. This figure marks a decrease from the 17,386 deer checked during the same event in 2024, and it is slightly below the three-year average of 16,010 deer.
The Division of Wildlife has significantly increased its efforts this season to support hunters in donating venison to food banks. As of December 21, there have been over 3,350 pounds of processed venison donated, which provides valuable nutrition to families in need. Detailed information about how to donate deer is accessible via the wildohio.gov website.
During the weekend, hunters recorded 4,039 antlered deer (26% of the total harvest) and 11,796 antlerless deer (74% of the total), demonstrating a continued trend in preference for harvesting antlerless deer, which has been noted in past seasons.
The top ten counties for deer harvested during this year's bonus weekend included:
However, not all regions saw similar success. Notably, counties such as Athens, Meigs, Morgan, and Washington reported lower-than-average totals due to an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) that impacted deer populations over the summer. To manage this situation, bag limits in these areas were reduced at the start of the seven-day gun season, reflecting a cautious approach by wildlife management officials.
Hunters in Ohio are permitted to use specific equipment during the deer gun season, which includes shotguns, straight-walled cartridge rifles, muzzleloaders, handguns, and archery equipment. The distribution of deer checked by hunting implement reveals the following:
To date, a total of 111,042 deer have been checked over nine days of gun hunting, including two days from the youth season. Youth hunters checked 9,759 deer during the weekend of November 22-23, while the week-long gun season total was 85,448. Overall, the total number of deer checked since the hunting season began in September has reached 206,583.
The state issued approximately 410,953 deer permits through December 21. Nonresidents have purchased 34,594 hunting licenses, with Pennsylvania leading with 6,590, followed by Michigan (4,283), North Carolina (2,914), West Virginia (2,710), and New York (2,708).
As the hunting season progresses, archery remains open, running until February 1, 2026, and a muzzleloader season is scheduled for January 3-6, 2026. It's important for hunters to obtain either-sex deer permits post-December 21, as deer management permits become invalid after this date. The latest updates and regulations can be found in the 2025-26 Hunting and Trapping Regulations available online.
Additionally, the HuntFish OH app is also a vital resource, allowing hunters to purchase licenses, check maps, view county bag limits, and even register game while offline. This innovation emphasizes a modern approach to hunting, making important information readily accessible.
The data from Ohio's bonus gun weekend reflects fluctuating trends in deer populations and hunter participation, likely influenced by environmental factors like the EHD outbreak. As hunter donations to food banks increase, there's a growing recognition of the role hunters play in their communities. Ongoing efforts toward responsible deer management and public education remain critical as Ohio continues to foster a sustainable hunting culture. Looking ahead, early reports suggest that adjustments to bag limits may be necessary in response to wildlife health, impacting hunting strategies in the upcoming archery and muzzleloader seasons.